Toned but not muscly

[juliacheh]

When the women come here on this board and say: I want a toned body, but not muscular,what exactly do they mean by this? What kind of body is toned but not muscular?
Jennifer Aniston's? Isn't this a matter of genetics/fat distribution rather then specific training?

I know I might be taking this too seriously, but I cringe when I read this - "don't want to become too muscular". I had to work for every ounce of muscle that I got so far. And eat.
Women are expecting muscle gains when they are eating like birds - not going to happen.
And by working I mean lifting heavy and doing hard bodyweight exercises like pistol squats, handstand pushups, not the typical "girlie" toning workouts.

Anyway, sorry, I just had to rant today.

[KyleAaron]

I don't know about this board, but in gyms when they say that to staff, what they generally mean is that they want to lose fat and gain muscle. If asked, they deny they want more muscle. But when you ask them to describe what they'd like to look like, that's what they mean.

Unfortunately what often happens is that when they get their newbie gains and their weak muscles harden, they panic and stop lifting and rush to the treadmill. Or at best just stick with the same weight, reps and sets forever.

Often they'll express admiration for the women in the gym with larger muscles (often the triathletes), but they feel differently about muscles when they're on their own body.

This, thank god, is not universal.

Put it this way: my gym has 2,400 members. I know of only 4 women training there for serious strength. By "serious strength" I mean they have an open-ended idea of it. They're not just trying to get better posture or stop their back hurting or something, but if you talk about some woman deadlifting 100kg, they say, "wow, do you think I could ever do that?"

Of course, just across the sports oval from my gym is an Olympic weightlifting club, which has several women (overall not a high membership of either gender, ~30 I think). And down in Frankston there's a gym where 16 women are currently deadlifting over 100kg.

There are perhaps 12 men at my gym training for serious strength. Lots of half-squats and light touch-and-go deadlifts. The way you feel about women wanting to "tone up" I feel about men not training legs, wearing long track pants in the heat of summer while they do tricep pressdowns.

[Keltron]

And by working I mean lifting heavy and doing hard bodyweight exercises like pistol squats, handstand pushups, not the typical "girlie" toning workouts.

crossfit?

I know what you mean by "girlie" workouts..
It's funny how every woman starting up at the gym says the DON'T wanna build any muscle yet all the wanna do is isolation movements who's primary benefit is building muscle. LOL..

"Can we do something for this jiggly stuff on my triceps?"

"Sure, It's called squats"

"Wait, I dont want my legs to get bigger!!"

*facepalm**

[Miranda]

When the women come here on this board and say: I want a toned body, but not muscular,what exactly do they mean by this? What kind of body is toned but not muscular?

i'd venture to say something like this:





photoshop + nice genetics + tan.

i always like how their thighs are incredibly smooth and polished to high sheen.

[lovingit]

They think they will get freakishly manly-huge if they lift serious weights. They don't realize it doesn't work that way.

(I cringe when I hear it also)

[juliacheh]

crossfit?

I like some ideas from crossfit, but generally I'm not a fan. I prefer to train at my own pace.
Well, my legs are much smaller than before I started weight training, but people see muscles and go - OMG, your legs are huge. FTW I'm wearing pants in size 2, whereas before I barely fit in size 4.

[juliacheh]

i'd venture to say something like this:

photoshop + nice genetics + tan.

i always like how their thighs are incredibly smooth and polished to high sheen.

Yeah, I did a photoshoot once just for fun (I know the photographer) and he showed me how he manipulates the images. He takes care of everything - cellulite, uneven skin tone etc.

[juliacheh]

They think they will get freakishly manly-huge if they lift serious weights. They don't realize it doesn't work that way.

(I cringe when I hear it also)

I realize not everybody wants to become muscular and I may look freakish to some people, but why ask these questions on a board like this? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
I don't hang out on modeling web-sites and in pro-ED communities - just an example.

[kimm4]

I like some ideas from crossfit, but generally I'm not a fan. I prefer to train at my own pace.
Well, my legs are much smaller than before I started weight training, but people see muscles and go - OMG, your legs are huge. FTW I'm wearing pants in size 2, whereas before I barely fit in size 4.

You mean you actually fit in normal clothes?...amazing! Normally when women pick up a set of weights they start busting out of their shirts...at least this is what I've heard...

[Contribution05]

Pretty much when a girl says she wants to be tone, she wants her soft fatty skin to be a little more firm without any muscular bulge. Ab definition without a 6 pack, and usually just the want for firm arms without showing bis/tris/veins.

jpgs below example of skinny girl with no muscle, and skinny girl thats tone that most of the girls at gyms wish to be.

[juliacheh]

You mean you actually fit in normal clothes?...amazing! Normally when women pick up a set of weights they start busting out of their shirts...at least this is what I've heard...

Kim, it's the greatest thing ever:-). Obviously, I have some muscle. But in clothes I just look slender.
Even though my shoulders and back became bigger on this bulk, I still fit in size S sweaters.

[juliacheh]

Pretty much when a girl says she wants to be tone, she wants her soft fatty skin to be a little more firm without any muscular bulge. Ab definition without a 6 pack, and usually just the want for firm arms without showing bis/tris/veins.

jpgs below example of skinny girl with no muscle, and skinny girl thats tone that most of the girls at gyms wish to be.

I don't think the second girl is something that could be achieved through any particular training. She is already built in a certain way.

[seanb1979]

i'd venture to say something like this:





photoshop + nice genetics + tan.

i always like how their thighs are incredibly smooth and polished to high sheen.

you just gave me an idea for developing photoshop glasses... brb

[lovingit]

I realize not everybody wants to become muscular and I may look freakish to some people, but why ask these questions on a board like this? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
I don't hang out on modeling web-sites and in pro-ED communities - just an example.

I don't get it either.

I think it's even weirder when males post the same thing on this board. They say they don't want to build muscle. Why in the world???

You don't look freakish to me at all. You look great!

[dvsness]

My favorite is when women close to my height at 160+ lbs tell me they don't want to be as big as me... when I'm 110 pre-contest.

[rockangel]

My favorite is when women close to my height at 160+ lbs tell me they don't want to be as big as me... when I'm 110 pre-contest.

OMG!! I wish i had your genetics. I know i am a bit shorter but i would not mind looking like you at all!
Im a fan <3

[dvsness]

OMG!! I wish i had your genetics. I know i am a bit shorter but i would not mind looking like you at all!
Im a fan <3

Thank you; I'm flattered.

But trust me, my genetics are not all that. I am very lucky to have good bone structure - wide clavicles, symmetrical proportions - but adding muscle is a serious chore, and losing it is very easy for me.

[juliacheh]

I don't get it either.

I think it's even weirder when males post the same thing on this board. They say they don't want to build muscle. Why in the world???

You don't look freakish to me at all. You look great!

Males are posting the same? OH my...
Thank you, I'm flattered

[juliacheh]

My favorite is when women close to my height at 160+ lbs tell me they don't want to be as big as me... when I'm 110 pre-contest.

This is such a pet peeve of mine as well
You look great, Vanessa!

[DixieAmazon]

Toned = I don't want to work too hard.

[seanb1979]

My favorite is when women close to my height at 160+ lbs tell me they don't want to be as big as me... when I'm 110 pre-contest.

Just punch them in the face as hard as you can. Once they feel the power you possess they'll want it for themselves.

[bethanyboo]

I also can't stand when people say they want "lean muscle". As opposed to bulky muscle? Muscle is muscle!

[seanb1979]

I also can't stand when people say they want "lean muscle". As opposed to bulky muscle? Muscle is muscle!

Well yes and no. They're mostly referring to people like NFL linemen or huge power lifters who definitely have tons of muscle but also a good deal of fat. The words used are probably less important than the idea they're trying to convey.

[RJS2009]

When women say this, I often think that what they really want is a more youthful appearance. They remember having that nice skin and firmness that comes with the teen years. Since that look also often comes with no real effort when young, I think this contributes to how they feel it should somehow require minimal effort even years later.

[y0lked]

toned

[sonti]

^ I think the average girl would consider that getting 'bulky' despite IMO it looking good

[sparky3]

I think you look sexy and still feminine. Not like a woman on steroids with man features.

[snoozer08]

^ I think the average girl would consider that getting 'bulky' despite IMO it looking good

For sure. Any visible muscle=bulky to the average woman.

I know most women idolize the Victoria Secret model look, but this blew my mind: http://www.leighpeele.com/bulky-musc...the-definition

[juliacheh]

For sure. Any visible muscle=bulky to the average woman.

I know most women idolize the Victoria Secret model look, but this blew my mind: http://www.leighpeele.com/bulky-musc...the-definition

Oh, this blew my mind too when I read it about a year ago. Jessica Biel is too bulky FTW.

[Rowyn]

you just gave me an idea for developing photoshop glasses... brb

Already invented....but its called alcohol