women bulking up

michellerieger

I was talking to my friend about getting a pull-up bar since I am doing P90X. She told me not to get one because the kinds of workouts you do on that will cause me to bulk up in my back and shoulders. Then I mentioned resistance bands and she said that would be a better option.

Does it really make a difference which one I use? I know the bands will be easier to start off with, but even with a pull-up bar I don't think I'm going to turn into a body builder.

What do you think?

epj78

Nope doesn't matter. It's a fitness myth that women will "bulk up" too much. You won't. Our bodies aren't made to. I know others will disagree with me, but if you google it and look at the reliable sources, you'll see that the experts tend to agree, the bulk up fear is unfounded.

Just an example of what you'll find: http://www.elitefts.com/documents/female_athletes.htm

sharoniballoni

I think that, generally speaking, it's very difficult for a woman to get bulky. We don't have the testosterone for that. Women need to work REALLY hard to get big and I'm talking regimented meals of proteins and carbs with very heavy lifting. Don't worry about that. You can get the pull-up bar if it'll help you keep working out.

HeidiMightyRawr

You wont bulk up, although I'm sure that a pull up bar would help you to improve alot faster.
This is something that alot of people seem to think and its really not true, you'd have to put in hours of weight training sessions a day along with a very strict diet for a long long time to get bulked up. It's because you don't have the same sort of hormones as a man would have that make it extremely hard to get anywhere close to looking that way. You will get a nice toned look though

I'm starting p90x soon once i'm done with insanity and can't wait to get the pull up bar as I can't do that many at the moment - although I don't know exactly where to put it lol

michellerieger

Thanks, I really didn't think I will since I never really had, even while I was taking a weight training class.

MassiveDelta

Your friend was so wrong. Get the pull up bar! Do it you will not be disappointed and she will be jealous!

mlb929

I hate resistance bands on the P90X work outs, when I work out on the road I use them. Not the same work out IMO, I love the weights.

I always find ti funny that women don't want to "bulk up", it's very very hard. I actually WANT to bulk and have been working on it for about 2 years, as well as weight loss in the process, and I'm STILL not looking anything but toned. I have low testosterone levels and take a bioidentical supplement, that they have upped again. Bulk isn't something IMO that women just get by working out.

Go for the pull up bar, it's the best way to go IMO, you will definitely see lean.

elainecroft

More than likely you will see a lot of muscle tone, but an overall reduction in size when you lose weight. Think more Jessica Alba or even Michelle Obama than Madonna or a bodybuilder.

LMac423

Pullups are an EXCELLENT excercise....and total myth that women "bulk up" from lifting...don't be scared of it! It's SO good for you!