why am I 'bulking' up

AvrilRamsey

I've recently embarked on a fitness regime - building core strength trying for overall fitness including weight loss. In an effort to tone legs - thighs and buttocks I do some strength training - nothing terribly hectic as I'm quite unfit and I also do yoga and lots of stretching.

Sadly, my already big legs seem to be bulking up even more - I am beginning to see a more defined look to my legs so clearly what I'm doing is having an effect but I can't afford to bulk up my legs in this way.

I have lost inches on legs, buttocks, waist but can do without the bulking. The weight is shifting but slowly - tho I think that may have more to do with how, and what I'm eating.

Any suggestions?

JenMc14

If you're losing inches, you are not bulking. It sounds like you're losing fat, so you have more muscle definition. This is not what bulky means, bulky, simply put, would be putting on size/mass, either fat or muscle. If you don't want. To look defined, you need to have fat covering the muscle, really.

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theopenforum

It is honestly going to be a bit of everything, even though I dont have your nutrition or regimen in front of me I will take an educated guess. What you are seeing is your muscle getting bigger cause you are working them out. It is always easiest for beginners to build muscle so that is what you are seeing if your diet is adequate is the best word I can think of. But not to be worried loosing weight and building muscle go hand in hand. The more fat you loose the more defined your legs will look. One could even argue some of that definition was there all along you just had yet to see it. But again, that harks back on your nutrition. But in conclusion, if you workout your legs you are going to see an effect. If bigger defined legs isn't what you desire you can always lower the weight and increase the rep range or just do more cardio instead. Choice is yours but I hope this has been helpful.

Cheers

Tof

MissLisa29

I've recently embarked on a fitness regime - building core strength trying for overall fitness including weight loss. In an effort to tone legs - thighs and buttocks I do some strength training - nothing terribly hectic as I'm quite unfit and I also do yoga and lots of stretching.

Sadly, my already big legs seem to be bulking up even more - I am beginning to see a more defined look to my legs so clearly what I'm doing is having an effect but I can't afford to bulk up my legs in this way.

I have lost inches on legs, buttocks, waist but can do without the bulking. The weight is shifting but slowly - tho I think that may have more to do with how, and what I'm eating.

Any suggestions?

How in the world can you lose inches AND bulk at the same time ? :noway:

devil_in_a_blue_dress

You are not "bulking". You have less body fat. So I guess you are seeking advice on ridding yourself of pesky muscle?

Squidgeypaws007

If it's all new your muscles will be retaining water - you'll know this because they'll suddenly be very hard and sore, and they'll look a bit bigger to boot. Just like you get more definition immediately after exercising due to blood flow.

If you're not eating above what you're burning you can't be bulking though, bodies can't make something from nothing.

ironanimal

Bodyfat drops = looks bigger, isn't bigger
Muscle is swollen for repair for following exercise = looks bigger, temporarily bigger
Eating deficit and managing to bulk AND cut at the same with minimal exercise = no. just no.

erickirb

It is honestly going to be a bit of everything, even though I dont have your nutrition or regimen in front of me I will take an educated guess. What you are seeing is your muscle getting bigger cause you are working them out. It is always easiest for beginners to build muscle so that is what you are seeing if your diet is adequate is the best word I can think of. But not to be worried loosing weight and building muscle go hand in hand. The more fat you loose the more defined your legs will look. One could even argue some of that definition was there all along you just had yet to see it. But again, that harks back on your nutrition. But in conclusion, if you workout your legs you are going to see an effect. If bigger defined legs isn't what you desire you can always lower the weight and increase the rep range or just do more cardio instead. Choice is yours but I hope this has been helpful.

Cheers

Tof

Or best yet workout in the 2-4 rep ranges to increase leg strength without building much if any size. Since you are in a deficit your legs should get smaller no matter what, but the higher rep ranges 8-12 are typically to build muscle <6 would be more geared for strength gains, without much gain in size (in a surplus, no increase in a deficit)

yo_andi

The only way you can bulk up is by lifting heavy weights and eating more than your maintenance level of calories in a day. You are not bulking up. Losing fat all over will help your body look slimmer. Keep up your workouts and eating at a deficit. You'll get there.

salsera_barbie

I've recently embarked on a fitness regime - building core strength trying for overall fitness including weight loss. In an effort to tone legs - thighs and buttocks I do some strength training - nothing terribly hectic as I'm quite unfit and I also do yoga and lots of stretching.

Sadly, my already big legs seem to be bulking up even more - I am beginning to see a more defined look to my legs so clearly what I'm doing is having an effect but I can't afford to bulk up my legs in this way.

I have lost inches on legs, buttocks, waist but can do without the bulking. The weight is shifting but slowly - tho I think that may have more to do with how, and what I'm eating.

Any suggestions?

How can you be bulking up but losing inche? Seem contradicting.

DrMAvDPhD

You aren't bulking up you are losing fat and exposing muscle you already had. The only solution is to let your muscles atrophy, by not doing anything and eating like crap. It's not generally good for your health to do so.

AvrilRamsey

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

AvrilRamsey

yep, you got me and here I was trying so hard to remain incognito

ArroganceInStep

I've recently embarked on a fitness regime - building core strength trying for overall fitness including weight loss. In an effort to tone legs - thighs and buttocks I do some strength training - nothing terribly hectic as I'm quite unfit and I also do yoga and lots of stretching.

Sadly, my already big legs seem to be bulking up even more - I am beginning to see a more defined look to my legs so clearly what I'm doing is having an effect but I can't afford to bulk up my legs in this way.

I have lost inches on legs, buttocks, waist but can do without the bulking. The weight is shifting but slowly - tho I think that may have more to do with how, and what I'm eating.

Any suggestions?

...

IronCakes

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

And as for being a troll - gosh, guess one isn't really considered to be worthy unless one has numerous friends or has posted a number of times. Is this the part where I have to grovel and apologise for being a lowly beginner.

Sheesh

Get rid of the fat and they won't be bulky.

psuLemon

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

Sorry for those who felt it was necessary to make useless comments.

If you want definition then cutting body fat will be required. But keep in mind your perceptions dont always align to reality. While you might think it looks bulky we will think its defined. If you dont like the look gain fat. But keep in mind genetics determine where you lose fat from and muscle shape.

KeViN_v2pt0

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

And as for being a troll - gosh, guess one isn't really considered to be worthy unless one has numerous friends or has posted a number of times. Is this the part where I have to grovel and apologise for being a lowly beginner.

Sheesh

Get rid of the fat and they won't be bulky.

QFT

Cranquistador

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

Sorry for those who felt it was necessary to make useless comments.

If you want definition then cutting body fat will be required. But keep in mind your perceptions dont always align to reality. While you might think it looks bulky we will think its defined. If you dont like the look gain fat. But keep in mind genetics determine where you lose fat from and muscle shape.

I am sorry you felt my comment was useless...maybe if I had said it better? I would like to see pictures of her "bulky" legs because I see these threads so many times, and the person posting winds up being far from bulky in any way. I always ask for pictures because it is hard to give advice without actually SEEing what she is talking about.

psuLemon

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

Sorry for those who felt it was necessary to make useless comments.

If you want definition then cutting body fat will be required. But keep in mind your perceptions dont always align to reality. While you might think it looks bulky we will think its defined. If you dont like the look gain fat. But keep in mind genetics determine where you lose fat from and muscle shape.

I am sorry you felt my comment was useless...maybe if I had said it better? I would like to see pictures of her "bulky" legs because I see these threads so many times, and the person posting winds up being far from bulky in any way. I always ask for pictures because it is hard to give advice without actually SEEing what she is talking about.

Sorry it wasnt directed at you. And I am sorry I deleted your post. It was an accident. I was deleting others above you.

LiftAllThePizzas

I don't understand how you cannot afford it.

jonnythan

my already big legs seem to be bulking up even more

I have lost inches on legs,

Does not compute.

Are your legs increasing in size, or not?

Cranquistador

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

Sorry for those who felt it was necessary to make useless comments.

If you want definition then cutting body fat will be required. But keep in mind your perceptions dont always align to reality. While you might think it looks bulky we will think its defined. If you dont like the look gain fat. But keep in mind genetics determine where you lose fat from and muscle shape.

I am sorry you felt my comment was useless...maybe if I had said it better? I would like to see pictures of her "bulky" legs because I see these threads so many times, and the person posting winds up being far from bulky in any way. I always ask for pictures because it is hard to give advice without actually SEEing what she is talking about.

Sorry it wasnt directed at you. And I am sorry I deleted your post. It was an accident. I was deleting others above you.

:flowerforyou:

phjorg1

If your legs are getting too bulky from losing weight, then perhaps you should start overeating to gain fat in your legs to make them smaller...

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jonnythan

thanks for all the responses and my apologies for using words like 'bulking' - thats what it looks like to me - overall inches lost but my legs certainly are bulkier.

I understand what you mean, they are looking more muscular because the fat is leaving and the muscle is beginning to show through, and as a woman you don't like muscle showing on your body. So what you need to do is keep your body fat % a little higher to avoid muscle definition showing through, and/or do lots of low resistance cardio workouts.

That doesn't make sense. She said she:

1) Wants to tone legs
2) Legs are losing inches
3) Legs are getting bulky

These things cannot all possibly be true. If her legs are losing inches, they are getting smaller, which is the opposite of bulk so #3 is false. If she meant her legs are getting too defined despite getting smaller, then she isn't interested in muscle tone so #1 is false.

It's simply impossible to comprehend her complaint as outlined.

DrMAvDPhD

as a woman you don't like muscle showing on your body

That has nothing to do with her being a woman.

tonynguyen75

Regardless of terms, if you are not happy with the direction your body is going as far as aesthetics go, you're going to have to change something.

It appears to me, that you're losing fat when you want to lose fat and muscle. Sounds like you want to just be a smaller version of yourself. So I'd recommend to stop lifting weights and replace it with some low intensity cardio. You can also lower your protein intake as well. As long as you're staying in a caloric deficit you'll lose weight from fat and muscle. Lifting and high protein will minimize muscle loss, but it sounds like you want muscle loss. So do the opposite.

Never thought I would have to say that O_o

cwolfman13

You are not bulking...you are shedding fat, thus exposing the underlying muscle and muscle definition. **** happens...

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