I suspect the problem is that the term ' being toned ' means different things to different people.

Most skeletal muscles stay contracted while at rest - at least to some degree. Even when you're at rest, your muscles are in a constant state of some form of ' partial contraction '. Within that context, nerve impulses always stimulate muscle fibres to contract - keeping your muscles " toned " So, whenever I've seen definitions of the " tonicity ( " tonus " ) of the muscles ', it has always been in the context of the level of muscle contraction " at rest ". I don't recall seeing fat levels as being associated within that definition of " tone ".

Actually, I agree.

What Noobs would call a " toned look " has more to do with muscular definition and cutting down to a low body fat rather than any changes in the muscle itself as it pertains to tone / level of contraction at rest. I don't associate " toning " strictly with losing fat to look ' cut '.

Again, I suppose it depends on how one wants to strictly define " tone ".

In my view, if you are involved in exercise or athletics of any kind, over time, your muscles are being conditioned to adapt to some form of progressive overload. And one of the consequences of the many primary adaptations to overload is one in which your muscles have improved " tone " at rest. An improvement than say they would if you hadn't exercised and remained sedentary over that same period of time. I'd concede that a generally accepted understanding of improved ' tone ' may reflect some cellular / structural changes in your muscle.

As you agreed with me, The average person takes the word "toned" and places it in the same boat as "cut" or "defined".

Your point at about muscles contraction while at rest is a moot point. We are talking about full on contraction as when ones looking at their bicep. Of course your muscles are in some form of contraction most if not all the time. However, If you are saying that some peoples muscles are rock solid all the time 24/7 I would have to disagree with you and claim it impossible.

Now, the "improved" tone is again from a drop in body fat with an increase in muscle mass. So obviously a trained athletes"tone" as you call it, is better then someone who sits on their ass all day.

The person who used the word "toned" above was talking in the same context as someone saying "cut". So, remember I'm talking specifically in that context.

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I agree with you - that's correct. And all I'm saying is - technically - they're wrong. Because the definition of ' tone ' has nothing to do with being "cut" or "defined". That's all.

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First of all, I never insinuated people's muscles are " rock solid all the time 24/7 " In fact, I wasn't talking about full contraction at all, but partial contraction - while at rest. You had said " that muscles do not stay contracted while at rest " - I simply wanted to point put that there is in fact some level of contraction at rest and this ( level of contraction ) is the relevant issue when speaking of what is meant by the proper use of the word " tone ".


I agree with you on the improved tone of an athlete. That was was my point - you would have better tone in someone who has exercised for some time versus someone is sedentary who hasn't.

So again, to me, " improved " tone is less a consequence of fat on top of the muscle and more a consequence of your muscle adapting to some form of progressive overload. So, in theory, if you hold body fat % constant, you would nonetheless find some improvement in " tone " in individuals who has exercised for extended period of time versus sedentary individuals. Exercise would have caused their muscles to have adapted to some improvements in either muscle speed, endurance, or strength ( size ), with improved tone simply being a secondary consequence of these primary adaptations.

Fair enough.

Again, I agree with you.

I understand the " context " in which it was used. I simply am pointing out that " tone " has to do with muscle contraction at rest and is not synonymous with a measure for one's comparative level of fat - though that appears to be the mistaken context in which " tone " is used by most gym rats.

Hey, thanks everybody for all your comments!!
I'm thinking about starting a weight loss dairy on here, could somebody tell me how to do this? I'm still new here and have'nt learn everything yet, but I do love to read all the advice and comments and the way that you all have the same goal in mind---A HEALTHIER BODY AND MIND---I just love it!! So I think I'll stick around awhile, If that's OK

hi, just go to the main forum page - Weight Loss Diary (i dont know how to link)- new thread - give it a title and away you go. its your diary so you can write what you want i guess thoughts, feelings, foods eaten,exercise etc. slim