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When clients train to "tone," they frequently use light loads with a relatively high number of repetitions (>15). The result of this type of training: little or no muscle hypertrophy, little or no gain in muscle strength and slight gains in local muscle endurance. In short, not much benefit. And what if we increased the load and decreased the number of reps (8-12)? We would see something different: moderate gain in muscle mass, moderate gain in strength, little or no gain in local muscle endurance. But why would someone increase its strength or muscle mass? Because in our days, we perform less and less physical activities that require the use of strength. These new habits tend to create less muscle tension and we progressively loose muscle mass and strength. A greater problem occurs with aging, because, from thirty, muscle mass tends to decrease naturally (approximately 10% loss by decades). If we do not have sufficient muscle mass at 30 years, what will happen at 40? 50? 60? We will gradually lose our functional capacity which is reflected by a hasty loss of our autonomy, more risk of fall, a potentially higher incidence of osteoporosis and so forth. Training to tone is a sham, a travesty of word in order to convince people that they will not become misshaped colossus within 4 weeks of training. Do not worry, there are few of those who manage to win more 2 to 4 kg of muscle mass on a period of twelve weeks, and, this while specifically training full-time in muscular hypertrophy. Then, take advantage of your beautiful years to invest in a muscle mass which will ensure you a beautiful active retirement and forget about training to "tone".

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