Ladies..who else bulks up with weights (unintentionally)
redraidergirl2009
Posts: 2,560 Member
I'm just curious who else had this problem. Me and my mom both do. If I do any weights, especially on my legs they just bulk up. I know "muscle helps you burn fat"...not so fast. Because even when I do keep to a decent diet and do strenght training the fat does not budge. It's like the muscle just pushes it out, like on my stomach. I'm very careful about doing abs too much. I also know people say "oh women don't bulk up blah blah blah" yes some do, everyone is different. Pilates, yoga and jogging or other cardio seems to work for me. If I do any weights it's very light weighted gloves or 3-5lb weights. That way I actually lost fat and the muscle is lean.
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What do you mean your legs bulk up? Is there a measurable difference? As in have you measured before and after with a tape measure? How long does this hypothetical increase in size last? Any chance it could be swelling or water retention?
When you say you can't lose fat when lifting in spite of a "decent diet", does this mean you've counted calories, maintained a calorie deficit while lifting heavy weights for a reasonable amount of time (6-8 weeks)?
I actually am somewhat genetically gifted when it comes to muscle gain. I think I gained 5lbs of muscle doing a 4 month bulk (lifting HEAVY 4-5 days a week and eating 3000 calories). Anything above a pound a month is pretty abnormal. Part of my good results could have also come from "newbie gains.
In the past 9 months I've been lifting HEAVY while eating at maintenance and I don't think I've gained any muscle. Gaining muscle while at maintenance or on a deficit is very difficult. And by heavy, I mean I squat 135lbs, bench 105lbs, deadlift 180lbs...0 -
No0
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It's not swelling because I don't measure immediately after, I will a few days later. And by "decent diet" I mean pretty healthy staying within mfp recommendations. I have since changed that as my dietary preferences have changed, for the better imo. My legs and abs look gross when I would do weights. My waist actually increased which makes no sense. But I stay away from those workouts now and stick to pilates, yoga and cardio(running/eliptical) and I see better results and fat actually moving out.0
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I think it is more due to water retention than bulking. I have higher testosterone due to PCOS and when I tried bulking on purpose, I was able to gain 2-3 pounds of muscles ( I am guessing because I nam not done losing the fat)
How about you stay the course for 8 weeks at a calories deficit then reasses?0 -
I think you need to give it time. I wouldn't recommend giving up strength training. Try walking lunges and planking? Maybe mix in HIIT? Give everything time to really see results. It takes time, and when adding muscle, the scales are going to go up now and again. Just don't get discouraged and give it up.
I know we are all different, so best of luck on anything you try.0 -
I would like to see photos, if you have them.
I've been lifting for about a year and a half, but the first year was just with machines at the gym and really shouldn't count. But I see a noticeable difference in my legs - especially my quads right above my knees - and my back/shoulders. Mostly, though, only when I flex. I have gained about 10 pounds over the past year. I doubt that's 10 pounds of muscle. Some of it definitely is... I'm still wearing the same clothes that might be a LITTLE bit more snug in the thighs and bum, but the waistband on everything is looser.
So... yeah, I've put on muscle, but not to where anyone will say, "Look at the muscles on that girl!" I bench 95, squat & deadlift 155.
Edited to add: Photo of my significantly more muscular leg... which I think is awesome, not gross, but I understand that people have different aesthetics.
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I'm just curious who else had this problem. Me and my mom both do. If I do any weights, especially on my legs they just bulk up. I know "muscle helps you burn fat"...not so fast. Because even when I do keep to a decent diet and do strenght training the fat does not budge. It's like the muscle just pushes it out, like on my stomach. I'm very careful about doing abs too much. I also know people say "oh women don't bulk up blah blah blah" yes some do, everyone is different. Pilates, yoga and jogging or other cardio seems to work for me. If I do any weights it's very light weighted gloves or 3-5lb weights. That way I actually lost fat and the muscle is lean.
If you are bulking, you do not have a calorie deficit.
Eat less.0 -
When I lift, I do experience water retention in my muscles initially, but it goes away.
How long are you giving yourself to see progress? Because anytime I've started lifting in the past I feel "puffy" for the first few weeks and then all the sudden when I'm about to give up, I start losing and leaning out. I also find that if I lift and don't do cardio as a supplement I retain tons of water and puff up. That's why I lift 2x a week and do 1-2 days of cardio to balance. But what works for one does not neccessarily work for another.
If you're not giving it time (and I mean at the very, very least a month, more than that if you have the patience), and only giving it a few days or a few tries you might not be giving weight lifting a fair chance. But really, it's your call what kind of workout you do, it's your body and your life. Do what makes you happy.0 -
If working with weights doesn't give you the body you want...then don't do it. I don't think I bulk up intentionally or not, but I do see a change in how my body looks (more defined) when I get some weights involved and I like that. To each their own...0
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I used to unintentionally bulk up.
Then I stopped eating nutella by the jar.0 -
I bulk up quite a bit with weights. ESPECIALLY in the legs. It's unreal, and it makes me mad everytime I hear people say say that women don't bulk up (especially if they also add that I'm probably just overeating). I think genetics plays a role in that and there's nothing I can do about it.
When I used to stop doing weights, and just focused on aerobic, I slimmed down tremendously, but after a few months I don't like my shape so I always went back to weights.
So what I do NOW is focus my lifting on upper body and allow the aerobic activities I do (running, zumba etc) to work the lower. I still do lower body work from time to time (with things like CrossFit) but that's not the mainstay of my workouts.
Best wishes to you!!
If anyone else has this problem, feel free to friend me!0 -
Unless you DEXA scanned it, you didn't gain muscle.
You can gain LBM, which includes muscle of course, lifting. But that includes water retained in muscles.
And yes, your muscle can swell and push the fat on the legs out.
You are aware you can't spot lose, just because you are working out the legs the fat may disappear from the back of your neck first, or big toe.
Your body may be over reacting to the repair process with water retention, unless you really are sore for days later, which can happen. Or higher sodium helping that effect.
And despite desire of more intense cardio moving the fat, nope, moving the carbs literally. More of them anyway.
Just seeing different effects from different workouts and not doing them long enough to see what happens.
Muscle doesn't even swell up that much immediately unless you really killed it. Though I have seen women doing ab crunches enough to kill me watching, ugh.0 -
I actually wish I was a bulker!! I'm jealous
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I dont understand what you mean by women bulking up unintentionally. Since we are not genetically predisposed to bulk up that is akin to saying you accidentally ran a marathon because neither could be done without intention and serious training. Women bodybuilders have to work very hard and it doesn't happen naturally.
Are you just trying to say cardio makes your calf muscles have more definition/become visible? Are you saying you want to lose weight and not have any muscle definition? A woman can have a 6pack or nice calves without looking bulky like a bodybuilder. Michelle Obama has nice arms but that doesn't make her bulky. I would like to know your definition of unintentionally bulky.0 -
I lift heavy weights and I look bulky.
I look bulky because I have 30kgs left to lose. Not because I've gained big muscles -- and I promise you, I've been working hard at those weights.0 -
I used to unintentionally bulk up.
Then I stopped eating nutella by the jar.
LOL, that ^^0 -
i would like to see pics of the bulk, please....0
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Semantics. Getting larger = bulking up to some, while to others, bulking up = extreme muscle definition like you see in bodybuilders. You are comparing apples and oranges. Stop.
If you don't like weights, don't use them. I personally love having more defined muscles that I only get from picking things up and putting them down. And I'm much smaller than I was covered in fat.0 -
I used to unintentionally bulk up.
Then I stopped eating nutella by the jar.
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I'd also like to see pictures of this bulk.
Personally, I think it's likely just water retention from a new routine. I agree with others when they say women don't "bulk up", especially not unintentionally!! Whatever it is, you've obviously found something that works for you, and that's fantastic. So keep it up!0 -
Keep in mind what makes a person bulk Testosterone. Have you had your hormones checked? Also it is normal DURING the workout for muscles to swell a bit. I have been lifting for about 2 months now with no problems like that.0
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I used to unintentionally bulk up.
Then I stopped eating nutella by the jar.
ROLF0 -
Semantics. Getting larger = bulking up to some, while to others, bulking up = extreme muscle definition like you see in bodybuilders. You are comparing apples and oranges. Stop.
If you don't like weights, don't use them. I personally love having more defined muscles that I only get from picking things up and putting them down. And I'm much smaller than I was covered in fat.
To me, bulking means gaining significant muscle. I'd qualify "significant" as a only a pound. I don't think any woman can unintentionally gain a pound of muscle.0 -
Bulking up... increasing in circumference/mass? And what is a significant amount for you that you consider it to be "bulk"? In fitness circles, "bulking up" refers to gaining muscle mass (with a little fat) by eating in a caloric surplus. If you are new to lifting, you might see an initial increase in size... there is also water involved, as well as initial muscle gains (that slow down, on a bell curve).
My thighs didn't increase when I began lifting weights, and as far as I know, never have... I think I measure a decrease of 1 inch over the past year. That was fat. I don't eat in a caloric surplus (at least, most days I don't).0 -
"Weights don't make you bulk up. Eating too much makes you bulk up*0
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I dont understand what you mean by women bulking up unintentionally. Since we are not genetically predisposed to bulk up that is akin to saying you accidentally ran a marathon because neither could be done without intention and serious training. Women bodybuilders have to work very hard and it doesn't happen naturally.
What I'm saying is that when I lift leg weights my thighs get so bulky that I have to change pants sizes. I'm not talking about looking like a bodybuilder. I'm talking about a physical change in size. When I lift weights for back/chest/arms I get more defined and actually lose size.
Life is a bell curve. Most people are average in the middle. Some people are on the edges and need to adapt conventional (or in this case, fitness) wisdom to their own genetics and build.
Like I said, in my case, I found the best solution is to stop lifting for legs. I sometimes do deadlifts and squats as part of CrossFit, but I no longer spend 30-45 minutes every other day lifting for legs like I used to. I still do the 30-45 minutes for upper body, but I let the aerobic be my "legs workout."
Running 3-12 miles 3-4x a week gives my legs very nice definition and a really nice shape (IMHO) without bulk. OTOH I know a LOT of female runners who are waaaay tinier than me but have no leg shape at all. I would rather be my size, then be tiny with no shape.0 -
Let's rationalize this. If you truly are "bulking" while lifting, you are gaining muscle mass. If your measurements are going up and down within a few days, the "gain" or "loss" was not from muscle because you don't gain nor lose muscle that easily and quickly. The end.0
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I dont understand what you mean by women bulking up unintentionally. Since we are not genetically predisposed to bulk up that is akin to saying you accidentally ran a marathon because neither could be done without intention and serious training. Women bodybuilders have to work very hard and it doesn't happen naturally.
What I'm saying is that when I lift leg weights my thighs get so bulky that I have to change pants sizes. I'm not talking about looking like a bodybuilder. I'm talking about a physical change in size. When I lift weights for back/chest/arms I get more defined and actually lose size.
Life is a bell curve. Most people are average in the middle. Some people are on the edges and need to adapt conventional (or in this case, fitness) wisdom to their own genetics and build.
Like I said, in my case, I found the best solution is to stop lifting for legs. I sometimes do deadlifts and squats as part of CrossFit, but I no longer spend 30-45 minutes every other day lifting for legs like I used to. I still do the 30-45 minutes for upper body, but I let the aerobic be my "legs workout."
Running 3-12 miles 3-4x a week gives my legs very nice definition and a really nice shape (IMHO) without bulk. OTOH I know a LOT of female runners who are waaaay tinier than me but have no leg shape at all. I would rather be my size, then be tiny with no shape.
How heavy are you lifting?0 -
^ janie i think i know what you mean.
regardless of what some of these people in this thread are saying about women can and can't do, i know from 20+ years of weightlifting, different types of weight lifting affect my body differently.
i know that for me when i lift lighter weights at higher reps i gain size. even if my calorie intake doesnt increase. i dont know if it's from more water retention.
when i lift heavier weights with less reps, i slim down.. even if my calorie intake doesnt decrease.
so what i do now is the latter, but there was a time in my life when i was trying to gain a spot on the US national women's rugby team i was actively trying to get bigger.0 -
I WISH I had the magical bulking powers of so many women on mfp. I have to bust my butt, eat like a crazy man, and cut out all cardio just in the hope of gaining the tiniest bit of size. But women here, that have maybe 1/10th of my testosterone look at weight and have to cut the sleeves off their shirts the next week. A little bit of running and they sprout Popeye calves. Just one day of my life I want to be a magical creature too.
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