Toning up my boyfried - Tips

[Chip NoVaMac]

Just have him read lots of books. Being well read will increase his vocabulary and mental tone. Nothing could be sexier than that !

Good advise IMO. At 126 US pounds at 5'6" he is plenty slim enough in most peoples eyes. And I would think that if there is any "flab" on this guys body, it is a matter of toning. He may never be "ripped", but it sounds as if he has the right stuff for many of us to only wish for.

The sad fact is that the media today has filled our heads as to what the perfect body is to look like. The truth is that genetics plays a part also.

We need to start to realize that not all of us are built for 6-pak abs. I have known professional dancers that nearly killed themselves (both male and female) to have that "perfect" body that directors "wanted".

I do have to question the desires of the OP in wanting to "tone" up their BF. Why, other than to fit their own desires of a physical image.

 

[Abstract]

Firstly, 1 mile is a joke, no offense. He won't even burn off the fatty layer around his stomach if he does that. I've skimmed this thread and I think the question has been answered, but I'll just be an echo and repeat things.

Firstly, I don't care how little your bf weighs.......he's going to need to run more than 1 mile. Get him to run for 3 miles to start off, or at least 30 minutes. If he runs less than 15-20 minutes, he's just going to be burning the sugars that circulating in his system somewhere. It's only after 15-20 minutes that he'll burn all that sugar off, all the sugar he stored as glycogen (in the liver?), and starts burning off the fat that's around the body. Doing sit-ups doesn't give him a 6 pack. He has to burn the layer on top of his 6-pack off before anyone can see it. Any running he does after 20 minutes is going to be burning that fat off around the body.

Secondly, do pushups. Do 3 sets of 20 (at least). Sit-ups are good too. I think that will help out. A gym membership is nice, but isn't completely necessary. Just get him a small weights set (dumbells, I think they're called), and he can work out his biceps and shoulders using those.

 

[Chundles]

One word: Sexercise.

Best, most fun way to get fit ever and as you get stronger it gets even more fun.

 

[Leraste]

One word: Sexercise.

Best, most fun way to get fit ever and as you get stronger it gets even more fun.

HAHA. Best advice EVER!

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

One word: Sexercise.

Best, most fun way to get fit ever and as you get stronger it gets even more fun.

Very true actually:

Does regular sex keep you slim?

As fairly vigorous sex burns up about 7 calories a minute (for the man in the classic missionary position that is), you would think that regular sex would keep you slim.

However! Research shows that the average sex sessions lasts a fairly pathetic four minutes and would burn up only 28 calories - enough to burn off half an apple or one Ryvita. Should you definitely NOT be a four-minute man, and should you enjoy sex on a very regular basis, you could burn up a fair amount of calories in the process. Men tend to use up more calories having sex than women do, as women are often a lazy lot (or too exhausted after a day running the world and then doing the cooking, cleaning and child-minding) and tend to prefer the 'lie here and enjoy it' position most of the time, while men do all the hard work.

So let us assume that you have sex four times a week at 30 minutes a time (let's be generous!). Two hours of sex at 7 calories a minute (on average) comes to 840 calories burnt per week. That is about equivalent to a hungry male's evening meal, or four pints of beer, or a takeaway pizza.

So as long as you don't send out for the pizza after the sex, I suppose you could lose about 1lb a month (or not put ON 1lb a month) in weight with two hour's sex a week.

Source: http://www.thedietbible.co.uk/index.htm?http://www.thedietbible.co.uk/men.htm

 

[Boggle]

I have very similar dimensions to your boyfriend and a six pack, but my chest muscles while well defined but defintately not impressive in size or strength, so almost anybody will have better advice for that area...but sticking w/ the abs...

The six pack is lots of work to get, but easy to maintain once accomplished. Also, as others have said it takes time out of the day....However, once he gets used to a workout type it will take significantly less time do to b/c of improved conditioning & muscle memory accomplished by repetition and dedication.

My ab workout.
a) 100 full situps done SLOW first thing.(don't even brush, just do'em) in the morning.
b) When watching a sporting event hold a crunch, only relax during half-time or commercials. Believe it or not this becomes really easy in a/b a month.
c) hold a stretched out back bridge for 3 minutes b4 bed, to help stretch out abs and lessen morning soreness.

I disagree a/b the cardio b/c he is slim and slim ppl who do cardio will burn too much sugar to allow proper muscular growth required for a six pack.
Others have recommended Yoga & Swimming. I say go for it, it wasn't something I'd been exposed to but both those groups usually look pretty defined to me...also check out a ballet warm-up. NOBODY is as cut-up as a ballet dancer. Those guys are Jacked, full stop.

 

[UberMac]

Just have him read lots of books. Being well read will increase his vocabulary and mental tone. Nothing could be sexier than that !

Ah, well he is an intelligent guy and quite happy to sit and talk about whatever for hours - that doesn't need any extra work don eon it.

Let's attack this in phases:

1) He needs to do more cardio. One mile isn't very far. He already has toned and defined abs; we all do. The problem is they're under a layer of fat.

For men, fat concentrates around the belly first, and it is absorbed from around the belly last. That's how the body naturally distributes it. He can do extensive weight training and 1000 crunches a day and his abs will be powerful. They will also be invisible unless his body fat percentage is somewhere around 5%.

2) You need to stop worrying about it so much unless you want your boyfriend to train like an Olympian. We're talking around 2-3 hours per day, 6-7 days a week. So the question is whether you want him to live his life getting to 5% bodyfat so you can enjoy him as a bauble, or if you want him to live his life with you and enjoy him as a person.

Sorry if I sound a little harsh.

Yeh, I know exactly what you mean. I do enjoy him as a person. We love each other very much - this was a challenge we thought would be fun to try and do.

I'll try and get him to run further. At the moment he runs a 6 minute mile, but I guess increasing time to 30-40 mins wouldn't be too hard as long as he reduces the speed a bit. There is also a pool nearby so perhaps running there --> swimming --> running back would be a good routine in the morning. If nothing succeeds at least he'll be fitter and healthier...nothing wrong with that!

One word: Sexercise.

I know the whole six pack thing is completely media related and completely unnecessary. But it's a challenge, and it's only going to make him fitter and healthier so there's no harm in trying

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Uber

 

[0098386]

1 thing I've found that just works wonders is rowing. Good for pretty much everything, even knees.

Just hire out a rowing boat once a week and jobs a good un.

 

[realityisterror]

Work out or get a membership with him.

Even if you're not doing the same exercises, it'd have more benefit for each of you.

 

[UberMac]

Work out or get a membership with him.

Even if you're not doing the same exercises, it'd have more benefit for each of you.

That's actually a really good idea! *applause* That'd be all the easier if we lived together! I'll take up jogging with him (at the weekends [during the week I'll face it all on my lonesome]) and I'll do the crunches and push ups too - hey it can't do any harm!

Thanks for that,

Uber

 

[savar]

So any tips for toning up?

Uber

Geez, 100 situps a day wil make a 6-pack on its own, assuming you don't have belly fat to hide it. Is your boyfriend looking to increase body mass or just cut?

My favorite book is the Arnold Schwarzenegger book, I think its called Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. It's intended for bodybuilders, but anybody who's interested in weightlifting will get a lot out of it. It's actually a really intelligent book (some parts I imaged are ghost-written).

A membership to a good gym helps a lot, and if you can afford one, a personal trainer is a huuuuge advantage.

 

[pentae]

Cardio is rubbish. Running and doing situps is a complete waste of time.. if you want to be 'healthy' run a couple of miles every day.

If he wants to look good, stop wasting time and head straight down to the gym and start weights training.

As for Abs, ab workouts and excersises are also a complete waste of time.. everyone has abs.. you just cant see them because your body fat percentage is too high and your gut is covering them

Heres the articles your going to need to read.. Damon Hayhow has a bunch of brilliant and accurate articles on these topics here..

The Secret To Awesome Abs http://www.biologiclabs.com/advice/details.asp?article_id=24

The Truth About Cardio, Just Dont Do it http://www.biologiclabs.com/advice/details.asp?article_id=23

Enjoy

 

[BoyBach]

Ok guys (and gals),

I know there are some fit, healthy, young strapping men on here. We (me and my BF) need your help.

I'm trying to tone up my BF for the summer. He's a slim guy, but hell, I thought it would be awesome if he had a hot () body for the summer.

At the moment he runs about a mile everyday and does 100 sit ups (crunches - whatever you call them) everyday as well. We want some tips to get him a six pack (plus the chest) for the summer. It's not just me who thinks this - he thinks it'll be good too!

So any tips for toning up?

Uber

100 sit-ups a day!! Tell your boyfriend not to overtrain or he will do some serious damage to his lower back. He needs to look at doing 3-4 total-body workout sessions a week, eating well (no junk or alcohol, plenty of fruit and veg, maybe a protein shake) and remember to take lots of rest for his body to recover and build new muscle.

Try looking here for more advice!

http://www.menshealth.co.uk/goals/fitness/beachready/artindex.php

http://www.menshealth.co.uk/talk/board.phtml/board328/

Andrew

 

[pseudobrit]

Cardio is rubbish. Running and doing situps is a complete waste of time.. if you want to be 'healthy' run a couple of miles every day.

If he wants to look good, stop wasting time and head straight down to the gym and start weights training.

Interval training on a bike or rower will knock off fat and build muscle simultaneously.

The Secret To Awesome Abs http://www.biologiclabs.com/advice/details.asp?article_id=24

The Truth About Cardio, Just Dont Do it http://www.biologiclabs.com/advice/details.asp?article_id=23

Enjoy

Cardio, despite the name, has negligible cardiovascular benefit to weight trainers that regularly train with high intensity....
20-40mins on the bike/treadmill shouldn’t stress any weight trainer too greatly... other than boring and irritating the hell out of them! The heart rate will be lower, less demands made of energy systems and the experience altogether easier - less stressful - than a high-intensity weights workout. As such, there is no positive adaptive response. The only possible adaptive response to endurance exercise is reduced muscle mass if the exercise is stepped up to a frequency, duration and intensity that IS stressful. This is the cardio paradox: if you do it effectively, you are worse off. If you do it ineffectively, by definition you wasted your time!

You don't get a 30bpm resting heart rate by being able to squat 500lbs or bench 300. You get it doing interval training via cardiovascular exercise that pushes you to 80-100% of your maximum heart rate.

What kind of ******* is this who says that 20 minutes on the bike is easier and has a lower heart rate? In a 20 minute stationary bike session I've jacked the my heart rate up to 195 bpm. It's so much more stressful than weight training it's not even funny.

What utter nonsense. Never listen to unsourced, unresearched advice from someone who's selling supplements. Oh, sorry, "Super Human Nutrition™".

Humbug.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Ok guys (and gals),

I know there are some fit, healthy, young strapping men on here. We (me and my BF) need your help.

I'm trying to tone up my BF for the summer. He's a slim guy, but hell, I thought it would be awesome if he had a hot () body for the summer.

At the moment he runs about a mile everyday and does 100 sit ups (crunches - whatever you call them) everyday as well. We want some tips to get him a six pack (plus the chest) for the summer. It's not just me who thinks this - he thinks it'll be good too!

So any tips for toning up?

Uber

Tip #1: Find a boyfriend that has the looks you desire.
Tip #2: Find a gym and a personal trainer.

Pick 1 or 2...either way I bet you'll find a super hot guy at the gym.

 

[0098386]

Tip #1: Find a boyfriend that has the looks you desire.
Tip #2: Find a gym and a personal trainer.

Pick 1 or 2...either way I bet you'll find a super hot guy at the gym.

Thats what I was thinking, just didn't want to appear cheeky but since it has been mentioned...
Why not get a bodybuilder boyfriend instead? Thing is he is going to want to do this for himself, for another person won't give him the mental attitude he needs for keeping fit.

On a lighter note. I had never worked out before attempting this, but one PE lesson we had a choice of either Danish Longball or the gym. all the girls went to the gym so I figured I'd go too Anywho! I did just under 150 (146 I think) near-vertical sit ups on one of the multigyms. I felt incredible after! That was under the day later. I couldn't stand up right took a few days off school as it was so bad. Did get a 6 pack though! those muscles went TIGHT afterward.

 

[mikemodena]

Tip #1: Find a boyfriend that has the looks you desire.
Tip #2: Find a gym and a personal trainer.

Pick 1 or 2...either way I bet you'll find a super hot guy at the gym.

... I'm sure that's exactly what she wants. UberMac seems like she loves her boyfriend. Although I don't agree with the let's tone him up thing, because my girlfriend tried to pull that on me and it didn't work. I tried everything but the main factor was that I was 15 at the time, and while some fifteen year olds are able to do it I wasn't able to. Every male in my family has been thin until they were about 18 when they filled out. I grew in height first, then weight. Recently I've been noticing a welcomed weight gain as I'm starting to leave that awkward, lenky teenage phase. UberMac: How old is your boyfriend? If he is still in his early 20's there is a good chance he will fill out on his own soon. If he is like me and has a super fast metabolism to the point where it's IMPOSSIBLE to put on weight when you try to eat 5 meals a day, then it's only going to come when his metabolism slows down.

 

[calebjohnston]

Not every guy can "get big" you know. Most of the guys you see that are "ripped" are that way because that is just part of their genetic makeup. I'm a little shy of 6 feet, 19 years old, and only 130 pounds. You'd never know it to look at me, but I've got biceps and triceps that you wouldn't ever expect. However, when not flexing, there's nothing there. Everyone is built differently. Don't make your boyfriend something he isn't.

And Mike Modena, I'm with you. I eat constantly all day, every day. Haven't gained more than a pound or two in probably two years.

 

[UberMac]

OK, I think I'll give a bit of background to all of this.

I'm 16 and my BF is 17, we've been together 9 months. At new year he made a new years resolution to run a mile everyday and do 100 sit ups (all of his own accord I hasten to add - he just thought it would be a good idea to). Then a couple of days ago HE thought (though I immediately agreed ) "What the heck - maybe it wouldn't take too much on top of this to get defined abs! That'd be cool!" So I came on here for some advice (which has been pretty good I think).

As already mentioned I'm going to join him for the running and sit ups - it's gotta be good for me...

Tip #1: Find a boyfriend that has the looks you desire.
Tip #2: Find a gym and a personal trainer.

Pick 1 or 2...either way I bet you'll find a super hot guy at the gym.

#1 - He DOES look like I desire. He's slim, in good shape and handsome. Oh, and I love him to bits so as much fun as the first would be...not gonna happen.

... I'm sure that's exactly what she wants. UberMac seems like she loves her boyfriend. Although I don't agree with the let's tone him up thing, because my girlfriend tried to pull that on me and it didn't work. I tried everything but the main factor was that I was 15 at the time, and while some fifteen year olds are able to do it I wasn't able to. Every male in my family has been thin until they were about 18 when they filled out. I grew in height first, then weight. Recently I've been noticing a welcomed weight gain as I'm starting to leave that awkward, lenky teenage phase. UberMac: How old is your boyfriend? If he is still in his early 20's there is a good chance he will fill out on his own soon. If he is like me and has a super fast metabolism to the point where it's IMPOSSIBLE to put on weight when you try to eat 5 meals a day, then it's only going to come when his metabolism slows down.

Well I shall wait to see what happens, he's already doing a fair bit. As a result of this thread I'll suggest some pushups and running further/longer. I know that not everyone can get the abs defined as easily as others, and also that it might be an age thing.

As I said earlier - it can't do either of us any harm! He'd tell me quickly enough if I was annoying him with the ideas.

Uber

 

[job]

What utter nonsense. Never listen to unsourced, unresearched advice from someone who's selling supplements. Oh, sorry, "Super Human Nutrition™".

Humbug.

Hah, I'm glad someone said something. Cardio is just fine if done in moderation and combined with weight training.

You could be the biggest meathead and go in and bench 300lbs all day long and never run a mile and still be fairly fat and or "out of shape."

 

[thedude110]

He needs to look at doing 3-4 total-body workout sessions a week, eating well (no junk or alcohol, plenty of fruit and veg, maybe a protein shake) and remember to take lots of rest for his body to recover and build new muscle.

Oh my god. All this for an attractive body?

My diet of late is pretty much american chinese food, sour cream and onion potato chips, coffee and beer (and the occasional cigarette).

Maybe 'cause I've already landed a partner, and maybe 'cause no matter what I do, I can't seem to get past a size 30 waist, but I can't imagine giving up junk and alcohol to meet a culturally fetishized ideal of "body."

So, here's to my early death.

Pass the cannolis, wouldya?

 

[CanadaRAM]

I like boyFRIED in the title.

Maybe I'm doing too much Photoshop work lately, but who read this as "Touching Up my Boyfriend"? and thought it was a little more Mac related?

Hey, there's a thought. Airbrush on those Abs. You know you want to ....

 

[UberMac]

*splutter...involving water flying everywhere* I didn't know about that typo! *apologizes*

And as for touching up my boyfriend...that doesn't make me think of PhotoShop at all

Well I shall demonstrate my awesome photoshop skills once I get to school tomorrow. You will all be mightily impressed, I promise you. (I promise nothing...results subject to me getting up and attempting photoshop efforts. Photoshop is in no way affiliated with the results of this image editing. Ubermac in no way asserts that she knows how to use photoshop. All results subject to credit check)

 

[pseudobrit]

Oh my god. All this for an attractive body?

My diet of late is pretty much american chinese food, sour cream and onion potato chips, coffee and beer (and the occasional cigarette).

Maybe 'cause I've already landed a partner, and maybe 'cause no matter what I do, I can't seem to get past a size 30 waist, but I can't imagine giving up junk and alcohol to meet a culturally fetishized ideal of "body."

So, here's to my early death.

Pass the cannolis, wouldya?

I'll be down to 155lbs (6') by July for the Death Ride, but I'll be damned if I'm going to eat like an elite athlete to get below 5% bodyfat without getting paid to do it. It's no way to live unless it's literally how you make your living.

I eat some junk on occasion and my cholesterol is still 146, so here's to a Labatt's and some General Tso's.

 

[mac-er]

I'm trying to tone up my BF for the summer. He's a slim guy, but hell, I thought it would be awesome if he had a hot () body for the summer.

He doesn't have a hot body now?

Shouldn't you be more considered with loving how he is now instead of who you want him to be? Maybe we should find out if he thinks he would be awesome if he had a hot body.

I know, dump him, and go get someone with more muscles.