Here are some toning tips for your fitness toolbox in no particular order. Mix-n-match. Read one a day. Have fun! Tip 1 - Tummy Toner - In addition to your toning workout, eat smaller portions. Your stomach is only about as large as your fist. So no need to stuff yourself with a large plate full of food.
Tip 2 - Try a Trainer - Get advice or help from a trainer from time to time. Some online trainers are pretty affordable like around $2 week at eDiets.com. Or search your favorite online engine for free fitness forums and chat away.
Tip 3 - Posture Practice - Practice improving your posture daily, no matter whether you are sitting at your work desk, sitting at home in
family room or at
table, or standing and walking.
Tip 4 - Variety - Vary your toning routine during
week. Alternate days that you do cardio work on days when you don't do your toning work.
Tip 5 - Routine - Also vary your routine. Research shows that a body can adapt to
same routine over a 4- to 6-week time frame. When you vary
routine,
body works harder, trying to adapt once again. At least increase
intensity or amount of sets you do. But "change" something.
Tip 6 - Warm Up - Don't forget to warm up with some stretches before diving into your toning exercises in both cardio and strength training. You only need about 5 to 8 minutes. And target
muscle groups that you'll be using. What is "WARM-UP" -A warm-up period helps your body by passing along lots of blood, full of nutrients, to areas that are about to be exercised, resulting in
warming up of
muscles and
lubrication of
joints. No matter whether you are working out at home, in a fitness center or outdoors, regardless of weather, you need to warm up before beginning all exercise activities in order to prepare your body for your workout. So improve your performance and reduce your risk of injury with a warm-up period.
What is "COOL-DOWN" - The period of 5 to 10 minutes at
end of your workout is
cool-down period. It allows time to lower your heart rate before you dash back off to work or other activities after your workout sessions, and reduces your risk of muscle soreness and injury that could come from your workout. This cool-down period should include 5 minutes of cardio exercise like stationary biking or walking, and should proceed at a reduced pace from your previous exercise activities. At
end, you should focus on about 5 minutes of slow, focused stretching, when your breathing goes back to where it was before your workout.