STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

GucciGal19 · BCBG

Need help to get toned...

Hermione · Kate Spade

hey girl

uh ...

how tall are you?

GucciGal19 · BCBG

Hermione wrote:

hey girl uh ... how tall are you?

im 5'3

Hermione · Kate Spade

ok, like you said, your weight sounds healthy -

i wouldn't really worry about losing a couple pounds but yoga would be a great way for you to get toned while still staying slim (builds lean muscle instead of bulk muscle)

FashionPrincess · Hermes

Yeah, I'm pretty much in the same place (except I put on about 5 pounds that I'd like to get off, but that should happen as I tone). I started doing my pilates again. I think pilates or yoga is a great way to tone up, especially in the ab area. And maybe a little portion control when it comes to junk food. Also, drink plenty of water.

member · Hermes

FashionPrincess wrote:

Yeah, I'm pretty much in the same place (except I put on about 5 pounds that I'd like to get off, but that should happen as I tone). I started doing my pilates again. I think pilates or yoga is a great way to tone up, especially in the ab area. And maybe a little portion control when it comes to junk food. Also, drink plenty of water.

FP - do you do your pilates at home or go to a class? I am interested in trying it or yoga, but I don't want to go to a class really.

poptart · Coach

For years, I just relied on dance to give me tone, and I found that as I got older (around 22/23) it wasn't enough anymore. Lifting weights has been key for me. Or, if you have access to a pilates reformer, that's another great option b/c it keeps you in great shape for dance, but also adds resistance to increase the toning benefit. If you aren't a gym member, you might consider a pilates video with resistance bands and some hand weights. HTH!

shopgirl82 · Chanel

pilates and free weights (or machine weights if you have access to it). also, take the stairs if you can or hop on a stairmaster with your text book. very legally blonde, but i swear the stairmaster works wonders in just twenty minutes.

one of my favorite work outs was to box my bf (it tones your abs and arms) cuz i hated lifting weights. also i would take the free weights and hang them in one hand and bend towards that side (it toned up my sides a lot!).

GucciGal19 · BCBG

Lisa wrote:

For years, I just relied on dance to give me tone, and I found that as I got older (around 22/23) it wasn't enough anymore. Lifting weights has been key for me. Or, if you have access to a pilates reformer, that's another great option b/c it keeps you in great shape for dance, but also adds resistance to increase the toning benefit. If you aren't a gym member, you might consider a pilates video with resistance bands and some hand weights. HTH!

Does pilates really work? I tried doing some my freshman year with a video in my dorm room, and i felt like it was just a bunch of stretching techniques. I didn't sweat or anything, and i was never sore afterwards. Maybe i got the wrong tape? Have any of you actually seen great results with JUST doing pilates?

poptart · Coach

I haven't ever done *just* pilates, so I can't say for sure that it will give you the results that it gave me, b/c I lift and do other stuff too. But, I do *know* that it works because a) I'm super sore after I do it (especially on a reformer, which were literally the best workouts of my life) and b) after I added pilates to my routine, I lost an inch off my waist (and I hadn't changed anything else). I'm a big believer. But, if you aren't sore after doing it, it's probably not a challenging enough tape or you may not be using proper form.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

Kickboxing is awesome for toning, but I agree with Lisa, you need weights to really see a big difference (at least my body does). Aerobic exercise just makes you smaller, it doesn't change your shape. I'm trying to work up to being able to lift my own body weight, but I'm stuck at 60 pounds. Women really can't bulk up that much, so don't worry that you'll get icky looking. You'd have to work out an insane amount to do that. A book I really like is The Bodyscultping Bible for Women - many good tips on diet and exercise, several routines and a VERY detailed explanation of each and every move, machine and so on...

I would try to work especially on your back and shoulders, it makes your body look more balanced (and your boobs look bigger...) Plus, there's nothing sexier than a toned back... And if, like me, your thighs are a problem, I've had fabulous results from putting the treadmill on a 15 degree slant and walking slowly for at least 30 minutes.

PS - If you drink (you are in college) cut out the beer and drink only alcohol for at least two weeks. I guarantee you'll lose weight. Well, as long as, like me, you can't drink that many mixed drinks. I can drink beer all night without getting smashed, but three drinks and it's over. There's like 200 calories in every beer, so this makes a big difference for me,.

-- Edited by Dizzy at 02:19, 2006-01-06