What Is Toning? Truths About Improving Muscle Definitions

The fitness world is surrounded by myths and misconceptions about building muscles or losing weight. While most bro science and trends are harmless and were created in good faith, they can still set unrealistic expectations that can hinder your progress in the gym and affect your overall mindset and fitness goals.

One of the most popular trends is the concept of body “toning.” It is a term often thrown around by many coaches and trainers that has become synonymous with shaping the muscles or having a firm and lean body without being too muscular.

The idea that certain types of exercise involving lower weights with lots of repetition can help develop lean and defined muscles has become widely accepted in the fitness community. But is the theory of toning a fact or just another fitness myth?

This article will discuss the truth about muscle toning and dive deep into the science of muscle building.

In the early days of fitness trends, there was a high focus on aerobic workouts for weight loss and weight training for building muscle. In an effort to appeal to women who don't want to be "bulky," the fitness industry coined the term "toning" as a marketing strategy.

Someone who is toned is described as having low body fat and a lean and defined physique. For example, you could be considered toned if you are sporting visible abs or smaller arms with visible bicep cuts due to a low body fat percentage.

However, it's essential to understand that "toning" as a physiological process or fitness regimen is a misconception and should not be advertised. The body doesn't work that way. You cannot "tone" muscles in your body. You can only make them grow and make them appear more evidently.

Muscles grow (hypertrophy) and shrink (atrophy) depending on how well and how often you use them. For example, exercising and performing physical activities involving specific muscle groups can make them grow. In contrast, sitting all day and living a sedentary lifestyle can shrink your muscles and make them smaller.

"What you don't use, you lose."

This concept is crucial to understand how muscle building works. A toned physique results from an increase in muscle tissues and a reduction in body fat. Remember, your muscles shape your whole body and highlight your natural features and bone structures.

Lift heavy

Myth: Heavy weights will make you 'bulky.'

Truth: Strength training, like weight lifting, calisthenics, and HIIT, can help you build muscles.

Strength training and lifting heavy will not make you ‘bulky’. You can achieve an hourglass body or a toned physique even if you are hitting the bench and lifting heavier weights.

In fact, lifting heavy weights is the best way to have a toned body. Try lifting heavy weights that you can perform in proper form, at least 5 to 8 reps, and focus on compound exercises that allow you to work on multiple muscle groups at once.

Examples of compound exercises are:

• Squats
• Deadlifts
• Pull-ups
• Push-ups
• Bench press
• Lunges

This will allow you to build muscles fast and lose a significant amount of calories even hours after exercising due to the afterburn effects.

More calories being burned equals more fat loss over time.

When you lift weights, you break down your muscle fibers. Your body then repairs these muscle fibers, making them stronger and bigger. Just everything you want for a lean-looking and aesthetic physique.

Myth: You need to do hours of cardio exercises to lose weight.

Truth: You only need 15 to 30 minutes to burn tons of calories.

Doing long workouts can be unappealing for some, especially if you have a busy schedule. Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice lots of valuable time to lose calories and achieve fat loss.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) routines are designed to do in a short time while burning as many calories as hours of cardio exercises. Typically a HIIT session can last for 15 to 30 mins.

20 minutes of HIIT can provide you with 150 to 400 net calorie burns depending on the type and intensity of your workouts.

Myth: You need to starve yourself to get rid of belly fat.

Truth: You need to stay in a calorie deficit to achieve fat loss.

A high-protein, low-calorie diet is the key to achieving a toned body. Much of the work comes from eating the right food to keep your body healthy and help your muscles grow while losing fats.

If you're exercising and have regular physical activity, aim for 1.2-1.7g of protein per Kg of body weight daily. This can allow your muscle to repair and grow while keeping you lean and not adding too many calories to your diet.

Tips for a healthy diet:

• Eat plenty of protein
• Include healthy fats and complex carbs
• Avoid processed foods
• Avoid sugary drinks and beers
• Stay away from unhealthy fats
• Avoid stress eating

Myth: Core exercises will make your stomach flat and reduce belly fats

Truth: Calorie deficit will result in fat loss, but you can't target specific regions in your body to lose fat.

Spot fat reduction is a myth. No matter how often you do sit-ups, you can only strengthen your core muscles, but the fat covering them will not disappear by just exercising. To achieve a toned physique, you need to reveal the muscles underneath the layers of fat.

All you need is to be in a calorie deficit, so your body will use your love handles and other body fat as energy. But this doesn't mean that you have to starve yourself. It only means you need to consume fewer calories while exerting more effort through exercise and physical activities.

Here‘s a workout plan that will help you build that lean body:

Achieving a toned physique and making your muscles appear more visible can take months and even years. You must set realistic expectations and be kind to yourself when setting a fitness goal.

One pound of fat is equal to 3500 extra calories. If you want to lose one pound of fat per week, you need to decrease your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. (3,500/7 = 500)

The most effective way to burn fats and tone your body is to combine eating fewer calories and exercising to burn more. This way, you can create a substantial calorie deficit without depriving yourself of your diet or exercising too much. You can cut 200 calories from your diet and burn 300 calories by exercising.

Remember, everyone stores fat differently. Some are more genetically blessed to shed off more fat quickly and are able to build muscles fast, while some don't store much fat in their belly. Regardless, working hard to achieve your dream physique is always worth it.

Workouts branded as "toning" are fairly harmless, especially if you enjoy them, and they inspire you to move more and become better. However, you shouldn't rely on them when losing fats and increasing muscle gains.

Having a toned physique is all about having the right balance of energy from the calories from the food you eat and burning them with the right exercises.

Remember, fitness is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Instead, focus on yourself, enjoy the everyday process, and trust that the result will come eventually.