HALP! Heavy Lifting Made Me SUPAH Bulky!!!

I told weese to get her tiny toned butt in here and show the difference between cardio and lifting but she must be busy with children or whatever. Sure don't know why, it's not like toddlers are high maintenance or anything . . .

Yeah, not like toddlers with fevers of 104 are clingy or anything.

Anyway, I don't have really good pictures of myself at the same weight as I am now, but soft. I have tried and tried to find some to no avail. This is about as good as I can do. Below is May 2012 - before heavy lifting with barbell, but after I started kettlebell and HIIT style training. Approximately 145 pounds-ish.

Both of these are at about 145 pounds. (I'm deliberately bulking right now - trying to build a butt!)

So, the difference is subtle. But after I started weightlifting, I dropped a good bit of body fat and just tightened everything up. When I flex, yeah, you can see visible muscle. But when I'm not flexed, I think I just look nice and toned.

Lucy

FINALLY! Been waiting for you to make an appearance.

You look fabulous. And you're right, the muscle definition you've worked so hard to achieve (and I am ridiculously envious of) is only prominent when flexing. Very subtle, yet still present, when unflexed.


Also, I want your shoes. GIMME.

How do I get SUPAH bulky at home? I have free weights, plates, a bar and a bench. Stronglifts says I will need a squat rack, anyone know of a program without the squat rack?

Ladies! A friend and I were just discussing that the term "lifting heavy" may put some off.


The idea here is to lift weights challenging for YOU. The programs that are my favorite have you start with the bar, which weighs 45 pounds. Many of you have picked up children that big, and even squatted down to pick up something you dropped while holding him... or if you don't have kids, a bag of groceries, or a backpack!

In Stronglifts, or Starting Strength you are aiming for a few sets of 5 repetitions...5....that's it...you build strength very well this way...and the next time you add 5 more pounds and give it a go.

So lifting heavy doesnt mean you have to squat 500 pounds, you just need to challenge YOUR muscles.

I hope this helps someone:flowerforyou:

I started this at 40... and my body is better than it has been since I was in my early 20's.

I LOVE what lifting has done for me...physically AND mentally.

http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/The_Starting_Strength_Novice/Beginner_Programs
http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/

If i may, I'm going to shamelessly plug my own thread here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/824518-fat-girl-dead-lifting

I started at 125kg/270ish lbs.

You can do it!

In for more photos of gorgeous ladies who lift heavy :flowerforyou:

Can't wait to post my pics someday

Most likely, no one will read this or care about it, but I am going to say it anyway!!!

You ladies looks absolutely amazing. I wanted to say that you all are truly inspirational. This is not to say that women who DON'T pick things up and put them down are not inspirational, but I would prefer to look more muscular one day. I am 298 pounds (under 300 finally!!! :bigsmile:) and I have started to incorporate some form of resistance/strength (not sure which to call it) training because I would rather start now and work my way up so that by the time I am at goal weight, I can have a decent amount of muscle mass. Luckily, being so big my legs are pretty muscular under all those layers of fat, so my squats and lunges and kettlebelling (good Lord those things are trying to kill me!) are already making my calves, thighs and butt firmer. The KB also helps my arms a bit.

I am a bit apprehensive to actually go to the free weights and use them, because there are constantly people there and I think I would feel really lame comparatively. But I think after seeing all these amazing results I may start incorporating free weights along with my cardio/KB routines. Hopefully one day I will have awesome abs, arms, legs, and an *kitten* like all of you ladies do! Any tips, pieces of advice, favorite workouts to do that come my way will be much appreciated. Again, I really hope to look like you ladies one day!

TL;DR You guys looks sexy as hell, I want to look that way too.

As someone who used to be 288 lbs (that was my starting weight), I have one bit of advice...

Resistance/strength train NOW. The biggest mistake I made while getting to my goal weight was NOT doing any strength training until the very end. I lost an insane amount of muscle mass, and was left with flab and loose skin. Luckily, I'm young, so the loose skin is shrinking, but I'm still playing catch up trying to get back some of the muscle I lost.

Honestly, if I had picked up the weights years ago, I would have also been where I'm at now years ago.

I get being intimidated by free weights, but DON'T BE. I promise you, after a week tops, you'll love how strong you'll start to feel. Not only does weight lifting change your body, but it also changes your mind. I'd never be as confident and self assured without the mental strength that weight lifting granted me.

A few programs to look into:

Stronglifts 5x5: http://stronglifts.com/stronglifts-5x5-beginner-strength-training-program/

This is actually the program I started with. I love it.

Starting Strength: http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site

Another great beginner program. Very similar to Stronglifts. This is actually an e-book that you have to purchase, but from what I've heard, it's well worth the money.

Lucy