Genuine question about women lifting heavy and "bulking up"

JosieJo2000

I read time and time again that it's almost impossible for women to "bulk up" due to hormones etc. But a friend of mine, who is a personal trainer, is very boxy with big calves and (as she puts it) man arms and shoulders. The female Bodypump instructors at our gym and most of the personal trainers are also very bulky and quite masculine with big legs, wide backs and big arms. All of these people seem to have very low body fat %. No doubt about it, they are fit and healthy and strong.

I know a lot of people love this look, I've got no problems with that, but how do you balance a lean and strong body with not becoming too big if that's not really your thing? At 5'2" I can do without the bulk

Calliope610

Ask your trainer-friend how much time and effort she puts into working to achieve and maintain her musculature. Ask the instructors also. Unless you are planning to spend hours a day, everyday, than then 45min 3x/week, you will probably NOT "bulking up" like they do.

BarbellCowgirl

Most women require years of bulk/cut cycles to achieve that type of musculature. It takes a specific diet and training schedule to build a physique like you're talking about. Bottom line: if you're not striving to look that way, it won't accidentally happen.

lithezebra

Some women start out with a bulkier body type than other women do. Working out will bring out your best and make you as fit and strong as you can be. It won't change your bone structure or whether you are naturally more heavily muscled than average.

mustgetmuscles1

I read time and time again that it's almost impossible for women to "bulk up" due to hormones etc. But a friend of mine, who is a personal trainer, is very boxy with big calves and (as she puts it) man arms and shoulders. The female Bodypump instructors at our gym and most of the personal trainers are also very bulky and quite masculine with big legs, wide backs and big arms. All of these people seem to have very low body fat %. No doubt about it, they are fit and healthy and strong.

I know a lot of people love this look, I've got no problems with that, but how do you balance a lean and strong body with not becoming too big if that's not really your thing? At 5'2" I can do without the bulk

Easy once you get to the body that you want you stop adding weight and eat at maintenance.

Victoria2448

Most women require years of bulk/cut cycles to achieve that type of musculature. It takes a specific diet and training schedule to build a physique like you're talking about. Bottom line: if you're not striving to look that way, it won't accidentally happen.

Yup!

thecakelocker

Unless you're planning on doing several bulk/cut cycles, probably over the course of years, and working in the hypertrophy range you're not going to abruptly inflate into a she Hulk.

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cwolfman13

I read time and time again that it's almost impossible for women to "bulk up" due to hormones etc. But a friend of mine, who is a personal trainer, is very boxy with big calves and (as she puts it) man arms and shoulders. The female Bodypump instructors at our gym and most of the personal trainers are also very bulky and quite masculine with big legs, wide backs and big arms. All of these people seem to have very low body fat %. No doubt about it, they are fit and healthy and strong.

I know a lot of people love this look, I've got no problems with that, but how do you balance a lean and strong body with not becoming too big if that's not really your thing? At 5'2" I can do without the bulk

Do you have any idea how many years of absolute dedication to a very strict body building diet and hours upon hours in the weight room it takes for a man to do that? Double or triple that for a woman. You aren't going to get all body builder bulky lifting weights for an hour 3x a week or whatever...if that were the case, every guy on the planet would look like Arnie.

Your friend is probably blessed with very specific genes which allow her to look the way she does....along with a very strict diet and pretty much professionally working out...I mean, she is a trainer and all.

Just go and lift your weights and look good...

DanielleJoy129

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm reading "New Rules..." and I'm still not 100% convinced.
I see all of these women at crossfit that look like upside down coat hangers....

I like my hourglass shape. I don't want to lose my curves.

yada yada yada

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ChrisLindsay9

I suspect that she must eat quite a bit to maintain that size as well as train really hard. You need a lot of food to build/maintain that kind of muscle mass.

Also genetics might also be a factor here.

jzammetti

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm reading "New Rules..." and I'm still not 100% convinced.
I see all of these women at crossfit that look like upside down coat hangers....

I like my hourglass shape. I don't want to lose my curves.

yada yada yada

If you really have an hour glass shape and a curvy shape, why do you think that would suddenly go away? Fat is not a shape, it's just fat. Curvy is curvy whether fat or not.

The author of NROLFW states in the book that you should expect your shoulders to widen - mine definitely have, but not in a masculine way. Muscle building is very genetic - unless you are a genetic outlier you should not be able to get "bulky" without seriously hard work over years (a conscious attempt to bulk).

WendyTerry420

Your trainer probably has low body fat. But honestly, it's *fat* that bulks us up, not muscle. Pound for pound, fat is more dense and take up more space.

selina884

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm reading "New Rules..." and I'm still not 100% convinced.
I see all of these women at crossfit that look like upside down coat hangers....

I like my hourglass shape. I don't want to lose my curves.

yada yada yada

If you really have an hour glass shape and a curvy shape, why do you think that would suddenly go away? Fat is not a shape, it's just fat. Curvy is curvy whether fat or not.

QFT. Finally.

caseythirteen

Just want to ditto what everyone else has said. It's extremely difficult to get bulky. For the majority of women who are still eating at a deficit, or even maintenance, what you will be doing is dropped the fat while maintaining muscle and even gaining strength. The result is that you just look better, IMO. The muscles are able to be seen more and you get that "toned" look that some desire.

kdiamond

Some women can look bulkier naturally but these women are definitely eating a lot more than the typical person on here, and probably doing more than the typical every day girl.

I am not bulky and have been lifting for 3+ years now every week, 3-4 times a week. I have done a couple of mini bulk cycles, but I'm still right around 110 pounds and 17-18% body fat. I still have my feminine curves but granted, my curves are a lot firmer now.

jenilla1

Do you plan on devoting hours and hours every day to your "bulking"? These personal trainers see fitness and body sculpting as a part of their job and they put a crap ton of work into it. It doesn't just happen overnight. If you get to a point that you don't want to go any furthur, then don't progress your training in that way. It's simple. I lift heavy and I don't look bulky at all.

Markguns

Your trainer probably has low body fat. But honestly, it's *fat* that bulks us up, not muscle. Pound for pound, fat is more dense and take up more space.

WRONG & Right!!
1. Muscle is Denser than Fat. - Hence Fat takes up more space!
2. If you are talking pound for pound, then fat has more VOLUME.
--- Example a 5lb sack of potatoes (Fat) takes up more room that a 5lb plate (Muscle).

WendyTerry420

Your trainer probably has low body fat. But honestly, it's *fat* that bulks us up, not muscle. Pound for pound, fat is more dense and take up more space.

WRONG & Right!!
1. Muscle is Denser than Fat. - Hence Fat takes up more space!
2. If you are talking pound for pound, then fat has more VOLUME.
--- Example a 5lb sack of potatoes (Fat) takes up more room that a 5lb plate (Muscle).

That's what I said. :flowerforyou: