"Bulky" vs "Muscular". The real definition.
ninerbuff
Posts: 49,026 Member
I wanted people here (especially females) to know what the difference is between "bulky" and "muscular" because for some reason, many think they are one in the same when they aren't. So first let's define the words:
bulk·y (blk)
adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est
1. Having considerable bulk; massive.
2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit.
3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy.
mus·cu·lar (msky-lr)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or consisting of muscle: muscular contraction.
2. Having well-developed muscles: a muscular build.
3. Having or suggesting great forcefulness, especially at the expense of subtlety: muscular reasoning that does not bother with the finer points; muscular advocacy groups.
This would be BULKY
This (at least here on the forums by most members) would be MUSCULAR
As you can see there is a definite difference. So when a female here says "she looks too bulky" and is referring to a "muscular" female, then the description is WRONG. What should be said is she is "too muscular" for my liking. Now of course "muscularity" is defined by how much definition and body fat you're carrying so you can be muscular and not so defined. Like this:
Just thought that needed to cleared up.
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
bulk·y (blk)
adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est
1. Having considerable bulk; massive.
2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit.
3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy.
mus·cu·lar (msky-lr)
adj.
1. Of, relating to, or consisting of muscle: muscular contraction.
2. Having well-developed muscles: a muscular build.
3. Having or suggesting great forcefulness, especially at the expense of subtlety: muscular reasoning that does not bother with the finer points; muscular advocacy groups.
This would be BULKY
This (at least here on the forums by most members) would be MUSCULAR
As you can see there is a definite difference. So when a female here says "she looks too bulky" and is referring to a "muscular" female, then the description is WRONG. What should be said is she is "too muscular" for my liking. Now of course "muscularity" is defined by how much definition and body fat you're carrying so you can be muscular and not so defined. Like this:
Just thought that needed to cleared up.
A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
5
Replies
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much is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but I'd love to be "muscular and not so defined" if that's what it looks like!0
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great post.
*waiting for the first poster to say ewwww or gross*1 -
So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%1 -
LOVE the muscular look whether more defined or not. LOVE it.0
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I'm having trouble concentrating for some reason1
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If I were an olympic athlete, I don't think I'd care much about being bulky either.
Cause I'm at the Olympics, biatches.6 -
this is the way i always thought of it. i definitely consider myself bulky because i have some pretty significant muscle under some pretty significant fat :laugh:So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%1 -
Winner, winner chicken dinner!!!!So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b0 -
Great post!0
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Jessica Biel is WAY too bulky!!!
I mean she has TWO tops on and everything. Far too much for my liking.
Nice post man0 -
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26% - this and the last image shown, is my body type look exactly. (currently)
And right now I am trying to drop a bit more bodyfat to get a bit more defined, for me, specifically in lower belly area, and abs.
Nice post to help clarify. Thanks0 -
Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!
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Hey man hell of a presentation with some very good information in it and the visuals added just the right amount of help to keep a reader interested and focused.
The sad part is when I hit my go I’ll still be a bulky dude but hey I can always set a new goal after that.
Keep the good informative post coming thanks man.0 -
THANNNKKKK YYYOUUUUUUU for this post. I try and explain this EVERYDAY!!0
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Jessica Biel is WAY too bulky!!!
I mean she has TWO tops on and everything. Far too much for my liking.
Nice post man
Agree. No big fan of Jessica Biel - but otherwise yes girls should strength train cos they are v unlikely to get Bulky!0 -
Thank you!0
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No big fan of Jessica Biel
I think you missed my point 1 -
Yeah, those girls are nice huh?No big fan of Jessica Biel
I think you missed my point
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b0 -
Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!
I'm not digging the fake breasts (I don't have an issue with breast implants, I just don't love the way her's look), but other than that I think she has a great, yet attainable, body.1 -
Winner, winner chicken dinner!!!!So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b
Thank you for this thread! Sooo tired of seeing people refer to hot ripped chicks as "bulky". :noway:
Now I just need to get my BF% tested professionally so I can determine if I am "muscular and defined" or just "muscular"...since I think I am hovering somewhere around 19 or 20 percent.
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nice post, ninerbuff!0
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You forgot to cite your peer reviewed studies on this.0
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So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%
The problem is, the words will mean different things to different people - that's the nature of language. Bulky doesn't necessarily imply having much muscle at all (though clearly the pictured shot putter is quite muscular). Similarly, you can be muscular but undefined or be very defined and but not actually that muscular (think Iggy Pop). You can try to pin a technical meaning to a word, as you have done above, but what you're actually talking about is % body fat0 -
Thank you! This is perfect!0
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So to sum up:
Bulky = muscular with high body fat, 27%+
Muscular = muscles with moderate body fat. 20% to 26%
Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat 12% to 19%
The problem is, the words will mean different things to different people - that's the nature of language. Bulky doesn't necessarily imply having much muscle at all (though clearly the pictured shot putter is quite muscular). Similarly, you can be muscular but undefined or be very defined and but not actually that muscular (think Iggy Pop). You can try to pin a technical meaning to a word, as you have done above, but what you're actually talking about is % body fat
True, but we can try to make things clearer. High body fat w/ now muscles would be "chubby" not "bulky". Low body fat with small muscles would just be "skinny" not "muscular and defined".0 -
I don't recall giving you permission to post my picture on here.
This would be BULKY
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since we cant call anyone out on here I am wating for " Bdh78 " not his real name but close, to cite how this is wrong because he read it was....0
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Who Dat?since we cant call anyone out on here I am wating for " Bdh78 " not his real name but close, to cite how this is wrong because he read it was....
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b0 -
Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!
Jenna is def in fantastic shape, and apparently knows my future 2nd wife (Jamie
) 0 -
Who Dat?since we cant call anyone out on here I am wating for " Bdh78 " not his real name but close, to cite how this is wrong because he read it was....
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b
Subtract one from each...it's silly0
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