The Ultimate Guide to Getting Toned

Are you exercising regularly but struggling to see any results? This ultimate guide to getting toned will elevate your exercises and transform your body.

Now, we can’t guarantee greek goddess-level looks since we’re all about being realistic. But with the right motivation and discipline, you’ll be able to achieve more toned muscles the right way. 

It’ll require a diet pivot, extra exercise, and a mental shift. However, we know you’re up for the challenge! 

But first, why should you even bother toning? 

Benefits of Getting Toned

Getting fit is a worthy goal and so is looking fit. Feeling confident and proud of your own body is a great feeling and one worth working for.

However, toned muscles do more than just look good. The high-intensity resistance training required to shape them has a whole range of other benefits.

Improved Functionality 

It’s a fact. Stronger muscles are more effective muscles. By growing your muscles, you’ll be improving their functionality.

Not only that but you’ll have improved stamina from the cardio and training. 

Reduced Body Fat

We all know that exercise reduces body fat but have you ever stopped to think just how incredible that is?

Exercising to tone your body increases metabolism in 3 ways: 

1. You burn calories during the actual workout
2. Additional calories are burnt directly following the workout (known as the afterburn effect)
3. Exercise increases your amount of calorie-burning muscle mass which will continue to burn more calories 

You burn calories while exercising, directly after, and forever more. So you’ll be able to tone your muscles and lose body fat doing it.

Reduced Health Risks 

Keeping your body strong is the best way to keep it healthy. Exercise has been proven to reduce your risk of heart disease as it increases blood flow and helps manage your levels of cholesterol. 

Not to mention, being physically active means a more efficient breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, reducing your chances of diabetes. 

How to Get Toned

Without further ado, let’s get into how you can get toned through regular exercise, a healthy diet, and proper sleep. In other words, a toned body is all about getting back to basics.

Regular Exercise

Consistency is the most important thing when it comes to fitness. 

And in order to exercise consistently, you need to be disciplined but you also need to be realistic. 

There’s no point in coming up with a super extreme fitness routine that you end up abandoning after a week. You need a realistic yet challenging plan to lose weight and tone up.

Resistance training is one of the best ways to quickly build muscle mass and give your body that nice toned look. 

HIIT workouts in particular are the more efficient way to exercise for toning. The rapid-fire approach will push you to your limits and help you be your best. 

However, always go with what works best for you. After all, the best exercise plan is the one you actually stick with. 

A Healthy Diet

The best way get toned and show muscle is to slim down and build muscle at the same time. Now, this definitely doesn’t mean fasting or anything extreme like that.

A healthy diet starts with small shifts. There’s no single superfood that will transform your body. In fact, the most important diet change is often the portions.

Prioritizing protein and cutting back on fat are solid first steps. However, not overindulging and eating the right portions is the most important part of any diet.

Like most health decisions, it’s all about finding what’s right for you. 

Proper Sleep

The basic principle of resistance training is to apply a heavy load and overextend the muscle. 

The muscle will then be forced to adapt and get stronger. However, your body needs time to do this effectively. 

A proper night’s sleep will allow the muscle to undergo this growth process while poor sleep will leave the muscle overworked and fatigued. 

Conclusion

With a good night's sleep, regular exercise, and a proper diet, you’ll be well on your way to your dream physique.

But don’t forget that being toned is about more than looking healthy, it’s about being healthy! 

Ready to tone but wondering where to start?

The OOMPH app gives you access to some of the best coaches in the world and is full of great tips on topics like how to best tone your arms.  

Take the first step to a healthier, happier you. Download today!