HELP WITH BURNING FAT WITHOUT THE BULK

jakesgirl05 · July 2013

I NEED HELP!!!!!
Okay, so I tried this before.....
I bulk up easily and I can't stand it!! It seems every DVD I get for fat burning has mega bulk building exercises (ie. squats, lunges). I know, most women don't bulk, women have to work hard at bulking, more muscle is better, and so on. Thing is, I DO bulk up easily and I don't want to be bigger. I want to LOSE inches. Heck, I would like to lose some muscle mass even!
Aren't there any DVD work outs focused in burning GAT, and not BULKING up? I have A LOT of muscle and I would like to lose fat without building more. Even slim in six has mega squats! Yikes!
I feel like just giving up at times. I danced growing up and for years as an adult and my muscles have memory let me tell you! I get down to a size two and still can't wear cute boots because my calves are too big. Really? I lose as much as I can and I still have big arms. There must be a way to lose fat, not bulk and reduce muscle size. WITHOUT surgery. Pilates and yoga are good, but they are NOT fat burners. Done the research. I can't run because of my knees or I would. Any one have ideas? I would love love love some good fat burning DVDs!!!
I would be thrilled if I got some help

thanks !!!!

minijuggernaut · July 2013

Well, you won't build much appreciable muscle with air squats. Most of those DVDs are more endurance work than hypertrophy programs - but if you're looking for a workout with absolutely no bending at the knee, it might be a tall order.

Have you tried zumba/dancing/running? Straight up cardio is probably going to be more targeted to your goals.

ETA: Sorry, only skimmed the part where you said you can't run. I would suggest a gym with ellipticals or the like. Additionally, what's your diet like? Losing the fat OVER the muscle really does wonders for the "bulk" effect.

DancingMoosie · July 2013

What about jazzercise or general aerobics dvds, bike, elliptical, walking, rebounder, swimming?

j6o4 · July 2013

the only thing different about bulking and cutting is the way you eat. I train the exact same when im losing or when im gaining, it's all about diet. Most likey in your case, your probably just getting a pump where blood flows into your muscle which 100% will go away.

kcaffee1 · July 2013

Swimming, walking, biking - probably swimming though. It gives you the resistance to help burn the fat, but because you adapt to it so quickly, the resistance won't cause you to bulk up. At least that I've seen. Almost any "bulky" swimmers supplement the swimming with lifting. And, I've personally seen some TREMENDOUS improvements in fat layers melting off with swimming. Be sure to use a mix of strokes though, or you can wind up over working your shoulders.

SkimFlatWhite68 · July 2013

Diet is the most important factor in a fat loss diet (most say it's 70-80% of the equation) so concentrate on your food intake, keep a small calorie deficit, make wise choices.

If you don't want to do weights and already have a lot of muscle, then don't do weights. It's really that simple. Go for a daily walk. The walk will be your exercise, there is no need to run if you don't want to.

Everyone will have a different plan depending what their goals are. So you just need to tailor YOUR programme to what YOU want to achieve.

Best wishes,

ladynocturne · July 2013

You know you can lose fat without exercising right? Find out how many calories you maintain on, eat 250-500 less than that to lose .5lbs-1lb a week.

jakesgirl05 · July 2013

Wow! Thank you so much for the responses! I really appreciate the suggestions and support! I didn't think of Jazzercise or Zymba , and actually they would probably be awesome! Thank you! Swimming too!!

Capt_Apollo · July 2013

if you swim, try and swim without using your legs, as you don't want them to get bulky.

also, limit your stroking with you arms, as you probably don't want the bigger upper body that swimmers get.

just try and float in the water, without moving a lot.

Binkie1955 · July 2013

exercise doesn't 'burn' fat. that's a myth. Fat is either stored or consumed regardless of your caloric output based on the insulin in circulation in your blood. insulin is stimulated by carbohydrates. that's why all diets that are designed to lose fat, focus on carbohydrate restriction. reduce carbs, reduce insulin, reduce the 'storage' of fat and encourage its consumption by the body so called 'ketosis'. Muscles will burn glycogen, fat or proteins depending on what's available. If insulin is circulating to excess, the fats are being 'stored' that's the chemistry of it and they are not available. having excess fat is caused by shutting down the natural system that makes fat available as an energy source for the body.

the exercise will build muscle either way. so if you're consuming excess carbs and exercising heavily you build both fat and muscle and get bulky but not 'cut'.

read Good Calories Bad Calories to get the science down and consider http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/ as a vehicle for designing your diet around your body composition goals.

Mokey41 · July 2013

The exercise on those DVD's won't build bulk especially if you are eating at a deficit. You may be seeing some muscle definition happening but it just isn't easy to build muscle even eating for it and doing heavy lifting.

ninerbuff · July 2013

If you already have the muscle from prior dance, then unfortunately the only way to lose the muscle would be at the expense of putting your health in danger. Muscle wasting comes from practically being comatose or terminal with cancer or AIDS.
The problem you may have is with your view of how a female should look. And IMO, there's no criteria that will fit everyone. So work with what you're dealt with. Don't compromise with what some say you should look like because that's when problematic issues with body image, self esteem and eating disorders will sound logical to do.

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

PlayerHatinDogooder · July 2013

Have you ever considered just going into a coma?

If squats and lunges get you bulky I can only imagine what walking around all day does to your leg muscles seeing as your hypersensitive to bulkiness.

taso42 · July 2013

Yeah right

CoderGal · July 2013

Have any pictures of this? I've heard people talk about it, but I've never seen this happen before. I've also heard someone say it in person and they're the skinniest unmuscular thing I've ever seen so just making sure it's not a mind thing. Also grew up in dance and find things far to lose on my legs. Started lifting weights and my legs got even smaller.

Hezzietiger1 · July 2013

Diet

linsey0689 · July 2013

Try walking maybe? or cardio machines would be good

determinedbutlazy · July 2013

I would ask that you post pictures too, it sounds like you're perhaps suffering slightly from a warped sense of body image?
Stick to cardio exercises like running and swimming etc if you don't want to use weights, and eat at a caloric deficit.