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

taso42

I agree with both of you, I am a perfectionist & always feel that I can do better & that what I have done so far isn't good enough. I try to get past it though.

Always trying to improve is a great spirit to have.

But take a step back and consider... would muscular atrophy actually be improvement, or would it be the opposite?

Also, I didn't look at your routine, but someone above mentioned doing compound lifts rather than isolation work. I strongly agree with this. Isolation work is more of a body-builder type routine, and obviously you are not going for that. Compounds will keep your whole body in shape and emphasize general strength, and not necessarily cause things like hyoooge biceps.

Polly758

I used to play baseball, so my biceps and shoulders have always caused a problem when I wear shirts with sleeves. ANY sleeves.

Lifting will cause you to go pretty far outside average female measurements, and pretty much all store-bought clothes won't fit.

Sheath dresses (sleeveless, knee-length, trim waist) will probably fit well.

And don't forget tailors! Buy clothes that fit your biggest part, then have it taken in to fit everywhere else. So get pants for your thighs then have a tailor take in the waist and butt a bit. It shouldn't add more than $10 to the price of the clothes.

As for the muscle definition, gaining a bit of fat might help that, and make your doctor happy too.

classycouture

A guy at my job was making jokes asking me what steroids I'm taking because he is a boxer & has known women who have been working out for years that don't have the amount of muscle I have.

Use those muscles and punch him in the face!


Problem solved.

DiaryOfaThickFitWoman

Everyone says don't worry about bulking up when you lift heavy you are a woman. But, honestly I am having a problem with this. My biceps are huge & show constantly without me even flexing. And my quads & calves are getting out of control since I started lifting heavier. A guy at my job was making jokes asking me what steroids I'm taking because he is a boxer & has known women who have been working out for years that don't have the amount of muscle I have. It's the the point where my pants fit loose at the waist & super tight around my thighs & I'm not pleased with it. I'm not sure what the answer to fix this is, lift lighter? I don't want to loose the tone & definition. And it's not from body fat, because my Dr. recently told me that my body fat is too low & she would like for me to put on 5-6 pounds.

I think you look great, but, it seems as if you want” a softer look” than what you have.
I think what most of us are failing to realize is that everyone has their own perception of what looks good and what doesn’t. Bottom-line!
At the end of the day it’s about what you want. I personally love your thighs/legs; I can see your issue with your arms. Don’t get me wrong, they look great, but like you I prefer the softer look as well.
Either way you don’t look bad, and at this point it’s about personalizing those target areas, according to your liking!

wigglypeaches

Just to reiterate, you look phenomenal, and your coworker sounds a bit insecure.

However! If you want to switch up your routine, consider 1) Switching to muscular endurance training by lifting lighter weights (or body weight) to exhaustion (consider pullups!), or 2) resistance training.

Chapter3point6

Just to reiterate, you look phenomenal, and your coworker sounds a bit insecure.

However! If you want to switch up your routine, consider 1) Switching to muscular endurance training by lifting lighter weights (or body weight) to exhaustion (consider pullups!), or 2) resistance training.

AND

TubbsMcGee

Pics

Have you ever considered entering a female bodybuilding contest?

She's worried about looking bulky...and you just asked her to build MORE muscle.... :huh: :huh:

....it's sarcasm.

Her legs don't look bulky at all. They look like regular lady legs.

yoovie

(and balance out your calves )

mlb929

Are you doing any yoga, or something that will increase your flexibility? I notice that just simply strength training, the muscles look "muscly" to me, but yoga helps, in my opinion, to create a leaner longer looking muscle, not a bulky one. So do a martial art program.

Another thought is have saliva hormone testing done, your testosterone levels may be really really high, which could be part of your problem.

Yogi_Carl

Apparently, yoga doesn't help a muscle to look longer by stretchng it out - though I would say - try some yoga!

Maybe try bodyweight exercises rather than lifting weights and see if you prefer the look and the workout.

jetscreaminagain

Quit bragging about your unbelievable abilities. It's rude and will make everyone else here who lifts jealous.

LorinaLynn

I think you look wonderful. Your legs are lovely. And I'm jealous of your arms.

Like everyone else said, you'd look like muscular with slightly higher body fat. That might make your clothes a little bit tighter, too. But there's nothing wrong with going up a size.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I think you look really good actually. If I wanted to get picky, I'd say you could use a little MORE muscle on your legs but overall you look great.

MoreBean13

MFP's reigning hublebrag QUEEN!


Don't lift if you don't like the results. Case closed.

giggitygoo

I will literally trade you arms if you want. We can arrange a transplant.

PaveGurl

When I have this happen, my response is to find a brand that fit my body better as my body changes shape. I just to live in Express pants for work, as an example, but as my body shape changed with my progress, their cuts didn't work any more (too tight in the thighs, gaping at the waist).

It's not a failing in my body, which is still shrinking in inches, but a change in proportions - and we all know different brands use different patterns.

(And man, I wish I could gain muscle like that on 1300!)

ironmonkeystyle

you look awesome in your pics. eff the haters.

nz_deevaa

I will literally trade you arms if you want. We can arrange a transplant.

^^^ this. AND I'll take those legs off you too if you'd like.

You don't look bulky at all.

pullipgirl

I think you look beautiful! Awesome job!

yoovie

Im scared this post might scare other girls away

Cranktastic

Im scared this post might scare other girls away

seriously.
put on some fat OP if you want to look softer, but knock it off with the bulky.

Articeluvsmemphis

gosh, I wish I were bulky like you. you look fabulous.

jetscreaminagain

Im scared this post might scare other girls away

seriously.
put on some fat OP if you want to look softer, but knock it off with the bulky.

And also don't flex if you don't like the flexed look.

This isn't bulky. It's cut. Do what your doctor says and add some fat for the doctor's reasons and also so you don't spread misinformation about lifting.

120weeks

Whatever you do.....don't sacrifice your strength. You've worked hard to be a strong woman. Be proud of that! It is such an empowering feeling to have strength! Being a strong woman should be your end goal and the way you look in the mirror should be the results of the work that it takes to be strong.....no matter "what" that body looks like. Nothing is more attractive than confidence.....But that's just the way I see things. And like a pp said.....hypertrophy is NOT the same as strength. You are not hypertrophied!

You look incredible!

ShrinkingNinja

Do what you need to do for yourself to be happy.... But I have to say I think you are a gorgeous lady!

jesz124

I think you must have some of those mirrors they have in the circus, the ones that make your body look funny shapes! You are about as far from 'bulky' as it gets!! I think you could gain more muscle and lower your bf to get the 'fitness' look. There's no one in the world that could complain about having a body like that. You most certainly do not have bulky or even overly muscley legs. I really can't see why you'd even think that?

Natihilator

Breakfast is Oatmeal & Coffee
I have a protein shake after my workout
Mid morning I'll have an apple & maybe 10 almonds
Lunch is fish with a green vegetable & maybe 4 ounces of sweet potato
Late afternoon snack is probably a rice cake or some popcorn, maybe baby carrots with peanut butter
Dinner is a tossed salad with some canned tuna or tilapia mixed in
Desert is greek yogurt or cottage cheese, sometimes I even mix the two together.
The weekends I allow myself a cheat meal or two. But, still try to stay within my calorie range.

I think everything that should have been said has been, just want to say that I think you look great OP, and your diet is ON POINT. Big props to you

You're a genetic freak.

Genetic anomaly would be a better way of putting it :flowerforyou:

BertNijs

Basic cardio will keep (or lower) your body fat percentage as you'd like and will probably cannibalize some of your muscle.
It's what bodybuilders fear when cutting, but seems to be what you're looking for.

(If you don't want to reach lower BF%, increase your carb intake a bit. Calculate your own macro's, you clearly don't have a standard metabolism. No offense ^^ )

ZoeLifts

Your idea of bulky just seems to be that you can see your muscles more, but yet you want low body fat and those two ideas are incongruous with each other, unless your actual preference is the skinny look. I agree with others that you need to eat more, and aim to increase body fat if you don't want the curve of the muscles to be so pronounced. I also think, imo, that your leg muscles are not huge in the least, but you have a great, overall shape, that I would love to have! Beautiful!

yoovie

still worried this post is going to keep other girls from lifting at all.