September 6, 2020: The Toned Look

My weekly Get Your Stuff Together Sunday email series gives you one actionable focus for the week that will make your life a little easier.

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Have you ever said, “I just want to tone, not get bulky”? That word “tone” usually means that you want to have a little more muscle but with more definition and not bulk. This week, we’re going to talk about some of the myths around toning and getting bulky.

The only way to get that toned look is to add some lean muscle mass while losing fat mass. Unfortunately, many women have the misconception that, if they pick up weights, they will turn into the female version of Arnold Schwarzenegger. I get why that would be scary! The problem with this theory is that, unless you are also consuming a large amount of anabolic steroids, this simply cannot happen. I feel confident that you aren’t doing that.

I’ll bet that you underestimate your strength. Women need to use a heavier weight load than they think to build muscle (yes, lady-like muscle). It will also give you a Wonder Woman feeling when you find out how strong you actually are! If there’s a female celebrity whose body you admire, rest assured that she got there by lifting heavy weights under a challenging strength routine. It wasn’t yoga, like they claim, haha.

Here’s something to remember: no one has ever become a bodybuilder by accident. It takes months and years of training with a strict nutrition plan. Also, muscle bulk is largely dependent on testosterone, and compared to men, women just cannot create as much testosterone. Even under a “hardcore” strength routine, women gain muscle mass much more slowly than men.

Do not be afraid to lift heavier weights as long as you’re being supervised or know what you’re doing. With any strength program, your goal should be increasing the weight you’re using, where you want each rep to be as challenging as the last rep.

Next Sunday, we’ll talk about how exercise has proven to reverse age-related declines in our bodies and minds.

Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again.

Do you have a friend who could stand to G(her)ST? Feel free to forward this!

I hope you have a wonderful week,

Kelly

Kelly Morgan, Ph.D.

Tsirona - www.tsirona.com

My weekly GYSTS email give you one actionable thing to do for the week that will make you life a little easier. As "they" say, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." Get these emails (and more!) delivered right to your inbox by clicking HERE.