How To Tone Muscles Properly

When people do strength training, they are doing either one of two things. They can be concentrating on bulking up their muscles, or they can wind up with well-toned, leaner muscles. What is the difference? Don't they operate on the same principle of using weights to give pressure to different muscle groups? Once you understand the specific way that muscle toning is achieved, you can do it even by yourself at home. All you need will be to acquire the weights needed and follow simple guidelines.

First, understand that muscle toning happens when the muscles are given light weights done over several reps. Five pounds is usually the dividing line between light and heavy weights. Weights heavier than five pounds will tend to bulk up muscle for first time users. Therefore the important thing to remember for toning muscles is to lift light weights many times, usually at three sets minimum. You can lift a three-pound dumbbell twenty times on one arm, then give it a quick rest, and do the cycle again for two more times.

Then, understand why muscles need time to rest in between workouts. If you do strength training to tone your muscles, be sure to have a one-day interval between workout sessions. Toning will only happen once the muscles have the chance to recuperate and rebuild themselves. If skip the 24-hour interval, you risk damaging your muscles by straining them too much. This is the main reason why health clubs usually schedule strength training days alternated with cardiovascular exercise days, because it gives muscles time to rest and mend themselves. This is an important principle to remember so that you get the results you want.

Finally, there is such a thing as a right and wrong way to train your muscles. If you are working out at home and have had no experience with a personal trainer, by all means, do some research. Illustrations of how to hold a dumbbell correctly are found in fitness magazines, and you should have no trouble imitating them. To be even more sure, the Internet is full of video clips showing how to do them properly. Not doing things properly can pose injury risk to muscles and joints. As such the importance of proper form in exercise cannot be underemphasized.

Once you understand these simple tips to tone your muscles effectively, you will be able to enjoy many months and years developing a firm and lean muscular system. On a side note, when you have toned muscles, you can also be assured of added calorie-burning even when you are not moving! Now, isn't that a good enough perk to encourage you to get on with lightweight strengths training?

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