is there a difference?

[liltiger]

I get confused when people say toning, and weight lifting...I woudl think it would be the same thing...but when I think of toning I picture classes or videos and when I think of weight lifting I think of well weight lifting....my question is alot of the experts say that after your 20's you start to loose muscle per decade, so to me that means its very important to build a substanial amount of muscle in your 20's to make it easier for later on...so my question is say someone is to do squats, and lunges ect using no weights but going through the motions is that considered weight lifting? same for pilates? is that considered light weight training?

[Lady C]

Toning is a half hearted effort of weight lifting IMO. Yes, you do lose muscle mass and bone density. The best way to keep these levels high is strength training (weight lifting).

Body weight exercises won't increase muscle mass. Pilates helps with stretching too.