Gone down three clothing sizes but doesn't look toned

thejuggler

Over the last 6 months my gf (31) has become a gym regular and has dropped three clothing sizes from a size 14 to an 8-10 using a combination of weights/cardio and healthy nutrition. She has also lost 10% body fat going from 35% to 25%

Despite losing the weight she says her body doesn't look toned as her skin is saggy in places..

What does she need to do to achieve the toned look. Is it a matter of lowering body fat further?

Dragan

The important thing to remember is that when losing body fat, the skin can remain stretched in certain area's for a while. Your right in that the key to "toning" is loss of bodyfat and to ensure minimal water rentention also ( by drinking plenty of water every day ). All in all, it can just take time but your wife will need to be patient. Having made the changes she has she should be very proud, and use this to further fuel future changes.

g'em

You said the missus is doing weights, but so, so many women do what they consider 'weights' and it's really nothing more than half-heartedly lifting the equivalent of a bag of sugar up and down a couple of times. For real toning, a good weight lifting program will work (trust me, I'm an ex-wibbly-wobbler myself ).

There's still a common misconception that lifting heavily will cause a women to bulk up, but the simple fact is that we just don't have the same hormones that guys to that help them build shape. In fact, the heavier a girl lifts, generally the slimmer she gets. In her weights workout your gf should be lifting heavily enought that she gets properly fatigued, as in the muscles are actually doing hard work. A shopping bag can easily weight 4-5kg when its full of veg/ tins/ heavy foods, and most people can lift that no problem, so where's the logic in lifting a 1-2kg dumbell thinking it'll tone you?

If possible, ask her what weight training she does and post it.

thejuggler

I think shes increased the weights progressively over the 6 months. she started off light but is up to 5 or 6 kg now. She has a trainer in the gym who designs and reviews the programme regularly

Transform

You are correct - she will not look really 'toned' (gosh it hurts me to use that terrible word) until she hits 20% or below.
She has made excellent progress - keep upping the weight slowly or more importantly changing the program every 6-8 weeks.

All the best and its good to hear of the success stories

thejuggler

Thanks Transform

Seraphina

i'm also having this problem - i haven't lost as much weight so i dont have the saggy skin problem - but i just cant seem to get firm/toned whatever you call it.
i'm gradually increasing my weights (only started using them regularly recently) but everyone keeps telling me that starting weights is a bad idea - that when i stop they'll just go flabby (not turn to fat)

im finishing college this year and after this wont be able to afford a proper gym (only in crunch in ucd anyway) so i definitely dont want this happening if i cant keep up the weights.

i'm easily lifting 30kg with my legs for 2/3 sets of 12 reps (supposed to be 2 but i added in a third to make it slightly taxing)
i really dont know what i should be doing here - there's conflicting advice from so many corners i dont know who to believe!

ronbyrne2005

Seraphina wrote:

i'm also having this problem - i haven't lost as much weight so i dont have the saggy skin problem - but i just cant seem to get firm/toned whatever you call it.
i'm gradually increasing my weights (only started using them regularly recently) but everyone keeps telling me that starting weights is a bad idea - that when i stop they'll just go flabby (not turn to fat)

im finishing college this year and after this wont be able to afford a proper gym (only in crunch in ucd anyway) so i definitely dont want this happening if i cant keep up the weights.

i'm easily lifting 30kg with my legs for 2/3 sets of 12 reps (supposed to be 2 but i added in a third to make it slightly taxing)
i really dont know what i should be doing here - there's conflicting advice from so many corners i dont know who to believe!

stopping weight training will lead your muscle to be less hard as you lose muscle if you dont keep training but dont stop,if you cant afford a gym theres loads of exercises you can do at home with a cheap set of weights and a swiss ball.dont listen to people who tell you things about training unless they are in good shape themselves ,most people havent a clue about training and nutrition and should be ignored.

Clive

ronbyrne2005 wrote:

dont listen to people who tell you things about training unless they are in good shape themselves

Have to disagree there, there are plenty of people in great shape who haven't a notion and plenty of coaches who are frail oldsters, guys who gave up competing and don't care anymore, sport science experts etc. who give great advice.

Transform

Seraphina wrote:

i'm also having this problem - i haven't lost as much weight so i dont have the saggy skin problem - but i just cant seem to get firm/toned whatever you call it.
i'm gradually increasing my weights (only started using them regularly recently) but everyone keeps telling me that starting weights is a bad idea - that when i stop they'll just go flabby (not turn to fat)

im finishing college this year and after this wont be able to afford a proper gym (only in crunch in ucd anyway) so i definitely dont want this happening if i cant keep up the weights.

i'm easily lifting 30kg with my legs for 2/3 sets of 12 reps (supposed to be 2 but i added in a third to make it slightly taxing)
i really dont know what i should be doing here - there's conflicting advice from so many corners i dont know who to believe!

Start a new thread with you goals, current program (include all exercises reps and sets) and EVERYTHING you eat on a normal day and then answers will flow.

More info = better advice

Not enough info and too unspecific