Scared of weights---ladies

Slw2013

Hey mfp ladies!!!!!!!!

I am nervous to weights bt I really wanna tone!
Please help I dont wanna get bulky just lean.

Thnx in advance!!!
SLW

farsteve

Well I'm not a MFP lady but I do lift and I do know You Will Not Get Bulky from lifting. I repeat, You Will Not Get Bulky from Lifting.

Women just do not have enough natural testosterone to get big bulky muscles. You will develop muscle and you will get stronger but You Will Not Get Bulky. I'm some some of the ladies will weigh in on this with their actual experience but you don't have anything to worry about.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

If you want to eat at a deficit and lift weights without getting bulky just don't do steroids. I promise you won't get bulky. I'm eating at a surplus and lifting and I'm not anywhere near bulky.

gemmaleigh1989

WOMAN DONT GET BULKY FROM WEIGHTS. it's genetically impossible without steroids or other drugs. Ditch the 2 pound weight and lift heavy!! Lifting while on a deficit will only maintain muscle, you need to eat at surplus to GROW muscles.

There is no such word as TONE! You either build/grow muscle or you don't!

Cut fat first by eating at a deficit (still including strength training) and then when you're happy with where you are at fat loss wise, then start eating at at a small surplus (200 or so cals over maintenance) and lifting heavy hitting the same body parts 3 times a week!

Junken_Diraffe

Exact same weight. Left is before lifting (size 12). Right is after lifting (size 6).



Pretty sure I don't look bulky.

sarahrbraun

Well I'm not a MFP lady but I do lift and I do know You Will Not Get Bulky from lifting. I repeat, You Will Not Get Bulky from Lifting.

Women just do not have enough natural testosterone to get big bulky muscles. You will develop muscle and you will get stronger but You Will Not Get Bulky. I'm some some of the ladies will weigh in on this with their actual experience but you don't have anything to worry about.

THIS^^ he does not lie. I have been doing some sort of weights for a year now ( mostly machines at the gym...GASP). In October I started squatting, and using the leg press. I have solid thighs with a tiny bit of definition. I have shoulder muscles, but only when I flex. I do NOT have "back boobs" anymore.

I leg press 298#
I squat 135#
I dumbbell bench press with 20# in each hand ( just started that)
I lat pull down 60#

peppiee

So was I, and then I joined a Dragon Boat team and we started our winter training in October. Regular weight training and Cross fit
training. I usually do Cross fit once a week, and weight lifting twice a week and assorted cardio. So anyway, what I have found is I am much more in proportion. I always saw myself as a pear, even if I'm thin, but now my shoulders balance my bottom out. My legs are about the same size, but are toned. I'm hoping to lose 10 pounds so I can see a little more definition. I also kept getting injured when I would run, and now things are fine and I've been injury free. Plus you feel awesome! I can actually do real push ups for the first time in my life!! I'm working on pull ups now Do it!!

Brad805

Fear not, you will not get bulky. Truth be told, the bulky look has a lot to do with a low BF level. The loss of BF gives definition and that is what makes for the bulkier look. It takes a time so pay attention and all will be well. Stop dropping BF when the pic in the mirror is what you want.

Here is a link to some pics of both males and females at different BF levels.
http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

Up the protein level, and get to the weights. Magic will happen with daily persistence and some patience.

filming_ghosts

Girrrrl, don't be scared of weights! When I was lifting regularly I started leaning out a lot more And I don't mean 5lb dumbbells, I was squatting 80-85lb, bench pressing 60lb, and deadlifting about 70-80lb. It might be light compared to some, but I was lifting the heaviest I could for 5x5 reps. You'd have to eat a lotttt of food (like 2,600+ net calories a day) to bulk up, and it would take a good 12-18 months to really have big muscles. Also, don't listen to what MFP says. If you're lifting heavy you need to eat more to fuel your body and allow for lean muscle to build. It varies for everyone, but I was getting the best results when I was full body lifting 3x a week (every other day), doing cardio 2x a week (in between lifting days), and eating around 1,900-2,300 (total, not net) calories a day, and I'm 5'3 and 128 pounds to give you some perspective.

RobynMWilson

Look at my pics. I lift heavy and I'm hardly bulky!! I'm LEAN!!

Slw2013

You guys rock thanks!!!!!!!