Does toned mean bigger?

melbatoast917

I gained a half inch on my already muscular calves from high resistance on the arc. It was a little discouraging since I already have like 16 1/2 inch calves (try finding boots that fit over those beasts). I know it was a direct result of the arc, because up until recently I predominantly did cardio (running/arc). I now do strength training (squats, deadlifts, etc.) and have accepted that I WILL gain muscle mass, but lose more fat and appear more "tone" (filling out the spaces that used to be fatty). You'll be ok - you won't look like Arnold from using the elliptical.

dblk19

Yes, but be careful with the amount of carbs that you are eating, making sure that you are getting more "good"carbs than "bad" carbs and staying within you limit.

FullOfWin

If someone can bench 350 pounds, it doesn't mean that they can do 100 push-ups. And the guy doing 100 push-ups may not be able to bench 350 pounds. Both people would be quite strong in their own right, and their bodies would look quite different. Yes or no?

Everybody is going to look different no matter what they are doing. You don't have bigger muscles because you can lift more. Muscles are able to get stronger without getting bigger.

And central nervous system which is where a lot of strength actually comes from

TeachTheGirl

I deadlifted 200lbs today. Am I she-hulk?

No. I am. Because I'm green...

...with envy! You go, girl!

FullOfWin

I deadlifted 200lbs today. Am I she-hulk?

I'm a dude and have deadlifted 5x355 and I'm STILL not big

VelociMama

This girl also does not look like Arnold, and deadlifts 335 (she's 114 lbs)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO4lKgJPxEU

dawnreid2012

I deadlifted 200lbs today. Am I she-hulk?

You look flippin fantastic And no you dont look anything like a hulk Thanks for this post

jenilla1

So I can lift heavier weights and not bulk up? My husband bought me the tiny 3 pound ones because he doesnt want me to bulk up. Which I dont want to look like a body builder or anything but if I can lift more than the 3 pound ones 300 times I would like to.

:laugh: That's cute what your husband thinks! I lift heavy (for me) and I'm still just a little thing - look at my pic. I'm no monster! I call it heavy when the weight is so high that I can't do more that 5 reps! Heavy weights have helped "tone" me up without bulking. I would say it gives me nice definition and makes me stronger. It doesn't bulk me up at all. My husband loves that I lift heavy weights. :drinker:

VelociMama

I deadlifted 200lbs today. Am I she-hulk?

Yes, but only because of your sheer awesomeness.

DixiedoesMFP

Please lift heavy! I've gone from a size 10/12 to a 6. I still have room for improvement, but I'm definitely not bulky!

dawnreid2012

I just text my husband at work and asked him he would get me a weight set for my birthday coming up lol.. Until then Ill use his..

FullOfWin

Well if you're gonna do it, do it right

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/848374-large-collection-of-info-for-beginners-2013-edition

apriltrainer

nope. check out my profile pic. I got my 2nd body by lifting heavy.. HEAVY. I even stopped with cardio because I decided- running almost every day wasn't working anymore, I might as well lift heavy and prove that it doesn't work. I figured I'd give myself 12 weeks to exclusively lift, and if anything - at least I'd be a stronger chubby person.

Nope. I got smaller. Tighter.

Toned doesn't mean bigger at all! I used to be cardio queen, now I am an iron queen. I LOVE my weights. I admit I used to lift before but never exclusively. And Always made cardio my primary exercise.

Now weights are front and center...and not the pink dumbell kind.

Yanicka1

I lift heavy and has been for more than a year

Before

IMG_2720 by yanicka.hachez, on Flickr

After

IMG_20120929_095330 by yanicka.hachez, on Flickr

Not bad for a girl that gave birth to 6 kids

Believe me, 3 pounders won't do anything

Rayman79

I just text my husband at work and asked him he would get me a weight set for my birthday coming up lol.. Until then Ill use his..

YAY!!!!!

We did it. Another one converted :drinker: :bigsmile:

apriltrainer

When I started working out with weights with a personal trainer( a bad pt by the way) I gained a ton of weight.

I thought it was the weights. It wasn't. What it was ..was actually all the protein shakes my trainer told me I had to have.(one in the morning and one right before and after working out. Way too many for my short self.) And I blamed the weight lifting instead of the protein shakes.

Fast forward to last year...I started lifting religiously and really pushing myself...sans any protein shakes..

Turns out I shed my weight and I realized it was the darn eating that "bulked me up" not the weights.

This is a really good poster that explains alot!

http://joshsgarage.typepad.com/articles/2011/11/the-bulking-up-myth-ultimate-infographic.html

dawnreid2012

I just text my husband at work and asked him he would get me a weight set for my birthday coming up lol.. Until then Ill use his..

YAY!!!!!

We did it. Another one converted :drinker: :bigsmile:

I LOVE THIS hahahahahahahah :drinker: :bigsmile:

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

Heavy lifting actually made my body appear to be smaller. Before I gained weight, I was pretty steady at 180 lbs. Now I'm down to 188.9, I started here at 220. When I was at 180, I never lifted weights and my only exercise was walking, so I looked bigger than I do now, even though I was 8.9 lbs lighter. I'll post pictures for you!



Obviously I'm not at my goal weight yet, but this is pretty sweet progress!

ETA: excuse the bathroom pictures, I no longer have a full length mirror to take the picture in. :laugh:

dawnreid2012

When I started working out with weights with a personal trainer( a bad pt by the way) I gained a ton of weight.

I thought it was the weights. It wasn't. What it was ..was actually all the protein shakes my trainer told me I had to have.(one in the morning and one right before and after working out. Way too many for my short self.) And I blamed the weight lifting instead of the protein shakes.

Fast forward to last year...I started lifting religiously and really pushing myself...sans any protein shakes..

Turns out I shed my weight and I realized it was the darn eating that "bulked me up" not the weights.

This is a really good poster that explains alot!

http://joshsgarage.typepad.com/articles/2011/11/the-bulking-up-myth-ultimate-infographic.html

You look fantastic too!!!

dawnreid2012

Heavy lifting actually made my body appear to be smaller. Before I gained weight, I was pretty steady at 180 lbs. Now I'm down to 188.9, I started here at 220. When I was at 180, I never lifted weights and my only exercise was walking, so I looked bigger than I do now, even though I was 8.9 lbs lighter. I'll post pictures for you!



Obviously I'm not at my goal weight yet, but this is pretty sweet progress!

ETA: excuse the bathroom pictures, I no longer have a full length mirror to take the picture in. :laugh:

You can totally tell a difference!! I am so inspired from everyones advice and pictures..

Vini9

Bump, so many good links I only got to read two........so for later.