Will squatting make my legs bigger???

bnmoyler

Ok so over the years, I've lost a lot of weight. I have a lot of loose skin and fat in unwanted places. My waist is very small, but hips and thighs are quite large. Sometimes shopping for dress pants and things can be difficult. Over the past few months, I began weight training and I can definitely see the difference but my waist is getting smaller and my thighs are getting bigger. It seems to be area that I see and feel the most muscle forming. So my question is, is this what happens? Because I really was hoping my thighs would decrease in size and just get muscular. I put on my dress pants this morning and was mortified. They were always a little tight, but not in this way. The waist is now too big and the thighs and butt are light waaay too tight! Fat is squishy, so it was easier to maneuver. Muscle, however is not. I like the way I'm toning, but I actually want my lower body to decrease in size at the same time. What am I doing wrong?!?! I am still running and doing a lot of cardio btw.

ninerbuff

If you're in a calorie deficit, you're not building muscle. What's likely happening is that your legs are getting conditioned from all the exercise and the utilization of energy needed (glycogen storage in the cells) have increased, thereby increasing the storage. That forces more water and glycogen into the cell and enlarges them. Try compensating by either: reducing the amount of running/cardio you do to less times per week and/or reduce the amount of resistance you use and keep the reps around 10-12.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bnmoyler

ninerbuff wrote: »

If you're in a calorie deficit, you're not building muscle. What's likely happening is that your legs are getting conditioned from all the exercise and the utilization of energy needed (glycogen storage in the cells) have increased, thereby increasing the storage. That forces more water and glycogen into the cell and enlarges them. Try compensating by either: reducing the amount of running/cardio you do to less times per week and/or reduce the amount of resistance you use and keep the reps around 10-12.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

So in a nutshell, I could be retaining more water?

rileyes

Deficit to lose fat.

The muscle you have been building over the past few months is pushing the fat to the surface. If you eat at a deficit you can reduce the fat. You may also reduce some LBM as well. Keep heavy lifting in your schedule to hold onto as much muscle as possible.

You may feel a bit bulky now with the added muscle. You can noticeably slim down once you lose fat.