Heavy Lifting Vs. Lean Muscle... I'm confused!
Replies
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<----not bulky yet and I lift heavy low reps.
<
lift heavy and do not look like that when I do not flex lol0 -
Well she had said in her initial post "I already have a thicker type body style, and I tend to build muscles fast."
A lot of people say things like that, many are mistaken.
All you can do is offer your opinion on the info that's given.
Even so, it wasn't accurate. What determines bulk vs leaning out (as far as fat goes, not talking about hypertrophy), isn't reps or weight, it's diet. Muscle endurance has a different metabolic and hormonal effect than heavy strength training.0 -
<---- Heavy lifting has obviously made me bulky... and masculine.0
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<---- Heavy lifting has obviously made me bulky... and masculine.
Yep looking all manly like me and all my other amazing Girl crushes on my friends list.
Sass 0 -
building muscle endurance (high rep lifting) isn't a pointless endeavor and has value in a variety of circumstances.
I agree. But the way I see it, you don't need weights to do this, you'd be better off swimming or biking or rowing.0 -
I agree. But the way I see it, you don't need weights to do this, you'd be better off swimming or biking or rowing.
Definitely a fair point.0 -
trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
This^^ I was doing P90x for the first 60 days and was losing the weight but wasn't happy with the muscle definition. I switch over to weight training the last 30 days and the definition is starting to show. I know I'm not going to get much gains since I'm eating at a deficit but I'ts a small deficit so I'm not losing much lean muscle.0 -
Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
[/quote]
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?0 -
Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?
Because most of us are in a calorie deficit which makes it impossible to gain muscle (few exceptions lets not start that debate here) ; )
Also some people think they are getting bigger muscles when actually they are just loosing fat around the muscle and the muscle is becoming visible.0 -
Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?
I'm not sure what you mean? If your question was serious, the answer is that unless you're very overweight and/or new to lifting...if you're on a calorie deficit, your body doesn't have the supplies necessary to actually ADD muscle. What it WILL do though, with the addition of weight training (or even cardio, endurance training, etc), is train the muscles being used to respond more efficiently to neural stimulus. This improves strength...but doesn't actually add any muscle.
For example...in February I ripped my right lower biceps tendon off of my forearm (my biceps was only connected at my shoulder). For two weeks before the surgery to reconnect it...it wasn't being used properly. Additionally, for two weeks after the surgery...it was partially immobilized. There was a VERY small amount of atrophy (loss of muscle), but since it was still partially 'mobile' the entire time, there wasn't much. What DID happen though, is the muscle got very, very soft. It felt like fat. It looked substantially smaller, and wouldn't flex properly...only with very extreme concentration, and even then it wasn't hard...just slightly less...soft. Within a couple weeks of returning to strength training, the muscle began working again, it firmed up very quickly, flexes properly, and isn't noticeably smaller than my other arm. You don't build ANY muscle in two weeks. What happened, was that my brain and biceps basically reeducated themselves on what they needed to do, and began doing it.
With overweight people, or people who lead a very sedentary lifestyle, those muscles may NEVER have needed to have any real efficiency. So when the stress is put on them with exercise, they adapt (VERY QUICKLY) by firming up and becoming stronger, and even sometimes appearing slightly larger (part of this is swelling with water/glycogen to assist with repair). That's why strength gains come so quickly initially, then usually levels off. You're actually JUST finally beginning to use what muscle you have to its potential. This is also part of why people tend to believe they put on muscle very quickly. Which is simply false.
Understand also, this is a simplified explanation...but it will give you a relatively accurate mental image so you understand what's going on.0 -
Have to agree here. In about my first six weeks or so of lifting my lean body mass increased while I was losing weight. Of course, bone density has to be accounted for as well, but I was starting from sedentary and 210 pounds, so I can believe some lbm gain included muscle mass.Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?
I'm not sure what you mean? If your question was serious, the answer is that unless you're very overweight and/or new to lifting...if you're on a calorie deficit, your body doesn't have the supplies necessary to actually ADD muscle. What it WILL do though, with the addition of weight training (or even cardio, endurance training, etc), is train the muscles being used to respond more efficiently to neural stimulus. This improves strength...but doesn't actually add any muscle.
For example...in February I ripped my right lower biceps tendon off of my forearm (my biceps was only connected at my shoulder). For two weeks before the surgery to reconnect it...it wasn't being used properly. Additionally, for two weeks after the surgery...it was partially immobilized. There was a VERY small amount of atrophy (loss of muscle), but since it was still partially 'mobile' the entire time, there wasn't much. What DID happen though, is the muscle got very, very soft. It felt like fat. It looked substantially smaller, and wouldn't flex properly...only with very extreme concentration, and even then it wasn't hard...just slightly less...soft. Within a couple weeks of returning to strength training, the muscle began working again, it firmed up very quickly, flexes properly, and isn't noticeably smaller than my other arm. You don't build ANY muscle in two weeks. What happened, was that my brain and biceps basically reeducated themselves on what they needed to do, and began doing it.
With overweight people, or people who lead a very sedentary lifestyle, those muscles may NEVER have needed to have any real efficiency. So when the stress is put on them with exercise, they adapt (VERY QUICKLY) by firming up and becoming stronger, and even sometimes appearing slightly larger (part of this is swelling with water/glycogen to assist with repair). That's why strength gains come so quickly initially, then usually levels off. You're actually JUST finally beginning to use what muscle you have to its potential. This is also part of why people tend to believe they put on muscle very quickly. Which is simply false.
Understand also, this is a simplified explanation...but it will give you a relatively accurate mental image so you understand what's going on.0 -
Have to agree here. In about my first six weeks or so of lifting my lean body mass increased while I was losing weight. Of course, bone density has to be accounted for as well, but I was starting from sedentary and 210 pounds, so I can believe some lbm gain included muscle mass.Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?
I'm not sure what you mean? If your question was serious, the answer is that unless you're very overweight and/or new to lifting...if you're on a calorie deficit, your body doesn't have the supplies necessary to actually ADD muscle. What it WILL do though, with the addition of weight training (or even cardio, endurance training, etc), is train the muscles being used to respond more efficiently to neural stimulus. This improves strength...but doesn't actually add any muscle.
For example...in February I ripped my right lower biceps tendon off of my forearm (my biceps was only connected at my shoulder). For two weeks before the surgery to reconnect it...it wasn't being used properly. Additionally, for two weeks after the surgery...it was partially immobilized. There was a VERY small amount of atrophy (loss of muscle), but since it was still partially 'mobile' the entire time, there wasn't much. What DID happen though, is the muscle got very, very soft. It felt like fat. It looked substantially smaller, and wouldn't flex properly...only with very extreme concentration, and even then it wasn't hard...just slightly less...soft. Within a couple weeks of returning to strength training, the muscle began working again, it firmed up very quickly, flexes properly, and isn't noticeably smaller than my other arm. You don't build ANY muscle in two weeks. What happened, was that my brain and biceps basically reeducated themselves on what they needed to do, and began doing it.
With overweight people, or people who lead a very sedentary lifestyle, those muscles may NEVER have needed to have any real efficiency. So when the stress is put on them with exercise, they adapt (VERY QUICKLY) by firming up and becoming stronger, and even sometimes appearing slightly larger (part of this is swelling with water/glycogen to assist with repair). That's why strength gains come so quickly initially, then usually levels off. You're actually JUST finally beginning to use what muscle you have to its potential. This is also part of why people tend to believe they put on muscle very quickly. Which is simply false.
Understand also, this is a simplified explanation...but it will give you a relatively accurate mental image so you understand what's going on.
Exactly, and when you start from sedentary and overweight...any muscle gain is minimal, and levels off very quickly. The same goes for strength gains. About 6 weeks worth of steep improvement is all you can expect...after that, your gains will still be positive, but the curve levels off dramatically.0 -
Exactly, and when you start from sedentary and overweight...any muscle gain is minimal, and levels off very quickly. The same goes for strength gains. About 6 weeks worth of steep improvement is all you can expect...after that, your gains will still be positive, but the curve levels off dramatically.
Unless, of course, if you're one of the 300 million women on the planet who 'bulk up really quickly' =P0 -
Thank you all so much for your advice
A lot of great help and info in here! Thanks!!!!! Obviously I am worried about things I totally don't need to be! lol 0 -
If you gain muscle fast you should focus on higher reps (15-20). I have a couple of lady friends that do indeed get fairly bulky from P90X or bootcamp type workouts. But unless you're doing heavy lifting (3-6 reps) until failure you're not going to see major size increases. Not to say you aren't going to see just how big your muscles are from all the cardio you're doing because you'll be cutting up
How do you know if you 'gain muscle fast'?
Well, when I work out and whatnot, My legs tend to bulk up fast, as well as my shoulders. And I hate it. lol I'm looking more for a leaner type look.0 -
If you gain muscle fast you should focus on higher reps (15-20). I have a couple of lady friends that do indeed get fairly bulky from P90X or bootcamp type workouts. But unless you're doing heavy lifting (3-6 reps) until failure you're not going to see major size increases. Not to say you aren't going to see just how big your muscles are from all the cardio you're doing because you'll be cutting up
How do you know if you 'gain muscle fast'?
Well, when I work out and whatnot, My legs tend to bulk up fast, as well as my shoulders. And I hate it. lol I'm looking more for a leaner type look.
More than likely, that's just fluid. When you workout you damage the muscle. Your body increase fluids to repair the muscle. Thus the appearance of muscle growth.0 -
You won't bulk up lol I lift heavy with reps being anywhere between 8-15.
I do this about 2-3 times a week for half an hour. I am by no means bulky, my body shape has changed since I started doing that but in a good way.
Good luck =]0 -
If you gain muscle fast you should focus on higher reps (15-20). I have a couple of lady friends that do indeed get fairly bulky from P90X or bootcamp type workouts. But unless you're doing heavy lifting (3-6 reps) until failure you're not going to see major size increases. Not to say you aren't going to see just how big your muscles are from all the cardio you're doing because you'll be cutting up
How do you know if you 'gain muscle fast'?
Well, when I work out and whatnot, My legs tend to bulk up fast, as well as my shoulders. And I hate it. lol I'm looking more for a leaner type look.
Most likely what you are seeing here is increase water to the muscle to protect and aid in recovery, it is not an increase in muscle size, and after you get use to or stop the workout your muscles will shed the excess water.0 -
You will not get bulky from heavy lifting. You need added hormones to gain significant muscle. Check out my progress due to heavy lifting... once I started lifting heavy regularly, the weight started coming off and I really started to tone!
A post I put up a few days ago.. good comments as well....
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/586033-female-lifters-you-will-not-look-this-way
"Lift Heavy! Run Hard!" =D0 -
bump0
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trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well. 0 -
trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well.
I've noticed a distinct difference in my muscles since doing P90x too!0 -
Well, when I work out and whatnot, My legs tend to bulk up fast, as well as my shoulders. And I hate it. lol I'm looking more for a leaner type look.
Most likely what you are seeing here is increase water to the muscle to protect and aid in recovery, it is not an increase in muscle size, and after you get use to or stop the workout your muscles will shed the excess water.
This, I would strongly suggest you try sticking with a lifting program for a month or so and then reassess.0 -
trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well.
I've noticed a distinct difference in my muscles since doing P90x too!
Most likely you got stronger, and lost fat that was previously covering the muscles. Did you take measurements, if you did, did they go down or up?0 -
I'm loving this thread. I lift (heavy) at least for me, and want to lift heavier. I get lots of unasked for advice. I appreciate you all basically breaking it down into easily understandable language, that really makes sense. I was told yesterday ( after i've been lifting 2 years) to do bicep curls at low weight, high reps 15-20, I was appalled as I'm doing heavy weight , low reps 4-8. Seriously, if you've never lifted heavy, don't give me advice as i'm busting my hump over here.0
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trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well.
I've noticed a distinct difference in my muscles since doing P90x too!
A difference in your muscles is a different thing than building "significant muscle". You both are confusing what was said.0 -
I'm loving this thread. I lift (heavy) at least for me, and want to lift heavier. I get lots of unasked for advice. I appreciate you all basically breaking it down into easily understandable language, that really makes sense. I was told yesterday ( after i've been lifting 2 years) to do bicep curls at low weight, high reps 15-20, I was appalled as I'm doing heavy weight , low reps 4-8. Seriously, if you've never lifted heavy, don't give me advice as i'm busting my hump over here.
oh yeah, in the past month my forearm measurement has gone up 1/2 inch & my hips down 1&1/2 inch.0 -
Bump0
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Bump0
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trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well.trust me, you won't build significant muscle doing p90x
Hmm..I've done pretty well.
I've noticed a distinct difference in my muscles since doing P90x too!
/ponders...
Oh yes, that's right!
This.Which is a typical mosconception many women have about their own bodies. 90% of people in general think that they are building muscle by lifting weights, when what they're actually doing is training their existing muscle to respond to stimulus efficiently. This makes them stronger, but doesn't in fact build...anything.
Wait. WHAT? Why aren't people building muscle?
I'm not sure what you mean? If your question was serious, the answer is that unless you're very overweight and/or new to lifting...if you're on a calorie deficit, your body doesn't have the supplies necessary to actually ADD muscle. What it WILL do though, with the addition of weight training (or even cardio, endurance training, etc), is train the muscles being used to respond more efficiently to neural stimulus. This improves strength...but doesn't actually add any muscle.
For example...in February I ripped my right lower biceps tendon off of my forearm (my biceps was only connected at my shoulder). For two weeks before the surgery to reconnect it...it wasn't being used properly. Additionally, for two weeks after the surgery...it was partially immobilized. There was a VERY small amount of atrophy (loss of muscle), but since it was still partially 'mobile' the entire time, there wasn't much. What DID happen though, is the muscle got very, very soft. It felt like fat. It looked substantially smaller, and wouldn't flex properly...only with very extreme concentration, and even then it wasn't hard...just slightly less...soft. Within a couple weeks of returning to strength training, the muscle began working again, it firmed up very quickly, flexes properly, and isn't noticeably smaller than my other arm. You don't build ANY muscle in two weeks. What happened, was that my brain and biceps basically reeducated themselves on what they needed to do, and began doing it.
With overweight people, or people who lead a very sedentary lifestyle, those muscles may NEVER have needed to have any real efficiency. So when the stress is put on them with exercise, they adapt (VERY QUICKLY) by firming up and becoming stronger, and even sometimes appearing slightly larger (part of this is swelling with water/glycogen to assist with repair). That's why strength gains come so quickly initially, then usually levels off. You're actually JUST finally beginning to use what muscle you have to its potential. This is also part of why people tend to believe they put on muscle very quickly. Which is simply false.
Understand also, this is a simplified explanation...but it will give you a relatively accurate mental image so you understand what's going on.
You're going to 'see a difference'.
You're NOT going to build muscle doing P90x.0
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