getting toned..

Anyone lift weights to help tone up? Not heavy huge weights but like 5 lbs or so.. what are good ways to lift if you do? other than sit ups or crunches what other exercises would you recommend for the lower stomach? How about the butt?

I plan to start a log of my progress soon with pics of before baby during pregnancy & now at one year pp. I want to update it once a month to see if i can see any results. Im not interested in losing any weight just toning tightening & reshaping.

Tia for any tips advice or encourgement! Im not one who is known to exercise & have a hard time sticking to it once started. Wish me luck ladies. I want to like my body again!

Planks will help tone your stomach. Also the pilates 100 is pretty awesome. You lay flat on your back legs up at a 45 degree angle with arms and shoulders off the floor. You breathe in for 5 counts then out for 5 until you reach 100.

You can use a kettle bell there are tones of exercises you can find online

if you really want to tone up you need to use heavier weights than 5 lbs. Thats ok to start with, but as you get stronger you need to increase the weight as you go. heavier weights will not make you bulk up if that's what you're affraid of. look into the book, the new rules of weight lifting for women.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Addi's Momma:</b>" Planks will help tone your stomach. Also the pilates 100 is pretty awesome. You lay flat on your back ... [snip!] ... up at a 45 degree angle with arms and shoulders off the floor. You breathe in for 5 counts then out for 5 until you reach 100."</blockquote>



Thanks. Idk how to so planks lol but ill google. I will try the 100s but with how im not used to much exercise i may start with 50 & increase by 25 a week. Again thank you for your advice.  

Quoting 1+1=4..maybe more..:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Addi's Momma:</b>" Planks will help tone your stomach. Also ... [snip!] ... 100s but with how im not used to much exercise i may start with 50 & increase by 25 a week. Again thank you for your advice.  "

No problem. My DH helps out a lot with the toning since the Marine Corp owns him. He also has suggested push ups since you have to tighten your stomach to hold yourself up. Pilates is great for toning though.

<blockquote><b>Quoting jaela's♥mommy {BBM}:</b>" if you really want to tone up you need to use heavier weights than 5 lbs. Thats ok to start with, but ... [snip!] ... will not make you bulk up if that's what you're affraid of. look into the book, the new rules of weight lifting for women."</blockquote>




Yes i am afraid of the heavy weights lol. My dh calls my biceps peanuts because they're very small. Anything over the 5 lbs & i feel like my arms are gonna fall off after about 10 mins. Lol. I would like to increase the weight eventually but want to be ready. Thanks for the book referral ill def look into since i dont know what types of movements to really do to get results lol.

Quoting 1+1=4..maybe more..:" <blockquote><b>Quoting jaela's♥mommy {BBM}:</b>" if you really want to tone up ... [snip!] ... Thanks for the book referral ill def look into since i dont know what types of movements to really do to get results lol."

if you're serious about it, and can afford it, P90X is amazing for toning

<blockquote><b>Quoting jaela's♥mommy {BBM}:</b>" if you're serious about it, and can afford it, P90X is amazing for toning"</blockquote>


  i honestly cant afford it atm.maybe in a month or two i can talk dh into doing it with me though.. do you know how much it is? We should have some extra money after kids birthdays & holidays pass.maybe by then ill be in better shape & ready for the challenge. Lol.

i think its around $120, but they offer to break it up so you only pay $40 a month for 4 months. you can see all the option on beachbody.com they have a ton of videos that are all really good.

<blockquote><b>Quoting jaela's♥mommy {BBM}:</b>" i think its around $120, but they offer to break it up so you only pay $40 a month for 4 months. you can see all the option on beachbody.com they have a ton of videos that are all really good."</blockquote>




Thank you for all your help. Ill be checking it out soon.