Lifting, gaining weight, losing curves, getting bulky?

You look great. The only thing I would say is that every woman is different and may not get the same results. I'm pear-shaped and as a result don't use direct weights on my lower body because I don't want to get even slightly bigger in that area. It would defeat the purpose of my trying to balance my silhouette.

When you start a strength training program it's important to know what you look like, your goals, and to watch how you develop.

This is my challenge. I've actually joined a gym..Yes I know..Me..Mrs "No workout ever" .. It was because they have Zumba and they gave me the full access for the price of the classes. Now.. I know how I am. I know what I look like when I'm at my goal weight and I also know that I am shaped very much like a man. I have a HUGE back and shoulders, and I carry all my weight in my gut. I was lifting weights for a while about 2 years ago and I didn't look anything like Lorina..My traps were so big I looked like I had no neck, my calves were square (not rounded), my collar bones jutted out and my *kitten* didn't gain any 'height' from all the squats/lunges it was still as flat as a board..to my eyes I just looked 'bulky' and 'masculine'. I am hoping that this time I won't have the same result when I start the weights (I know it will happen, they are THERE..I can't avoid them) I wish I knew how to avoid the 'musclebound' look..Maybe being a lighter weight will help? Maybe now that I'm in a calorie deficit I won't bulk up again? I don't know, but honestly I am scared to death of it.

Why would anyone intentionally disregard weight training their legs leading to muscular imbalance both in terms of function and aesthetics once you reach your goal body fat? And who would even think that weight lifting would cause a woman to lose curves? Increasing muscle volume via strength training adds curves to both men and women.

You look fantastic! I hope more people see this thread, bc the misconceptions are kind of annoying. I have a friend who always says things like "I wouldn't want to lose my curves" or..."don't you want to be a little soft, like feminine?" Idk if she says it as an excuse to not get herself in better shape or out of a little bit of jealousy or just plain ignorance. But i have WAY more curves now than I ever did. lol.

Thanks for posting the reality check! Seems people don't understand to look like a body builder you need to be using steroids.

Lorina- u look phenomenal????

Why would anyone intentionally disregard weight training their legs leading to muscular imbalance both in terms of function and aesthetics once you reach your goal body fat? And who would even think that weight lifting would cause a woman to lose curves? Increasing muscle volume via strength training adds curves to both men and women.

So true! Lifting had shaped my saggy big butt into a round curvy less big butt - but for the pear shaped ladies - PLEASE do lower body stuff - that's what shaped my always bit thighs and but into something a lot nice to look at....It will always be wider than my bust and waist, but weights made it look SO much better....

Lovely, amazing, and inspirational, as always! It still surprises me when I see women commenting that they can't get great results from lifting, even when the proof is right in front of them. True, we don't all have the same body type...but lifting makes your body smaller and tighter. Who wouldn't want that?

Love to see stories like yours: women who are not afraid of getting stronger! Just started this journey, was always more concerned younger looking thin, now heading to 50 I just want to be fit!

So how long have you been doing 2,300 calories/day? And I assume you're not adding back in exercise calories w/lifting (so that's your maintenance #)...?

I always ate my exercise calories but I didn't like having 1800 calorie days followed by 2500 calorie days... my appetite doesn't always match my exercise. I switched to going by my TDEE in August, I think, starting at 2000 calories.

I was around 2100-2200 since late September-ish. I started to look a little too bony in the chest and took two weeks off from logging entirely (and went through quite a few bags of Halloween candy), and now I just have 2300 as my goal on weekdays. As long as I'm close to that, I'm not going to fuss. On weekends and holidays, I eat whatever I want without thinking about calories or macros at all. Some days I'm probably over my goal, some days close or under.

I know I lose at 2000. If I get to where I can't zip my pants, I'll go back to that.

This is hugely helpful info for me... I feel the same oddness when I have mega workout days and have to make myself suffer the hunger pains on light or off-days... I'm definitely going to look up this TDEE stuff people keep talking about, thanks!

You look great. The only thing I would say is that every woman is different and may not get the same results. I'm pear-shaped and as a result don't use direct weights on my lower body because I don't want to get even slightly bigger in that area. It would defeat the purpose of my trying to balance my silhouette.

When you start a strength training program it's important to know what you look like, your goals, and to watch how you develop.

But... I'm pear shaped, too. Just somewhat less so since I've been lifting. I chose to accept that I'm going to have proportionately larger legs. I had them when I was twiggy skinny, I had them when I was chubby, I have them now. Heck, when I was a child, my mom had to sew elastic into the back of all my pants because ones that fit my legs and hips would be too big in the waist. It's the way I'm built.

I much prefer them being proportionately larger because they're wicked strong than just because that's where my body decides to store fat.

I'm pear shaped too and still lift lower body. My lower body has gotten slightly bigger (I did a bulk last winter) but my upper body got a LOT bigger. Plus everywhere I am STRONGER. I still have fat on my hips and rear but it's better looking fat. I can see my quads under the fat. My rear is high and round where it was flat and flabby before. Lifting has done wonders for my pear shape.

bump

I heart this post. Can't ever have enough pro-lifting posts regarding women lifting!

Agree!

Hope I can ask a question that is a bit off topic. My arms and shoulders are about as muscled as your 135 pic (hard to tell for sure without you flexing from the front), but my belly is a little flabbier than your 130 pic. Anyway, my question is: Does your stomach hang out/roll a little over your waistband when you sit down with good posture? If it no longer does, do you know when it quit doing that?

Thanks!

Could be swayback, which is a posture thing--you can look up pretty simple exercises and yoga moves to help correct it.

I love the sheer number of women saying that lifting made them smaller even in their "problem areas" (which is ridiculous, btw. If my thighs don't fit my pants but my waist does, there's something wrong with the pants, not with me) and more balanced and a lovelier shape.

Don't be fearful of bulking. The person who says that she wont' lift because she bulks is, according to her ticker, 102 pounds. That's fine, be the weight you want to be, but 102# suggests that it isn't easy or simply to build muscle even in that instance.

That's something a large number of women on here who are TRYING to bulk will attest to as well: building muscle mass is hard and doesn't happen easy and looks hot when it happens.