bulging muscles?

jenniferpiotrowski0

I started doing some yoga and other exercises and appear to be losing some weight but I have also noticed my leg muscles are growing really big. I want to lose weight without my leg muscles expanding too much. Is there anything I can do to control the growth of my muscles? I don't mind my muscles growing but they are making me somewhat look fatter in my legs. How can I make my legs look thinnner?

DeguelloTex

Muscles don't make you look fatter.

IsaackGMOON

How big is really big?

You're probably getting confused between 'big muscles' and having a lower body fat percentage so muscles seem more defined.

If you're in a caloric deficit, you're probably not gaining muscle.

They just seem bigger because there's less fat covering them.

Ready2Rock206

That's probably water retention. If you're eating at a deficit and just doing some yoga you're not getting Hulk muscles.

Mycophilia

Muscles generally don't grow in a calorie deficit, this is especially true for women. Also if you're not doing some sort of heavy weightlifting, your leg muscles are definitely not growing any appreciable amount.

oh_happy_day

I suspect you can just see more definition as the fat comes off. I highly doubt that you're building muscle.

slaite1

Water weight. And you're noticing the muscle under the fat. Lose the fat and your legs will look smallet

jenniferpiotrowski0

Idk its weird...I assumed it was my muscles but Idk its just my inner legs above my legs got a little bigger than normal evrer since I started doing these exercises more. I usually eat within my calorie deficit. If its water weight...what causes that? The exercises I've been doing is walking,yoga,stretches and other exercises like crunches and toe touches

jenniferpiotrowski0

Meant to say above my knees...

SLLRunner

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

I started doing some yoga and other exercises and appear to be losing some weight but I have also noticed my leg muscles are growing really big. I want to lose weight without my leg muscles expanding too much. Is there anything I can do to control the growth of my muscles? I don't mind my muscles growing but they are making me somewhat look fatter in my legs. How can I make my legs look thinnner?

Your ticker says you've lost 10 pounds. Congratulations!

It's not that easy to grow muscle. Women do not bulk up with muscle, they look smaller.

Could it be your perception that your legs are getting bigger? I mean, are your pants tighter? Have you gained inches?

jenniferpiotrowski0

I also am a nanny so I carry babies 3 times a week Idk if that caused it. I wasn't used to doinG much physical activity and then all of a sudden started taking care of my niece

arditarose

Take measurements. I lifted heavy weights in a deficit. You don't get bigger doing that, you get smaller. And you're doing yoga which is great but it is not a muscle building activity.

jenniferpiotrowski0

Thanks! No my pants don't feel tighter..actually they feel looser mostly around my hips

arditarose

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

Thanks! No my pants don't feel tighter..actually they feel looser mostly around my hips

That's a good sign. Sometimes when we start losing, it takes different parts of the body time to catch up to others. I see posts all the time about people saying they've lost weight but their belly is bigger when really they've lost inches in their hips or bust, and the appearance of the belly is bigger but really it is just still the same. It all starts to even out though.

jenniferpiotrowski0

I'm following an app called 3 minute workout. It doesn't sound like much but I figured It would be a start since I don't exactly love exercise. BuT idk what exactly is water weight? I appologize if that is a stupid question to ask lol

jenniferpiotrowski0

My lower belly is still there but I'm losing something kinda in my gut area. I'm losing weight in the places that I don't care about losing weight in so its weird...although what if lost can only help me fit into smaller jean sizes so I think that's good

jenniferpiotrowski0

*i've not if lost * sorry typo lol

mccindy72

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

I'm following an app called 3 minute workout. It doesn't sound like much but I figured It would be a start since I don't exactly love exercise. BuT idk what exactly is water weight? I appologize if that is a stupid question to ask lol

Water weight is temporary - your body will retain water based on your diet (whether or not you ate a lot of sodium or carbohydrates), exercise (sometimes an increase in exercise can do micro damage to muscle tissue, and your body retains fluid to repair the damage), or hormones, especially in women. It only lasts a few days and then you'll literally pee it right out of your system.

jenniferpiotrowski0

Hmm oh ok. I think I do eat a lot of carbs and sodium sometimes cuz I do notice sometimes when I log in my food at the end of the day I exceed the reccomended amount of some nutrients. For a while I was limiting my sodium intake because my sister kept telling me that my feet look swollen but after doing that I realized I was going under 1200 calories and it didn't feel healthy so I stopped focusing on nutrients and just don't go over my calorie intake. I've noticed if I go for a long walk then after the walk it makes my legs bulge in the same way only in different spots.

SLLRunner

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

Thanks! No my pants don't feel tighter..actually they feel looser mostly around my hips

Wonderful! Just have to be patient, stick to your calorie deficit, and allow your body to do what it will.

Lots of great advice in this thread too.

jenniferpiotrowski0

Thanks maybe it is water weight but I wish I could get rid of it. If I don't drink much water does that maybe affect me at all? I drank some water today but I can't get myself to drink a lot of water on a consistent basis or in large amounts.

arditarose

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

Thanks maybe it is water weight but I wish I could get rid of it. If I don't drink much water does that maybe affect me at all? I drank some water today but I can't get myself to drink a lot of water on a consistent basis or in large amounts.

Yes, drinking more water will help with water weight.

mccindy72

jenniferpiotrowski0 wrote: »

Thanks maybe it is water weight but I wish I could get rid of it. If I don't drink much water does that maybe affect me at all? I drank some water today but I can't get myself to drink a lot of water on a consistent basis or in large amounts.

You don't need to drink 'large amounts' all at once - just grab an 8 ounce glass of water, several times a day and drink it down. 8 ounces of water (measure that out once, so you see what it looks like) really isn't very much. Drink a few of them and you'll be good to go.

jenniferpiotrowski0

Ok thanks if anything else helps with water weight let me know

PinkPixiexox

Muscles won't grow on a calorie deficit. What you are probably seeing is your legs are more defined which is a GOOD thing. You'll be losing fat and getting leaner. If you take measurements, you'll probably see you've lost inches there so this 'bulking' is in your mind. Well done you!

jenniferpiotrowski0

I don't have a proper measuring tape but I have one that my dad uses for measuring walls and stuff. The closest thing I have but I'd have to look for it

PinkPixiexox

Do

kozykondition1

Measuring tapes cost $1.00 at any craft or sewing store.

arditarose

Yeah I think I got a pack of 3 for a buck fifty at the dollar store

jenniferpiotrowski0

Does target or Walgreens carry them? Those are the 2 stores closest to me that I can walk to from my house.

jenniferpiotrowski0

I can't find my dads measuring tape