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

ninerbuff

So how do I become "muscular and defined" for a woman who has a lot of muscle but also fat, eats at a calorie deficit, and wants to start weight lifting for better definition and strength?

I always liked the thin "toned" look thinking that was supposed to be the ideal for a woman but now like the "muscular defined look BETTER! I will never be thin so why try!!! I think all the women in the pictures are beautiful....

What you need to do is lose fat while maintaining this muscle you already have. This is done by dieting at a moderate calorie deficit (which means loss will be slower but this is good). Eating adequate protein while dieting (1 gram per pound of lean body mass). And, lasting, by strength training with "heavy" (for you) weights.

Yep. This is right on track.

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

Nopedotjpeg

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.

Hello! That's the definition of bulky in the fitness world. A powerlifter is bulky whether it be a man or woman. Most people who do any power sports (shotput, discus, Olympic lifting, etc.) will be bulky because having more body fat, than say a sprinter or gymnast, gives them more power for their sport.
You don't like the term, call up all the dictionaries online and have them change it. Geez.


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

I'm going to do a little nitpicking here just because I think this is what turns a lot of people off from some sports, especially strength sports, because there becomes a stereotype about lifters being bulky or fat; especially in the strength sports. It's pretty exclusive to the higher weight classes in Powerlifting and Oly Lifting that they're carrying a lot of fat. I know or have followed a fair amount of powerlifters that are in the lower weight classes who are below 10% bodyfat.

ninerbuff

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.

Hello! That's the definition of bulky in the fitness world. A powerlifter is bulky whether it be a man or woman. Most people who do any power sports (shotput, discus, Olympic lifting, etc.) will be bulky because having more body fat, than say a sprinter or gymnast, gives them more power for their sport.
You don't like the term, call up all the dictionaries online and have them change it. Geez.


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

I'm going to do a little nitpicking here just because I think this is what turns a lot of people off from some sports, especially strength sports, because there becomes a stereotype about lifters being bulky or fat; especially in the strength sports. It's pretty exclusive to the higher weight classes in Powerlifting and Oly Lifting that they're carrying a lot of fat. I know or have followed a fair amount of powerlifters that are in the lower weight classes who are below 10% bodyfat.

I don't disagree with the lower weight class competitors having a more muscular look than the higher weight who are bulkier. Honestly I think the majority of females around the world wouldn't even want to look like a female Olympic sprinter because they seem to "muscly" and "ripped" to be feminine enough.

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

Nopedotjpeg

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.

Hello! That's the definition of bulky in the fitness world. A powerlifter is bulky whether it be a man or woman. Most people who do any power sports (shotput, discus, Olympic lifting, etc.) will be bulky because having more body fat, than say a sprinter or gymnast, gives them more power for their sport.
You don't like the term, call up all the dictionaries online and have them change it. Geez.


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

I'm going to do a little nitpicking here just because I think this is what turns a lot of people off from some sports, especially strength sports, because there becomes a stereotype about lifters being bulky or fat; especially in the strength sports. It's pretty exclusive to the higher weight classes in Powerlifting and Oly Lifting that they're carrying a lot of fat. I know or have followed a fair amount of powerlifters that are in the lower weight classes who are below 10% bodyfat.

I don't disagree with the lower weight class competitors having a more muscular look than the higher weight who are bulkier. Honestly I think the majority of females around the world wouldn't even want to look like a female Olympic sprinter because they seem to "muscly" and "ripped" to be feminine enough.

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

I guess it all has to do with personality. The female lifters that really get into a sport have passion for something and don't give a **** if random guys like the physique produced by their sport or not. That dedication and confidence in itself is incredibly attractive.

Nopedotjpeg

Honest question, do the women here think she's bulky? Olympic tier female weightlifter in the 75kg weight class.

meshashesha2012

Honest question, do the women here think she's bulky? Olympic tier female weightlifter in the 75kg weight class.

nope not bulky but then again this is one of my body goals

lorenzoinlr

much is in the eye of the beholder, of course

My girlfriend is muscular. My ex-wife is bulky.

ladyraven68

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%

Ah, you have just answered my question from my Lean Mass post regarding ideal Bodyfat%.

Thanks.

ninerbuff

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.

Hello! That's the definition of bulky in the fitness world. A powerlifter is bulky whether it be a man or woman. Most people who do any power sports (shotput, discus, Olympic lifting, etc.) will be bulky because having more body fat, than say a sprinter or gymnast, gives them more power for their sport.
You don't like the term, call up all the dictionaries online and have them change it. Geez.


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

I'm going to do a little nitpicking here just because I think this is what turns a lot of people off from some sports, especially strength sports, because there becomes a stereotype about lifters being bulky or fat; especially in the strength sports. It's pretty exclusive to the higher weight classes in Powerlifting and Oly Lifting that they're carrying a lot of fat. I know or have followed a fair amount of powerlifters that are in the lower weight classes who are below 10% bodyfat.

I don't disagree with the lower weight class competitors having a more muscular look than the higher weight who are bulkier. Honestly I think the majority of females around the world wouldn't even want to look like a female Olympic sprinter because they seem to "muscly" and "ripped" to be feminine enough.

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

I guess it all has to do with personality. The female lifters that really get into a sport have passion for something and don't give a **** if random guys like the physique produced by their sport or not. That dedication and confidence in itself is incredibly attractive.

Agreed. I find myself drawn to females with athletic physiques compared to the Hollywood "toned" (hate that word) look that many a female tries to accomplish.


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

jenniejengin

bump

XFitMojoMom

given the picture of bulk, I deem myself bulky - although I prefer "Clydesdale" or "Tank"

I wonder if she'd classify as "bulky" too

hunnyspice

Thanks for this!! Now I just gotta shove the laptop in my aunts face. Told her I was lifting weights and her response was: "What you want to look like Popeye?" WTF!!!

crisanderson27

I think this is what most women think of when they say 'bulk up like a man'. What they don't realize is the amount of effort, supplements, and overall just seriously hard work this woman had to input to gain this kind of physique.

BerryH

This is Zoe Smith, a 17-year-old Olympic weightlifter for Team GB. I think she's a perfect role model for young aspiring athletes.

XFitMojoMom

I think this is what most women think of when they say 'bulk up like a man'. What they don't realize is the amount of effort, supplements, and overall just seriously hard work this woman had to input to gain this kind of physique.

what they also don't realize is how great and feminine she does look in a dress!

Luvlymonee

bump

fatboypup

hrmmm i kinda like the "bulky" chick in the OP

crisanderson27

I think this is what most women think of when they say 'bulk up like a man'. What they don't realize is the amount of effort, supplements, and overall just seriously hard work this woman had to input to gain this kind of physique.

what they also don't realize is how great and feminine she does look in a dress!

Oh I'm sure of it! And I've a ton of respect for a woman that puts that much effort into ANY personal goal.

For my personal preferance on a woman, I'd like about 10% more bodyfat to smooth out the curves, but the amount of muscle she has is not a negative. Zuzanna from bodyrock is another good example of what I mean lol. When she's leaned out, she puts me in mind of a skinned rabbit =l. Add a little bodyfat to the same physique, and wow.

Examples:

Lean first


And with a bit of bodyfat.


Same physique.

ninerbuff

given the picture of bulk, I deem myself bulky - although I prefer "Clydesdale" or "Tank"

I wonder if she'd classify as "bulky" too

Nah. Muscular but not bulky.

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

Nopedotjpeg

This is Zoe Smith, a 17-year-old Olympic weightlifter for Team GB. I think she's a perfect role model for young aspiring athletes.

According to Florida age of consent, this probably makes me a creeper, but daaaaayumn!