Toning my muscles....?

Question

i go to the gym to use the machines on Mondays, Wednesdays and fridays...Tuesdays and Thursdays i jog (cardio) - Morning and evening everyday. On Saturday and Sundays I Jog on the beach/sand. I dont eat Junk food and all i'm drinking is water..I'm 130 (recently - I'm guessing i'm gaining muscle mass because i was 123 not too long ago) ... I'm 5'5 and i wear a small in blouses, a size 3 - 5 jeans and small(3) in dresses (just to try to give you a mental note of what kind of shape i am in - all i want to do is tone now!....I eat oats, nuts, chicken, fish, fiber and goal is to drink as close to a gallon of water each day(currently drinking 1.5 liters).... How long will it take till i start seeing actual definition of my muscles??

Answer 1

I have been running for 8 years now and would recommend the following:

I would strengthen the core: calves, quads, hams, back and abdominal (the "six pack" muscles along with the obleks), chest and arms. But when strengthening these muscles, I would focus more on the muscle endurance not the muscle bulk. For more advice for this, I would consult with a personal trainer. For the running part, I would stay flexible as it helps/contributes to your balance (so do the muscles in your core) but also helps prevent some injuries like pulled muscles and shin splints. Also, I would try to make up a schedule where you can run for X amount of days and try to have a long run. I would start off slowly, running about 2-3 miles per run for the first week and increase my mileage per week. Make sure you have the following: a good diet, hydration, sleep, a good sense on how to take care of your body, and sleep. Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

Women are a little different than men when it comes to seeing their muscles.

Women have a layer of fat under the skin that makes them look smoother, so you need to get your body fat percentage down to 10% or less to be able to see the definition of your muscles.

It sounds like you are working hard and getting results, and you should be able to see the changes in about 4 to 6 weeks.