One of the things I've found quite tough with weight loss is its effect on muscle. When it comes to losing weight, keeping track of everything you take can soon become a nightmare, especially when you factor in trying to build up muscle. For so many women starting to get fit starts with just some mild exercise to shed some unwanted weight, but this can also mean that we may focus more on weight loss than toning up. Thankfully, there's a new addition coming to the Mini V range coming soon that can help us towards those nice, lean and toned bodies we dream of - introducing the 'Mini:Tone'.
'Mini:Tone is a new product that I have been wanting to create since I launched Mini V in January 2015. We all want to achieve that flat, toned stomach (right lasses?), with a tiny bit of definition, but not too much to the point we look like a man. Mini:Tone does exactly that: it helps rebuild muscle faster after your workouts, and speeds up the process of muscle repair. Mini:Tone is to be used for those that have lost weight but now want to add that finishing touch to get you to that extra 20%.'
- Vicky Pattison, coming soon to the Mini V Website.
For me, I must admit, toning supplements are something new to me. Previously I'd been more of a diet whey protein and gym kind of girl, and that always seemed to work fine. I'd lost weight and was happy with that. But this time around, I really wanted to start toning up once I'd slimmed down, and thankfully with the help of the Mini:Detox, a new diet and some exercise, I was halfway there. Amazing right?!
With all the supplements out there, it's quite easy to become bogged down with information. Between needing so much of this supplement and so much of the next, it can often feel like somewhat of a chore deciding what would be best to suit your own fitness needs. For me personally, the Mini V range has been fantastic in helping me on my fitness journey. Each product is clearly labelled and has a certain use - be it to aid toning, or to give you a boost to exercise. And because each product in the range is different and for separate needs, you can combine them all without worry!
Perfect for muscle toning, fast muscle repair and muscle maintenance.
So, what exactly is Mini:Tone and how does it work?
Mini:Tone is an exciting new addition to the already well established Mini V range by MTV reality TV star Vicky Pattison. Formulated to aid with muscle toning after weight loss, the food supplement is made up of Branch Chain Amino Acids, or BCAAs for short. BCAAs are a useful supplement to have on your side, as they are brilliant at helping maintain muscle mass when calories are cut during dieting. They're also unique in the fact that they cannot be made by the body, and when used the combination of BCAAs can help with muscle recovery after exercise.
Dieting can be catabolic, meaning that when we diet the body can start to break down muscle. So the leaner we get, the more muscle will be broke down as the body tries to accommodate the change. With the three main BCAAs (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine and L-Valine) the body can instead be assisted in exercise recovery and building muscle. And each of the three BCAA has it's own unique uses and abilities.
L-Leucine: An amino acid that can be founds in foods such as nuts and brown rice, L-Leucine is essential to basic health and will help to preserve lean muscle tissue. When used, it will help preserve the glucose stored in muscle tissue that is used to power the muscles concentration, and also supply the body with much needed energy when undertaking exercise. As the strongest of the BCAAs, L-Leucine is needed at a bit of a higher dose than the others as it also works to heal skin and bone, as well as the muscle tissue. As an added bonus, it may also increase the secretion of Human Growth Hormones, which may lead to healthier joints and increase strength and muscle mass, as well as decreasing body fat.
L-Isoleucine: Another BCAA that may help contribute to glucose consumption and prevent muscular breakdown. Again, L-Isoleucine is another BCAA that cannot be broken down by the body, and must be obtained via supplementation or food. Isoleucine is broken down for energy within the muscle tissue, and as it is used as fuel by muscle cells, it spares the other amino acids from being burned up. As it is also important for protein synthesis, Isoleucine should always be taken together with the two other BCAAs.
L-Valine: L-Valine is the final amino acid included in Mini:Tone, and has more of a stimulating effect. It is needed for the repair and growth of tissue, and also aids metabolism and maintains the nitrogen balance in the body. Valine is also believed to be able to act as an appetite suppressant, as well as reducing sleeplessness and improving insomnia. It is widely enjoyed by bodybuilders as it is also needed to repair tissues, as well as improving endurance and increasing metabolism. However there is no real benefit to Valine supplementation alone, and as such it is mainly beneficial when combined with Leucine and Isoleucine.
And how did I get on with Mini:Tone?
Unlike the Mini:Detox which are capsules, the Mini:Tone are actually tablet form. They are of a similar size, and as they are tabs they are easier to swallow and can even be broken in half. For some reason that I can't fathom, they have a kind of yummy smell about them (well, to me anyway). They come in the typical Mini V packaging, which is perfect and convenient to fit in any bag, as well as being discreet.
In combination with the Mini:Detox and cutting all the rubbish out of my diet, my light exercise regime over the past few weeks has helped me shed some of that unwanted weight. Since my abdominal area seems to have decreased in size recently, I've been more focused on toning up instead of slimming down any more. Another problem area for me is my arms - they've always bothered me, looking too unshapely for my liking, so I really wanted to do more exercises and such to tone these up.
After using Mini:Tone, I found that I was less likely to feel fatigued both during and after exercise, and this is due to the BCAAs. As BCAAs decrease the amount of serotonin in the interior of the brain, mental fatigue is lowered by the reduction, which normally can create a sense of being tired. I started to notice that my performance during my exercises started to improve too, both from a combination of my stamina increasing and the BCAAs aiding my muscle regeneration. Fast forward to today and my arms have come along and toned up nicely, as well as my abdominal area looking and feeling a lot more toned. Hooray!
Many people out there think that supplements are a waste, and weight loss and muscle building can be done by simply altering diet and increasing exercise. And whilst some of that may be true, we can't forget that supplements do have their unique uses and can be very beneficial. And as long as they don't cause any harm, I genuinely don't see the problem. If something is going to help me towards my goal and keep me right on track then I'm all for it!
Overall the Mini:Tone is a brilliant new addition to the Mini V range. As BCAAs increase performance during exercise and delay fatigue, they're a brilliant supplement to start building on your weight loss and start toning up. I'd say without using these I would still be behind in my fitness regime, and it would take a heck of a lot longer for me to start really developing my muscles and getting toned. I can't wait for these beauties to be released later on this month as I'm 100% sure I'll be stocking up to continue my use into the future!
Keep an eye out for Mini:Tone on the Mini V website here.
Have you tried anything from the Mini V range? Or are you looking to start toning up? Let me know in the comments below!
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*This item was gifted to me by the brand. All opinions are my own.
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