When joining a gym or starting out on a new killer exercise plan, you will no doubt have a few goals in mind.
Where some will want to resemble The Hulk and others to live a healthier lifestyle; one common goal is toning up. Losing fat and giving more definition to muscles, toning up is something we all have on our ever-growing to-do list.
Understanding this, we at Simply Gym have put together a few tips for our readers; tips to help them tone up this winter!
Eat, eat, eat!
Too many times have we seen people cut their calories in a plea to tone up. But, if you want to meet your expectations, your body will need the fuel to get you there. Unfortunately, this does not come in the form of a burger, chips and a cheeky side of garlic bread. What you need to do is load your body with foods that are high in nutrients and low in artificial ingredients, giving your body the best chance of smashing your workouts.
Stay hydrated
While a bit of an obvious point, staying hydrated is so important when looking to tone up. Just remember, muscles are between 70%-80% water, with dehydration leading to muscle breakdown.
Interval training
You may have heard us harping on about the benefits of workouts such as HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training). This is because interval training boasts various cardiovascular benefits. From making your heart stronger and more efficient to limiting risks of disease and high blood pressure, doing short bursts of high-intensity exercises is always a good idea.
Have the mindset of a winner!
The easiest way to deter you from toning up is having the wrong mindset. When starting out on your mission, know that it won’t be easy, requiring a great deal of work, willpower and determination. Achieve this by keeping the end-result in mind and remembering why you started out on this plan in the first place.
Hiding under the covers or sitting in the car for an hour in the gym car park will not get those abs sculpted!
Chill
Though chilling out may not sound like a good plan for getting toned, it is in fact the perfect method! This is because stress elevates the cortisol hormone. This is a hormone that is responsible for your body storing fat and diminishing muscle. So, getting lots of sleep and taking it easy between workouts is a must (result!).
Need help toning up?
If you are struggling to obtain that dream body, then we at Simply Gym can help. With top-of-the-range gyms dotted across the country and some of the best Personal Trainers in the game, we can create a bespoke plan that will directly reflect your wants and needs. To make use of our PTs, incredible selection of classes or to discuss membership options, get in touch with our team today. They don’t bite, we promise!
