From time to time, ATP and I will tackle various myths surrounding fitness and give you our takes on them...

This is a myth?

I know some women think that if they lift weights they'll bulk up, but I didn't realize there was a myth around toning.

After losing 30 lbs years ago I remember not liking my profile. My booty was looking kinda slack.

In addition to aerobic exercise I started lifting free weights. I got pretty toned. I especially loved my arms. Angela Bassett would've been, like, "Dayum."

And my butt got all callipygian again. So toning definitely worked for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Santana St. Cloud:
This is a myth?

I know some women think that if they lift weights they'll bulk up, but I didn't realize there was a myth around toning.

After losing 30 lbs years ago I remember not liking my profile. My booty was looking kinda slack.

In addition to aerobic exercise I started lifting free weights. I got pretty toned. I especially loved my arms. Angela Bassett would've been, like, "Dayum."

And my butt got all callipygian again. So toning definitely worked for me.

I think what DD is saying regarding toning being a myth is that it really is a misnomer. People can either increase or decrease their muscle mass and/or their body fat and they should train accordingly. Unfortunately, you will find people in the gym, particularly women who will be doing endless reps with some light weight and say that they want to be toned, but not get bulky. The only thing that they are in reality are doing is wasting time or a remote possibility, increasing muscle endurance.

For example, it ultimately more productive to do 4 sets of 10-12 reps of chest presses where you are having to really exert yourself for the final reps, than laying down on a bench with weights that you can do 40 reps with for "God only knows" number of sets.

And with an assist from kresge - One fitness myth down, many more to go...

quote:

Originally posted by ddouble:
And with an assist from kresge - One fitness myth down, many more to go...

FTW, consider the following quote:

"Why is that when we learn golf we have the understanding that we won't become Tiger Woods, when we learn tennis, we know we won't be in Wimbledon center court any time soon, if we play baseball we won't become Derek Jeter etc etc etc. But why is it that only in weightlifting that people have the stupid delusion that they'll look like Arnold or Ronnie or Lenda?????? --shinnosuke"

Myth: I've tried everything and nothing has worked. I'm too old to try again now.

This 73-year old bodybuilder demonstrates that it is never too late to begin!

http://www.flicklife.com/cbba1eea208541a643e7/73_year_old_body_builder.html