Why do we get veins from working out?

californiagirl2012
californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was not my goal to get these, but it's happening from working out. They are growing. Anyone know why? I know some guys try to get them, and lately at gyms guys come up and say they are jealous of my arms. I am not very big, but I'm strong. I'm actually really tiny (only 5'1" and my circumference measurements are not huge), I am suspecting it's more about being lean and cardio strength? Just curious. I took these pics today. I'm getting ready to research this topic now.

veins3_zpsf14b3d90.jpg

veins2_zps6736a97e.jpg

veins1_zps5ec8570a.jpg
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Replies

  • stormsusmc
    stormsusmc Posts: 228 Member
    Good blood flow, low bf%...
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    Good blood flow, low bf%...

    ^This.

    I answered on your muscle chick thread, so I am reporting here:

    When your muscle get bigger, it needs more blood supply so the veins grow bigger. The smooth muscles surrounding the blood vessels also grow to help control blood flow; the smooth muscles are responsible for contracting and expanding the blood vessels. Also low body fat means the hypodermal layer of the skin is thinner, and the vessel shows more.
  • sc0ttie
    sc0ttie Posts: 29
    low bf%...
    This
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Vascularity isn't bad. As everyone else stated low body fat percent and good blood flow.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    Good blood flow, low bf%...

    ^This.

    I answered on your muscle chick thread, so I am reporting here:

    When your muscle get bigger, it needs more blood supply so the veins grow bigger. The smooth muscles surrounding the blood vessels also grow to help control blood flow; the smooth muscles are responsible for contracting and expanding the blood vessels. Also low body fat means the hypodermal layer of the skin is thinner, and the vessel shows more.

    Thank you!
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
    My dad's arms look like that.
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    no clue but i gotta say my doc would love that have an easier time drawing blood lol
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    They aren't growing.. they're more visible due to lower body fat.
  • pudadough
    pudadough Posts: 1,271 Member
    I call BS on the "low body fat" explanation. I got them literally the first week I started lifting heavier. I didn't lose any body fat that week, by my measurements. Which is why I toned it down. I have very fair skin anyway, and bulging blue veins ain't cute. On me anyway.


    I'd be interested to know if it is indeed the increase blood flow to the arms that comes with lifting.
  • crazy4lulu
    crazy4lulu Posts: 822 Member
    it isdue to a low body fat %. you look fabulous by the way!!
  • kokaneesailor
    kokaneesailor Posts: 337 Member
    I think your veins look awesome. It shows you have self discipline and determination. I hope I'll get too your level of fitness one day soon.:smile:
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    The veins on my hands have gotten bigger also.
  • SueSlick
    SueSlick Posts: 268 Member
    it isdue to a low body fat %. you look fabulous by the way!!


    ^^ This...and you do look fabulous Bobbi!.
    Those arms resemble another strong lady I admire...Madonna
  • Monalisa85
    Monalisa85 Posts: 31 Member
    Uh, we all have veins and always have. From birth.
  • stormsusmc
    stormsusmc Posts: 228 Member
    they can become more dilated due to more demand for oxygen/nutrients to and lactic acid away from your muscles... as well as what i said prior about bf%....could also be using energy drinks with L-Arginine in it...thats a nitric booster
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    Uh, we all have veins and always have. From birth.

    LOL :):) I know that. But mine are starting to get pronounced. It's the low BF I'm finding out.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I call BS on the "low body fat" explanation. I got them literally the first week I started lifting heavier. I didn't lose any body fat that week, by my measurements. Which is why I toned it down. I have very fair skin anyway, and bulging blue veins ain't cute. On me anyway.


    I'd be interested to know if it is indeed the increase blood flow to the arms that comes with lifting.

    It seems like I'm getting a lot that low BF can make them show more. I am under 12% according to my recent DXA.
  • Edithrenee
    Edithrenee Posts: 546 Member
    Because it should mean you have good blood flow, oxygen is running more efficiently, You are hydrated. Plus you dont have alot of fat covering them up..
  • Drussander
    Drussander Posts: 266 Member
    Apparently it is due to arterial blood pressure, not an increase in blood flow.

    Here isan explanation from Scientific American:

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-veins-pop-out-when

    Excerpts (see link for full article):

    When exercise begins, the heart's rate and strength of contraction increases and blood is quickly pumped into the arteries. As this is occurring, systolic blood pressure increases linearly with exercise intensity, rising to nearly 200 mmHg during high intensity aerobic exercise (and to more than 400 mmHg during weight lifting). Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, changes very little with aerobic exercise (although it rises during weight lifting).

    This process, known as filtration, causes a swelling and hardening of the muscle that is noticed during exercise. As a result of this swelling, cutaneous veins are pushed toward the skin surface, flatten to some extent, and appear to bulge. Such veins are more visible in persons with less subcutaneous fat. This bulging is neither good nor bad but simply a result of normal physiological mechanisms that result from the rise in arterial blood pressure during exertion.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    Apparently it is due to arterial blood pressure, not an increase in blood flow.

    Here isan explanation from Scientific American:

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=why-do-veins-pop-out-when

    Excerpts (see link for full article):

    When exercise begins, the heart's rate and strength of contraction increases and blood is quickly pumped into the arteries. As this is occurring, systolic blood pressure increases linearly with exercise intensity, rising to nearly 200 mmHg during high intensity aerobic exercise (and to more than 400 mmHg during weight lifting). Diastolic pressure, on the other hand, changes very little with aerobic exercise (although it rises during weight lifting).

    This process, known as filtration, causes a swelling and hardening of the muscle that is noticed during exercise. As a result of this swelling, cutaneous veins are pushed toward the skin surface, flatten to some extent, and appear to bulge. Such veins are more visible in persons with less subcutaneous fat. This bulging is neither good nor bad but simply a result of normal physiological mechanisms that result from the rise in arterial blood pressure during exertion.

    That makes sense for when I'm exercising, and I definitely see more when I'm exercising. But when I'm NOT exercising they are more pronounced than they were earlier this year, when in fact I had even lower body fat than I do now. So something is changing the way they look when I'm relaxed and my body fat is higher, (well only higher by about 2%). But I will look at that article, the answer might be there.

    THANK YOU!
  • Drussander
    Drussander Posts: 266 Member
    Happy to help. I must say, your progress and achievements are impressive - very inspiring. Let us know what your research indicates. My guess is that you are an avid body builder and your body is now in a state where your veins stay somewhat pronounced, due to a combination of things already mentioned, such as low bodyfat and muscle mass.

    Either way, thanks for sharing your findings! Very interesting.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    So someone just told me this happens also to people who are lean and don't exercise, just super skinny. EEEEWWWWWW.

    Oh well it is what it is. It's not good or bad, its just there is no more fat to hide it. Hopefully having a few muscles makes the leanness look better. ;)
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    Hay guyz, I've been doin da wurkoutz for over 10 yearz. Can sumone tell me wut makes da veinz pop out?
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    So someone just told me this happens also to people who are lean and don't exercise, just super skinny. EEEEWWWWWW.

    Oh well it is what it is. It's not good or bad, its just there is no more fat to hide it. Hopefully having a few muscles makes the leanness look better. ;)
    ewww? This is not the right place to judge people on how they look
  • Tedious1
    Tedious1 Posts: 1
    Can I just say on behalf of all nurses everywhere, thank you for having such good veins. It will make it so much easier to start an IV if you should ever need one. I'm always telling the little old ladies that they should have lifted more weights during their lives.
  • steve1686
    steve1686 Posts: 346 Member
    genetics also play a role. Some people just aren't veiny even at low bf.
  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    So someone just told me this happens also to people who are lean and don't exercise, just super skinny. EEEEWWWWWW.

    Oh well it is what it is. It's not good or bad, its just there is no more fat to hide it. Hopefully having a few muscles makes the leanness look better. ;)
    ewww? This is not the right place to judge people on how they look

    Where is the right place?
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    So someone just told me this happens also to people who are lean and don't exercise, just super skinny. EEEEWWWWWW.

    Oh well it is what it is. It's not good or bad, its just there is no more fat to hide it. Hopefully having a few muscles makes the leanness look better. ;)
    ewww? This is not the right place to judge people on how they look

    Where is the right place?

    Modeling competitions, bodybuilding competitions etc
  • mike_littlerock
    mike_littlerock Posts: 296 Member
    i will point out that the person who said EWWW was the OP of this thread.. I think she can saw EWWW to her own pics if she wants to..

    My 2 cents is that her arms look great.
  • Brunner26_2
    Brunner26_2 Posts: 1,152
    So someone just told me this happens also to people who are lean and don't exercise, just super skinny. EEEEWWWWWW.

    Oh well it is what it is. It's not good or bad, its just there is no more fat to hide it. Hopefully having a few muscles makes the leanness look better. ;)
    ewww? This is not the right place to judge people on how they look

    Where is the right place?

    Modeling competitions, bodybuilding competitions etc

    Bulging vein competitions?

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