HALP! Heavy Lifting Made Me SUPAH Bulky!!!

3dogsrunning

GASP! You look so amazing.

I think people have a hard time seeing through the tan and the pump. Even at the competition you do not look bulky. I'll bet two weeks after that competition you looked soft and feminine and people wouldn't even know you lifted unless you were wearing extremely tight clothes and flexing.

Thank you and exactly.

Here are a few a couple of days before and you can see a big difference without the tan and stuff ( I forgot about these, I did a fun photoshoot with a friend) so yeah, a few weeks after I was a lot softer.

edit for super hugeness. Will repost.

Your legs are AMAZING!!!

You have no idea what a compliment that is. I have always been really self conscious of my legs. Part of the reason I did the competition was to challenge myself. I had not wore just a bathing suit in front of people since before high school so it was kind of a big deal. LOL.

@ Lea - I didn't want to get the ew bulky thing going. And thanks!

carolyn0613

i want to be like you-ho-ho...

michelefrench

I wanna be bulky too :sad:

bhb301

Wow everyone looks amazing...

sandy_gee

Here is me about mid-way into losing weight. I was still very fluffy but willing to put on a bikini. I think I was somewhere close to 160, size 12.



Then, same swimsuit and 125 pounds and a size 6-8, lost weight dieting and doing only cardio. My bf% was in the mid-30s.



March, 2013, 129 pounds (4 pounds heavier than the photo above) and a size 4. My bf dropped to the low 20s, right around 22% here.



Now, late April 2013, 126 pounds, size 2-4, and bf% right around 19%.



And these last 2 were taken within a day of each other. The first one is flexing and trying to look all bulky (HA!) and the second is what I look like when I'm not flexing.





I'm 40 years old and I've had kids. My body looks better now than it has looked since I was a teen. I wasn't at all kind to my body in my 20s and 30s, but it bounced back with heavy lifting.

You look AMAZING!!!! I hope I look that good when I'm 40, you give me something to strive towards!!! :flowerforyou:

Gawsh, nevermind when I'm 40, I wish I looked like that now!

freckledLeanne

LOVE this thread. Thanks ladies for sharing all of your awesome pictures. I've been lifting heavy for a little while now, and it's crazy how much faster my body has changed than when I was doing cardio/weight machines. It makes me feel super badass, especially now that I'm doing squats and deads among the dudes with my 29-wk baby belly. Keep up the hard work, ladies.

thecanface

Here is me about mid-way into losing weight. I was still very fluffy but willing to put on a bikini. I think I was somewhere close to 160, size 12.



Then, same swimsuit and 125 pounds and a size 6-8, lost weight dieting and doing only cardio. My bf% was in the mid-30s.



March, 2013, 129 pounds (4 pounds heavier than the photo above) and a size 4. My bf dropped to the low 20s, right around 22% here.



Now, late April 2013, 126 pounds, size 2-4, and bf% right around 19%.



And these last 2 were taken within a day of each other. The first one is flexing and trying to look all bulky (HA!) and the second is what I look like when I'm not flexing.





I'm 40 years old and I've had kids. My body looks better now than it has looked since I was a teen. I wasn't at all kind to my body in my 20s and 30s, but it bounced back with heavy lifting.

you look stunning!!!

BhanGoes

HOLD YOUR HORSES.

I hope you all pause for a moment to really really feel in your hearts how your words and actions have inspired people to make positive changes in their LIVES. I mean, peoples' lives are changing for the better! Total strangers on the street, and excellent coaches and cheerleaders on MFP.

Amazing. I love it. Pay it forward and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

thecanface

OP:

Before, a few months prior to heavy lifting:



170 lbs. Size 12 dress. Approximately 30% BF.
Waist = 33 inches
Hips = 41 inches
Under bust = 38 inches
Thighs = 23 inches
Arms = 13 inches



Now, 5 months after starting a progressive loading heavy lifting program:



151.8 lbs. Size 4 dress. Approximately 20% BF.
Waist = 27 inches
Hips = 36.5 inches
Under bust = 31 inches
Thighs = 21.5 inches
Arms = 11 inches


17.2 lbs lost. 4 sizes lost. Approximately 10% BF lost. 21 inches (and counting) lost.



Still think heavy lifting will make you "bulky?" Think again.


Heavy lifting ladies, I invite you to post YOUR before and after pics. Maybe, just maybe, we can attempt to snuff out this, "WEIGHT LIFTING WILL MAKE ME HYOOOOGE" myth.

:flowerforyou:

ummlovelovesyou

BUMP! Love all of these photos...so inspirational :happy:




SOMEONE teach me how to lift :sad:

Getit_Simpson

Bumpity bump bump...Motivation!

Hopefully, I'll have some before and after pics like this....check me out in about 6 months!

cmcollins001

Love all these beautiful strong women..

Oh and BTW, chicks who dead lift are AWESOME!!:drinker:

Show off!!!

:flowerforyou: :drinker:

Julettashane

i havent started lifting but i do plan to. im doing insanity....well do to sickness i havent done anything in a month but im better and plan restarting insanity next week. then i want to do lifting

Crankstr

BUMP! Love all of these photos...so inspirational :happy:




SOMEONE teach me how to lift :sad:

read

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs

and watch youtube videos on form
i watched these this week to check my squat form...i really liked them...there are 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ME8gEN54Ao

PetulantOne

Hanging out over here, before that other thread makes my head explode.

I could go through and quote every single photo. You all look fantastic!

You've all given me hope that if I keep up all the hard work, I will get there some day. So thank you for being awesome.

k8blujay2

I just wanna say, that the pics and stories on this thread (sans the drama for your mama posts) are really motivating me to prepare and start lifting heavy.

fitandgeeky

I love seeing all these pictures. You ladies are absolutely gorgeous and inspirational.

Before my weight loss in 2009 - 163 lbs




Before I started lifting and after months of cardio 2/2013 - 131 lbs and 31% bf





After a few months of heavy lifting - 126 lbs and ?? on bf




Not where I want to be yet. I'm working to drop my bf to under 20% and then get SUPAH Bulky

HeatherMN

Bump

I hate the gym, but this makes me want to join one again!

DontStopB_Leakin

HOLD YOUR HORSES.

I hope you all pause for a moment to really really feel in your hearts how your words and actions have inspired people to make positive changes in their LIVES. I mean, peoples' lives are changing for the better! Total strangers on the street, and excellent coaches and cheerleaders on MFP.

Amazing. I love it. Pay it forward and KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

And that, my dear, was my intention in posting this thread. It literally makes me beam to know that at least a few women are going to conquer their fears and change their lives for the better.

PriceK01

I saw/read the other thread first, and it left me feeling sad. I'm glad I found/read this one, because I am happy again

atb0821

You are all amazing and I hope to get to this point one day myself!

Elzecat

I saw/read the other thread first, and it left me feeling sad. I'm glad I found/read this one, because I am happy again

EatClean_WashUrNuts

All I can say about women who have focus that is beyond a number or a dress size....

Elzecat

GASP! You look so amazing.

I think people have a hard time seeing through the tan and the pump. Even at the competition you do not look bulky. I'll bet two weeks after that competition you looked soft and feminine and people wouldn't even know you lifted unless you were wearing extremely tight clothes and flexing.

Thank you and exactly.

Here are a few a couple of days before and you can see a big difference without the tan and stuff ( I forgot about these, I did a fun photoshoot with a friend) so yeah, a few weeks after I was a lot softer.

edit for super hugeness. Will repost.

Your legs are AMAZING!!!

You have no idea what a compliment that is. I have always been really self conscious of my legs. Part of the reason I did the competition was to challenge myself. I had not wore just a bathing suit in front of people since before high school so it was kind of a big deal. LOL.

@ Lea - I didn't want to get the ew bulky thing going. And thanks!

To the lovely lady in the above pic: You are GORGEOUS. You were gorgeous in your competition shots as well! Well done.

cleotherio

<<< my supah bulky arms. I don't have any full-body pictures yet. I've been lifting on and off for 20 years, but I just started doing stronglifts a couple months ago. There are so many amazing ladies getting strong and fit from lifting here!

whierd

Love all these beautiful strong women..

Oh and BTW, chicks who dead lift are AWESOME!!:drinker:

I love the face you are making. :laugh:

HealthyBodySickMind

GASP! You look so amazing.

I think people have a hard time seeing through the tan and the pump. Even at the competition you do not look bulky. I'll bet two weeks after that competition you looked soft and feminine and people wouldn't even know you lifted unless you were wearing extremely tight clothes and flexing.

Thank you and exactly.

Here are a few a couple of days before and you can see a big difference without the tan and stuff ( I forgot about these, I did a fun photoshoot with a friend) so yeah, a few weeks after I was a lot softer.

edit for super hugeness. Will repost.

Your legs are AMAZING!!!

You have no idea what a compliment that is. I have always been really self conscious of my legs. Part of the reason I did the competition was to challenge myself. I had not wore just a bathing suit in front of people since before high school so it was kind of a big deal. LOL.

@ Lea - I didn't want to get the ew bulky thing going. And thanks!

OMG. You are gorgeous, woman. ♥

HealthyBodySickMind

I love seeing all these pictures. You ladies are absolutely gorgeous and inspirational.

Before my weight loss in 2009 - 163 lbs




Before I started lifting and after months of cardio 2/2013 - 131 lbs and 31% bf





After a few months of heavy lifting - 126 lbs and ?? on bf




Not where I want to be yet. I'm working to drop my bf to under 20% and then get SUPAH Bulky

Beautiful ♥

Beezil

I want a weight set, or at least one of those adjustable bar bells you can put up to 100lbs on it. The whole myth of lifting heavy will make you bulky is exactly why my husband won't help me pay for a weight set / bench. It pisses me off. I have had an easier time convincing him to help me get breast implants than lift heavy weights. Not that we can afford those, but the point stands. Nothing I say will convince him that I won't look like a body builder on steroids if I lift weights.

I find other ways to lift heavy, though, when I can. Aside from that, I use resistance bands for strength training and like my results enough. I want to improve, but I know it won't happen with just the bands. I did buy stronger resistances, so I can actually challenge myself more now, but it's not quite the same as free weights. This past week I've been doing tons of gardening, and been taking out 50lb bags of bad dirt / old roots / bulbs to the dumpster which has definitely worked my arms good.

Anyways, just wanted to throw in my .02 here. OP and all you other women taking the next step and doing weights look amazing and are an inspiration to me as well as many other women. Don't ever hold back!

iulia_maddie

I want a weight set, or at least one of those adjustable bar bells you can put up to 100lbs on it. The whole myth of lifting heavy will make you bulky is exactly why my husband won't help me pay for a weight set / bench. It pisses me off. I have had an easier time convincing him to help me get breast implants than lift heavy weights. Not that we can afford those, but the point stands. Nothing I say will convince him that I won't look like a body builder on steroids if I lift weights.

I find other ways to lift heavy, though, when I can. Aside from that, I use resistance bands for strength training and like my results enough. I want to improve, but I know it won't happen with just the bands. I did buy stronger resistances, so I can actually challenge myself more now, but it's not quite the same as free weights. This past week I've been doing tons of gardening, and been taking out 50lb bags of bad dirt / old roots / bulbs to the dumpster which has definitely worked my arms good.

Anyways, just wanted to throw in my .02 here. OP and all you other women taking the next step and doing weights look amazing and are an inspiration to me as well as many other women. Don't ever hold back!

Show him this thread.