What kind of workout plan should I do?

[b-smooth]

I'm looking to tone up and to increase my flexibility: I recently read about Pilates and Yoga and both of them are similar in a few ways, I used to do Yoga but I stopped and I kind of want to try Pilates. My schedule is kind of hectic so I don't have a lot of time to do too much. What I'm asking is: Should I do Yoga/Pilates and get on the treadmill or just exercise and stretch?

[bubbiexo]

For flexibility then pilates and yoga would be good. But there is technically no such thing as toning. I'll assume you mean that you want to build muscle. And no, you won't get bulky.

Lose fat, gain muscle. More muscle + less fat = lower body fat % which means you will look, as you say, "toned".

Lift heavy, eat at a calorie deficit (TDEE- about 20%), and get in lots of protein. You can continue to lose volume but gain shape(or "tone"). Your diet is going to be super important in this process. Eat as clean as you can (whole foods as often as possible) and cut out most processed crap.

You can get in quick weight workouts a few times a week. I do full body workouts 3 times a week and I run 2-3 days. I've lost 40 pounds and gotten my body fat down to 18%. Good luck!

[bubbiexo]

Too add--- free weights help with flexibility, too.

[ZenQueen]

I naturally picked up ballet... some of the poses give you a really stretch, it flows well and is calming, you can do around your house, when ever you go from one room to the next or while you are watching tv, make it something you enjoy and you will be doing subconsciously. But you should just try everything... every kind of exercise has something unique to offer. To me Yoga does not cover it all, I love the fact that it brings consciousness to my body and it is great warm up for other exercises, personally I need something more intensive I like running and biking. A little of everything is best.

[MyNameIsJonas]

Yoga/pilates and the treadmill sound like a good easy routine for yourself. It all depends on your goals. If your looking to tone up certain body parts or just stay in shape and keep body fat down.

[kheserthorpe]

If you want to tone and increase flexibility, I'd do yoga when you wake up, and heavy barbell work three times a week.

[b-smooth]

what is that?

[kheserthorpe]

Squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, power clean, rows.

'heavy' means, given your goal of toning, using weight such that (once you have the form down) you cannot do 11 reps per set. Once you can, you need to use a higher weight.

[b-smooth]

oh OK I got cha, thank you

[candlewax]

You might want to do pilates since it's a tad more "aggressive" than yoga in the sense that it incorporates a lot of resistance type exercises with the flexibility. That, along with treadmill should be adequate.

[nancyjune561]

Pilates