Sorry, but I *am* getting bulky from lifting heavy....

ALH1981

You look like Halle Berry in your pictures. I can't see what isn't to love. I have the same problem with pants (tight in thighs, loose in waist) but I think I look damn good because of it.

If you aren't liking your results, eat less and/or stop lifting.

this is the answer - you either need to do more cardio or eat less!!! If i do weisghts i get brilliant results but need to balance with cardio and stay away from carbs!!! sorry to tell a big fat truth

Chapter3point6

DJ2120

If I were in your position, I would keep lifting the same, except for the thighs. I'd substantially cut back the weights I'm using for my thighs, since you don't want bulk there. Your arms, while well-defined, don't look bulky, so I'd keep things the same. And, if you are uncomfortable with how people react to your awesomely defined muscles, add a little more bodyfat, as that is generally considered a more feminine look. Of course, the adding more bodyfat may happen naturally as you allow the muscle mass in your legs to go down a bit.

Very good advice. I just have to figure out what to drop down to.

dmpizza

My sister in law has this problem too, she's half black and her gains are crazy. I have seen it a Lot with pretty much everyone but white chicks- gains are big and noticeable I would droP weight and add reps.

Me too, I'm Black, Irish & Cherokee. I'm thinking of dropping my weights (although I'm not sure how low to drop them) & doing more reps for a few weeks to see what happens.

*headesk*
*headesk*
*headesk*

Don't bang your head on the desk, its true for many(not all).

tigersword

It's from the lack of body fat.


Eat a cheeseburger!

This. If the doctor says you're body fat is too low, there's your problem. Your muscles aren't HUGE, they are just very pronounced because you don't have body fat covering them up like most people. Increase body fat a little, and I'm sure you will be happier with your body.

DJ2120

You look like Halle Berry in your pictures. I can't see what isn't to love. I have the same problem with pants (tight in thighs, loose in waist) but I think I look damn good because of it.

If you aren't liking your results, eat less and/or stop lifting.

this is the answer - you either need to do more cardio or eat less!!! If i do weisghts i get brilliant results but need to balance with cardio and stay away from carbs!!! sorry to tell a big fat truth

I do an hour of cardio every day & eat very little carbs.

BondBomb

According to my recent DNA test I am 66% West African, 29% Scandinavian and 5% Native America. Which one of those last two is canceling out my bulking gene? Damn vikings.

IamBlackMamba

My sister in law has this problem too, she's half black and her gains are crazy. I have seen it a Lot with pretty much everyone but white chicks- gains are big and noticeable I would droP weight and add reps.

Is this really happening right now? How is this not a racist statement? How do white chicks not gain muscle like every other race who lifts? :grumble:

_Wits_

I agree with what's already been posted. You don't look bulky at all - you have a fantastic figure. I'm jealous. If your pics are outdated - put up some new ones and let us see. Side note - you are gorgeous and I'm totally digging your makeup. I makeup.

The way you look in these pictures, is what I aspire to accomplish with my own body.

That being said, I don't know enough about this subject to give sound advice except that you need to up your BF, so up your calories.

Leadfoot_Lewis

It's about the body that *I* want though.

Let's see the "bulk" pics....

_Wits_

I would like to see some pictures

Yes, bring on the "bulk" pictures.

You have a body that most women on this forum would die to have and you start a thread complaining about it?

It's about the body that *I* want though.

Very true...no one should be critisizing her for results she isn't happy with.

CorvusCorax77

You look like Halle Berry in your pictures. I can't see what isn't to love. I have the same problem with pants (tight in thighs, loose in waist) but I think I look damn good because of it.

If you aren't liking your results, eat less and/or stop lifting.

What a compliment, thank you! I already don't eat more than 1200-1300 calories a day, so I don't think it would be good for me to drop below that. I think I need to lift lighter for awhile & see what happens.

I think the problem here is what is meant by "bulking up".... when folks say "i don't want to bulk up" I think they are talking about building muscle to look like this:



If you are eating 1200 cals a day, you are NEVER going to bulk up like this lady. In fact, without hormone treatment or steroids, you would never look like this lady.

What you have is low body fat. Your jeans are tight on your thighs and loose on your waist because you have such low body fat....and because that is the shape of your body. This isn't bulking. This is muscle definition from low body fat:



I think your pants fit that way because your waist is so tiny. But if you really want to make your legs leaner, my suggestion would be to do more long distance running. I've heard this can make your muscles smaller...but it might impact the rest of your muscle too.

Anyways, I think you look amazing and should just celebrate the benefits of all your hard work. I'd be so amazed to look in the mirror and see your figure on my body.


Just to sum up:

joejccva71

Are people really telling the OP to cut lifting or stop lifting heavy? Her issue isn't the fact that she's lifting heavy, it's genetics, water and glycogen, fluctuations in diet and carb intake, and also whether or not she's eating a deficit or a surplus.

Just cause you lifting lighter isn't going to change anything except her endurance as it activates different fibers.

LoraF83

It's already been said a bunch, but I'm going to repeat it again: You LOOK "big" because your body fat percentage is too low. Take your doctor's advice, up your calories and gain those 5-6 pounds. You will soften out and your muscles won't be as definied.

diodelcibo

10/10

tcunbeliever

A few ideas...Yoga - to stretch and thin your muscles...45+ min sessions of cardio - after 45 min. you are burning more muscle and less fat, so this could help thin out the muscle you have...change lifting routine to lifting less frequently (once a week instead of several times a week), or lifting more reps, I think 12-15 reps per set is the range for more lean muscle, so whatever weight you can lift 15 times in a row without a break.

andreanicole686

If you've reached the max size that you want to be for right now, just stop increasing the weight. Feel free to go backwards a few pounds if you want.

Generally, someone with your physique looks bigger because they have low BF%, not because they are actually huge. It even happens with men. The more cut I get, the more people comment on how big my arms/chest/quads are, even though I've lost several inches from them. It's illusion more than reality.

I've seen your pictures before and I assure that I don't find you bulky in the slightest, but it's your body to do as you wish.

I've never really thought of it that way, that does make sense though.

Yeap, well said. Just lighten your weight a bit and eat more too. Your lucky my biceps are taking forever to grow! lol And tell that guy at your work to F off!

tigersword

Lift heavy to build with less reps and light to lengthen and lean down, more reps, hope that helps

Muscles are attached to bone at their ends. They do not ever "lengthen." Unless of course, you have them surgically removed, stretched, and reattached at different points... But no exercise will ever achieve that kind of result, physical impossibility.

FullOfWin

My sister in law has this problem too, she's half black and her gains are crazy. I have seen it a Lot with pretty much everyone but white chicks- gains are big and noticeable I would droP weight and add reps.

Is this really happening right now? How is this not a racist statement? How do white chicks not gain muscle like every other race who lifts? :grumble:

You didn't know that every other race has 7x the testosterone production of white chicks?

funforsports

First off, you look amazing and I would love to have your natural ability to build. The reason you feel bulky though is you are on too low of a diet (1300 cals is not enough to maintain when lifting) and are at a very low bf%. Thus, you can see your muscles very clearly. If you don't like it, eat more and the definition will go away a bit.

Sarauk2sf

I looked at your pics - you are not bulky. You want less muscle definition, gain some BF.

DanaDark

Couple of issues I see here...

Your doctor has told you to gain some weight because your body fat levels are too low according to his medical opinion.... yet you are eating 1200-1300 a day. >.>

Your muscles are showing due to a lack of body fat to help smooth the visual out. You will be hard pressed to add body fat while eating 1200 to 1300 calories a day.

My suggestion would be to continue lifting as normal and go for a calorie surplus to add back some body fat. Once things are in a range that your doctor feels comfortable with, then you can really determine if you have too large of muscles or not.

At that point, return to the forums and seek further advice.

joejccva71

Strength Training = 3-5 rep range
Hypertrophy Training = 6-12 rep range
Endurance Training = 13-20 rep range

There is no higher reps to "tone" or "lean out". Sorry, no such thing.

DiaryOfaThickFitWoman

My sister in law has this problem too, she's half black and her gains are crazy. I have seen it a Lot with pretty much everyone but white chicks- gains are big and noticeable I would droP weight and add reps.

Me too, I'm Black, Irish & Cherokee. I'm thinking of dropping my weights (although I'm not sure how low to drop them) & doing more reps for a few weeks to see what happens.

Are you guys saying that "blacks" gain more weight when lifting, or in general, or what? This is a serious question, I need to know because I just started lifting and I have 50 pounds to lose and DO NOT want to bulk up period.

taso42

I think what you probably want to do is increase your body fat.

WendyTerry420

I want pictures as proof. The ones on your profile show you have a nice body, but i don't see any bulk. This must have been miracle bulk that happened recently.

joejccva71

I think what you probably want to do is increase your body fat.

+1000

dare2love81

Dial back on the weights....lift a little lighter. From what I understand, women have a hard time retaining muscle unless they keep with a lifting routine, so maybe just take a break for a little bit?

Not to be snarky, but I can only hope that one day I have the problem of looking too bulky (from muscle, not fat. LOL).

giorno88

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this already, but I do a lot of Les Mills BODYPUMP programs, and their main focus is less weight but with more reps, so you don't get that big bulky look. It's worked pretty well in that concept for me, if you've never heard of it, be sure to check it out sometime.

iorahkwano

Lower weight, more reps.
Eat more food & cut down on cardio (To gain a healthy body fat %).

I knew some girls who put on muscle very easily (Instead of losing weight, to their dismay). And they each did two different things:

1) The first one, who was getting bulky from the Bowflex she was using, quit using it! And she started doing workout classes that were less focused on weight-training and more focused on cardio. Her workout class was about 60% cardio and 40% body or medium weights with lots of reps. Endurance over power.

2) The second girl, embraced her genetics, and became a bodybuilder. She appeared in the Fame show (Contest on fitness appearance). This doesn't mean she is huge, she is actually the thinnest/most feminine I've ever seen her because she lost a lot of body fat but has amazing muscles! Day to day she looks nice in a dress, and then maybe bulks a bit for the fitness shows.

So it's up to you... You can eat more, workout less/less heavy and see if that gives you what you want. Or you can see where your amazing genes can take you & go with it! See if you can look at your body as what you "should want" because it sounds like lots of girls would like to have it. It's the same as accepting you have a pair or ruler-shaped body.