Too muscley.. how to lose it!?

2

Replies

  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    pics please. I would like to see what too muscly looks like.....From your profile pic I'm not seeing it.

    Here's an example of what I'm talking about: http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s152/merithyn/leg.jpg

    My calf is more than double the circumfrance of my ankle, and I can't pinch any excess flesh there at all. It's pure muscle.

    I know you are not the OP but I will respond to this one as well......Like others have said there is very little/no definition in your calves. If you are worried about the size lose fat...
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    do lots of high intensity cardio while being on a deficit and decrease the weights you are using
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    Cut down on protein intake + stop lifting + plus doing a lot of endurance exercise = totally F'd body composition. Have fun.
  • aproc
    aproc Posts: 1,033 Member
    Are you sure it isn't just muscle under fat that needs to be lost? Many women see this and think they are getting too bulky or gaining too much muscle when in reality they just need to cut bodyfat.

    If what you are saying is correct however, then I am assuming you've been training for over a year or more.... I'd take some of that muscle if I could. :P
  • Glucocorticoid
    Glucocorticoid Posts: 867 Member
    Cut down on protein intake + stop lifting + plus doing a lot of endurance exercise = totally F'd body composition. Have fun.
    Along with the above, be sure you're in a calorie deficit. The larger the better.
  • SPNLuver83
    SPNLuver83 Posts: 2,050 Member
    eat more fat?
  • LovelyLifter
    LovelyLifter Posts: 560 Member
    I. HAVE. NO. WORDS
  • Bronx_Montgomery
    Bronx_Montgomery Posts: 2,284 Member
    This will be contraversial I know, but i want to know how to LOSE some muscle!

    I excerise daily as i LOVE to move and love to be active - i run, swim, do weights, yoga, hot yoga, cardio gym classes, core classes, bike and walk almost everywhere i can - i dont have a car so i try to walk everywhere i can... Basically i'm a very active person...! Also, I only log the 'real' excersise - not the incidental like walking or biking to 'get somewhere' - basically if im not in workout gear it doesnt go in my diary!!!

    Anyway, i am getting very muscley IMO - the scales go up however im less worried about that than the muslce i gain. I have a very small frame so muslce shows very quickly on me.... I want to know how to stop gaining such muslce without havign to stop the excerise i do (which i really enjoy and use for mental clarity!)

    My diet is varied - i eat low complex carbs due to gluten intolerence but lots of protein (seafood mainly) and lots of veges !!! Its a pretty clean diet with little processed foods - i do not supplement with any sort of protien powder etc... Most ingredients are 100% natural and artificial free. My weakness is champagne... (and carrot cake) but i usually treat myself to that once a week only...

    As I said, i know this will probabley be contraverisal but any advice would be appreciated.

    THANKS!

    How are you "too muscley"? Until I see a picture of all these marvelous muscles you are trying to get rid off, I can only comment by saying Don't exercise and just eat some bon bons while watching soaps for a few months. Sure enough they will disappear. Works every time
  • lickmybaconcakes
    lickmybaconcakes Posts: 1,063 Member
    If you don't stress your body with load regularly it will get rid of muscles needed
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    If it's actual muscle definition, too defined for your liking, raise body fat slightly and it doesn't show as much.
    If it's that you look bigger/bulkier it's likely muscle and quite a bit of fat still. Drop fat and you instantly look smaller and more toned, like you have less muscle.

    I really wouldn't advise losing any muscle mass, as it's unlikely you have as much as you think, it's likely just one of the above, and while losing weight (on a deficit) it's almost impossible to gain any more. If you still want to lose muscle, stop lifting.

    I agree with Heidi.

    I would also like to see pictures of the OP's "too muscley-ness". When people complain about not wanting muscles or having to much muscles pictures really help us know what is going on and what the people want and what they want to avoid.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    If you're calf ratio was close to mine I might agree with you. Mine's not even pure muscle. I still need to cut some more body fat.
    Just took these. Pardon the old-man socks, but I'm guessing your "muscle" isn't quite up to standard with what I call muscle. Women who are afraid of "bulking up" here have yet to show me proof like this.

    IMG_20120530_100807.jpg

    This picture is confusing me. It looks like your calf muscle is coming out of the side of your leg. What am I missing?
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    This picture is confusing me. It looks like your calf muscle is coming out of the side of your leg. What am I missing?
    Depends on which way I flex it. It does show more on the inside if I try to pull my toes up while flexing it. Makes it look wider across than it is front to back. If I was actually standing up on tip toes it's all on the back.
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg
  • McButtski
    McButtski Posts: 203 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That right there folks is a leg.

    OP - unless your leg looks like that, jog on. :happy:
  • triinityz
    triinityz Posts: 146 Member
    ^^ rawrz
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That's some awesome leg development and definition. I think this is what women think will happen to them if they lift heavy weights. Seriously, I think this is what they actually believe.
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That's some awesome leg development and definition. I think this is what women think will happen to them if they lift heavy weights. Seriously, I think this is what they actually believe.

    From running trails & I seem to burn all of the fat from my legs first (genetics?). Only 20% of my monthly workouts are in the gym working on legs. :smile:
  • ZoeLifts
    ZoeLifts Posts: 10,347 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That's some awesome leg development and definition. I think this is what women think will happen to them if they lift heavy weights. Seriously, I think this is what they actually believe.

    From running trails & I seem to burn all of the fat from my legs first (genetics?). Only 20% of my monthly workouts are in the gym working on legs. :smile:

    ROFL!! Yes, in reading some of the posts, this might be what SOME women mean when they say "bulky", but I don't!! Great definition!! I'm jealous! Be careful, though, now they (meaning those that would see this as bulky) will stop running trails so they don't get "bulky"!
  • McButtski
    McButtski Posts: 203 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That's some awesome leg development and definition. I think this is what women think will happen to them if they lift heavy weights. Seriously, I think this is what they actually believe.

    Em, say what now?

    'this is what women think will happen'? Generalise much?

    (Edited to remove unnecessary comments - I'm in bad form)
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    'this is what women think will happen'? Generalise much?

    I misspoke, not all women. I meant the "I don't want to touch weights cause I'll blow up like Hulk Hogan" types. No seriously I saw one woman here specifically say she didn't want to look like Hulk Hogan. I didn't mean to generalize but I was just basing that comment on this discussion "Too muscley... how to lose it?"
  • medoria
    medoria Posts: 673 Member
    Do a bodyscan to see what bodyfat procentage you have. What you "think" is muscly is probably just fat.
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    Join a Cannibalism group...they can help you out of some of the excess
  • BDRunyan
    BDRunyan Posts: 3
    Play WoW 10 hours a day and eat a strict diet of doritos and cheese dip. I know it sounds grueling but its the only way!
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Play WoW 10 hours a day and eat a strict diet of doritos and cheese dip. I know it sounds grueling but its the only way!

    Dude, you forgot the non-diet Mountain Dew!
  • Sunpoet
    Sunpoet Posts: 65 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    Can I just say yum! I'm a total calves girl so this is fabulous!
  • emily356
    emily356 Posts: 318 Member
    Still could be leaner.

    May2Calf.jpg

    That is some calves!! I would love for mine to look more like this!!:)
    Really, though, please stay healthy. If you want to quit lifting, go for it, but at least do some cardio and eat well!!
  • vfnmoody
    vfnmoody Posts: 271 Member
    your profile says :

    Have battled health issues for many years - am now healthier and happier than ever - believe strongly that the two things go hand in hand.


    It may be that during the time you had health issues you developed a body image that did not include a lot of muscle and as you are now more active and fit it will take some time to readjust your self image. You need to carry muscle to do the activities you like. I would say the new muscle is just your body doing what it needs too to allow you to be active and healthy.
  • ALH1981
    ALH1981 Posts: 538 Member
    Not everyone has to like the look of muscle people.

    Sorry i knew that this woudl cause a bunch of negative comments - i really just do not like the musley look - unfortunately it comes with loveing excersise. I do have a low body fat and a small frame, which is very athletic and so this is what happens to me.

    I guess less weights work, and more gentle work will help me gain a few more curves, and look a little less 'sharp' - thats all i'm aiming for...

    Thanks everyone for your comments though...
  • ALH1981
    ALH1981 Posts: 538 Member
    TOO muscular? Can you share a pic or two, I'd love to see because I don't get that from your profile pic. Are you sure it's not just that you're very lean and the muscle shows through?

    I am very lean and the muscle shows through - this is exaactly it........
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    raise bodyfat to hide muscle

    honestly, that just makes them look bigger.

    I feel for you OP, I have the same problem. I've found that lowering my BF% has helped considerably. The fat on top made them look gross but the more fat I lose the better my muscles look. Kind of like chiseling away at the top layer to find nice curves and contours underneath. During my 20 pound loss, I've only lost about 1-2 pounds of muscle. Which I am OKAY with, TBH, I would be okay if I lost another pound of it or so as I approach my goal weight.

    Try focusing on your body fat percentage, and not your "weight" and you will find yourself to be happier. I know how much it sucks to have a lot of muscle (I've always yearned for "dainty" arms but competitive swimming took that dream away from me) but it CAN be a good thing. It means you don't have to try as hard to build it (if you want), you can eat more food (your metabolism is higher) and being "over muscled" is better than being "skinny fat" any day.

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