Advice on ways to tone up...without going to a class!?

qwertytlk

Hey there everyone,:)

I am wanting to tone up my body - nothing to drastic or anything, i would just like a little more defination on my abs, upper legs/thighs. Im not overweight or pudgy by any means, i am just not very toned in these area;s
I am around 128lbs (approx 9stone), and 5'2/3 in height with a small frame. Im what you might call petite! Its been said to me before that i do not look 9stone-ish, but i guess i have 'heavy' bones!:Dhahahaha

Anyway i was reading a Cheryl cole interview in a mag a few weeks ago about how she keeps fit and what she does to keep her 'amazing' abs in shape so......According to the mag, she does Yogalates (mixture of Yoga&Pilates) 3 times a day for 10 mins each time. There was good info on yougalates accompaning the article -pictures, tips etc, and a starter routine so i started doing it myself. Firstly for 5-10 mins a day using the rountine in the article, then i searched it on youtube and found some other good routines that explained well about the breathing methods that are so important in yoga/pilates etc, anyway i incorporated some of these into the workout i was already doing and after a few weeks i was doin it every day for around 15 mins, sometimes 25!. I havent done it now in about 2 weeks due to...well lots of stuff really-just being busy...and lazy:P!! but i reallly want to get back into doing a good routine twice daily a.s.a.p

So now that i want to get back into it, i was wondering does anyone have any tips/info/or a really good routine they can let me know about, something from youtube with a video or something similar that would help me to work on the area's im keen to tone up (stomach,bum and thigh's). Im not looking for something really intense but maybe something at an intermediate level-for now, that you yourself have used and know works?

Id Appreciate any advice or tips anyone can give me!:)

Also was wondering what do others that use, or have used the Yogaltes/yoga/Pilates routines think of them? Did they leave you with good results? I ask this because even though i felt the routines i was using working to some extent, I didnt actually feel really sore or have tensed muscles the following day......and i suppose i felt i should have felt tender muscles for the first while?:rolleyes:

Thanks in advance for any replies!

Also if anyone has any routines or advice to let me in on, i just want to say that i would prefer something that i dont need any equiptment for due to costs etc, so the same goes for an excercise class....otherwise i would have signed up for one already!!!!

lubie76

You were correct about not wanting to lose weight as you sound fine for your height.

I have done yoga and pilates before and while they do have their uses in fitness (great for flexibility and breathing), Yogalates isn't intense enough to make a dramatic difference. You would be better off doing a few sessions of resistance (initially using your body as resistance as you don't have any equipment) and a few cardio sessions (at least 30mins) 3-4 times a week. This would be good for starting off. As time goes on you will need to start using free weights but these can be picked up for very cheap in the likes of Argos. If you want to use videos I would search for resistance exercise sessions. You probably will be getting doms (delayed onset muscle soreness) after the first couple of sessions and that is fine as it means you are working hard.

Do not use Cheryl Cole as a role model as she has personal training sessions using top of the range equipment and besides she is too thin imo. Also the fact that you aren't attending classes or gym you may struggle motivating yourself for exercise as you did lapse before. I would also forget about the 2 sessons a day unless you want to do your resistance exercise seperate from your cardio. Hope this helps!

justsomebloke

what's your diet like as chances are this is where you are falling down, as to "tone" up chances are that it isn't the muscles that are the problem but the fat covering them, so reduce the BF and you will probably more then likely start to see the body you want.

Transform

this can all be done at home

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhwmRUD3iI