Worried about getting back in to weight lifting

EllieAussie
EllieAussie Posts: 3
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All-

Last year I was really loving SL 5x5, and made my goal of squatting 60kg! The down side- my legs became tree trunks :(

I've lost weight since then, but there's still some flab I want gone, especially on my legs and mid section.

I want to get back in to lifting so I can have a toned, firm body, but I know that I'm one of those women who gain muscle easily, and I'm worried I won't like my body if I gain too much muscle.

Can anyone offer any words of advice or encouragement?

Replies

  • amybg1
    amybg1 Posts: 631 Member
    You can't control where you'll lose it, and you won't gain as much muscle as a man so I wouldn't be too worried about looking manly or bulky, etc. If anything you should be proud of the body you have/are developing and not dwell on "I have too much muscle" I have 16 inch calves and pretty big arms and shoulders but I don't care because I know my build and I look good for someone with my build
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    If you start gaining too much muscle you can always lay back on the training? But honestly I don't think I've ever met anyone who thought they had too much muscle... Legs however are going to happen, but wide muscular legs looks better than wide flabby cheese legs... so own it :)
  • EllieAussie
    EllieAussie Posts: 3
    Thanks for the responses! I was at the point where none of my pants fit me, but I was still carrying too much flab on my belly and arms.

    I keep reading about people losing inches when they add in weight training, but I seem to gain them!

    I've lost weight by cutting back /watching my calories. Maybe if I start lifting again while continuing to be careful about what I eat, I won't gain as much muscle?
  • amybg1
    amybg1 Posts: 631 Member
    If you eat at a deficit you'll lose weight, fat and a bit of muscle. Depending on how much you had been eating you may have been eating to bulk unintentionally, only YOU know! But take this as an example: In my family on my dad's side we are 'cursed" with big, muscular legs - at some point while lifting my pants got tighter but over time without changing my intake or my regimen I started to get leaner and my pants are now looser on a whole
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    Yeah, as long as you are eating in a calorie deficit you should lose fat while 'maintaining' muscle/progressing in strength slower than you might in a surplus.
  • MargaretSobers
    MargaretSobers Posts: 167 Member
    If you start gaining too much muscle you can always get back on the training and loose your muscle. But personally I don't think I've ever met anyone who thought they had too much muscle. You should also follow some rules to avoid your problem:
    1. Eating Too Much
    2. Eating Too Much of Refined Carbohydrates
    3. Insufficient Weight Training
    4. Exercising on an Empty Stomach
    5. Weight Training with Insufficient Intensity
  • MargaretSobers
    MargaretSobers Posts: 167 Member
    If you start gaining too much muscle you can always get back on the training and loose your muscle. But personally I don't think I've ever met anyone who thought they had too much muscle. You should also follow some rules to avoid your problem:
    1. Eating Too Much
    2. Eating Too Much of Refined Carbohydrates
    3. Insufficient Weight Training
    4. Exercising on an Empty Stomach
    5. Weight Training with Insufficient Intensity
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,468 Member
    I accidently built up muscle years ago (not through weight training, but through another activity that I was doing intensely). What I found was that after I certain point, I seemed to stop growing in size, even though I was continuing the activity. I don't know, but you might find the same thing - that the bulk was just beginner gains and that you now don't grow so much.
  • MargaretSobers
    MargaretSobers Posts: 167 Member
    If you start gaining too much muscle you can always get back on the training and loose your muscle. But personally I don't think I've ever met anyone who thought they had too much muscle. You should also follow some rules to avoid your problem:
    1. Eating Too Much
    2. Eating Too Much of Refined Carbohydrates
    3. Insufficient Weight Training
    4. Exercising on an Empty Stomach
    5. Weight Training with Insufficient Intensity
  • MargaretSobers
    MargaretSobers Posts: 167 Member
    If you start gaining too much muscle you can always get back on the training and loose your muscle. But personally I don't think I've ever met anyone who thought they had too much muscle. You should also follow some rules to avoid your problem:
    1. Eating Too Much
    2. Eating Too Much of Refined Carbohydrates
    3. Insufficient Weight Training
    4. Exercising on an Empty Stomach
    5. Weight Training with Insufficient Intensity
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I have not looked at this extensively, but it comes from a reputable source and it does specifically address your concerns.

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/

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