"Bulky" vs "Muscular". The real definition.

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Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    I'm Bulky. I have a good amount of muscle and a good amount of Lean Body Mass but my Body Fat % is still too high. Getting from muscular but bulky to just muscular is not proving to be easy.
    the main reason why i got bulky was because i ate the same amount (which was over my maintenance level to be honest) while i continued to lose weight.

    my plan has been to reduce calories, do cardio 30-45 minutes 5 days a week and continue to lift heavy. at the moment i'm not trying to build new muscle but to trim felt.
  • dawlschic007
    dawlschic007 Posts: 636 Member
    Thanks for the responses!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    the main reason why i got bulky was because i ate the same amount (which was over my maintenance level to be honest) while i continued to lose weight.

    my plan has been to reduce calories, do cardio 30-45 minutes 5 days a week and continue to lift heavy. at the moment i'm not trying to build new muscle but to trim felt.

    How did you lose weight in a calorie surplus?
  • renny_xoxo
    renny_xoxo Posts: 10
    Question: so can you not gain muscle on a calorie deficit?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,961 Member
    Question: so can you not gain muscle on a calorie deficit?
    Unless you're a/an:

    Obese/very overweight person starting a weight lifting program
    Athlete returning to lifting after a long layoff
    A "newbie" who has never lifted before

    then it's practically impossible. Building muscle means you're adding weight. To add weight you need surplus.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • bellajezzie
    bellajezzie Posts: 6
    BUMP:smile:
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,961 Member
    Need to bump because of the misunderstanding of "muscular" and "bulky" again.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    That redhead in the first picture. Mmmmph.
  • skinnylove00
    skinnylove00 Posts: 662 Member
    Jessica biel is totally checking out her obliques
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    <----My arms are too bulky:laugh:




    But some day they will be muscular.
  • Sarahbara76
    Sarahbara76 Posts: 601 Member
    Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!

    jenna.jpg

    jenna_renee_5.jpg

    jennajamie.jpg

    I <3 Jenna too and she reply's to comments on her Facebook pages too, very sweet lady!
  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    BielWorkingOutJun2006368.jpg

    Hello new inspiration picture and consequent girlcrush.
  • Sarahbara76
    Sarahbara76 Posts: 601 Member
    images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS38VzDuLHxZi8wVsI7Z0WXhytI6xH1RFuIK-a84eMiITDRckAh

    I just wanted to add that just because you have low body fat % does not mean you will look more defined or muscular as you can clearly see here. animated-smileys-puking-06.gif

    That is scary.

    OMG!!!!! YUCK love the barfing of the rubber chicken smiley tho LOL
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    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%

    I really like this as a guide. I also like the photos. (Granted this is more on the ladies' side of the equation) Photos sort of give me a visual guide for what I am looking to achieve! Of course there is one more thing to add in here...


    FAT = Not muscular with a high body fat -- generally in the overweight to obese range....

    (Not meaning to be demeaning by the use of that term... I am FAT myself... but working on it...)
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    I agree, and basically called everyone fat that does not look "muscular"
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....
  • foster59803
    foster59803 Posts: 439 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....


    ^^^^ Yes!!

    No one called anyone fat... the deal is we all have our own idea of what we want our bodies to look like... It is just nice to have a reference, especially a visual for women with different levels of body fat and muscle. For me the post helped me to understand that I want my body to be more - Muscular and defined = muscles and lower body fat . That in no way means I think a woman with 25 or 35% body fat is Fat!!!
    And I believe the OP is in the fitness industry which means he probably has a pretty good grasp on the terms and would be able to tell even by looking at a picture someones approximate body composition. I do not believe there was any judgment when the pictures were posted.
  • MrsLVF
    MrsLVF Posts: 787 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!
    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....
    Yup, you are correct, he did not say fat....
    BUT......he did call the 1st woman bulky.... aka "massive, & large for its weight". Which is even more insulting, especially to those who started strength training before they hit there goal weight.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    He posted some athletes and celebrities and fitness models. Way 2 overreact.
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    I agree, and basically called everyone fat that does not look "muscular"
    This is not about you. It is a visual representation.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!
    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....
    Yup, you are correct, he did not say fat....
    BUT......he did call the 1st woman bulky.... aka "massive, & large for its weight". Which is even more insulting, especially to those who started strength training before they hit there goal weight.

    Some women call Jessica Beil "bulky". Niner was just clearing things up using definitions common to the fitness industry. He wasn't insulting anyone. The first woman is an athlete. She's probably very strong. Strength is her number one goal, not physique, which is great. She probably doesn't care if she has a high-ish body fat level. "Bulky" is not an insult. It's a term used to describe something, just like overweight or obese.
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!
    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....
    Yup, you are correct, he did not say fat....
    BUT......he did call the 1st woman bulky.... aka "massive, & large for its weight". Which is even more insulting, especially to those who started strength training before they hit there goal weight.

    This thread is not about your issues. Don't put your own baggage on Ninerbuff, who simply posted a very helpful guide related to bodyfat percentages.
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!
    He didn't call anyone fat. He said she was muscular, but had a higher BF% than the others. That's what bulky means. No matter how much muscle she has, which looks to be quite a bit, there's absolutely no denying that her body fat percentage is not low. If that's how she's happy, that's wonderful. She's an athlete, so presumably very strong and healthy.

    But people love to be insulted, so....
    Yup, you are correct, he did not say fat....
    BUT......he did call the 1st woman bulky.... aka "massive, & large for its weight". Which is even more insulting, especially to those who started strength training before they hit there goal weight.

    You can't be serious. You are trying way to hard to be offended.
  • gtwin
    gtwin Posts: 290 Member
    Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!

    jenna.jpg

    jenna_renee_5.jpg

    jennajamie.jpg


    Hmm.... she doesn't look much like she lifts very heavy....I'm guessing she probably squats at most, 135 lbs. And maybe rows about 55 lbs. To me she's more "toned" ( a word I DESPISE), than muscular.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    Some people DO love to be offended...

    I'm massive - FYI. And not muscular either *LOL*
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Jenna Renee is my newest fitness motivator. She lifts heavy weights and is muscular!!!

    jenna.jpg

    jenna_renee_5.jpg

    jennajamie.jpg


    Hmm.... she doesn't look much like she lifts very heavy....I'm guessing she probably squats at most, 135 lbs. And maybe rows about 55 lbs. To me she's more "toned" ( a word I DESPISE), than muscular.
    You can tell how heavy someone lift by looking at them?
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member


    Hmm.... she doesn't look much like she lifts very heavy....I'm guessing she probably squats at most, 135 lbs. And maybe rows about 55 lbs. To me she's more "toned" ( a word I DESPISE), than muscular.

    This is funny.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    :noway:
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I think its a bit inappropriate to post pics of other people and critique their physique the way you did. They aren't in a body building comptetion, and you aren't their judge. You have no idea how much lean body mass either of those people have. The person you labelled as "bulky" could easily have significantly more muscle than the person you labelled as "muscular." So... basically you just posted a picture of someone you presumably don't know and called them fat.

    WAY TO GO!

    He's not calling anyone fat.. He's just showing what most women's perceptions of bulky vs muscular are.. because if you have ever looked at one of those, I don't want to be bulky threads, the first picture is what most women think of. Being bulky/muscular has nothing to do with how much muscle a person has.. it really boils down to how much fat is on top of that muscle.

    I just started lifting heavy(well heavy to me) and I know I'm not getting bulky.. but thats because I'm eating at a deficit. Unless you purposely try to bulk like another poster in this thread did, then it just won't happen.

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