For many people, their number one goal of working out is toning their body for a leaner appearance and improved body shape. While most types of workout can help with weight loss, there are certain types of exercise and good overall habits you’ll want to consider to tone your body. Follow these top tips below to start working towards the toned body of your dreams today.
Focus on your diet to Tone Your Body
You may think that toning your body is reliant on a heavy exercise routine, but one of the key components of your success is a good diet. Ensure your body is still getting enough calories to fuel your metabolism and try to eat little and often throughout the day. Switch out starchy carbs for whole grains, fruits and vegetables, so you still consume the amount of calories you’ll need to work on building your muscles.
Most importantly, don’t cut back on your protein consumption in an attempt to lose weight, as protein is essential for muscle growth. Protein can be found in so many different foods, so find the sources you enjoy the most and ensure they are part of your daily meals and snacks.
Keep yourself hydrated to Tone Your Body
Regardless of your health goals, one of the most important parts of a healthy lifestyle is hydration. Your muscles are primarily made up of water, and if you dehydrate your body, it can eventually lead to your muscles breaking down. Consume water throughout your day, and after working out, drink electrolytes to retain good hydration levels in your body.
Interval Training
Interval training is a great solution for anyone looking to tone their body and can help you lose fat without also reducing your muscle at the same time. This is an excellent alternative to your regular cardio workouts and should be implemented a few times a week into your workout routine. Also, try to find exercises that target multiple groups of muscles in one go, such as combining lunges with weighted arm exercises. This allows you to work out more body parts in one session without getting too burnt out early on in your training session.
Lifting Weights
Women especially are often scared of lifting weights for fear of bulking up and increasing their weight. Working out with light to mid-range weights won’t turn you into a bodybuilder overnight, and instead will help build muscle while burning calories and helping you to lose weight. Used in moderation, weights are an essential part of any workout regime and will help you achieve the toned and lean body you desire.
Rest
Finally, while all this training is important to reach your desired body image, it’s so important to rest and de-stress your body, so as not to increase your cortisol levels. High cortisol levels can make your body store fat, which will decrease your chance of reaching your desired body goals. Try to get eight hours of sleep a night and find activities that help you to relax and de-stress after a busy day at work.
There are many different factors to consider when working towards toning your body. By following all of the tips above and implementing each suggestion into your life, you’ll find you can reach your goals much quicker. While working out is essential for toning the body, don’t forget to factor in rest time into your schedule, which will help your body to recover and reduce your chance of injury at the same time.
