HALP! Heavy Lifting Made Me SUPAH Bulky!!!

sarahstrezo

Back to the OP's original point:
My 'before' and 'current'.
The first pic is before I started any kind of working out. I was probably between 27-29% body fat. The second pic was taken just today and I'm about 20% body fat. I have been lifting heavy for about 8 months and love it! I am definitely NOT what I would consider bulky!
Before:


Today:

DontStopB_Leakin

I actually don't see a lot of muscle definition in that pic at all...........

She has other pictures showing some pretty admirable arm definition and her back definition is nomable. She intentionally didn't want to highlight muscle definition, because the point was to show her progress from not lifting, to lifting heavily and let other women know that you can lift weights and still maintain a highly feminine figure. Oftentimes made MORE feminine through weight training.

Thank you! I purposefully posted pictures of myself NOT flexing to illustrate that women who lift don't walk around in perma-flex mode. This wasn't a "ZOMG LOOK AT MY MOOSLES" thread. This was to illustrate that lifting makes women smaller, not larger.


Aside from a select few, I believe the point has gotten across, and that makes me happy.

DontStopB_Leakin

Back to the OP's original point:
My 'before' and 'current'.
The first pic is before I started any kind of working out. I was probably between 27-29% body fat. The second pic was taken just today and I'm about 20% body fat. I have been lifting heavy for about 8 months and love it! I am definitely NOT what I would consider bulky!
Before:


Today:

HOLY EFFING COW, WOMAN!


You look AMAZING!

odusgolp

sarahstrezo!!!! AWESOME!

whierd

I actually don't see a lot of muscle definition in that pic at all...........

She has other pictures showing some pretty admirable arm definition and her back definition is nomable. She intentionally didn't want to highlight muscle definition, because the point was to show her progress from not lifting, to lifting heavily and let other women know that you can lift weights and still maintain a highly feminine figure. Oftentimes made MORE feminine through weight training.

Thank you! I purposefully posted pictures of myself NOT flexing to illustrate that women who lift don't walk around in perma-flex mode. This wasn't a "ZOMG LOOK AT MY MOOSLES" thread. This was to illustrate that lifting makes women smaller, not larger.


Aside from a select few, I believe the point has gotten across, and that makes me happy.

Now that your point has been made, can we see your muscles?

Junken_Diraffe

Pic on the left - 155lbs. size 12 cardio only
Pic on the right - 155lbs. size 6 lifting and minimal cardio

The two pics are taken about a year apart.

whierd

Back to the OP's original point:
My 'before' and 'current'.
The first pic is before I started any kind of working out. I was probably between 27-29% body fat. The second pic was taken just today and I'm about 20% body fat. I have been lifting heavy for about 8 months and love it! I am definitely NOT what I would consider bulky!
Before:


Today:

Holy hell woman. You look fantastic!!

3dogsrunning

Back to the OP's original point:
My 'before' and 'current'.
The first pic is before I started any kind of working out. I was probably between 27-29% body fat. The second pic was taken just today and I'm about 20% body fat. I have been lifting heavy for about 8 months and love it! I am definitely NOT what I would consider bulky!

Wow, you look fantastic. I love your hair cut too.

1ConcreteGirl

Pic on the left - 155lbs. size 12 cardio only
Pic on the right - 155lbs. size 6 lifting and minimal cardio

The two pics are taken about a year apart.

Now THAT is some body recomp!

Nice work, Milo's woman!

BeautifulScarsWECHANGED

You look amazing!

beachgirl172723

Everyone looks beyond amazing!

sarahstrezo

Thank you Everyone!!! I think for me ( and most) heavy lifting has made me smaller. I was actually on the "bulky" side not lifting

supahstar71

Supah bulky with awesomeness!!!! :drinker:



I love this thread. Well, except for the lame critical remarks. Amazing job, Lea, and all the other ladies that posted pics. Amazing and inspiring. :flowerforyou:

CorvusCorax77

this is me after a year of lifting heavy.

I'm so bulky!

NobodyInParticular

Lea, this is the first time I've seen that before pic... wow... amazing job! Keep up the great work!

HealthyBodySickMind

After 3 months of lifting:


After 7 months of lifting:


After 8 months of lifting:



Up to 10 months of lifting, now lifting at intermediate or advanced weights for my size.... Will someone please tell me when this "bulkiness" is going to hit me?

In all seriousness, I actually did add inches with the lifting, to my butt and my thighs. That is only because I was also eating at a surplus and started lifting when I was technically underweight. My husband, who was worried about me getting bulky from the lifting, can't seem to keep his hands off my brand new "bulk".

HealthyBodySickMind

this is me after a year of lifting heavy.

I'm so bulky!

Hot ♥

IIISpartacusIII

For a moment I almost mistook you for Arnold Schwarteneggar in his prime... but no... you actually look much better.

NoWeighJose74

this is me after a year of lifting heavy.

I'm so bulky!

YOU, my dear, are a badass!

originalcookiemonster

Amazing lifting womenz are amaaazzziiinnnn:drinker: ! :bigsmile:

MrsBobaFett

Accidentally deleted my whole post!!

Lost my baby weight (from my 3rd child) in December. Hit the gym in January after I recovered from severe pneumonia. I weighed 125 when I started at the gym and 136 now. I lifted heavy, and ate 2300-3000 calories a day. Just tryin' to get buff I do not think I look like a dude!
ONE YEAR! Last year vs last week

Now:

I think I have a girl crush on you :flowerforyou:

MireyGal76

this is me after a year of lifting heavy.

I'm so bulky!

drop dead gorgeous! WOW!

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Could have sworn I replied to this earlier today. Anyway. . .


You look awesome, great work!

sklarbodds

OP and so many others who posted here, seriously... Ah mazing. One of the best threads for body change ever on MFP.

Body comp is so freaking important but so many women are afraid to lift. Well done!

Edit: Even as a guy for the longest time I didn't think lifting helped. I've been casually lifting for the past 6 months (twice per week) and I can't believe the results. I'm going to bump it up to 3-4 times per week, though I'll never stop cardio because I LOVE running

insanitylater

best thread

Junken_Diraffe

Pic on the left - 155lbs. size 12 cardio only
Pic on the right - 155lbs. size 6 lifting and minimal cardio

The two pics are taken about a year apart.

Now THAT is some body recomp!

Nice work, Milo's woman!

:laugh: Thanks!!! :flowerforyou:

Keegansmum6

Wow all of you ladies are inspiring,now for some one like myself who is about 65 lbs over weight,would it be best if I waited untill I was say 30 lbs over weight and then started to lift heavy?

37434958

You look very gorgeous and you are very inspiring! XD

sklarbodds

Pic on the left - 155lbs. size 12 cardio only
Pic on the right - 155lbs. size 6 lifting and minimal cardio

The two pics are taken about a year apart.

Now THAT is some body recomp!

Nice work, Milo's woman!

:laugh: Thanks!!! :flowerforyou:

Yes, seriously incredible. I love that you're the same weight but WAY more fit!

starla5881

Lea, you're amazing. You are one of the reasons why I started lifting 5 months ago, and while I'm not ready to post pics yet, I'm thrilled with my results to date. Thanks to you and all of the women dispelling the "lifting makes you bulky" myth.