Lean Up: 7 Ways to Shed Size and Achieve Muscle Tone Definition

Are you trying to shed size? Want to build muscle tone? There are ways you can achieve both.

You might have heard about the different diets and workout plans. These claim to help you lose weight fast. They also claim to help you gain muscle mass.

The reality is that these can be bad for your health. Rapid weight loss can be dangerous.

To lose weight and achieve muscle tone definition you must do it the right way. Read on to learn 7 ways you can achieve this.

1. Be Realistic

The first step you must take to achieve muscle tone definition is to set goals. You must set realistic and attainable goals. Set a plan to help you reach your goals.

Making a plan helps you keep your focus on the goals. You can dedicate yourself to the goals and remain motivated.

You can start at a nice pace and build momentum with each week. It’ll help you build confidence and a sense of achievement.

2. Don’t Stop Eating

You might be thinking that building muscle tone means not eating. This is the wrong idea. It’s one of the worst ways to go about reaching this goal.

Keep in mind that your body needs to take in calories. Yes, it needs calories, but the nutrient-dense ones.

Your body uses calories as fuel. This is the fuel it needs to keep your metabolism metabolizing. Focus on eating high-quality foods.

You must eat throughout the day. Think five to six meals a day. It’s ideal if you plan out your meals ahead.

Stay away from starches as they can cause you to gain weight. These include breads and pastas.

Focus on eating good carbs. The good carbs include whole fruits and vegetables. Whole grains also make up good carbs.

Combine the good carbs with healthy fats. Stick with seeds and nuts. These are foods that give you the necessary calories to build muscle tone.

Let’s not forget about protein. Don’t scrimp on protein. One of the best things you can do to sustain muscle during weight loss is to increase your protein intake.

3. Stay Hydrated

If you’re working out hard, you need to stay hydrated. Your muscles depend on water.

Did you know that water makes up most of the composition of muscles? Water accounts for 70-80 percent of a muscle.

You should never become dehydrated. Dehydration leads to muscle breakdown. You don’t want to lose muscle tone definition because of the lack of water intake.

Here’s the million-dollar question. How much water should you drink? It depends on your sex.

Women should drink about 73 ounces. Men should drink about 100 ounces.

Focus on maintaining the right electrolyte balance. There should be a balance between sodium and potassium. Don’t forget about magnesium and calcium.

4. Try Interval Training

A great way to lose fat without sacrificing muscle is by doing interval training. This involves alternating short bursts of intense activity with periods of rest and recovery.

You might not be used to interval training. You can work it on your routine. It’s important you do as it will help preserve or retain lean muscle mass.

5. Make Your Muscles Multitask for a Longer Calorie Burn

Don’t stick with the same groups of exercises. You must choose a variety of them that target different muscle groups.

For example, you can do a lunge with a bicep curl. This way you can use different muscles.

Doing this can help have more energy for your workout. By working different muscles at the same time, your body will release more hormones. The hormones will help stimulate the burning of more calories throughout the day.

Do you want to build muscle tone, but not get bulky? This is a common concern for many females. To avoid this, you need to light to moderate weights.

Focus on strength training. It helps to build muscle.

Strength training also has other great benefits. It can boost your metabolism to burn calories quicker. You can become leaner in the process.

6. Find Ways To Reduce Your Stress

It’s no secret that stress is bad for one’s health. Did you know that stress can cause you to gain weight?

Stress can cause the cortisol hormone to go up. This hormone can make your body store fat. It’ll diminish muscle.

The good news is that there are ways you can reduce stress. Get a lot of quality sleep. Learn to do breathing exercises.

A great way to reduce your stress is by working out. This way you get to kill two birds with one stone. You can reduce stress while you build muscle tone.

7. Workout With a Trainer

If you’re a novice, it’s best to work out with a trainer. A trainer can help you reach your goals. Through personal training, you get an experienced individual who uses a one-on-one approach to train you.

There are several great reasons why you should have a trainer. A trainer will give you tips to build muscle tone. The trainer will motivate you to work towards your goal.