Which Body Part Do You Have the Hardest Time Toning?

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

My thighs are my problem spot. I work really hard doing lunges and squats but no matter what, they never seem to get as toned as I would like. I have since accepted them for what they are and appreciate that they help me walk, but man, why won't they tone-up? We all have that one part of our body that, no matter how much cardio and resistance training we do, just does not want to tone up. So what is your problem area?

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Which Part of Your Body Do You Work the Most?

FitSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

When working out, you might prefer to focus on toning a certain part of your body. Maybe you want to strengthen your upper body because you're in a wedding this Summer and want to look good in your strapless dress. Or maybe you want to tone your core because it's the only thing that prevents you from having lower back pain. Then again, you may be more into toning your lower body because you're trying to increase your speed for an upcoming race.

Whatever your reason, I want to know . . .

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Exercise Explanation

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:30:00 -0700

Working out can be confusing if you're new to it. How long should I stretch? What kinds of cardio can I do besides running? How often should I lift weights?

Here's a basic chart to explain. This is just a general overview, so you can make little changes depending on what your goals and needs are.

Type of Exercise	Kinds	Benefits	How Often
Cardio and Aerobic	Running, Jogging, Biking, Stepper Machine, Brisk Walking, Elliptical Machine, Swimming, Competitive sports like soccer, Classes like Spinning or Cardio Boxing	Improves stamina Benefits your circulatory system including your heart Great for helping to decrease high blood pressure Burns calories and helps you lose weight Helps maintain your weight Reduces your risk of osteoporosis Improves your cholesterol levels	For a healthy body, you should do 30 minutes at least 3 times a week If you're trying to lose weight, than you need to do 30 minutes or more at least 4 or more times a week

There's 2 more. Want to see the rest? Then read more

Stretching	Calisthenics, Yoga, Tai Chi	Prevents injury Improves flexibility Relaxes the mind Massages the inner organs and aids in digestion Improves balance	Stretch before and after doing cardio If you do yoga or Tai Chi, go at least twice a week
Weights, Strength and Strength Training	Pilates, weight machines, free weights, exercise ball, resistance bands	Reduces your resting blood pressure Tones and defines muscles Strengthens your muscles Prevents injury Increases your metabolism Increases bone mineral density Increases your muscle mass which will increase your calorie burn which in turn reduces body fat	2-4 strength training sessions a week depending on the intensity and length of your session

Back OFF! - Ways to Tone Your Back

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:30:00 -0800

There has been a serious amount of requests for back exercises. So allow me to introduce you to - Back OFF! Fit's ongoing series of exercises targeting the back. These moves will be great for toning and strengthening your back, and they'll help with your posture too.

You do need an exercise ball for this exercise, so hopefully you or your gym has one. These balls are really great for working out and stretching.

Keep reading for more Back OFF! videos coming your way soon.

Speak Up: What's Your Take on the Reebok EasyTone Ads?

FitSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:00:24 -0800

In a sea of words, a title like "Make Your Boobs Jealous!" really jumps out at you - something I can attest to after coming across these new ads for Reebok EasyTone.

If these shoes do what Reebok claims, the shoes themselves seem pretty neat - balance pods create natural instability in your step, which forces muscles to adapt and encourages toning in the butt, legs, and thighs. So far, so good, but as my buddy Très points out, the ads focus mostly on two talking breasts!

To see these controversial commercials and judge for yourself, read more.

In the commercials, the camera constantly focuses in on the butt of the actresses, and two out of three times you don't even see a face. And in the commercial where a face is shown, the actress playfully teases with the cameraman that he must like what he sees since he's zooming in so much. Some of the tag lines seem questionable too: "88% of men will be speechless, 76% of women jealous, and 0% will know the reason is on your feet." I don't know about you, but my reason for staying fit is not to make the women around me feel inadequate.

I shared the commercials with a friend and she thought I was being a bit too serious. She got a good laugh out of them and thought they were playful and funny. She especially loved the one where a woman's breasts are given life as they complain about not getting any more stares. Why? Because the butt has taken all the attention away, thanks to EasyTone sneakers! Cue tag line: "Make your boobs jealous!"

When I asked why she wasn't the least bit offended, she left me with the reasoning that "sex sells" and "women want to feel beautiful." I'm going to ask myself if I am being way too serious, but in the meantime, I'd like to know what you think of these ads. Check them out below and share your thoughts with me in the comments section.

You Asked: How Can I Tone My Arms and Upper Back?

FitSugar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:00:00 -0800

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Hey Fit,

I'm in a wedding at the end of August. I feel pretty good about the way I look, but my arms always look bulky in wedding photos! I have access to equipment at the gym but was wondering if there are any general exercises that I could do without using weight machines.

- Bridesmaid to Be

Awesome question. Since summer is closer than we think, now's the time to start toning our arms and upper backs for tank tops and sleeveless dresses. There are definitely some great exercises you can do that don't require any machines. To find out what they are read more.

Push-ups are an oldie but goodie. They're great because they focus on toning the backs of your arms and your upper back. You can do "classic" push-ups with your legs straight, or you can do them with your knees on the ground. You can also do push-ups with your legs on a step or gym ball. The decline helps to add resistance making this push-up a bit more challenging. You can also try side push-ups for an extra challenge too.

Yoga poses also help to tone your arms and upper back and you don't need any equipment for them. They work because you're lifting your own body weight. Beginner's Sage works your shoulders and abs, Crow works your arms, and Wheel strengthens your back. If you like balancing poses, holding headstand for a while, even if your feet are leaning against a wall, really works your upper back and shoulders.

If you have a set of hand weights, doing Reverse Rows in Plank position is another great move. You'll really feel the burn in your upper back and triceps. You can also use your weights to follow along with this Starter Arms Video. It targets your upper arms, shoulders and upper back.

Fit's Tips: My friend Dear also has some great advice about how to pose for pictures. She says that if you're self-conscious about your arms, put one hand on your hip, or rest your arms slightly away from your body so they don't smush out and look wider than they really are.

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Kim Kardashian Tones With a Toning Ring

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

We all have areas of our body that are weaker than others, and Kim Kardashian admits that just like a lot of us, "I don't have lots of upper body strength." Us Weekly says she's in the process of filming her own fitness video so she wants to tone up those arms. To do so, she's using a Toning Ring ($30). It's also called a magic circle, Pilates circle, or toning circle. She's hoping "to help build my muscle strength and tone my arms at the same time." There are a ton of resistance training exercises you can do using this flexible toning ring to not only target your upper body, but to also work your thighs, core, and glutes. It's a great tool to add to your home gym as a complement to your strength training routine.

Fit Tip: If you already have a ring and are looking for new exercises to learn, check out the Winsor Pilates 20 Minutes Circle Workout DVD ($15). It targets your entire body with an emphasis on toning your abs.

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Want Toned Abs? Don't Use Momentum

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:05 -0700

Many of the women in my Pilates and yoga classes ask how they can get a trim and toned middle. Aside from doing cardio to reduce overall body fat, exercises that target the core muscles are key. Crunches on an exercise ball, Pilates 100s, the always challenging Bicycle Crunches, and Reverse Curls are all essential exercises when it comes to strengthening your abs.

One tip to keep in mind when doing these strength training moves is to move with control. You want to use your muscles, not momentum, to ensure that your abs are doing all the work. You can even pause slightly between reps to make sure you're not just rocking from one rep to another. Keep your abs contracted throughout the entire range of motion, and you'll feel the burn instantly that lets you know your hard work is paying off.

Get Beach-Ready: Tone Your Backside

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:00:00 -0700

If you have been working your abs to get ready for bikini season, I am here to remind you not to forget your booty and the backs of your legs. All styles of suits bare your backside, so tone it with these moves after warming up with five to 10 minutes of cardio. Here is the downloadable PDF of this workout, so you can print it and take it to the gym.

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Gym Equipment Explained: Toning Bars

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:30:00 -0800

Have you noticed the long bars with colorful ends tucked into the corner of your gym somewhere? Ever wonder what the heck they are or how in the world you use them? Those bars are toning bars, or body-toning bars, and they are just another way to add resistance to your workout.

What: Toning bars are weighted, exercise bars that are made out of steel and enclosed in a dense foam for a comfortable grip.
Area of body it works: It depends on the workout but the bars can be used to train the upper body, abdominals, lower body, and core.
Why: The bars are versatile tools for strengthening, conditioning, and flexibility training. They're used in a wide variety of workouts including (but not limited to) strength training, circuit training, interval training, kickboxing, martial arts, sports conditioning, core training as well as in Pilates and yoga.
How: Pick a sufficient weight (one that challenges you, but doesn't cause you to lose form) and use the bar in place of dumbbells or a barbell for exercises like chest presses and bicep curls in order to get even weight distribution for arm and chest exercises. Also, use the bar for balance and keeping good posture when doing deadlifts, squats, and lunges. There are tons of options for using the bars, so you can get creative but two of my favorite exercises to do with a bar are bent-over row (upper body) and plié squats (lower body). To learn how to do these read more

Bent-over row: Start with feet at hip-width apart, grip onto the bar (palms facing the body). Bend over at the hip at a 45-degree angle and keep the back straight and the knees slightly bent. Slowly pull the bar to the chest while trying to squeeze the shoulder blades together. Repeat 10 to 15 times.
Plié squat: Begin with feet wide, toes facing out. Tuck the tailbone under and grip the bar, palms facing the body. While keeping the abs tight, lower into the plié (drop tailbone toward the floor). At the same time, slowly raise the bar to shoulder level. Hold for two seconds and slowly return to start.

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