I am trying to tone up at the gym by using the machines, if I add more weight will it make me bulk up?

Question

I don't want to add bulk I want to slim and tone. But I am finding the weight that I am doing very easy. I was told to add more weight but I feel it will make me bulk up. Please any info will help!

To add I do run 3.5 miles every other day. I have been at this now for 8 months. I am still 20 pounds overweight but have lost 56 pounds since I started. I am starting to notice my muscles more and was worried I was doing to much weight. Take for instances the leg press I do 3 sets of 25 at 150 pounds, but now that seems to easy to me. My biceps I can do 3 sets of 25 at 35 pounds on the bicep curl machine. This is easy now. Do I add more weight or more reps. Thanks guys you are real help!

Answer 1

No, it won't make you bulk up. Bulking up takes a lot of work. If you just want to tone, then keep the weights at an amount you can do about 20 repetitions of. When you can easily do 20-25 reps, then add a bit more weight. You will find it necessary to gradually increase the weight because your muscles are becoming more toned, but it doesn't mean you're becoming bulky. When a person is training for bulk, he/she uses heavier weights where only 5-10 reps can be done.

Answer 2

I'm going through the same thing myself. I started working out 3 months ago and thanks to my trainer bf I've gotten some tips. So here are a few:

1. More weight + Fewer reps = Gaining muscle (bulking up.)

2. Less weight + More reps = Getting toned.

3. You do need to gain some muscle and start to tone them. Unless you feel you are already muscular enough in a certain area, you can tone that area.

4. When you do the "less weights, more reps" option you will still reach a plateau you will need to overcome by adding more weights.

5. You want to have a combo workout of weight training and cardio to get the maximum benefits and getting toned. Personally when I go to the gym I warm up on the treadmill for 15 min, lift weights (alternate days with upper body/lower body workouts), then do some cardio for 30 min - 1 hr depending on your pace, lastly stretch.

Lastly, remember because of our physical physique, women won't really "bulk up" like guys. Also, trying a small diet or even portioning what you eat helps a lot.

Answer 3

I'm not completely sure, but I think that if you do more sets of a lower weight, rather than less sets of a higher weight, that will build muscle more. So if you are currently lifting say 50 pounds, and doing 5 sets of 10, then before you add more weight, try doing 10 sets of 10.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Do more reps and go for three sets. You might want to do three sets of eight to begin with (no additional weight but a little variety to get you used to something new). On your next session, aim for three sets of ten and then three sets of twelve. If you really get into it then you have the choice of increasing reps to 15 or increasing sets to 4. This should help tone your muscles whilst adding strength without your muscles bulking up.

Answer 5

More weight doing it less times will make you bulk up
example
100 pounds - 30 times

using less weight is better for toning just do more reps when your body starts addapting

50 pounds - 60 times

Answer 6

You don't need that much weight to tone.You won't bulk up like a man so don't worry. If you are thin it shouldn't make that much of a difference. If you are on the heavier side it could make the fat look bulkier.

Answer 7

firstly theres more you need to do to tone up diet is important
and drink plenty of water weights do work but always remember your goal is to tone so dont train to hard or take on a lot of weight you could think about Pilate's/yoga/swimming
good luck

Answer 8

if you can do more than 15-20 reps than ya add some more weights.

Answer 9

More weight and less repetitions=muscle mass gain
Less weight and more repetitions=toning

Answer 10

to slim and tone use lighter weights and more repetitions, you must build some muscle, (muscle burns 71% more calories than fat) and do cardio to get those muscles working and burning all the unwanted fat.