Gym Equipment for Toning | MuscleSquad

Toning

'Toning' is rather a general term but is normally associated with having a lean, athletic look. If you're looking to achieve a toned look, this normally equates to increasing muscle mass and reducing body fat, and we have loads of kit that can help with that.

 

FAQ

01

What equipment do you need to get toned?

Toning workouts can incorporate almost any piece of equipment, like resistance bands, dumbbells, or kettlebells, or no equipment at all.

A good place to start would be with items like a gym mat, resistance bands and a slam ball. It's also a good idea to invest in a set of dumbbells, you can figure out what weight will work for you by lifting household objects and seeing if you can perform 12-15 reps with that object (you should feel the effort, but not struggle so much that you can't finish your set). A full 1L water bottle = approximately 1kg.

02

What exercises are good for toning?

It's generally a good idea to aim for 12-15 reps of an exercise, making sure you use a weight or resistance that challenges you. If you're doing bodyweight squats and feeling no burn at all, you should try holding a weighted object so that your muscles get the full benefit of the movement. Check out our workout guides for all kinds of different workouts you can do, depending on the equipment you have at home.

03

How does toning differ from bulking?

A lot of people think that training with weights will give them huge muscles, but it's important to remember that no one ever becomes a bodybuilder by accident. Training with resistance can be vital to achieve a toned look.

The amount of muscle you gain is down to the amount of weight you use, your diet and your training style. Training to gain bulk muscle involves lifting weights at 65-80% of your 1RM for 8-12 reps, whereas for building lean muscle, you would aim to lift around 50% of your 1RM for 12-15 reps per set.