What Does It Actually Mean To Be "Toned"?

“Toned” is one of the most common words in fitness. We are told we should want toned arms, toned legs and a toned stomach. We believe certain workouts will give us “long, lean muscles,” while heavier weights might make us “bulky.”

But what does being toned actually mean—and can you really tone a muscle?

In this episode of Meet Your Body, physical therapist Jessica Valant breaks down the physiology behind muscle tone, muscle definition and the appearance we often describe as “toned.” She separates fitness marketing from what is actually happening in the body and explains what to focus on if becoming stronger and more defined is one of your goals.

You'll learn:

What muscle tone actually means from a physiological perspective

What most of us really mean when we say we want to look “toned”

The roles muscle mass, body fat and genetics play in muscle definition

Whether you can spot-tone areas like your arms, stomach or thighs

The truth about “long, lean muscles” and whether certain workouts can create them

Whether lifting heavier weights will make women bulky

What actually helps if increased muscle definition is one of your goals

Why just focusing on harder workouts and fewer calories isn’t the answer