Men's Toning Workouts

Men's toning workouts focus on increasing the size of the muscles and often include a barbell or dumbbells. When choosing the desired weight for toning your body, aim for a weight that's heavy enough to exhaust your muscles after one set of eight repetitions. If you could easily continue past eight repetitions, it's time to add more weight. Always consult with a doctor before starting an exercise program.

  1. Buff Upper Body with Bench Presses

    • Barbell bench presses are done with a spotter and a loaded barbell. This exercise increases the size of your arms, shoulders and chest. To start this exercise, lie on a flat or inclined bench with your feet flat on the floor and the barbell positioned directly above your eyes. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. With your spotter standing behind you, lift up and move the barbell off the rack. With your arms extended, position the barbell directly over your upper chest. Slowly lower the barbell until it lightly touches the center of your chest and then slowly extend your arms upward. Repeat this movement and have your spotter help you re-rack the barbell once your muscles are fatigued.

    Pull-Up for a Toned Physique

    • Pull-ups not only tone your arms, but also sculpt your entire back. As if pull-ups are not already one of the most challenging workouts, the intensity can be increased by placing a dumbbell between your feet. To do pull-ups you must reach or jump off the floor to grasp the pull-up bar with a slightly wider than shoulder-width grip. Prevent your feet from touching the floor by bending your knees. Using slow and controlled motions and without arching your back, bend your elbows to pull your body upward so your chin goes above the pull-over bar. Hold this position for one second and then slowly lower your body to the starting position.

    Not Your Average Crunches

    • The barbell push crunch is a more intense version of the basic crunch. This exercise requires a steep incline bench that allows you to elevate your lower body above your upper body. Place the upper portion of your ankles under the foot pad and lie back while holding a barbell over your chest. Keep your hands shoulder-width apart on the bar and extend your arms upward so the bar is aligned with your chin and your fists are directed toward the ceiling. Contract your abdominal muscles as you flex your waist to raise your upper back and shoulders off the bench while simultaneously moving the barbell straight up toward the ceiling. Hold the position for one second and then slowly return to your starting position.

    Lower Body Power Squats

    • Barbell squats provide the ultimate lower-body toning workout. Start with a barbell racked at upper chest height and position the barbell between the base of your neck and upper shoulders. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip with your hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Keep your feet hip-width apart with your toes facing slightly outward as you contract your abdominal muscles and stand straight as you remove the bar from the supporting rack. To perform the squat, imagine an invisible chair behind you as you bend simultaneously at your knees and hips to lower your buttocks toward the floor. Once your thighs are parallel with the floor, hold the position for one second and then push your heels into the floor to return to your standing position. Squats require you to lean forward slightly, but your back should not arch.