Bulky muscles versus lean muscles

meshashesha2012

This is a really interesting topic, and something I've been curious about also. According to things I have read (which isn't alot), testosterone level greatly affects muscle mass; is that true? I guess the reason I'm wondering is because I have PCOS, and my testosterone level is astronomically high (haven't had it tested recently). With all the negatives involved with having PCOS, it would be nice if there were an upside to it. IE: Because of the high level of testosterone I produce by having PCOS...could I make that work for me with regard to muscle, or is that just applicable with testosterone when related to a man, and not a woman?

OR...are the things I've read total BS and testosterone has nothing to do with muscle mass?

I realize my muscles aren't going to build themselves, and I also realize I still have a LOT of weight to lose...I'm simply asking if my muscles will have more mass due to testosterone when I start lifting...than a woman with normal testosterone levels.

(curiosity)

ETA: I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 150 lb (I'm 5' 8"). I've never done anything that would build muscle (volleyball and basketball when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but that toned me, didn't bulk me).

just because you have higher testosterone for woman, doesnt mean you have as much as a man. and even then, its not like men have an easy time building muscle either.

NoMoreBlameGame

This is a really interesting topic, and something I've been curious about also. According to things I have read (which isn't alot), testosterone level greatly affects muscle mass; is that true? I guess the reason I'm wondering is because I have PCOS, and my testosterone level is astronomically high (haven't had it tested recently). With all the negatives involved with having PCOS, it would be nice if there were an upside to it. IE: Because of the high level of testosterone I produce by having PCOS...could I make that work for me with regard to muscle, or is that just applicable with testosterone when related to a man, and not a woman?

OR...are the things I've read total BS and testosterone has nothing to do with muscle mass?

I realize my muscles aren't going to build themselves, and I also realize I still have a LOT of weight to lose...I'm simply asking if my muscles will have more mass due to testosterone when I start lifting...than a woman with normal testosterone levels.

(curiosity)

ETA: I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 150 lb (I'm 5' 8"). I've never done anything that would build muscle (volleyball and basketball when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but that toned me, didn't bulk me).

just because you have higher testosterone for woman, doesnt mean you have as much as a man. and even then, its not like men have an easy time building muscle either.

The internet is so perfect for misreading people. I never said men had an easy time building muscle, nor did I say I had as much testosterone as a man...nor did I even come close to implying that.

What I asked (in essence) was, will the fact that I produce excess testosterone have any effect on my muscle mass when I begin lifting. :indifferent:

meshashesha2012

This is a really interesting topic, and something I've been curious about also. According to things I have read (which isn't alot), testosterone level greatly affects muscle mass; is that true? I guess the reason I'm wondering is because I have PCOS, and my testosterone level is astronomically high (haven't had it tested recently). With all the negatives involved with having PCOS, it would be nice if there were an upside to it. IE: Because of the high level of testosterone I produce by having PCOS...could I make that work for me with regard to muscle, or is that just applicable with testosterone when related to a man, and not a woman?

OR...are the things I've read total BS and testosterone has nothing to do with muscle mass?

I realize my muscles aren't going to build themselves, and I also realize I still have a LOT of weight to lose...I'm simply asking if my muscles will have more mass due to testosterone when I start lifting...than a woman with normal testosterone levels.

(curiosity)

ETA: I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 150 lb (I'm 5' 8"). I've never done anything that would build muscle (volleyball and basketball when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but that toned me, didn't bulk me).

just because you have higher testosterone for woman, doesnt mean you have as much as a man. and even then, its not like men have an easy time building muscle either.

The internet is so perfect for misreading people. I never said men had an easy time building muscle, nor did I say I had as much testosterone as a man...nor did I even come close to implying that.

What I asked (in essence) was, will the fact that I produce excess testosterone have any effect on my muscle mass when I begin lifting. :indifferent:

i didnt misread you.

i answered your quesion in more than just yes/no. but if you were just looking for a yes/no answer, then NO

NoMoreBlameGame

i didnt misread you.

i answered your quesion in more than just yes/no. but if you were just looking for a yes/no answer, then NO

I guess I misread you then, because it sounded like you thought I was implying what you stated. In any case, the answer is no...that's what I wanted to know.

Either way I'm going to work my butt off, regardless of the pain and regardless of the outcome. I think the issue of loose skin is what bothers me the most (however strange that may sound...you'd think all this FAT is what would bother me the most, but in reality it's the fear of what my skin will do when the fat goes away).

I know loose skin depends on a lot of factors (age, how long the skin was stretched, genetics, etc) but...does lifting weights and thus building muscle...have any known *positive* effect with regard to skin elasticity? (another curiosity question about muscle).

Editing to add: I did try google but didn't find any "connecting dots" with regard to muscle having an effect on skin elasticity...thought maybe someone here might know if there is any correlation.

meshashesha2012

from what i've noticed the majority of the people with loose skin primarily lost weight quickly and weren't weight training.

definitely start strength training. if you dont have access to a gym with weights then check out books like you are your own gym and convict conditioning. there's also yoga which since you're working with your body weight can be really tough depending on your size.

you'll notice that even though the scale might take some time to catch up you will look smaller since the weight training and progressively overloading the muscle makes sure that what you lose is fat. i'm not sure on the percentages, but in weight loss programs there is some percentage of lean body mass that is lost.

NoMoreBlameGame

Well...you kind of just validated what I felt. Some (not all) people have been telling me that I should be losing all my fat before I even bother trying to do any strength training or lifting. But...I know myself better than anyone, and I know I **will** give up and quit if all I am doing is counting calories. I really need to get rid of all this fat all over my body, but I *want* to be strong...I don't see the harm in getting strong underneath all the fat at the same time I'm losing the fat, you know?

You're right...my body size is simply too big for most yoga positions (my belly is massive). I do have access to a gym (my first day is this coming Friday (I'm waiting for my shoes to get here as all I have right now are flip-flops, lol).

And YES you're right again....that scale makes me nervous also. I'm afraid if I don't see it moving I'll get irritated and give up (and I don't want that)....might use my measuring tape that I use for my fabrics and pay attention to that also, and not just the scale.

Thanks for your input...it's valued.

VelveteenArabian

I don't have any scientific based numbers, but I would think even with PCOS, your testosterone levels wouldn't be as high as a man. I'm saying man because men, generally speaking, have an easier time of building muscle than women and of course their testosterone is higher.

I do wonder though if it would mean you would have an easier time than the average woman with average testosterone.

---

I'm guessing the generally recommended process is to drop as much fat (ie lose as much weight) as you can before trying to strength train of aesthetics are also a concern?