Question for you: What exercises should I do to tone up a little, WITHOUT bulking up and becoming one of those muscleheads?

My goal is to get slim and trim (I'm already losing weight) with just enough muscle definition in the chest, shoulders, and arms. In other words, a volleyball player type of guy (NOT a weightlifting nut!).

I want to tone up while continuing to lose weight (don't want to gain weight due to working out).

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I think you want to use moderate weight doing moderate reps. So like...3 sets of 12-15 reps per exercise.

Easy. Pushups, crunches and pull-ups.

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Originally posted by HardTranceProd I want to tone up while continuing to lose weight (don't want to gain weight due to working out).

The muscle you gain will weigh more than the fat you lost (more than likely).

You should do a lot of cardio as well, treadmill or jogging or whatever. Not only will you (obviously) lose weight, but you will naturally gain better definition in the areas you want with that extra weight off.

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Originally posted by CONNERMAN2000 You should do a lot of cardio as well, treadmill or jogging or whatever. Not only will you (obviously) lose weight, but you will naturally gain better definition in the areas you want with that extra weight off.

Careful. Thunderthighs have been known to grow on peoples who used cardio machines like the stepmaster.

Limit to treadmill and elliptical for toning.

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Originally posted by HardTranceProd Question for you: What exercises should I do to tone up a little, WITHOUT bulking up and becoming one of those muscleheads?

Trust me, that's not as easy to achieve as you may think.
Takes a lot of time, dedication and power of will, so you're pretty much safe as long as you're not trying to achieve it.

Sprints / interval running. Pullups.

Also try mixing jogging with pushups, e.g. run a hundred yards, do fifteen pushups, repeat. Shouldn't take long to get tiring unless you're in very good shape.

Heavy weights with low reps can help as well.

Honestly, you're almost certainly not going to gain a huge amount of muscle unless you eat a bunch or have a strong genetic propensity to get "big." It's not like you'll work out for two weeks and suddenly find that you've transformed into some meathead.

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Originally posted by Yan Careful. Thunderthighs have been known to grow on peoples who used cardio machines like the stepmaster. Limit to treadmill and elliptical for toning.

I absolutely hate the stepmaster. As monotonous as most work out routines are, constantly stepping on moving steps is the worst.

Nothing beats running if you ask me, but lately I've been getting some bad shin splints and other assorted ankle sores, so I've had to cut down to a lot of walking (I walk to and from class and pretty much everywhere, hardly drive except for groceries and what have you).

Another good one is riding a bike. Gets you places AND you get a work out. Win/win.

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Originally posted by CONNERMAN2000 Nothing beats running if you ask me, but lately I've been getting some bad shin splints and other assorted ankle sores...

What kind of running do you do? And what surface do you run on?

swim. nohing i can think of is healthier for the body and itll give you great, natural definition.

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Originally posted by RapidFire swim. nohing i can think of is healthier for the body and itll give you great, natural definition.

Agree'd, but im a runner.

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Originally posted by dallastar I do not lurk here on TA!

What I do every-other day to stay fit and tone but not overly bulk is

-45 situps(15 repsx3 sets w/10 seconds break between sets)

-20 mins on the eliptical

-15 reps of 25 lbs standing bicep curls

-30 reps(15 repsx2 sets w/10 seconds break between sets) of 30 lbs standing bicep curls.

-15 reps of 35 lbs standing bicep curls

-5 lbs shoulder rotator work outs, this one is a bit tricky
--15 reps per arm with upper arm parallell to body and 90 degree swings of lower arm from forward position to side position
--15 reps per arm side swings
--15 reps per arm running arm motion
--15 reps forward lifts

-10 lbs shoulder rotator work outs, this one is a bit tricky
--15 reps per arm with upper arm parallell to body and 90 degree swings of lower arm from forward position to side position
--15 reps per arm side swings
--15 reps per arm running arm motion
--15 reps forward lifts

-15 lbs shoulder rotator work outs, this one is a bit tricky
--15 reps per arm with upper arm parallell to body and 90 degree swings of lower arm from forward position to side position
--15 reps per arm side swings
--15 reps per arm running arm motion
--15 reps forward lifts

-15 reps leg outs
--laying back to the ground and moving legs out and in

-20 reps upper ab work out
--laying back to the ground but mimicing a sitting position

-15 reps leg outs
--laying back to the ground and moving legs out and in

-20 reps upper ab work out
--laying back to the ground but mimicing a sitting position

-15 reps leg outs
--laying back to the ground and moving legs out and in

-20 reps upper ab work out
--laying back to the ground but mimicing a sitting position

It takes me about 40 minutes to get through this entire sequence and works my upper body, cardio system, and mid body. When I started this regime I was sitting around 200 lbs now im down to 180 or so. Folks say im skinny due to me being 6'2" though.