How To Tone Your Body According To An Expert
Updated by Sarah Baird
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, it’s both tradition (and human nature) to mark the end of one calendar year and the limitless possibilities of the next by setting goals for personal improvement over the next 365 days. Some people aim to improve their organization skills, going from sticky notes plastered everywhere to an organized system, while others set their sights on traveling to a long-desired locale: Tokyo, Bali, Sydney. For many, though, embracing a healthier lifestyle is a self-directed charge in the coming year, leading to January gym membership spikes and plenty of good intentions that often slide by the wayside as hectic schedules bleed over into best laid plans.
If you’re committed to embracing a more physically fit 2023, Justin Coldiron of ** My Athlete Box **—a Cratejoy subscription service that motivates women to live healthier lifestyles with healthy fuel, apparel, virtual one-on-one workouts, recipes, motivation, and gear—has a handful of tried-and-true tips for how to tone your body in the new year.
Schedule It
Creating (and following!) a clear schedule for toning your body is assuredly one of the biggest hurdles to seeing results manifest, but Coldiron says it’s crucial for consistency and making a full-and-complete lifestyle shift instead of a flash-in-the-pan attempt at better health. “I know how it goes. You say you're going to do all these grand things [at the start of the year] and it gets overwhelming. Depending on the level of fitness, you should start super basic. You should create a schedule—a very basic schedule. Something as simple as putting your shoes on and going around the block every night could be how you tone your body in the beginning. Make it simple so you can stay dedicated to it.”
Color, Color, Color
“If you haven't already, adjust your eating habits,” Coldiron notes. “Start adding plenty of colorful vegetables and fruits into your diet, and start looking at the labels on products.” Toning your body doesn’t start and end with lunges or weights—it’s also about** how you refuel **. It’s useful to think about which fruits and vegetables are in season (read: freshest and best tasting) and eat accordingly. In January, for example, carrots, brussel sprouts, grapefruit, sweet potatoes, and pears are all at their peak and ready to be enjoyed.
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple)
Coldiron says that setting up undue pressure in the beginning of any toning regime will assuredly lead to frustration. Keep it super simple instead! “It’s important to make sure not to put too much on yourself when you start. There shouldn’t be any overwhelm like, ‘Oh, I have to sign up for a gym membership! I have to go here! How do I take these breaks?’ Don't even think about that. Just start with what feels comfortable to you.”
Building Blocks
“Start off small! Use small weights, depending on your experience, just low weight, and as many reps as you can slowly do without overexerting yourself. So many people get wrapped up in this whole–_I've got to lift! I have to bench this many pounds because my friend does it and I see all these CrossFitters doing it!_–and just don't even look at that. Make sure that you’re looking at yourself and take it super slow. Within a couple of weeks, you're going to start realizing that you’re getting stronger and that your toning is getting easier. After that, just slowly bump the weight up.”
Know Your Lingo
In the spirit of having all information possible before getting started, make sure you understand exactly what weight-lifting and toning terminology means before you lace up the first sneaker. The difference between a rep and a set, after all, is important. Coldiron suggests double-checking yourself through an online search so you completely understand what, say, a dumbbell looks like versus a barbell.
Avoid Social Media
It’s easier said than done, to be sure, but Coldiron cautions people to stay off of social media during their toning journey and avoid comparison. “We see these boss babes on Instagram who are really in shape—and that’s great—but I think you just really need to listen to your body. My Athlete Box started because we wanted to bring something to the market that really wasn't there: a space where women of all fitness levels could appreciate high-value apparel, healthy fuel, motivational products, gym care, post-gym care products, and virtual workouts to get away from social media that’s intimidating. It was about bringing a box to their door that provides them everything they'll need to get started with their fitness journey.”
