Does running make your legs bulkier?
violetjin123
Posts: 7 Member
I started running a few weeks ago n noticed that my legs are getting bulkier. Ive lost 4 pounds. But I don't want my legs to appear thick.
Is running really make my legs bulkier ?
Is running really make my legs bulkier ?
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Replies
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No, running does not make your legs bigger.0
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Nope. I run 25-40 miles a week and my legs are much smaller than when I started.0
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Do you have any ideas why it's getting bulkier? When I googled it, it said its water weight n I would lose it if I keep running. Some say it's because I'm running like a sprinter (high speed, low distance).0
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How much bigger are they?0
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Note the particularly bulky legs of runners...
no...running does not make your legs "bulky"....unless you have some other definition than I do.0 -
If you look at runners, they're generally very thin with good muscle definition in their legs, but they're certainly not bulky. I walk on a treadmill on a pretty good incline 6-7 days a week and my legs are much smaller, although stronger. Strong doesn't equal bulky and huge.0
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I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »Do you have any ideas why it's getting bulkier? When I googled it, it said its water weight n I would lose it if I keep running. Some say it's because I'm running like a sprinter (high speed, low distance).
I was a sprinter...it took me years as an athletic male to get "bulky" sprinters legs....
also, if they were getting bigger and bulkier, you would be gaining weight, not losing it...0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
3 - you're likely retaining water
4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
3 - you're likely retaining water
4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.
If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
3 - you're likely retaining water
4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.
If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?
You just need to be patient and wait.0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
3 - you're likely retaining water
4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.
If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?
If your muscles are retaining water, they need it. It helps in the repair process. Don't try to force your body to release fluid it needs. Wait it out.0 -
Should I keep running while waiting or only start running again after losing all those water.0
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Now that I have lost fat you can see the muscle definition better in my legs, but they haven't grown in size. My thighs are smaller than they used to be, and I lift heavy in addition to running.0
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diannethegeek wrote: »violetjin123 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
3 - you're likely retaining water
4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.
If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?
If your muscles are retaining water, they need it. It helps in the repair process. Don't try to force your body to release fluid it needs. Wait it out.
OP...it means our body is functioning the way it's supposed to in order to repair itself...0 -
When you exercise your muscles fill with water and glycogen to repair muscle and provide energy.
Especially if you just started, you are likely retaining some water.
The only reason your legs look bulky is because the muscle you DO have is covered with fat.0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
Honey... you're female. Do you have any idea how HARD it is for women to bulk up? That is almost certainly not gonna happen to you unless you are going WAY out of your way to bulk up on purpose. Lean muscles, the kind you are talking about, are the ones you'll end up with if you don't go full-steam building/bulking plan. You don't have to worry about this. And you can do all the squats you want and STILL not have to worry about this. Women in particular have to take a whole bunch of extra steps to bulk out: the vast majority of us work out and end up SMALLER. Keep running, feel free to do some squats, and stop worrying.
As for why your legs are bigger now, you're probably packing some water weight. This could be just cause we do that, and it could also be the intensity of your exercise. Muscles getting broken down via exercise and rebuilding require quite a lot of water. It will go away. Running is excellent for you, please don't stop doing it because you're worried about something that is completely out of the realm of stuff you have to worry about.0 -
You just need to be patient and wait.[/quote]
Good advice it took me about 1 months before I noticed any difference in my legs when running 4 times a week. And about 2 months from others
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Drink more water if you are retaining water!0
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seriously though drink more water, if you dont log your water consumption you should. That is the healthiest way to get rid of water weight.0
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violetjin123 wrote: »Do you have any ideas why it's getting bulkier? When I googled it, it said its water weight n I would lose it if I keep running. Some say it's because I'm running like a sprinter (high speed, low distance).
are you very thin to begin with?0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »I started running a few weeks ago n noticed that my legs are getting bulkier. Ive lost 4 pounds. But I don't want my legs to appear thick.
Is running really make my legs bulkier ?
I'm an avid runner, and my legs are naturally bulky but that's heredity. If anything, running has slimmed them down.0 -
violetjin123 wrote: »Should I keep running while waiting or only start running again after losing all those water.
Keep your routine! Your body knows what to do with excess water. Keep drinking your water and eating, the excess water will come out on its own.
I think Im retaining 2lbs of excess water today because of some soreness inducing exercise. It happens 0 -
Running has slimmed mine down significantly, and it didn't take long for that to happen. I've only been running about 3 months.
As noted above, adding muscle bulk is pretty hard to do and only happens under very specific circumstances. I don't think from the sounds of your post that you're doing what's required to accomplish muscle gains.
As had also been noted, you're experiencing normal fluid retention everyone who undertakes new exercise experiences. Drink plenty of fluid and keep with your program. Things will even out as your body adjusts.0 -
Yes, yes it does.
It also makes you dance like Drake
On a serious note the most likely explanation is fluid retention as everyone has said. Also if you are simply going by your visual perception that can be deceiving for a number of reasons.
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