Request for input - cut/tone due to fast twitch muscle?

LdyPsych

I have a broad question that I hope someone can help me answer (and please no harassment or smart *kitten*'s, I am just looking for some additional information from those with experience, training, or education in this area). I have wondered about this for so long....

My entire life I have had shapely legs and strong calves. During periods of my life where I have worked out regularly, the cut in my legs has become very distinct (my legs are a particularly lean part of my body, which is why the musculature is most noticeable there).  Since Nov 2011, I have done primarily cardio (low) with some resistance training - in the last 6 months, I have done cardio at a rate of 5-6 days a week with 1-2 days weights or cardio/weight circuits (nothing heavy, 3-5 lb, bands, body weight resistance). But I am not kidding when I say that in that time, and pretty quickly, the muscles in my legs came to feel like they were make of steel beams, rock hard - from my hips down (I took some not so great pics really fast today and uploaded them to my profile, please forgive the horrible lighting).

A side note - my legs and calves give out pretty fast. I am not sure I will ever be able to jog or run far.  My leg muscles become tired faster than I would expect.  Now, I could flip a man across the gym in Jr. High leg wrestling (nope, I wasn't leg wresting men at that age LOL), but I couldn't have held out for a mile run.

Several years ago, I worked with a trainer doing once a week heavy lifting (power of 10, "super slow" type training).  Even at the beginning of working with him, he commented on the cut of the muscles in my back (heck, I had no clue what muscle was back there LOL). And after a couple of months, I told him he had to stop working out my upper body (lat pulls, etc) because the size of my lats/traps were getting far too big. The muscle was so pronounced it kind of freaked me out (I was single at the time and didn't think that an incredible Hulk imitation was going to be a good thing!)  That happened heavy lifting 1x per week for 30 minutes!

My question is - is all this normal or typical? Is there a physiological explanation or body type that can help me understand my body style?  I have wondered if I have more than the usual amount of fast twitch muscle. I realize that is usually a body type found in athletes, not in overweight women, but the cut and amount of my muscle seems outside average to me. Any ideas? THANKS for any input.

LdyPsych

Yep, thanks so much. Really .

SJ46

If you had an abundance of fast twitch muscle fibers then I would assume you would be able to run and perform power movements.

No other advice, just a friendly bump.

LdyPsych

Sj46 - I agree with your profile quote / goal of one day being a kick *kitten* old lady! :glasses:

SJ46

Sj46 - I agree with your profile quote / goal of one day being a kick *kitten* old lady! :glasses:

:bigsmile:

DavPul

Yep, thanks so much. Really .

more flies with honey...

i'm not sure what the question is here, really? you seem to be describing your body type very well and then questioning if it exists? or if there's a term for it? RE: the athletic type, athletes get overweight if they overeat just like non athletic types.

Can you clarify your question in a sentence or two?

MoreBean13

Yeah it's possible- are you a gifted sprinter?

I read a blog recently about a runner who had a home DNA test done and the results came back that he had a genotype for fast-twitch muscles. You could get that done if you want to know, I guess.
http://5ksandcabernets.com/2012/05/fast_twitch-slow_twitch-muscle_fibers/

I would probably just accept it and choose how I wanted to use it- it's not like you don't have slow twitch muscles- I mean, you walk around and do stuff all day. I'm sure you can develop endurance if you want it, or maybe you can play to your strengths and become a really fantastic 5k runner or powerlifter.

LdyPsych

Dav- no replies in the first couple days so it was more my little personal joke, it was a response to no one.... Get it? I am always polite with any post replies, when there are replies, but in this case there weren't any flies!

Morebean13 - pretty cool idea. I had my DNA, deep ancestry test, through National Geographic.... Never had occurred to me I could use DNA for this purpose! I am definitely not complaining about the muscle and cut, but I always been curious as to why (I am adopted, and probably adds to my curiosity). Thanks!

TheNewDodge

I wish I could help. I have never understood broads

LdyPsych

Dodge.... We're easy to understand as long as you remember all the rules :laugh:

Crankstr

you will probably get more responses on a Monday morning than you would posting on fri night...weekends are slowwwwwww here.

just a tip.

LiftAllThePizzas

I wish I could help. I have never understood broads

Never call chicks "broads!"
-RJ Fletcher

LdyPsych

Crankster - probably right on that. I am so busy on the weekdays that anything beyond something fast and superficial posting wise is tough. Thanks for that suggestion!

arnfolly

There are geneticly some people more muscle bound than others. My calves have always been muscular and large for a woman as my shoulders have been also. Not very sexy when your deltoids buldge in a tank top! As for your running, it takes time to build up ENDURANCE. Some body types are designed for short energy bursts, others for the long haul. It takes practice. Want to run longer? Try a treadmill where you have support, and push longer each time you run. As for the muscles except that is who you are genetically.