Woman trying (and failing) to get bulky - wahhhhh!

weese17

Ladies, if you're nervous about lifting heavy and getting bulky, read my story.

I've been lifting heavy for about a year (no particular program). My husband has been lifting for about 8 weeks, doing Stronglifts. I switched to Stronglifts right about the same time as he did. And man, I am SO PEEVED - he has just absolutely BLOWN past me in terms of strength and muscle development! Testosterone has made his progress a breeze, and it's not fair. :sad: He's turned into Popeye, and I am still Olive Oyl! Where are the big ol' round glutes and visible biceps that I was promised would develop when I lifted all the heavy things?! I am shaped like a freaking noodle still - and even more annoying is the fact that it takes me about 4 times as long to move up to heavier weights as him.

Everybody is different, and some women will definitely develop muscle faster than others. But I am doing exactly what so many women are scared of - lifting HEAVY - and not getting anywhere near the muscle development I would hope for.

Me (with apologies for the goofball face):






BULKY AS HELL. :grumble: :grumble: :grumble:

I seriously might switch to bodybuilding just to get a butt that isn't concave.

Lucy

Cr01502

The goof ball face is adorable.

Are you eating at a surplus?

weese17

The goof ball face is adorable.

Are you eating at a surplus?

Methinks you haven't looked at my diary. I eat between 3000-3300 calories a day.

sittingontopoftheworld

What's the difference between what you're doing now and bodybuilding?

ETA: I thought lifting heavy was what bodybuilders did to gain muscle.

weese17

What's the difference between what you're doing now and bodybuilding?

ETA: I thought lifting heavy was what bodybuilders did to gain muscle.

Sort of - they definitely have a lot in common. The point of powerlifting is to develop strength; the point of bodybuilding is to develop an eye-popping physique. Obviously, you will develop muscle when you are lifting heavy, but not the way you would if you were deliberately targeting certain body parts and groups for muscle development. Powerlifting programs focus on compound lifts (squat, deadlift, bench press, rows) whereas bodybuilding programs fall more along the line of the old split schedule, i.e., doing chest/legs on one day, back/biceps on another, etc. Make sense?

1ConcreteGirl

I was going to start lifting heavy so I could get some bulkiness up in heah.

Thank you for this post. Now I know that I would be better off just eating more potato chips.

weese17

I was going to start lifting heavy so I could get some bulkiness up in heah.

Thank you for this post. Now I know that I would be better off just eating more potato chips.

I said BULKY, not LUMPY.

I am insanely jealous of your butt, btw. The genetic gods did not bless me.

Dark_Roast

*slight thread hijack*

I love how your kiddo totally stole the picture. Adorable!

Cr01502

Wait . . . . BurtHuttz produces testosterone?

iulia_maddie

I think you look beautiful. Look at that shapely calf muscle! I mean err.. bulky calf muscle, sorry.

1ConcreteGirl

I was going to start lifting heavy so I could get some bulkiness up in heah.

Thank you for this post. Now I know that I would be better off just eating more potato chips.

I said BULKY, not LUMPY.

I am insanely jealous of your butt, btw. The genetic gods did not bless me.

Oh thanks! MOAR SQUATZ!

Flixie00

You look fantastic :drinker:

CLFrancois

HAHA! photo bomb! cute

Unknown

This content has been removed.

BurtHuttz

I'm not certain that, despite her high intake, Weese is eating a surplus. She is lifting, does HIIT, is nursing a baby, and is chasing around toddlers in her spare time. She is in constant motion. I would imagine her TDEE on the order of 3500 - 4000 calories or more.

CoderGal

Looks like you're doing a fantastic job! And I am also in the wimp department Workin' on it...as you can see by me scrubbing a old rusty barbell someone gave me lol

MelsAuntie

This is reassuring. I am lifting weights but DO NOT want to get visibly muscular, ripped, cut, whatever you want to call it, I don't like that look on women and especially not myself. ( If you do, fine, just not for me.) NO muscular arms or six-pack abs, thank you! I want curves and enough body fat to be smooth. Since I don't have a male body, it seems I CAN increase my strength without getting muscular!

Martucha123

you look great

as for the bulkin, yeah I wish I could bulk as easily as some femals on mfp claim to bulk
I bulked for 4 months, gaind 1 lbs of muscle...

long way to go

Pepper2185

Ohmygosh! You mean you don't look like the Hulk?

Lifting rocks, you look amazing. Thanks for posting this :flowerforyou:

TheRealParisLove

Ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph. You, my dear, are an ectomorph. You will have to work very hard to put on muscle. I, however, am a mesomorph. I bulk up walking my dog :laugh:

We all just have to adjust for our body types. I suggest researching how to put on muscle for your body type and utilize those strategies.

PikaKnight

Smexy for ssssuuurrrreee!!!!

Yanicka1

I have been lifting 2 years....it take time.

Zekela

lol... what most women fail to realize is that bulkiness is not developed from lifting heavy. Bulkiness is developed from eating too much. Weight lifting just helps with tone, strength and sexiness (like any other form of exercise)... So, if you want to be bulky increase your calories to around 4000, lol...

pastryari

Love your heels in that 2nd pic! You look smokin' hot, doll! :drinker:

frinklefairy

I think you look lovely, though. I am jealous about your arms! Working my way there. Have you considered that you may just have a ballet body instead? Long and lean muscles aren't anything to be dismissed.

Best of luck on your journey!

sunsnstatheart

You look great!

Traceyrohrer

Have you tried Beach Bodys Chalean Extreme??? I have been doing that and am seeing the muscles starting to bulk up. Good luck!! I think you look great the way you are though...:O)

BeachGingerOnTheRocks

You will always be hotter than your husband. No matter how bulky he gets and how feminine you stay.

And if he keeps having all this success, I've got some great sabotage tips and tricks if you're interested.

ninerbuff

What's the difference between what you're doing now and bodybuilding?

ETA: I thought lifting heavy was what bodybuilders did to gain muscle.

Sort of - they definitely have a lot in common. The point of powerlifting is to develop strength; the point of bodybuilding is to develop an eye-popping physique. Obviously, you will develop muscle when you are lifting heavy, but not the way you would if you were deliberately targeting certain body parts and groups for muscle development. Powerlifting programs focus on compound lifts (squat, deadlift, bench press, rows) whereas bodybuilding programs fall more along the line of the old split schedule, i.e., doing chest/legs on one day, back/biceps on another, etc. Make sense?

Actually you're looking for hypertrophy and to do that you're gonna have to do some volume training. Reps between 8-12 and 16-24 sets per bodypart (that's 4 exercises for 4-6 sets). And weight should be progressive in resistance.

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

lacurandera1

What tilt said. (sorry Burt....)

etoiles_argentees

"Everybody is different, and some women will definitely develop muscle faster than others. But I am doing exactly what so many women are scared of - lifting HEAVY - and not getting anywhere near the muscle development I would hope for."

I didn't lift heavy for long , 2 months or so, but I didn't care for the results, sticking with yoga. Other than that I do squats and lunges so my butt stays perky.

*editing to add I don't like "bulky". I prefer slim. lean, fit.......