How often do I need to work out to see a difference?

[che0013]

I'm a 19 year old girl, and would like to know how often I would need to work out (as in cardio and strength), to see results. I am primarily looking to really tone up my glutes. I only weigh 54-55kg but I sorta feel 'skinny'fat', as in, the size of me looks relatively thin, but the texture of my skin is becoming fatty (cellulite) and I am just not toned at all!

I have this image in my mind of what I would like my glutes to look like, but I know it is going to take so much work and dedication to achieve it! Where do I start??

Don't know if anyone has heard of her, but I have been buying a few of Cathe Friedrich's workout DVD's. Hopefully they will send me off to a good start?

 

[Jrahien]

Toning can actually happen quite quickly. As as you begin to start resistance training at least 2-3 times per week, your body will begin to recruit more and more muscle fibers on a regular basis. (If you're not in shape, your body isn't able to trigger the entire muscle for contraction.) Having high muscle fiber recruitment gives your body the 'toned' look, and that can begin to show after, I'd say, a few weeks to a month.

In terms of actual strength, that will more or less happen immediately (after a week or two), also due the reasons that I listed above.

 

[noahb]

Hi
Your question leaves a lot of grey area, so I'll focus on your options based on the time you have availalbe. First let me say, I believe when you choose to be fit, it is a lifestyle change that involves some form of exercise 5 days of the week. That also means your choices at the dinner table are just as important than the workouts. Keep that in mind no matter which option you choose.

So, to your question..If you really crank up the intesity of your workouts, you can probably see some results with 4 days of training per week. Be sure 2 strength training and 2 cardio training workouts round out the week. This will allow you to see some results, but I don't think you'll ever maximize your results this way. Your metabolism gets kicked off when we exercise and continues to stay high as long as we never take more than 1 day off at a time. The more often we are able to workout, the higher we keep our metabolism, to burn fat and sustain a strong body\heart. Push yourself to see some results and decide if you're satisfied, or want to take it up a knotch. How do you know if you're working hard enough, for cardio get a heart monitor and try to stay in the cardio zone for most of the workout. For weight training, find the burn, then do 2-3 more. Not a joke, it works wonders. Always keep your diet intact and you should be good.

You should look at some great programs like P90X and Insanity. I prefer P90X, that worked wonders for me.

thanks,
Noah

 

[mattd]

I have lost 7kg in 2.5 months and it has come from alternating cardio one day weight training the next, also not drinking soft drink and eating healthier. U propbably wont notice any body shape/toning difference for at least a month and it will be others, not you that will notice first. To get rid of .5kg of fat it takes 3500 calories to be burnt. Considering that a half hour jog burns around 300-350 and an intense 40 min weight workout bout the same you can undestand why it takes min month to see any difference.
I always remind people of taking time to notice diffenece cause many people give up in the 1st 2 weeks cause they don't see any difference. Keep at it and over time you will notice results.

 

[benfitting]

Toning can actually happen quite quickly. As as you begin to start resistance training at least 2-3 times per week, your body will begin to recruit more and more muscle fibers on a regular basis. (If you're not in shape, your body isn't able to trigger the entire muscle for contraction.) Having high muscle fiber recruitment gives your body the 'toned' look, and that can begin to show after, I'd say, a few weeks to a month.

In terms of actual strength, that will more or less happen immediately (after a week or two), also due the reasons that I listed above.

3 times a week should be ideal for starters but you can pick up your pace after a week or two when your body gets accustomed to your program. Try to be disciplined in the food you eat too. Stay away from food that are fatty. I think you do;t eat that much but your choice of food should not be that good. Try to limit your selection and drink a lot of water.