• Use workout machines to tone your body.Workout image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
  
  The perception that the gym is only for muscle freaks and jocks has long gone. More and more women are discovering that a way to stay healthy and achieve a sexy, toned body is to take up weight training. All weight machines are, of course, unisex but women want to use the machines that will help them tone up the muscles important to them.
  
  

Cable Tower

• The cable tower is a machine that is aimed at developing the muscles in the biceps. But it does much more than that as an all-in-one kind of machine that lets women try a variety of workouts. You can do this by adjusting the clip and changing the trajectory in which you are pulling the bar from. Have it down on the floor and you can perform rowing exercises and pull-ups. Place it above your head and you can execute pull-downs or lie on the floor, put the bar behind your ankles and work on your leg muscles.
  
  

The Leg Press

• The leg press is designed to work on the muscles in the legs and in the rear; it's suitable for women who wish to tone their thighs or lose cellulite. The machine is also comfortable to use as it lets you concentrate on a specific area while the rest of your body sits back in a seat. The workout is achieved by pushing your legs away from your body against the weight. Those who use the machine should keep a wider stance and refrain from locking their knees when in the leg-straight position.
  
  

The Multi-Hip Machine

• Depending on the position you take, the multi-hip machine lets you work on the hamstrings, rear, thighs and hips. There is the option to use while facing away from the machine. You are to stand at the machine with the protruding cylinder at hip height before swinging one leg out sideways. Weight pressures down onto the leg at all times. Therefore by bringing the leg down slowly you are continuing to work the muscle after performing the rep.
  
  

Smith Machine

• People would generally regard this machine as a bench press. It is designed to work several muscles at one time, notably your triceps and pectorals. It can therefore be used for losing arm fat and firming the muscles in the breasts. Lie back on the bench and firmly grip the bar, then lift the bar up, bringing it down close to your body at shoulder height and pressing back up again.