Feb

18

Can someone explain the difference between toning and building muscle ?

Filed Under Building Muscle Tips 

Audrey Z asked:


I’m really confused about what exactly the goal of strength training and light weight lifting is…

On one hand, people say it will tone your muscles, making them smaller,tighter, and firmer

Then on the other hand people say you’re building muscle……which sounds like bulking up, not getting smaller!

What is the difference, please?
So, if I’m a girl and do light leg weights….

Are they going to get bigger or smaller?

Jonathan

Comments

6 Responses to “Can someone explain the difference between toning and building muscle ?”

  1. Carlos on February 21st, 2009 2:54 pm

    Francisco

    toning is defining the muscle u already have

    building muscle is adding to the muscle u already have

  2. Philip S on February 22nd, 2009 3:30 pm

    Yolanda

    both of these ideas are very common goals of weightlifting, but it all depends what kind of look youre going for…gaining mass and bulk or getting cut and a more compressed look

  3. salt lick on February 24th, 2009 7:40 am

    Milton

    Building muscle is just like it sounds. bulking up the muscle mass in your body buy heavy lifting. Toning is making the muscle more defined and giving it shape. You get that by low weight and high reputitions/cardio workouts. I suck at explaining stuff so if that didnt help…ma bad

  4. Quicksand on February 24th, 2009 1:41 pm

    Eugene

    building muscle mean you make them stronger and bigger in size and toning is just the shape of the growing muscle and firmed shape and they aren’t strong like the building muscles

  5. andy e on February 24th, 2009 6:25 pm

    Alan

    toning is made up women’s magazine BS

  6. Steve C on February 26th, 2009 7:08 pm

    Cindy

    Building Muscle: Low reps with lots of weight. It makes you BIG. Not toned, but able to lift a lot. Example: A keg (abs)

    Toning Muscle: Lots of reps at low weights. It makes you able to SHOW muscle. Like you are not strong, but you have DEFINITION. Example: A six pack. (abs)

    I prefer muscle building because I’m 62′ and weigh 240. I’d rather be able to lift a lot than show a lot. That’s just my opinion.

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