Gym: how long before I can expect to see a difference?

heartbreak_star

I wasn't talking about bulking, GnD, I was talking about strength training which is a different ballgame.

Strength training builds lovely lean, compact muscle but it's bloody hard work which is why most people don't do it!

"Toned" is one of those works that ticks me off immensely because it makes people think you get nicely gently rippling muscles from a bit of yoga and the odd Pilates class plus lifting a 1lb weight a billion times. Grr.

HBS x

adouglasmhor

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Well, we will have to agree to disagree.

Yes, anybody can get toned with hard work but not everybody can get big bulky muscles unless their genes allow it... or they use drugs.

Edit: I'm talking from a male perspective here.

I agree, but even then for blokes try some of the advice for "Hard Gainers" dotted about the net, (but watch out for sales pitches).

adouglasmhor

Three things give you results, workout, diet and sleep, if you are doing one right and not getting what you expect, check the other two.

Gloomendoom

heartbreak_star wrote: »

I wasn't talking about bulking, GnD, I was talking about strength training which is a different ballgame.

Strength training builds lovely lean, compact muscle but it's bloody hard work which is why most people don't do it!

"Toned" is one of those works that ticks me off immensely because it makes people think you get nicely gently rippling muscles from a bit of yoga and the odd Pilates class plus lifting a 1lb weight a billion times. Grr.

HBS x

Well, I know that isn't the case because Mrs G took part in a six month ladies challenge on a US weight training forum and, despite working her dumbells off, she didn't have rippling muscles at the end of it. She did win the challenge though.

heartbreak_star

Nicely done Mrs G!

Most of the women I know seem to think they'll get muscles from lifting bottles of water and tins of beans...

HBS x

Gloomendoom

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Three things give you results, workout, diet and sleep, if you are doing one right and not getting what you expect, check the other two.

I think sleep is one of my problems. I suffer from terrible insomnia at times.

Caroline_a

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Nicely done Mrs G!

Most of the women I know seem to think they'll get muscles from lifting bottles of water and tins of beans...

HBS x

I know, ridiculous! And yet, have you seen the weight of the bags they carry....?? :rotfl:

Gloomendoom

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Nicely done Mrs G!

Most of the women I know seem to think they'll get muscles from lifting bottles of water and tins of beans...

HBS x

No, we ended up scouring eBay for bigger and bigger weight plates.

adouglasmhor

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Nicely done Mrs G!

Most of the women I know seem to think they'll get muscles from lifting bottles of water and tins of beans...

HBS x

I used to dumbell press, kickback, row and shrug bottles of water at lunchtime in work as part of my routine, my work even had a special gym rack for them.

heartbreak_star

Hehe, I love it!

Sadly we have one of those filter things, not coolers. Booooo!

HBS x