Exercise without bulking up?

GLS91
GLS91 Posts: 9
in Fitness and Exercise
Im looking for the right Exercises for my stomache and legs (mainly) to tone and loose weight without bulking up?

Replies

  • jamiek917
    jamiek917 Posts: 610 Member
    as a woman, you wont bulk up unless u are really trying to (ie supplements and such). lift heavier- more muscle=more fat your body burns per day= you will be leaner. :)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    none of the exercises you're going to choose from are going to bulk you up. not a single one of them
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    any and all (you're not taking steroids right?)
  • calisunrise
    calisunrise Posts: 307
    no exercise will make you bulk up, unless you mess with your testosterone levels or you train really hard for YEARS
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    *kitten* to grass squats and dragon flags.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Im looking for the right Exercises for my stomache and legs (mainly) to tone and loose weight without bulking up?

    You can do any exercise as a woman and never bulk up. Bulking for a woman takes a lot of effort, a caloric surplus, and usually performance enhancing drugs (depending on how bulky you mean)
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    What is your definition of "bulking up"?
  • MellyGibson
    MellyGibson Posts: 297 Member
    As a weight lifter, I can honestly say that as a woman, it is really difficult to "bulk up" - even if you wanted to!

    We are just not genetically built for it (specifically testosterone).

    There are some exceptions to the rule...but you have to dedicate a HUGE amount of time, energy, money, and supplements/hormones into the process.

    I would actually LIKE to bulk up, but being that I'm nearly 40, have a full-time job and a part-time job, I don't have the time nor energy to devote as much as it would take. :D

    You''ll be fine.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    You won't bulk up at a calorie deficit, so don't be afraid to hit those weights! I understand some of us (including me) are muscularly built, but working out your legs will not make them look worse - I promise. Right after a workout your muscles may swell, but don't panic, it's temporary!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    The problem is that everyone things of bulky as being something different.

    Most people won't get bulky doing any sort of exercise unless they are taking steroids and/or eating a caloric surplus. People will sometimes get too lean and look to muscular (think the people who want to be curvy like Kim Kardashian), but that's different then being bulky. Regardless, even that takes a great deal of work, even more dedication, and a long time to accomplish.

    But more to yoru question... look into various types of squats, deadlifts and lunges.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You aren't going to bulk...

    A.) you're a woman...not generally genetically predisposed to bulking
    B.) you're at a caloric deficit
    C.) I assume you're not on steroids
    D.) Bulking takes a lot more than lifting heavy for a few hours per week and eating a reasonably healthy diet...it take a surplus of calories and very dedicated body building diet and hours in the gym for years and years.
  • _SABOTEUR_
    _SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
    It is nigh on impossible to bulk in a deficit. Have your calories below your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), lift heavy and add cardio if you want to eat more calories.

    You need to lift heavy otherwise you lose too much muscle on a deficit and end up being skinny/fat (you'll look good in clothes, but still look flabby naked).

    Also, please do full body workouts and not just abs and thighs as it is also impossible to spot reduce.
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    Sorry for the late reply....I was worried because i am on steriod medication and i am not very aware of all the things that come with them surrounding exercise etc, and i had heard so many different stories of various exericses would make me bigger rather than loose anything.
    Thank you so much for your replies! Really helped me, I am definatly all new to this Thank you!
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    none of the exercises you're going to choose from are going to bulk you up. not a single one of them

    QFT

    You aren't going to bulk up unless you are consuming foods aimed for bulking alongside exercise and even then you probably wouldn't bulk all that much if you tried in a short period of time.
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
    Sorry for the late reply....I was worried because i am on steriod medication and i am not very aware of all the things that come with them surrounding exercise etc, and i had heard so many different stories of various exericses would make me bigger rather than loose anything.
    Thank you so much for your replies! Really helped me, I am definatly all new to this Thank you!

    Ahhh ok, so you actually legitimately had a reason that would cause you to worry. i'm pretty sure even with that if you are eating a deficit you won't bulk up even with the medication. I know when I talked to my doctor (I haven't been put on steroids yet, but I might be next month) he said some people experience weight gain, but with eating healthy and exercising it shouldn't be a problem to stop any weight gain. So I would assume if he's telling me to exercise TO control any gain, that you are probably fine.
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    Yeah i am on them for a little bit longer :( Hope all is well too!
    Yeah its crazy it feels like its up and down days, just trying to get a steady balance and routine.
    Yeah it says i would get a rounder face but it feels some days its back to sqaure one, and didnt know if they was having any added affects.
    Thank you thats really cleared my mind of things haha.
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    Sorry for the late reply....I was worried because i am on steriod medication and i am not very aware of all the things that come with them surrounding exercise etc, and i had heard so many different stories of various exericses would make me bigger rather than loose anything.
    Thank you so much for your replies! Really helped me, I am definatly all new to this Thank you!

    Not sure what type of medication you are on but I'm guessing either prednisone or an asthma preventative inhaler. Either way, these are a different type of steroid to the ones bodybuilders use (which are anabolic steroids) so don't worry about turning into Arnold Schwarzenegger overnight!

    A great example of how lifting heavy weights can actually make you slimmer, rather than bulk you up is Lorina's story (hope you don't mind me quoting you Lorina!): http://www.myfitnesspal.com/lorinalynn

    Her story and photos are what inspired me to start lifting heavy a few weeks ago.
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    haha, thank you when someone said sterioids i thought oh no great, thats what it is!
    thank you, i will definatly have a look!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Yeah i am on them for a little bit longer :( Hope all is well too!
    Yeah its crazy it feels like its up and down days, just trying to get a steady balance and routine.
    Yeah it says i would get a rounder face but it feels some days its back to sqaure one, and didnt know if they was having any added affects.
    Thank you thats really cleared my mind of things haha.

    I got put on medicinal steroids awhile back (off them now)...I was all excited because I thought I might actually bulk up a bit of muscle...didn't happen. No worries, you'll be fine.
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    Thank you all soo much really cleared my head up! :D
  • jen81uk
    jen81uk Posts: 177 Member
    I only use 2kg free weights on my arms and enough leg weights for it to burn. I just do lots of diff reps as I don't want to look muscly, I want to look lean and toned/firm with little muscles and I think that's what you mean?! I also do Yoga and Pilates as these lean and tone you xx
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    I need to get myself some little weights, thank you!
    Is there any DVDs you could recommend me to try out for them?
    Thank you :D xx
  • SRH7
    SRH7 Posts: 2,037 Member
    haha, thank you when someone said sterioids i thought oh no great, thats what it is!
    thank you, i will definatly have a look!

    Aw, you poor thing! Might be worth having a chat with your doctor about what the side effects are so you're not worrying too much.
  • cyyruss
    cyyruss Posts: 8 Member
    DVD = insanity can’t try just have to do!
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    Its been a right pain, getting used to things understanding the different ways and adjusting things.
    A lot of trial and error at the minute, Thank you! :D
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    I am definatly having a look at that one now haha thank you!
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    I need to get myself some little weights, thank you!
    Is there any DVDs you could recommend me to try out for them?
    Thank you :D xx

    Don't worry so much about the little weights. You'll soon get past them. Look up a few good straightforward routines such as Stronglifts or New Rules of Lifting. Go for full body compound moves. It's worth it,honest
  • makieo
    makieo Posts: 16
    No worries on the "bulky look". My wife work out with me hardcore with my bulking workout and she is by far bulky. First you have to eat a ton of calories and alot of supplements to get come close to bulking. I have been lifting for 4 years and still I have a problem bulking as much I would like even when I try. So don't worry you won't get bulky. I have seen first hand with my wife that will not happen.
  • GLS91
    GLS91 Posts: 9
    Thank you,
    im all new to things and i have no idea whats best and what does what haha, thank youu! :D
  • Matt_Wild
    Matt_Wild Posts: 2,673 Member
    Eat at a deficit. You can't build muscle with a calorie deficit. You may show off the muscle you have underneath but you won't be building muscle.

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