Source: lifeisa-gym
The Truth About Muscle Toning
by Flavia Del Monte, Certified Trainer and Nutritionist
“It is unfortunate to see how many females who fear muscle end up detouring their progress in what should be a relatively easy goal, “toning”.
I’ve always found it ironic when I read fitness magazines or hear trainers tell women you can’t build big muscles because you don’t produce as much testosterone as a man (which is true) but then paradoxically say to just use low weight and high reps or go for the burn!
Why would it matter if women lift heavy weights and low reps if we don’t have the hormones to produce big muscles? Why do “fitness experts” contradict themselves and perpetuate these toning myths? Perhaps they are scared to prescribe heavy weights and low reps because they are misinformed on “toning”?
Here’s what females must understand about muscle toning if they ever want TRULY toned, defined and sexy curves:
Relying on low weight and high reps results in spending years trying to achieve what a few months of heavier weight and low reps could potentially bring if the weights were progressed up at a gradual level!
The entire, “Drop the weights and go for a burn…” advice is complete nonsense! Here’s why:
There are two types of muscle tone: Myogenic muscle tone and neurogenic muscle tone. You need both for a sexy,hard and defined looking body.
Myogenic tone can be defined as residual tension in a resting muscle. What this really means is how hard, full and dense your muscles are at rest. An increase in myogenic tone is a permanent increase in the appearance of your muscles. Myogenic tone is affected by the density of your muscles and is improved by stimulation of the contractile proteins using a moderately heavy loads and moderately lower rep training workouts.
Neurogenic tone refers to the level of tension in a muscle in a working or flexed state. That is how “hard” a muscle is when you are training it or just flexing it. It refers to muscle tone that is expressed when movements occur (like when you extend your arms to point). Neurogenic tone is improved due to the effect lower rep training [i.e. less than 7 reps] has on improving the efficiency of your central nervous system.
Heavy weight training for women increases your myogenic tone through the hypertrophy (growth) of the contractile proteins myosin and actin (myosin and actin are by far the most dense components of skeletal muscle).
Lower rep training with heavier weights is by far the best way to get a lean, defined and tight body. This type of training will increase the sensitivity of alpha and gamma motor neurons, thus increasing neurogenic tone when conducting even the simplest of movements (i.e. walking, extending your arm to point, etc).
Training with heavy weights improves both myogenic and neurogenic tone. When a body is stripped of much of its fat, muscle density and hardness go a long way to enhancing the attractiveness of one’s physique! If your goal is to have a lean, sexy and defined looking body, then incorporating training with heavy weights and low reps is the next (and best) step to set yourself up for an amazing body.
Need proof?
Have you ever seen a women in the gym or in a magazine with defined arms? Toned shoulders? Sculpted calves? Trim thighs? The way their bodies are sleek and curved is easy to achieve once you get rid of the “drop the weights and go for the burn” nonsense and begin working out with some heavier weights and lower reps — this is the best way to lean, hard and strong, but not big! As long as you manage your calories, there is no fear in getting big. Remember, muscles grow on calories so as long as you don’t start eating like a bodybuilder, you will never come close to looking like one (thank goodness)!
Now that you can see a difference between myogenic tone and neurogenic tone it’s time to use this information to go from ordinary to extraordinary and Curveless to Curvalicious!”
Source: muffintop-less
i cannot wait to do this with my right leg again…
(via inspiringchickpic)
Source: topfilmgifs
Source: lifeisa-gym
injured
- What up folks so i have been injured for the past 3 weeks my right knee has some fluid on it and i have difficulty applying pressure and forceful weight to the knee. So i have been to the doctor and the Ortho therapy has been prescribed but the hardest thing to do is stay on my diet. So this week i am reinvesting in my diet and with therapy i can find out what i can and cannot do in the gym. its been really hard without the combo of gym work and eating. its has not been easy at all. well i just thought i would share.
Submitted by blitman
I’ve vomited when this has happened to me before. I hate that mushy texture. #toughguyfail
Source: bodybuilderproblems
“Don’t start to look manly!”
Okay, because looking manly magically happens over night without the help of “performance enhancing” drugs.
Jesus, why do I keep hearing this?
Source: dedication-to-motivation
How is everyone out there
well the past two weeks have been so frustrating. I have not been able to workout the way i would like. my knees are killing me but i hope some answers are in sight i head to the orthopedic today to see whats really going on. I hope i get news that i can deal with if not i will still push on. I have come to far and learned to much about my body not to keep going. but at this point i just want to know why i have the pain and how to make sure i dont get this pain again.
Source: beforeandaftersmen
When life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up. Let your reason get you back up. -Les Brown
(via bodybuilding-society)
Source: spiritualinspiration
time to rest
rise and grind folks. Time for a little perspective monday went down and i heard some pops in my knee. I have been down in a funk ever sense. I so dont want to miss a moment of training but its time to take my own advice and sit my butt down. i hate it tho. i want to do crossfit or go lift legs. I have to keep reminding my self its a process and nothing happens over night. The hardest advice to take is your own and taking this advice sucks ass. well thats my thoughts for today i hope you all have a wonderful lovely day peace and blessings to you all. I go to the doctor tomorrow and we will see the outcome but judging from the look of it will not be good.


![muffintop-less:
The Truth About Muscle Toning by Flavia Del Monte, Certified Trainer and Nutritionist“It is unfortunate to see how many females who fear muscle end up detouring their progress in what should be a relatively easy goal, “toning”.I’ve always found it ironic when I read fitness magazines or hear trainers tell women you can’t build big muscles because you don’t produce as much testosterone as a man (which is true) but then paradoxically say to just use low weight and high reps or go for the burn! Why would it matter if women lift heavy weights and low reps if we don’t have the hormones to produce big muscles? Why do “fitness experts” contradict themselves and perpetuate these toning myths? Perhaps they are scared to prescribe heavy weights and low reps because they are misinformed on “toning”?Here’s what females must understand about muscle toning if they ever want TRULY toned, defined and sexy curves:Relying on low weight and high reps results in spending years trying to achieve what a few months of heavier weight and low reps could potentially bring if the weights were progressed up at a gradual level!The entire, “Drop the weights and go for a burn…” advice is complete nonsense! Here’s why:There are two types of muscle tone: Myogenic muscle tone and neurogenic muscle tone. You need both for a sexy,hard and defined looking body.Myogenic tone can be defined as residual tension in a resting muscle. What this really means is how hard, full and dense your muscles are at rest. An increase in myogenic tone is a permanent increase in the appearance of your muscles. Myogenic tone is affected by the density of your muscles and is improved by stimulation of the contractile proteins using a moderately heavy loads and moderately lower rep training workouts. Neurogenic tone refers to the level of tension in a muscle in a working or flexed state. That is how “hard” a muscle is when you are training it or just flexing it. It refers to muscle tone that is expressed when movements occur (like when you extend your arms to point). Neurogenic tone is improved due to the effect lower rep training [i.e. less than 7 reps] has on improving the efficiency of your central nervous system.Heavy weight training for women increases your myogenic tone through the hypertrophy (growth) of the contractile proteins myosin and actin (myosin and actin are by far the most dense components of skeletal muscle).Lower rep training with heavier weights is by far the best way to get a lean, defined and tight body. This type of training will increase the sensitivity of alpha and gamma motor neurons, thus increasing neurogenic tone when conducting even the simplest of movements (i.e. walking, extending your arm to point, etc).Training with heavy weights improves both myogenic and neurogenic tone. When a body is stripped of much of its fat, muscle density and hardness go a long way to enhancing the attractiveness of one’s physique! If your goal is to have a lean, sexy and defined looking body, then incorporating training with heavy weights and low reps is the next (and best) step to set yourself up for an amazing body.Need proof?Have you ever seen a women in the gym or in a magazine with defined arms? Toned shoulders? Sculpted calves? Trim thighs? The way their bodies are sleek and curved is easy to achieve once you get rid of the “drop the weights and go for the burn” nonsense and begin working out with some heavier weights and lower reps — this is the best way to lean, hard and strong, but not big! As long as you manage your calories, there is no fear in getting big. Remember, muscles grow on calories so as long as you don’t start eating like a bodybuilder, you will never come close to looking like one (thank goodness)!Now that you can see a difference between myogenic tone and neurogenic tone it’s time to use this information to go from ordinary to extraordinary and Curveless to Curvalicious!”](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4t1bpz4Ok1qm5hzso1_1280.jpg)


