How can I get toned with strength training without looking bulky?
Replies
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sunnydays851 wrote: »5'1", and last time I checked I weighed 115.8 lbs. I have a couple more pounds to go before I'm done cutting, but I don't want to end up skinny fat and still have my arms jiggle when I walk. I certainly don't want to look bulky. I just want a flat stomach and legs that don't sag or rub together. I don't have any equipment except for two three pounds weights that I found in my closet. I don't have a big enough budget for any more than that. Any advice?
What exactly do you consider bulky? Can you link to any pictures of exactly what your wanting in terms of body composition.
For example, the awesome woman in this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I think her body looks awesome.0 -
Nerdycurls wrote: »Is it really true the not getting bulky part applies to all women, regardless of health issues?
With PCOS and all that you know, free testosterone floating around in my system, I've noticed I DO get bulkier when I lift. Even light weights. Isn't it true if you lift to the point of muscle exhaustion, you will end up getting bigger to some degree? Even if it's lighter weights?
One of the reasons why I am somewhat wary of upper body weight work is because of how chunky I look. My legs and butt could certainly use more mass, but I don't want to end up with some thick upper body where I have a fused shoulder/neck thing going on.
We are all different shapes and some people tend to build easier in some areas than others but even with PCOS you have to be very dedicated to lifting and do it for quite a while (and not while eating at a deficit) to build muscle. And even that amount of muscle isn't necessarily going to make you bulky. I'm saying necessarily because clearly everybody has different ideas as to what is bulky. But avoiding upper body work and only doing lower body work is likely going to have you ending up looking pretty soft on top.
And do you really have that much testosterone floating around? I have PCOS too and like to dream that any extra testosterone I have may help with lifting but I'm pretty sure that even a PCOSer with elevated levels has only a fraction of what a man has. (Trying to find a source for this.)
To be exact, the bulkiness was at its worst when I was at my heaviest-- and with the worst PCOS symptoms. That was years ago, but since then I've really shied away from lifting a lot.
I only lift 2 times a week. I do heavier on my lower body, but am careful with my upper. A few years ago when I decided to just lift anyway because I could use the strength in my upper body (I also had joint/tendon issues), a coworker told me she could tell I was working out...because I started looking "butch." Yeah, that is NOT what I want to hear.0 -
shadow2soul wrote: »sunnydays851 wrote: »5'1", and last time I checked I weighed 115.8 lbs. I have a couple more pounds to go before I'm done cutting, but I don't want to end up skinny fat and still have my arms jiggle when I walk. I certainly don't want to look bulky. I just want a flat stomach and legs that don't sag or rub together. I don't have any equipment except for two three pounds weights that I found in my closet. I don't have a big enough budget for any more than that. Any advice?
What exactly do you consider bulky? Can you link to any pictures of exactly what your wanting in terms of body composition.
For example, the awesome woman in this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I think her body looks awesome.
I agree, her body looks great but she definitely doesn't have that "bulky" look.
https://itrainthereforeieat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/jessica-beal.jpg
Jessica's arms are a bit bulky-- this is what happens with my arms. In my opinion-- for myself and from what other women with broad shoulders have said, this look makes you appear bulkier.
Same with these:
http://www.leighpeele.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bulky-female-arms.jpg
After I got tendinitis the PT admonished me to strengthen my upper body, but like most women I'm afraid to.0 -
^ well, then that wasn't muscle, it was fat.Nerdycurls wrote: »shadow2soul wrote: »sunnydays851 wrote: »5'1", and last time I checked I weighed 115.8 lbs. I have a couple more pounds to go before I'm done cutting, but I don't want to end up skinny fat and still have my arms jiggle when I walk. I certainly don't want to look bulky. I just want a flat stomach and legs that don't sag or rub together. I don't have any equipment except for two three pounds weights that I found in my closet. I don't have a big enough budget for any more than that. Any advice?
What exactly do you consider bulky? Can you link to any pictures of exactly what your wanting in terms of body composition.
For example, the awesome woman in this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I think her body looks awesome.
I agree, her body looks great but she definitely doesn't have that "bulky" look.
https://itrainthereforeieat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/jessica-beal.jpg
Jessica's arms are a bit bulky-- this is what happens with my arms. In my opinion-- for myself and from what other women with broad shoulders have said, this look makes you appear bulkier.
Same with these:
http://www.leighpeele.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bulky-female-arms.jpg
After I got tendinitis the PT admonished me to strengthen my upper body, but like most women I'm afraid to.
I still don't get why (1) these examples are "bulky" and (2) why that's a bad thing, but everyone can obviously want whatever body they want. I'd kill to be as muscular and lean as any of those women. However, that does not happen easily: it's a combination of having muscle mass and low body fat. It takes work to achieve that, and it doesn't happen by accident, so those who don't want this type of look have nothing to fear. I've been cutting for over 3 months and lifting heavy and my arms don't look anywhere near that shapely.0 -
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Nerdycurls wrote: »Nerdycurls wrote: »Is it really true the not getting bulky part applies to all women, regardless of health issues?
With PCOS and all that you know, free testosterone floating around in my system, I've noticed I DO get bulkier when I lift. Even light weights. Isn't it true if you lift to the point of muscle exhaustion, you will end up getting bigger to some degree? Even if it's lighter weights?
One of the reasons why I am somewhat wary of upper body weight work is because of how chunky I look. My legs and butt could certainly use more mass, but I don't want to end up with some thick upper body where I have a fused shoulder/neck thing going on.
We are all different shapes and some people tend to build easier in some areas than others but even with PCOS you have to be very dedicated to lifting and do it for quite a while (and not while eating at a deficit) to build muscle. And even that amount of muscle isn't necessarily going to make you bulky. I'm saying necessarily because clearly everybody has different ideas as to what is bulky. But avoiding upper body work and only doing lower body work is likely going to have you ending up looking pretty soft on top.
And do you really have that much testosterone floating around? I have PCOS too and like to dream that any extra testosterone I have may help with lifting but I'm pretty sure that even a PCOSer with elevated levels has only a fraction of what a man has. (Trying to find a source for this.)
To be exact, the bulkiness was at its worst when I was at my heaviest-- and with the worst PCOS symptoms. That was years ago, but since then I've really shied away from lifting a lot.
I only lift 2 times a week. I do heavier on my lower body, but am careful with my upper. A few years ago when I decided to just lift anyway because I could use the strength in my upper body (I also had joint/tendon issues), a coworker told me she could tell I was working out...because I started looking "butch." Yeah, that is NOT what I want to hear.
All I can say is that I wouldn't put much stock in the opinion anybody who told me that I was starting to look "butch." Good grief.
I don't consider Jessica Beal's arms to be bulky in that photo. The other photos--the lady with all the kids (can't remember her name) and Madonna? Their arms are muscular but not what I would call bulky. Madonna's show more because of her lower body fat. I like the look of Supermom's but to each her own. If that's not what you want, that's not what you want.
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Nerdycurls wrote: »shadow2soul wrote: »sunnydays851 wrote: »5'1", and last time I checked I weighed 115.8 lbs. I have a couple more pounds to go before I'm done cutting, but I don't want to end up skinny fat and still have my arms jiggle when I walk. I certainly don't want to look bulky. I just want a flat stomach and legs that don't sag or rub together. I don't have any equipment except for two three pounds weights that I found in my closet. I don't have a big enough budget for any more than that. Any advice?
What exactly do you consider bulky? Can you link to any pictures of exactly what your wanting in terms of body composition.
For example, the awesome woman in this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I think her body looks awesome.
I agree, her body looks great but she definitely doesn't have that "bulky" look.
https://itrainthereforeieat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/jessica-beal.jpg
Jessica's arms are a bit bulky-- this is what happens with my arms. In my opinion-- for myself and from what other women with broad shoulders have said, this look makes you appear bulkier.
Same with these:
http://www.leighpeele.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bulky-female-arms.jpg
After I got tendinitis the PT admonished me to strengthen my upper body, but like most women I'm afraid to.
See while those are bulky to you, to me they look great. Difference in opinions. That's why I am curious as to what the OP consider bulky. For me, I remember when I was a kid and my mom worked at a gym. They had pictures of body builders on the walls and I thought one was a guy at first. On closer inspection of the picture though it was a woman. So for me, bulky lines more up with that and like the women on this page:
http://www.totalprosports.com/2011/08/09/11-incredibly-muscular-female-competitive-bodybuilders/0 -
Nerdycurls wrote: »
Whoops, I posted that by mistake. I couldn't find a way to re formulate it without sounding awful. Sorry lol. You said that you thought you saw bulkiness at your heaviest. What I meant is that I think it's unlikely a person with low body fat (something I'm still working towards!!) would look bulky. But then you posted explanatory photos and I see that you would define low body fat as bulky also. So this makes my comment redundant.
Edited to add: if someone told me I looked butch, I'd ask them if they want some peanut butter to go with their jelly (to quote a friend on MFP). I bet you looked awesome.0 -
It's not that I'm against some muscle definition. I'm sure if most women were to flex you'd see a bit of a muscle bulge. Unfortunately, having PCOS makes me more cognizant of wanting to look female, since I have to deal with side issues like hair and all.0
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Nerdycurls wrote: »It's not that I'm against some muscle definition. I'm sure if most women were to flex you'd see a bit of a muscle bulge. Unfortunately, having PCOS makes me more cognizant of wanting to look female, since I have to deal with side issues like hair and all.
I can appreciate that, and my sympathies for having to deal with it. I personally think, though, that being feminine (or not) is all about your attitude: there is nothing preventing you from feeling and acting like a total siren, no matter your build or body type.0 -
Nerdycurls wrote: »Is it really true the not getting bulky part applies to all women, regardless of health issues?
With PCOS and all that you know, free testosterone floating around in my system, I've noticed I DO get bulkier when I lift. Even light weights. Isn't it true if you lift to the point of muscle exhaustion, you will end up getting bigger to some degree? Even if it's lighter weights?
One of the reasons why I am somewhat wary of upper body weight work is because of how chunky I look. My legs and butt could certainly use more mass, but I don't want to end up with some thick upper body where I have a fused shoulder/neck thing going on.
We are all different shapes and some people tend to build easier in some areas than others but even with PCOS you have to be very dedicated to lifting and do it for quite a while (and not while eating at a deficit) to build muscle. And even that amount of muscle isn't necessarily going to make you bulky. I'm saying necessarily because clearly everybody has different ideas as to what is bulky. But avoiding upper body work and only doing lower body work is likely going to have you ending up looking pretty soft on top.
And do you really have that much testosterone floating around? I have PCOS too and like to dream that any extra testosterone I have may help with lifting but I'm pretty sure that even a PCOSer with elevated levels has only a fraction of what a man has. (Trying to find a source for this.)
Women with PCOS tend to have very low sex hormone binding globulin. So while total serum testosterone may be within normal to fairly elevated (100-300), the free testosterone tends to be disproportionately high. It can approach the levels seen in males (free, not total).
Building muscles is hard work, regardless, but im willing to buy that some women with untreated PCOS may have an easier time building muscle.0 -
Weird muscled bumpy look?? It is actually quite normal, as nobody has ons single muscle from shoulder to wrist......Nerdycurls wrote: »Btw I would love to have Alix Newton's arms. They look slender and sleek, but I'm sure she's very strong. My arms always get this weird muscled bumpy look going on.
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I feel the need to comment although I hate posting on these forums as I know somebody will jump on me but I understand the body issue that you are having, I too have a more muscular build than the svelte lean models and stars that I would love to look like, it's not going to happen, it's like a flat chested woman trying to grow boobs, the more weight I have lost the more my biceps pop out but it's far more attractive than fat and where I have been left with a bit of excess skin from losing weight and being a cardio bunny I have decided to embrace the fit girl inside and start lifting because let's face it, there was never a skinny girl inside, that said I'm still having to work hard at building on what I naturally have, fat loss is making me look "bulkier" than lifting weights so you have a decision to make, have excess fat to cover your muscles or look fit, well that's my experience anyway0
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I flexed my biceps at a family dinner and my sister said 'eurgh I don't like muscles on women' so I just relaxed and said 'do my arms look big?'
she said no they look great they've got great tone - see .. muscles ..
and I love them and think they look great .. relaxed my arms and legs are toned and shapely slim... it takes effort to get muscles and to show them
I choose to wear vest tops .. it's shocking to me that a year ago I'd do anything to hide my upper arms
what matters is how you feel and I have to tell you feeling strong and fit feels really f'ing sexy!
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Nerdycurls wrote: »shadow2soul wrote: »sunnydays851 wrote: »5'1", and last time I checked I weighed 115.8 lbs. I have a couple more pounds to go before I'm done cutting, but I don't want to end up skinny fat and still have my arms jiggle when I walk. I certainly don't want to look bulky. I just want a flat stomach and legs that don't sag or rub together. I don't have any equipment except for two three pounds weights that I found in my closet. I don't have a big enough budget for any more than that. Any advice?
What exactly do you consider bulky? Can you link to any pictures of exactly what your wanting in terms of body composition.
For example, the awesome woman in this link:
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/
I think her body looks awesome.
https://itrainthereforeieat.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/jessica-beal.jpg
Jessica's arms are a bit bulky-- this is what happens with my arms. In my opinion-- for myself and from what other women with broad shoulders have said, this look makes you appear bulkier.
Same with these:
http://www.leighpeele.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/bulky-female-arms.jpg
After I got tendinitis the PT admonished me to strengthen my upper body, but like most women I'm afraid to.
I'm gonna be in the minority here, but i agree with you Nerdycurls.
Jessica does look somewhat bulky to me as well, moreso around the shoulders. I've seen her with more body fat and she looks great!
The other Lady and Madonna's arms look a bit too Muscular ("for my taste") and this is how my arms looked when i used to go on the Rowing Machine at the Gym!
I don't tend to work on my arms anymore tbh.
Not an ideal look, for me.
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I still can't get over how someone would be able to consider Madonna's stick arms as muscular.0
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Just because her arms are skinny, doesn't mean they can't be Muscular too.stevencloser wrote: »I still can't get over how someone would be able to consider Madonna's stick arms as muscular.
But i guess, everyone perceives muscle differently.
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But they're not muscular, they're just skinny so it's showing.
vs.
Brad Pitt barely has any muscle compared to whoever the second guy is. What he has is just showing more because he's skinny.0 -
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@stevencloser Brad Pitt looks good though.
The other Guy,..... not so much. Lol0 -
I agree, Madonnas arms look like zombie arms. Jessica's don't look bulky to me in the slightest.0
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Building muscle takes time and requires tweaking. I've bulked and cut so much to tweak my body how I want it to be. You need a calorie surplus to gain muscle, which I usually do in the winter because I don't mind having a bit of fluff then. I keep my protein levels high, fat around low to mid 20's of my food and keep my cardio at 20mins at a moderate intensity. It works for me.0
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ExRelaySprinter wrote: »@stevencloser Brad Pitt looks good though.
The other Guy,..... not so much. Lol
I bet that answer would change if second guy lost excess body fat and kept LBM.
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What is going on in this thread?
Low body fat now = bulky? Have I wandered into Bizarro world?0 -
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I'll never understand why people take pictures of bodybuilding athletes at their top conditioning (for competitions and photo shoots) and worry they'll end up looking like that.
Taking pictures of women when they've dieted down to a max of 15% and wondering if that's what they'll look like is beyond my comprehension. The amount of work with nutrition and training that goes into their bodies ain't easy. You don't just stumble upon that look even with weekly training. Even the majority of them don't look like that on a regular basis. That's why when you google them you'll see softer photos as well. Even when they're softer, it's easy to pose the right way to exaggerate muscle. I can look pretty damn buff if I flex, turn and twist the right way lol.
Half the bulkyimages are just women at low body fat percentages where what muscle they do have is very visible. Madonna? Lol. That woman focuses on yoga and Pilates. She eats quinoa and fish. She keeps a very strict diet with cardio to maintain low body fat. The only thing she's lifting is her body weight and there isn't much of it. No offense to her but she just isn't an example of a woman bulking up but rather cutting to a very low body fat percentage.
Jessica biel? You'll find both soft and more lean photos of her. She's worked extensively hard to build muscle and lean out for movie roles. Even if you consider that bulky, she's incredibly diet strict for her buffer physique.0 -
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sarahlifts wrote: »
My definition of bulky doesn't = low body fat but I am glad that *that* definition of bulky came up in this thread. I think that a lot of people reflexively spout "you're a woman, you won't get bulky" without finding out what people consider bulky to mean.0 -
And the most ironic thing in the whole bizarre thread is that every single woman on earth were born with muscles, and won't be able to function without it......0
This discussion has been closed.
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