How to take your muscle strength further

(BPT) - Even if you work out regularly, chances are you’d like to see more results in terms of muscle strength and tone. It’s easy to get stuck in an exercise rut, where you keep doing the same thing and don’t see much improvement. Feel like you’re hitting a plateau?

If you want real results and just aren’t getting there, here are some different tips for taking your body contouring goals further.

Boost your cardio workout

If you’re focused on strength and just phoning in your cardio workouts, don’t forget that overall muscle strength—including that most important muscle, your heart—and general health benefits from intense workouts that get you up and moving.[1] Vary workouts to challenge yourself. Try something new like rowing, dancing, cycling, or swimming to jump-start your routine.

Consider a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout for better calorie- and fat-burning results.[2] HIIT workouts alternate short bursts of intense exercise such as sprints—around 45 seconds to a few minutes—followed by an equal period of moderate exercise or rest. Combining HIIT with moderate exercise has been shown to improve health/lung health.[3]

Switch up your strength routine

Consult a trainer to make sure you’re doing exercises that activate all the main muscle groups of your body, including your glutes and those essential core muscles, so you get those toned abs you want.

Challenge yourself by adding free weights, kettle bells, or calisthenics you aren’t currently doing, 2-3 times per week. Give those muscles time to rest between strength-training days, or alternate days working one muscle group with another to give those muscles recovery time.[4]

Consider adding routines combining strength with flexibility, such as Pilates, barre, or yoga, as these may help improve your posture and appearance.

Body contouring can help take muscle strength and tone further

In addition to cardio and strength training, CoolTone™ by CoolSculpting^® can help you strengthen and tone your muscles using Magnetic Muscle Stimulation (MMS) technology, which penetrates into the muscle layers and induces involuntary muscle contractions your body could not otherwise achieve on its own. CoolTone™ is an FDA-cleared device used in-office to strengthen, tone, and firm muscles of your abdomen, buttocks, and thighs.

It is recommended that patients receive 4 treatments over 2 consecutive weeks. Patients generally see results after 4 treatments, but the number of treatments it takes to see results will depend on each person and the area being treated. Your healthcare provider can provide a plan to help you reach your body contouring goals. After the treatments, your abs and buttocks will feel tighter and have a more defined and toned appearance. Treatments take about 30 minutes per area.

“An appropriate candidate for CoolTone™ is someone generally close to their ideal body weight, does not have a contraindication to treatment, and is looking to improve strength and tone in their abdomen, buttocks, or thighs,” said Dr. Sabrina Guillen Fabi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego. She also said that patients were excited to see a change in their abdomen after the last of 4 treatment sessions.

Dr. Fabi, who was involved with clinical trials for CoolTone™, shared, “CoolTone™ treatment can help improve patients’ strength and definition in the treated area. I see this treatment as an addition to one's overall healthy lifestyle.”

If you’re interested in taking your body contouring goals further with CoolTone™, visit https://coolscul.pt/2RNaYKw to find a provider near you.

Uses

The CoolTone™ device is FDA-cleared for improvement of abdominal tone, strengthening of the abdominal muscles, and development for a firmer abdomen. CoolTone™ is also FDA-cleared for strengthening, toning, and firming of buttocks and thighs.

Important Safety Information

The CoolTone™ procedure is not for everyone. You should not have the CoolTone™ treatment in areas with metal, electrical, or electronic implants/devices like cardiac pacemakers, implanted hearing devices, implanted defibrillators, implanted neurostimulators, drug pumps, or hearing aids.

Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions as CoolTone™ should not be used over a menstruating uterus, over areas of the skin that lack normal sensation, in patients with fever, malignant tumor, hemorrhagic conditions, epilepsy, recent surgical procedure, pulmonary insufficiency, or pregnancy.

CoolTone™ should be used with caution in patients with Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disorder that causes overactive thyroid), active bleeding disorders, or seizure disorders.

Women who are close to menstruation may find that it comes sooner, or cramping is increased or intensified with CoolTone™ treatments, therefore, it is recommended to not undergo treatment during this time of the month.

CoolTone™ should not be used in the heart or head areas, areas of new bone growth, over the carotid sinus nerves, or over the neck or mouth. CoolTone™ should not be applied over swollen, infected, inflamed areas or skin eruptions. Caution should be used for patients with suspected or diagnosed heart problems.

Common side effects may include, but may not be limited to, muscular pain, temporary muscle spasm, temporary joint or tendon pain, and redness at or near the treatment site.

Ask your Healthcare Provider if CoolTone™ is right for you.

Please see full Important Safety Information for additional information.

Results and Patient Experience May Vary.

[1] “Cardio 101: Benefits and Tips.” Mayo Clinic Diet. https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/move/cardio-101. Accessed August 13, 2020.

[2] Sissons, Beth. “What are the Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training?” Medical News Today, January 13, 2020. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327474#benefits. Accessed August 13, 2020.

[3] Roxburgh, Brendon H, Paul B. Nolan, Ryan M. Weatherwax and Lance C. Dalleck. “Is Moderate Intensity Exercise Training Combined with High Intensity Interval Training More Effective at Improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness than Moderate Intensity Exercise Training Alone?” Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2014 Sep;13(3):702-707. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126312/. Accessed August 13, 2020.

[4] Mayo Clinic Staff. Weight Training: Improve your muscular fitness. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/weight-training/art-20047116. Accessed August 13, 2020.

CTN140358 09/20