Do you lift heavy? Are you bulky?
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The notion that muscles (either size, bulk or definition) equal masculine is the problem. It's fine to say "I ended up having larger muscles than I'd like." but to imply that muscles=manly is silly and somewhat insulting to those of us who like muscles and or want more of them. For the most part the definition of "feminine" and "masculine is driven by society and culture and constantly changing. Some people might say that the notion that muscles are masculine means that to be feminine is to be weak and not just physically. Some of us like to challenge this notion that women are supposed to be weak.
This. And similarly, a thin woman is called "boyish." When I was younger and straight up and down, I didn't look boyish. I just looked like a slender woman. If anything, I looked girlish. :laugh:0 -
Most women don't seem to get bulky with lifting, but there's got to be some genetic component. My old roommate had what might be described as a bulky, more masculine frame, especially during dance season. Naturally high levels of testosterone, perhaps?
I would have to agree with you on the genetic part. I don't consider myself bulky now however it wouldn't take much effort for me to get that way. (I'm not bragging and as someone posted in a previous post I may just be a genetic freak.) What I consider bulky is not the Arnolds with a pony tail but more masculine then I would like.
So then you probably aren't a 'genetic freak' at all, you just have a different definition of bulky and muscular...
And stop calling muscle definition masculine, FFS... what's feminine then? Fat?
Having a higher percentage of body fat is one of the few things that actually is a uniquely feminine physical characteristic.
What I want to know is why it's considered negative for a woman to have or want a more masculine shape.
Ok first I didn't call muscle definition masculine. I said if I were to lift heavy I would become bulky and more masculine than I would like.
Well that just seems like one big contradicting statement.
Since muscle definition =/= "bulky," and "bulky" and "more masculine" are used as two separate descriptors, I don't see how that's a contradicting statement. I don't think you two are even talking about the same thing.0 -
Most women don't seem to get bulky with lifting, but there's got to be some genetic component. My old roommate had what might be described as a bulky, more masculine frame, especially during dance season. Naturally high levels of testosterone, perhaps?
I would have to agree with you on the genetic part. I don't consider myself bulky now however it wouldn't take much effort for me to get that way. (I'm not bragging and as someone posted in a previous post I may just be a genetic freak.) What I consider bulky is not the Arnolds with a pony tail but more masculine then I would like.
So then you probably aren't a 'genetic freak' at all, you just have a different definition of bulky and muscular...
And stop calling muscle definition masculine, FFS... what's feminine then? Fat?
Having a higher percentage of body fat is one of the few things that actually is a uniquely feminine physical characteristic.
What I want to know is why it's considered negative for a woman to have or want a more masculine shape.
Ok first I didn't call muscle definition masculine. I said if I were to lift heavy I would become bulky and more masculine than I would like.
Well that just seems like one big contradicting statement.
If my wording confuses I'm sorry. I am just saying that for me that is how it is and I don't want that for myself. I am not saying that its a negative thing for those who want it. I have a masculine shape as it is that is not a negative. I was responding to the poster that said there could be a genitic link to some women becoming more bulky than others. Due to my already muscular build I can and have become to bulky. Me saying that I like my build now and don't want it to become what it was before is no different than me saying I once had red hair...I didn't like it so I changed it.0 -
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I don't have any pictures, sorry. I used to do a fair amount of training with my wife's powerlifting team that happened to have six or seven world record holding women. None of those women looked bulky. They actually looked great, and all of them were stronger than they looked. My wife had a personal best of 260 bench press at 127 lb @44 years old with a 395 deadlift & squat. She could have set world records if she could just calm down and not get psyched out at meets. In any case, she looked fit and athletic but not bulky. But it was a bummer to have a tickle fight with her.
Alright, there was one woman who after seven years of very hard work started to develop some serious traps and shoulders. But she was the exception that proves the rule. This woman trained with the effort and discipline of an Olympic athlete and was pumped about setting world records. She benched upwards of 290 and deadlifting in the 480s at a weight class of 121 lbs.
Another exception was anybody who took steroids (not tolerated on our team at all). Those women don't look like women. Oh, and there were some freaks among the bodybuilders, but those people didn't get much respect from the power lifting crowd.0 -
YAY!! I did some 1rm's and now I know how much I can lift atm.
5'3; 130lbs
Deadlift- 130lbs
Squat- 100lbs
OHP- 55lbs
Look at how manly I am.
I can do this, too! Check out my bulky legs.
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Bump!0
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OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played0
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OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played
lol - check the OP date.0 -
Most women don't seem to get bulky with lifting, but there's got to be some genetic component. My old roommate had what might be described as a bulky, more masculine frame, especially during dance season. Naturally high levels of testosterone, perhaps?
I would have to agree with you on the genetic part. I don't consider myself bulky now however it wouldn't take much effort for me to get that way. (I'm not bragging and as someone posted in a previous post I may just be a genetic freak.) What I consider bulky is not the Arnolds with a pony tail but more masculine then I would like.
So then you probably aren't a 'genetic freak' at all, you just have a different definition of bulky and muscular...
And stop calling muscle definition masculine, FFS... what's feminine then? Fat?
Having a higher percentage of body fat is one of the few things that actually is a uniquely feminine physical characteristic.
What I want to know is why it's considered negative for a woman to have or want a more masculine shape.
Ok first I didn't call muscle definition masculine. I said if I were to lift heavy I would become bulky and more masculine than I would like.
Well that just seems like one big contradicting statement.
Since muscle definition =/= "bulky," and "bulky" and "more masculine" are used as two separate descriptors, I don't see how that's a contradicting statement. I don't think you two are even talking about the same thing.
Because it is still implying that any weight training and gain of strength = masculinity.
"Being a female" or "being a male" shouldn't be dependent on looks in my opinion, but on what you feel you are. Having people try to define you based on looks is sad and dismisses who that person could be.'
At the same time, trying to define things by gender has you missing out on testing your potential and closing your mind off to certain truths.0 -
OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played
lol - check the OP date.
Right...lmao0 -
OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played
lol - check the OP date.
Right...lmao
It's like saying, "I'm sick of these thread, so I'm going to read it, then respond, bumping it back up to the top so even MORE people will read it."
I don't like the "... the person above you threads." So I don't read them and don't respond to them.0 -
Bump0
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before and after lifting heavy 0 -
I started lifting heavy a few months ago and I love it.I don't think I look bulky, just toned?...I however, have 10-l5 lbs of fat to lose-but that's where my diet comes in.
I'm 5'3, 135 lbs
I currently:
squat 120 8x3
bench 85 8x3
dead 95 8x3
overhead/miltary 55 8x3
You look amazing!0 -
once I've lost some weight how would I go about getting bulky? I know its hard for women but I want to be ripped. is it possible for women?
I do Pro Wrestling so i wanna look intimidating.0 -
you ladies all look amazing, beautiful, lean and strong. I am not quite ready to post after pictures, I have been lifting for a while but recently moved to a combo of heavy lifting and core workout as a crosstraining for the 5K I am training for. Love that I can do both since lifting is my first love and I am trying to cross something off my fitness bucket list of running a mini-marthathon.
I can say 100% that I am not bulky from lifting, I am toning and looking long and lean.
My current stats:
5'11"
154.5 lbs
(nothing compared to you ladies)
all the stats below is part of the 5X5 training so each I do 5X5
squat - 90lbs
deadlifts - 100lbs
barbell rows - 100lbs
bench 60lbs
overhead - 60lbs
but I am just moving from lifting to heavy lifting to it a progression right?0 -
Yup!0
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Bump0
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you ladies all look amazing, beautiful, lean and strong. I am not quite ready to post after pictures, I have been lifting for a while but recently moved to a combo of heavy lifting and core workout as a crosstraining for the 5K I am training for. Love that I can do both since lifting is my first love and I am trying to cross something off my fitness bucket list of running a mini-marthathon.
I can say 100% that I am not bulky from lifting, I am toning and looking long and lean.
My current stats:
5'11"
154.5 lbs
(nothing compared to you ladies)
all the stats below is part of the 5X5 training so each I do 5X5
squat - 90lbs
deadlifts - 100lbs
barbell rows - 100lbs
bench 60lbs
overhead - 60lbs
but I am just moving from lifting to heavy lifting to it a progression right?
Nothing wrong with those stats I've just started training a work colleague and HE cant hit those numbers yet and his major compounds.....0 -
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Not bulky, but I want to be. Guess that makes me the odd one out. I've been lifting for four months, lost a good amount of body fat and some weight. I'll actually be going on a bulk soon so I can GAIN.0 -
OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played
oo! thanks for bumping this! I forgot about it, and my pics mostly got erased from changing accounts.
Lifting progressively heavier has changed my body significantly. Do it.
Me before: What I consider bulky.
me now: almost 42 years old.
bench 100
squat was 115, deloading to work on form
OHP 55
Dealift: 145, deloading cause vacation.
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I'm so glad this got bumped up. I plan to start soon...within the next few days and these before and after pictures has been very inspiring. You ladies look amazing! Thanks for sharing!!0
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Lifting heavy made me un-bulky.
My current PRs (lbs):
Back squat - 165 X 4
Front squat - 145 X 4
Conventional deadlift - 210 X 2
Sumo deadlift - 170 X 5
Overhead press - 90 X 3
Bench press - 95 X 4
Hip thrust - 220 X 10
Before:
After:
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I'm so glad this got bumped up. I plan to start soon...within the next few days and these before and after pictures has been very inspiring. You ladies look amazing! Thanks for sharing!!
If you need any suggestions for simple effective programs to start with, here you go :
http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs
http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/0 -
OMG! Enough of the lifting heavy=bulky threads........so over it, so over played
So sorry you're bothered by the ladies here who lift. Personally, I'm proud of what I've achieved and the changes in my body from heavy lifting. I was definitely bulky before, but definitely much less bulky now that I lift.
Current 1 rep maxes:
Squat - 265lbs
Deadlift - 295lbs
Bench 115lbs0 -
Lifting heavy made me un-bulky.
My current PRs (lbs):
Back squat - 165 X 4
Front squat - 145 X 4
Conventional deadlift - 210 X 2
Sumo deadlift - 170 X 5
Overhead press - 90 X 3
Bench press - 95 X 4
Hip thrust - 220 X 10
Before:
After:
i will i could curse.
you are so beeping fantastic!!!!0 -
Lifting heavy made me un-bulky.
My current PRs (lbs):
Back squat - 165 X 4
Front squat - 145 X 4
Conventional deadlift - 210 X 2
Sumo deadlift - 170 X 5
Overhead press - 90 X 3
Bench press - 95 X 4
Hip thrust - 220 X 10
Before:
After:
Absolutely frigging fantastic changes. You look great.0 -
I do 5 sets of 5 reps with the highest weight I can handle. When I am on a regular program I see some definition in my arms, which are quite thin to begin with, and they get bigger. My shirts and jackets become snug. I am not bulky in the way that a body builder would be, but I am definitely bigger. I don't mind because bigger shoulders balance my silhouette and every woman wants nice firm arms.
I store all my fat in my hips and butt. At 98.5 pounds and a body fat percentage under 20% according to my scale I can't lose a whole lot more fat, even if I were up to the monumental task of doing it. I don't want my hips and butt to get any bigger because they're already disproportionately big in my view. When in the past I have done squats and other lower body exercises using weights I have gotten bigger. I read all the crap about it being a "myth" or all in my head but I know my own body well enough to know if it was increasing in size. I've also seen photos on the web of women with my body type, short with the potential to look stocky who look very squat (which is their choice). So now I don't use direct weight resistance on those parts. I don't have a need for that kind of strength. My legs are strong enough from running and the elliptical and sometimes I do calf raises to firm up my calves, which are thin.0 -
I do 5 sets of 5 reps with the highest weight I can handle. When I am on a regular program I see some definition in my arms, which are quite thin to begin with, and they get bigger. My shirts and jackets become snug. I am not bulky in the way that a body builder would be, but I am definitely bigger. I don't mind because bigger shoulders balance my silhouette and every woman wants nice firm arms.
I store all my fat in my hips and butt. At 98.5 pounds and a body fat percentage under 20% according to my scale I can't lose a whole lot more fat, even if I were up to the monumental task of doing it. I don't want my hips and butt to get any bigger because they're already disproportionately big in my view. When in the past I have done squats and other lower body exercises using weights I have gotten bigger. I read all the crap about it being a "myth" or all in my head but I know my own body well enough to know if it was increasing in size. I've also seen photos on the web of women with my body type, short with the potential to look stocky who look very squat (which is their choice). So now I don't use direct weight resistance on those parts. I don't have a need for that kind of strength. My legs are strong enough from running and the elliptical and sometimes I do calf raises to firm up my calves, which are thin.
andddd here she is.
I would like pictures of this "big" you describe of your hips and butt.
Also, why do come in these threads? every time!0
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