Training to Tone vs Training for Bulk - Know the Difference

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz. I keep hearing both you and other people say I should do push-ups, but I'm a small woman and don't want to bulk up. Push-ups are hard, so should I do them if I want to stay toned yet trim? Alyssa

A. Great question, Alyssa! This common question is on the mind of many women, and I'm happy to give this answer as many times as there are women who need to hear it. What you need to know is that it requires extraordinary effort for most women to put on any sort of bulky muscle. That means: protein shakes, supplements and insane amounts of heavy lifting. Of course, there are a few rare women here and there who pack on muscle quickly, but if you're already telling me you are small ... you are not one of those rare women.

The odds are, if you add a decent amount of push-ups to your schedule a few times a week, you'd accomplish a Jennifer Aniston level of toned arms. If you went hard core on your overall fitness routine, you could maybe achieve Madonna's buff body. In order to attain the more masculine type look many bodybuilders have, you'd have to launch a bodybuilder's style of training. Those big bad biceps don't come easily, so if they're not what you're after, you certainly won't end up with them.

Push-ups are one of my absolute favorite exercises Alyssa; I suggest you definitely add them to your workout. Watch this video for a few fun ideas on unique ways to do push-ups. Now get to work!

Punches & Kicks,

Fitz

Fitzness.com

Note: The content presented in this Q. & A section is for informational purposes only and should not be viewed as medical advice or substitute for professional medical care.