How to get lean muscles and not bulky?

DannyMussels

Get sunshine in here, she'll give good advice.

chrisdavey

Tae bo for sure.

writtenINthestars

this tread is full of very bad advices.

This.

LorinaLynn

I agree that at some point, you have to love and appreciate what you have, and that function is more important than form. Having strong legs that can carry you over miles and miles, trumps having little twiggy birdy legs that can't do what you want them to do, any day of the week.

Some folks are genetically predisposed to have larger calves, just like some have larger breasts, wider shoulders, a narrower waist, a longer neck, smaller feet, a bigger nose, more prominent cheekbones, whatever. I'm very short-waisted. There's nothing I can do to change that. I can only work with what Mother Nature provided.

iKristine

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

yeah they can

No they cannot. Testosterone is what is needed. And the only way a woman gets big, is if she had higher testosterone naturally to begin. And trust me, this woman would know already this applies to her cause she would be big muscled in life in general.

Most women, with normal testosterone (the rest of us) will not get large by weight training. The most you would expect is to tighten up. But you would not get more girth.

I can bicep more than most 20 year olds in the gym at 35lbs. My arms are just as big as they were when I did 15s. I know, because I measured them. They have not budged. But they have got more tight skinned.

Rae6503

What you are probably actually seeing is muscle mixed with fat. I always thought my calves were HUGELY muscled when I was walking around 15lbs heavier than they are now. I couldn't wear those cut knee high boots. Currently I have stronger but SMALLER calves and fit into the boots. Really it's the body fat that makes you "bulky" not the muscles. To get your calves smaller you'll have to cut over all body fat, however where the fat comes from is not under your control (if it was I'd have skinny thighs). Your calves might not shrink until you get pretty low on the body fat and then you might be lower than you want (again, my situation with my thighs).

And lastly, muscular calves are sexy as hell.

ETA: Unless you are already pretty lean, then it's probably genetics.

Rae6503

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

The first part of this statement depends on the definition of "bulky". Some women confuse "defined", "muscular" and "bulky". I completely understand that some women do not want the "muscular" and/or "defined" look, and the key to that is to maintain higher body fat percentages, anything greater than 20% or so. And yeah, I guess women CAN get "bulky" without steroids but it takes eating at a calorie surplus and many months if not years of weight lifting. I've been trying for 2 months and have gained 3 lbs.

Light weights and high reps is pretty much bull sh1t. All it does is make you better at lifting light weights with high reps. It doesn't challenge or develop your muscles at all. It definitely doesn't make them "lean".

AZackery

A woman can bulk up without steroids, just like a man can bulk up without steroids. It takes time to gain muscle, even for a man. A bodybuilder doesn't become a bodybuilder overnight. A person doesn't even become a bodybuilder in a month. It takes years.

Every woman's body is different. A woman and man can only speak for their own body.

rockerbabyy

A woman can bulk up without steroids, just like a man can bulk up without steroids. It takes time to gain muscle, even for a man. A bodybuilder doesn't become a bodybuilder overnight. A person doesn't even become a bodybuilder in a month. It takes years.

Every woman's body is different. A woman and man can only speak for their own body.

a typical woman with normal testosterone levels will not bulk up like a man without using steroids.
yes it takes time to gain muscle, and you have to be eating the right things and that goes for men and women, but generally if women want to look like bodybuilders they have to take steroids and other supplements.

bry_all01

I would say cut back a tad on cardio and add strength training. I personally love the weighted standing calf raises, but that isn't going to help you trim them, only sculpt them.

RonSwanson66

A woman can bulk up without steroids, just like a man can bulk up without steroids. It takes time to gain muscle, even for a man. A bodybuilder doesn't become a bodybuilder overnight. A person doesn't even become a bodybuilder in a month. It takes years.

Every woman's body is different. A woman and man can only speak for their own body.

Stop making things up.

chrisdavey

And lastly, muscular calves are sexy as hell.

this is correct

honeysprinkles

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

yeah they can

No they cannot. Testosterone is what is needed. And the only way a woman gets big, is if she had higher testosterone naturally to begin. And trust me, this woman would know already this applies to her cause she would be big muscled in life in general.

Most women, with normal testosterone (the rest of us) will not get large by weight training. The most you would expect is to tighten up. But you would not get more girth.

I can bicep more than most 20 year olds in the gym at 35lbs. My arms are just as big as they were when I did 15s. I know, because I measured them. They have not budged. But they have got more tight skinned.

If it's naturally high, then it's not the result of steroids...so women can naturally get bulky... like the person you quoted said. It doesn't have to be from steroids, even though it's not the "norm." I have a friend who is very naturally muscular, but you're right that for most women that's not the case.

bry_all01

And lastly, muscular calves are sexy as hell.

this is correct

So very true

furekurss

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

yeah they can

No they cannot. Testosterone is what is needed. And the only way a woman gets big, is if she had higher testosterone naturally to begin. And trust me, this woman would know already this applies to her cause she would be big muscled in life in general.

Most women, with normal testosterone (the rest of us) will not get large by weight training. The most you would expect is to tighten up. But you would not get more girth.

I can bicep more than most 20 year olds in the gym at 35lbs. My arms are just as big as they were when I did 15s. I know, because I measured them. They have not budged. But they have got more tight skinned.

lets be real here, you are doing 35lb curls and assuming you have good form, fine, but for probalby 5 reps each arm. 2 different types of muscles,

in a nut shell, heavy weights+less reps= CNS strenght more then size, Moderate weights+more reps= more size less strenght

so strength does not equal size.

explains why power lifters look like they dont even lift but can pick up heavy weights, vs IFBB pro that still does really heavy weights but not as heavy as bodybuilders

ninerbuff

I've been running for 3 years now on a treadmill. I've gained a lot of muscle mass which is great, but I hate how my legs became bulky. My calves are HUGE and not because of fat but muscle.

I'm wondering how to avoid bulky muscles and how to make my calves normal sized and lean. If anyone has any suggestions,
please do help Also, I am still losing weight if that changes the exercise regime in any way

Thank you all and good luck with your weight loss!

I smell a troll.


A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

furekurss

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

yeah they can

No they cannot. Testosterone is what is needed. And the only way a woman gets big, is if she had higher testosterone naturally to begin. And trust me, this woman would know already this applies to her cause she would be big muscled in life in general.

Most women, with normal testosterone (the rest of us) will not get large by weight training. The most you would expect is to tighten up. But you would not get more girth.

I can bicep more than most 20 year olds in the gym at 35lbs. My arms are just as big as they were when I did 15s. I know, because I measured them. They have not budged. But they have got more tight skinned.

lets be real here, you are doing 35lb curls and assuming you have good form, fine, but for probalby 5 reps each arm. 2 different types of muscles,

in a nut shell, heavy weights+less reps= CNS strenght more then size, Moderate weights+more reps= size

so strength does not equal size.

ninerbuff

Bulking means adding fat with muscle. Bulky people have a good layer of fat covering muscle. Muscular people have less body fat which is why you see the muscle. Get rid of the fat and you get rid of the bulk look.
If you don't like the muscular look, then don't let your body fat get too low.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

furekurss

.

ninerbuff

A woman can bulk up without steroids, just like a man can bulk up without steroids. It takes time to gain muscle, even for a man. A bodybuilder doesn't become a bodybuilder overnight. A person doesn't even become a bodybuilder in a month. It takes years.

Every woman's body is different. A woman and man can only speak for their own body.

But they can't do it without lifting progressively higher weights. Also without enhancement, or an unusually high testosterone level in the body a woman can't bulk up like a man.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition