Women who lift
Love2lift72
Posts: 157 Member
I started lifting almost 5 weeks ago following CheLean Extreme. I love it. I love lifting and want to continue. I have read all the many, many threads that say women don't get bulky. So I need some motivation because I look at the muscle I am building and think--" Holy Cow I am going to look bigger than a lot of guys." My arms look big and muscular now and I don't see a whole lot of fat there. I have huge calves and my thighs are very muscular although I do have some fat near the top. I have always been muscular and since I am only 5'3" I have looked like a line backer. LOL I have a lot of weight to loose yet- close to 60 pounds or based more on fitness level than actual weight- so I have no idea what I will look like when I get to that point. I would love to see photos of others that lift with your height and weight and BF if you know it. Thanks
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It's highly unlikely you will of built any noticeable muscle in 5 weeks of lifting. Ive been doing it nearly 4 months and can only just see changes muscle wise. What I can see though is fat reduction, which will be the same for you if your diet is right and you lift regularly.0
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Do you have any before and after pics since you started the program? Maybe you're just not accustomed to seeing definition and you might be seeing yourself differently than others are.
I do see muscle definition within a month of starting a program, and bigger biceps. But I think I have some muscle memory from previous lifting phases in my life.0 -
why do people mistake fat reduction for muscle increase?
the two are NOT the same. you can easily verify this by taking your measurements.
when you have a table covered in junk, it's not like you get a new table or a bigger table simply by cleaning off the junk. something was there in the beginning to hold up the junk right?0 -
The new rules of lifting for women is awesome! Its a great guide. You wont get bulky women that do go out of their way to get that way.0
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Oh another thing i am not sure this applies to you but all girls out there step away from the barbie weights and get down and dirty with some dumbbells!0
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hmm about feeling bigger - I did get bigger thighs at first, and calfs.. they were large to begin with and I was loosing fat first in other places so for the longest time I was getting stronger in my legs from exercising, but the fat just didnt move so they felt huge.. now it is finally moving away but the muscles will remain so they have gotten smaller. Point is, maybe it is the same for you. If you are really 60lbs overweight then there is plenty to go yet, you will get smaller when you start loosing the lbs of fat 0
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My wife won't post in the forums, so...
I can tell you, she went from an empty barbell (45lbs) to a 210lb deadlift, 100lb bench, 190lb squat and 70lb overhead press in a couple of months without gaining any size whatsoever.0 -
I can lift more than my body weight in many cases. Check out my profile photos. Heavy lifting since last June.0
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Here's photos before any strength training, and after about 1 year and 4 months of strength training, at the same weight. I'm 5'5, 40 years old, and 135 pounds.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LorinaLynn/view/no-weight-loss-no-progress-448694
I have more visible muscle in my legs, back and stomach, but really only if I flex. Otherwise, I just look smaller.0 -
I'm 5'4" and have dropped from 106 kg (233 lb) down to 86 kg (190 lb). I've been lifting for a few months and the lifts I concentrate on are deadlift and squats (both 60kg), dumb bell chest press (15kg DBs), and lunges (30kg barbell). I do 3 sets of 12 reps. My shoulders and thighs have always been kinda big and muscly and the changes I've noticed is that they are now more defined and solid but definitely not bulky and squishy. According to the stupid scales (which I'm told can be really inaccurate) my body fat is close to 50%. I find that really hard to believe because that is what it was before I starting losing weight. I can't wait to shed more fat so the muscles I've worked hard to develop will be more noticeable. Women tend to underestimate how heavy they can lift so push yourself hard and keep perfect form.My arms look big and muscular now and I don't see a whole lot of fat there. I have huge calves and my thighs are very muscular although I do have some fat near the top. I have always been muscular and since I am only 5'3" I have looked like a line backer. LOL I have a lot of weight to loose yet- close to 60 pounds or based more on fitness level than actual weight- so I have no idea what I will look like when I get to that point. I would love to see photos of others that lift with your height and weight and BF if you know it. Thanks0 -
You won't get bulky. A lot of the time women feel they're getting bigger / gaining substantial muscle size, when in reality it's either water weight (from a change in exercise routine, or sodium or time of the month etc etc) or it's excess fat. With 60lbs to lose, it's likely to be a bit of both.
Keep lifting, have a small deficit and I guarantee you'll get smaller, stronger, more toned, but NOT bulky. :happy:
This is a post I made back in June, before I started purposefully bulking again. I had been lifting heavy for around 2 years at that point.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/638950-omg-lifting-heavy-made-me-so-bulky
The only time I have ever put on noticeable muscle apart from very small gains in the beginning, VERY small gains!) was when I was eating to gain muscle (3000 calories + a day) and still training hard.0 -
NOI started lifting almost 5 weeks ago ............I am going to look bigger than a lot of guys...........My arms look big and muscular now .......I have huge calves and my thighs are very muscular...........I have looked like a line backer.
This is the issue.LOL I have a lot of weight to loose yet- close to 60 pounds
you are absolutely 100% totally guaranteed NOT NOT NOT building a ton of muscle doing chalene extreme in 5 weeks.
NO NO NO NO NO0 -
Can't edit my other post, so I'll add it here.
This is what gaining five pounds while weight lifting looked like: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/799682-lifting-gaining-weight-losing-curves-getting-bulky0 -
See my profile pic. I'm 50 years old, 5'4", and currently about 125 pounds. My body fat is usually around 17%. I've been lifting weights off an on for over 30 years, and about 3 years ago I started lifting regularly and heavy weights while losing about 45 pounds I had put on over the last 5 years. Believe me, I'd love more muscle. It's a lot harder to build muscle than you think. After lifting for 30 years, if heavy lifting made you bulky and muscular, I'd look like the Hulk.
As you lose fat, you'll start to see definition, which you're not used to seeing. Relax, you look fine!0 -
What she says is true here. Listen to robin. If you have 60 pounds to lose that's what's making you bulky. Fat makes women bulky. Not weight lifting and not an exercise video like chalene.
NOI started lifting almost 5 weeks ago ............I am going to look bigger than a lot of guys...........My arms look big and muscular now .......I have huge calves and my thighs are very muscular...........I have looked like a line backer.
This is the issue.LOL I have a lot of weight to loose yet- close to 60 pounds
you are absolutely 100% totally guaranteed NOT NOT NOT building a ton of muscle doing chalene extreme in 5 weeks.
NO NO NO NO NO0 -
Have you ever seen a cut of really fatty well marbled steak? Thats what happens to muscles when you have too much fat. A lot of people get confused and think the muscles are whats making them bulky but in reality fat makes you bulky.0
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I want to clarify--- that I KNOW it's not easy-next to impossible under most circumstances- to bulk. What I am asking for is photos of women that lift. I want to see what it looks like for the average woman lifter here based on height and weight. I KNOW that I need wait until I drop the weight to see the muscle. I also know that I will look heavier as I'm lifting until the fat is gone.
So, I want to thank those of you that were willing to post a photo or share a link to a posted photo. I have read all the information over and over again from other lifting posts. I understand and believe that information. I just needed encouragement and find photos my best form.0 -
See my profile pic. I'm 50 years old, 5'4", and currently about 125 pounds. My body fat is usually around 17%. I've been lifting weights off an on for over 30 years, and about 3 years ago I started lifting regularly and heavy weights while losing about 45 pounds I had put on over the last 5 years. Believe me, I'd love more muscle. It's a lot harder to build muscle than you think. After lifting for 30 years, if heavy lifting made you bulky and muscular, I'd look like the Hulk.
As you lose fat, you'll start to see definition, which you're not used to seeing. Relax, you look fine!
I just wanted to say I love the picture on your ticker.. Lol0 -
My picture
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I know it's not me in a bikini or anything, but that's what I look like. Not bulky. I actually look quite scrawny...0 -
Ok. You want pictures. There's my profile. I have not been on point with my diet but I have been lifting pretty consistently for 2 years. Actually doing heavy lifting, not doing a cardio program that includes weights for lots of sets, though granted that is hard work too.
People seem to be talking about calves around here lately, I thought I had popeye calves,and I was afraid to lift and make mine bigger. Lifting made them smaller largely, I imagine due to fat loss. My calves are frickin hot now. So's my back, imo. My front needs to get there, and I still have too much body fat, but my stomach is mostly flat in clothes and I still have a rather large rack. My thighs are slimming down as my squat PR's go up. I still have cellulite and I also have some definition down by my knees. When I flex my thighs, they're kindda rock hard, so I know its getting closer.
But to be truthful, you want to see pictures of women who lift heavy weights, you can feel pretty comfortable that any fitness model you see poised to curl a 2 pound purple or pink weight in your healthy lady magazine likely actually lifts heavy, impressive high numbers. So look in your magazines and rest assured, they aren't doing the workouts from the magazine advertised to banish belly fat with low weights and high reps. They lift big to look like that.0 -
Oh another thing i am not sure this applies to you but all girls out there step away from the barbie weights and get down and dirty with some dumbbells!
:noway: Chalene extreme don't do barbie weights...... It does not have many reps and the weight lifting workouts have absolutely no cardio to it.... :sad:0 -
My wife won't post in the forums, so...
I can tell you, she went from an empty barbell (45lbs) to a 210lb deadlift, 100lb bench, 190lb squat and 70lb overhead press in a couple of months without gaining any size whatsoever.
Good post- great example of what normal women will do and can do if they set out to JUST DO IT. Personally Im tired of the "ive been lifting for 4 minutes and Im so huge" posts. 60# still to lose and they think its MUSCLE making them look big? Oy...0 -
I can squat my body-weight (100kgs/220lbs) and yes, I do look a bit bulky .... but it's not my muscle making me look bulky.... it's the fact that I weigh 100kgs.0
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I have been weight-lifting for over two years, and have yet to see myself get bulky. And I don't use "Barbie" weights. I squat with the barbells (+ weight), trap bar, and bench with the barbell (+ weight). I have noticed strength increase and an increase in definition. Most females will not "naturally" get big and bulky simply by weight-lifting. I love weight-lifting, and will continue to do it-0
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I didn't take pics before I started lifting, but... I hit 150 lbs., which was 5 under my goal weight, and I did NOT like what I saw. I was size 9/10 jeans. About 6 weeks of body weight exercises, I was still 150 lbs, but was a size 5/6 jeans. That's what I'm wearing in my profile pic.0
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Before heavy compound barbell lifting I was squeezing into size 12 jeans at 5'2''. After a year committed to squats, bench and deadlifts, I am now in a size 6 with plenty of room to spare (maybe even 4s actually..hmmm). This is with sensible but not freakish eating habits and with fairly moderate cardio (steady-state eliptical, running intervals.)0
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I highly doubt you have made that much progress in 5 weeks to feel that way. Just to look like I do in my photos, I have to flex just the right way AND its taken me 6 months....
No one thinks anything of me other than "you are so skinny and I love your toned arms"
I am the opposite....I DONT WANT TO BE TONED AND SKINNY.....I WANT TO BE BUFF AS *kitten*. lol. Once your BF% goes down....you will see that you are not bulky at all.
And I am sorry to say...I am getting tired of all these women fretting over muscle bulk. Like its the devil. If you are that afraid of it, get back on the elliptical and out of my weight room.
Please dont take that as being mean, I just see this everyday.0 -
Oh another thing i am not sure this applies to you but all girls out there step away from the barbie weights and get down and dirty with some dumbbells!
:noway: Chalene extreme don't do barbie weights...... It does not have many reps and the weight lifting workouts have absolutely no cardio to it.... :sad:
so it has you lifting 100-200 pounds per rep on the compound movements after a few months? I'm genuinely curious.0 -
Ummm.. I've been lifting weights for about 8 months (I lift heavy) and I am not bulky. I lift twice as much as typical women, too. I doubt very highly in 5 short weeks you have developed enough muscle to fear being mistaken as a man. Settle down, Arnold. lol0
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I highly doubt you have made that much progress in 5 weeks to feel that way. Just to look like I do in my photos, I have to flex just the right way AND its taken me 6 months....
No one thinks anything of me other than "you are so skinny and I love your toned arms"
I am the opposite....I DONT WANT TO BE TONED AND SKINNY.....I WANT TO BE BUFF AS *kitten*. lol. Once your BF% goes down....you will see that you are not bulky at all.
And I am sorry to say...I am getting tired of all these women fretting over muscle bulk. Like its the devil. If you are that afraid of it, get back on the elliptical and out of my weight room.
Please dont take that as being mean, I just see this everyday.
YUSSSSS0
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