Bulky - What's wrong with it?

ShifuYaku

I see all these posts, and hear all kinds of things... what's wrong with looking a little "bulky"? What does that even mean? My boyfriend says that I shouldn't lift weights because I'll get bigger... I told him it takes a long time for women to even have their muscle show. So, what is wrong with women lifting weights, anyway? I think it's good, and probably normal.

LabRat529

The word 'bulky' can mean different things to different people.

Bulky to me means... well.. fat. Other women think bulky means well-defined and large muscles.

I like well-defined and large muscles. I want some.

ShifuYaku

... *sweat* Haha, I did mean muscle gain... the other kind of bulky is what I like to call fluffy, or squishy.

Easywider

I'm not trying to be a ****.

But how many times must cover this redundant topic?

tubaman58

Nothing is wrong with it... women don't get bulky like men do, and even then it's not bad....

SPNLuver83

There's nothing wrong with women lifting weights. Most people are just really really misinformed on how a woman's body works.

still_crafty

<~~~ bulky?

and who cares what anyone else thinks . . . you're doing this for you, right?

auroranflash

All the supremely awesome women who have reached the Mt. Everest of success on MFP will tell you: LIFT WEIGHTS NOW. The sooner the better! There are some amazing progress pictures. Go look through the Success Stories forum and you will be floored.

ShifuYaku

Not redundant... just sexist when a man tries to tell a woman that she should look more feminine. She can do whatever the h*** she wants! Lift weights, run, whatever. But no one should have to put a label on what people should or shouldn't look like/do.

LabRat529

I'm not trying to be a ****.

But how many times must cover this redundant topic?

Apparently, it needs to be addressed some more because I JUST read a thread about a woman afraid to lift because she will get 'bulky'. As long as there are myths out there scaring women away from lifting heavy, there will be topics like this one.

ShifuYaku

All the supremely awesome women who have reached the Mt. Everest of success on MFP will tell you: LIFT WEIGHTS NOW. The sooner the better! There are some amazing progress pictures. Go look through the Success Stories forum and you will be floored.

I like this.

ShifuYaku

I'm not trying to be a ****.

But how many times must cover this redundant topic?

Apparently, it needs to be addressed some more because I JUST read a thread about a woman afraid to lift because she will get 'bulky'. As long as there are myths out there scaring women away from lifting heavy, there will be topics like this one.

Yeah, me too. I thought that was ridiculous.

ninerbuff

Time to distinguish "bulky" and "muscular" again.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/511229--bulky-vs-muscular-the-real-definition?hl=bulky+vs+muscular

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

Rae6503

"Bulky" is usually used to describe muscle AND fat. When a body builder "bulks" he purposely tries to gain weight ,some of it is muscle, but some of it is fat. With time, his 6-pack is covered in a nice squishy layer of fat and his arms are bigger but his definition is gone.

Not "bulky" body builder:


Same guy, "bulky":



However, some women, and even men now think it means looking like this:


First, this is not "bulky". Second, this woman has used steriods and been training for years. The above look doesn't happen on accident.

I'm striving for the look of a natural female body builder:


Even that doesn't happen on accident or just by lifting weights and being strong. This woman can deadlift 300lbs:

still_crafty

Time to distinguish "bulky" and "muscular" again.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/511229--bulky-vs-muscular-the-real-definition?hl=bulky+vs+muscular

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

exactly

rml_16

I see all these posts, and hear all kinds of things... what's wrong with looking a little "bulky"? What does that even mean? My boyfriend says that I shouldn't lift weights because I'll get bigger... I told him it takes a long time for women to even have their muscle show. So, what is wrong with women lifting weights, anyway? I think it's good, and probably normal.

If it's the look you want for yourself, there's nothing wrong with being "bulky," whatever that means to you.

12by311

Great post Rae.

ShifuYaku

Time to distinguish "bulky" and "muscular" again.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/511229--bulky-vs-muscular-the-real-definition?hl=bulky+vs+muscular

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

Thanks for this... that's exactly what other people need to be getting into their mind. Bulky isn't a good word... and I never use it. I'm squishy .... however, I also don't think my boyfriend wants me to look like those muscley women either... but that's too bad. I want to. xD

cordianet

1. Your boyfriend is an idiot.
2. Tell him to prove it. Find a photo of a woman that is "too bulky" from lifting weights and DIDN'T use steroids to get that way. You'll never be able to.
3. Your life and your body are yours. Do what you think is right with both.
4. He may actually be afraid you'll end up looking better / be stronger than his tub-o-lard self and is intimidated.
4. Your boyfriend is an idiot. (Did I say that already? :bigsmile: )

BigDaddyBRC

Interpretation of one believes is utter BS to the next individual. Passing judgements upon another for any reason points to either insecurities, ignorance, or self prejudices. I say, be who you are, and always look to better yourself. If the negativity is not warranted, then it is not needed.

NatalieWinning

Bulky? I think it looks much nicer than jiggley and fluffy-empty. Smoother under clothes, too. Like your own lycra bodysuit under your skin lifting up the parts. Much sexier than bat wing arms and thighs that flatten out on the chair like melted legs.

ShifuYaku

1. Your boyfriend is an idiot.
2. Tell him to prove it. Find a photo of a woman that is "too bulky" from lifting weights and DIDN'T use steroids to get that way. You'll never be able to.
3. Your life and your body are yours. Do what you think is right with both.
4. He may actually be afraid you'll end up looking better / be stronger than his tub-o-lard self and is intimidated.
4. Your boyfriend is an idiot. (Did I say that already? :bigsmile: )

Aww come on now.. he's not an idiot. But he wants me to be a smaller girl... and I should be. But I also want to be strong like I always have been... my legs are super strong, and I just want my upper body to match.

... I'll never look better than him. :bigsmile:

NatalieWinning

1. Your boyfriend is an idiot.
2. Tell him to prove it. Find a photo of a woman that is "too bulky" from lifting weights and DIDN'T use steroids to get that way. You'll never be able to.
3. Your life and your body are yours. Do what you think is right with both.
4. He may actually be afraid you'll end up looking better / be stronger than his tub-o-lard self and is intimidated.
4. Your boyfriend is an idiot. (Did I say that already? :bigsmile: )

Aww come on now.. he's not an idiot. But he wants me to be a smaller girl... and I should be. But I also want to be strong like I always have been... my legs are super strong, and I just want my upper body to match.

... I'll never look better than him. :bigsmile:

muscle tone pulls you in, smaller, do it

auroranflash

1. Your boyfriend is an idiot.
2. Tell him to prove it. Find a photo of a woman that is "too bulky" from lifting weights and DIDN'T use steroids to get that way. You'll never be able to.
3. Your life and your body are yours. Do what you think is right with both.
4. He may actually be afraid you'll end up looking better / be stronger than his tub-o-lard self and is intimidated.
4. Your boyfriend is an idiot. (Did I say that already? :bigsmile: )

Aww come on now.. he's not an idiot. But he wants me to be a smaller girl... and I should be. But I also want to be strong like I always have been... my legs are super strong, and I just want my upper body to match.

... I'll never look better than him. :bigsmile:

Don't feel too bad, when I was just beginning to learn, I had a friend of mine who used to be in the military tell me that I should use extremely low weights at high reps to get "long, lean muscles" -_-;

This is a huge waste of time, btw.

ZoeLifts

"Bulky" is usually used to describe muscle AND fat. When a body builder "bulks" he purposely tries to gain weight ,some of it is muscle, but some of it is fat. With time, his 6-pack is covered in a nice squishy layer of fat and his arms are bigger but his definition is gone.

Not "bulky" body builder:


Same guy, "bulky":



However, some women, and even men now think it means looking like this:


First, this is not "bulky". Second, this woman has used steriods and been training for years. The above look doesn't happen on accident.

I'm striving for the look of a natural female body builder:


Even that doesn't happen on accident or just by lifting weights and being strong. This woman can deadlift 300lbs:

Awesome post!!

ZoeLifts

Bulky? I think it looks much nicer than jiggley and fluffy-empty. Smoother under clothes, too. Like your own lycra bodysuit under your skin lifting up the parts. Much sexier than bat wing arms and thighs that flatten out on the chair like melted legs.

Holy cow!! That's some awesome leg musculature right there!! I am green with envy

NatalieWinning

Bulky? I think it looks much nicer than jiggley and fluffy-empty. Smoother under clothes, too. Like your own lycra bodysuit under your skin lifting up the parts. Much sexier than bat wing arms and thighs that flatten out on the chair like melted legs.

Holy cow!! That's some awesome leg musculature right there!! I am green with envy

Thanks I'm proud of my bulk after losing 50lbs and turning 50 yrs old. I was in the age of anorexic cardio 60's 70's and 80's ideals for women. Be who you are built to be and that will make you beautiful.

ZoeLifts

Someone on here posted the following link a while back and it really helped to at least show what some women consider bulky by polls of celebrities in various fit stages: http://www.leighpeele.com/bulky-muscles-and-training-females-the-definition

It's an excellent read (if you can get it to load, I am having issues with it this morning) and she also has some followup parts as well.

ShifuYaku

Someone on here posted the following link a while back and it really helped to at least show what some women consider bulky by polls of celebrities in various fit stages: http://www.leighpeele.com/bulky-muscles-and-training-females-the-definition

It's an excellent read (if you can get it to load, I am having issues with it this morning) and she also has some followup parts as well.

This was great... it's so sad that women want to look like what society wants them to look like... and I'm in that category. I want to be in the category that I don't care what others think, that I can be who I want to be. But this isn't always the case. One day...

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I've been binge eating junk food for several weeks now during my depression and bereavement . . . making my *kitten* bulky. When my muscles show back up again I will be lean.

HeidiMightyRawr

Bulky to me is a combination of quite a large amount of muscle, as well as quite a bit of excess fat!

I personally think the reason why many do not see "bulky" as a good thing, is because in society people don't think of bulky as feminine. They see it as something men could strive for (big, strong, bulky, etc) but women are often told they should be slim, feminine, soft... Kind of the opposite.

Combine that with the fact that lifting weights is a male dominated sport / exercise, and that men often "bulk up" (usually on purpose shall I add) people equate lifting = bulking up, when in reality while that's a part of it, if that is your goal, there's an awful lot more to it.

ETA: If you couldn't tell by my pic, I love lifting weights! The only thing that got me bigger / more muscle was when I purposefully did a "bulk" eating 3000+ calories a day. Before that I just looked lean (with only a little extra muscle), even though I'd been lifting for over a year solidly.