How to run with gaining as little muscle as possible?

tumblrgirl619
tumblrgirl619 Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
hi, im gonna start running about 3 miles once or twice a week, but i will be walking some of it the first few weeks until i can fully run them all. tips on doing this without gaining a lot of muscle and weight? i want to have skinny legs.. not super muscular.
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Replies

  • tonynguyen75
    tonynguyen75 Posts: 418 Member
    hi, im gonna start running about 3 miles once or twice a week, but i will be walking some of it the first few weeks until i can fully run them all. tips on doing this without gaining a lot of muscle and weight? i want to have skinny legs.. not super muscular.

    Run with your arms?

    Seriously, what?
  • 40mpw
    40mpw Posts: 75 Member
    I'm no doctor, but I wouldn't worry too much about getting body builder legs from doing cardio once or twice a week.
  • HikerRR50
    HikerRR50 Posts: 144 Member
    I'm no doctor, but I wouldn't worry too much about getting body builder legs from doing cardio once or twice a week.

    ^^ agree~ I'm not a doctor either
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Running won't make your legs big, actually the opposite.
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    if anything they'll maybe tone up a bit and you'll see existing muscle but I don't think you'll gain much muscle from it anyways
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    Ummm what?

    I love running and I love the fact that it leans me out so . . .

    You're not going to get muscular running.

    Have you ever seen a muscular runner? I haven't. They're long and lean.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Ummm....I think you'll be fine. I know of exactly nobody who got bulky running...I'm not even sure if this post is serious or not...

    Runners are so bulky....

    male-marathon-runner.JPG
  • mantium999
    mantium999 Posts: 1,490 Member
    Uhhhh.......yeah. The more time I spend here, the more worried I become about the future mental health of my young daughter. Why are these always started by 18-22 year old females?
  • Inc1961
    Inc1961 Posts: 34 Member
    Running should help make longer lean muscles (however - sprinters do tend to bulk up)
    If you are starting out and 3 miles is your goal you might want to look up the "Rundouble" C25K App (unfortunately only compatible with the android phones)

    The App (and even the rundouble webpage) gives you a plan of walk/run to bring you from Couch to 5K in 9 weeks. It is a very doable progression. The App/webpage keeps track of your pace and distance so you can motivate yourself.

    Just a thought.
    I've liked using it and I am not a previous runner
  • jcmrax5
    jcmrax5 Posts: 133
    hi, im gonna start running about 3 miles once or twice a week, but i will be walking some of it the first few weeks until i can fully run them all. tips on doing this without gaining a lot of muscle and weight? i want to have skinny legs.. not super muscular.

    Run with your arms?

    Seriously, what?
    my thoughts exactly.
    seriously...huh?!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    tumblr_lzauclSqCb1qgzbrvo1_250_zpsbe0c9d3a.gif
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Just run and control your diet according to your goals.

    I have no idea where you got the idea that running will make you bulky. Cheesefries make you bulky, not exercise.
  • CoffeeNBooze
    CoffeeNBooze Posts: 966 Member
    Uhhhh.......yeah. The more time I spend here, the more worried I become about the future mental health of my young daughter. Why are these always started by 18-22 year old females?

    Yeah, asking reasonable questions warrants concern for mental health issues....

    Not everyone knows the ins and outs of what makes you gain muscle, how fast, muscle loss, fat loss, etc. I'm sure you didn't always know. It's not a stupid question, and I don't think her age and gender has anything to do with it.
  • InTheInbetween
    InTheInbetween Posts: 192 Member
    :noway:
  • lukasmac
    lukasmac Posts: 216 Member
    I'm not a doctor either, but I once stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

    If you walk/jog/run, your calves/thighs will become more defined and depending on how much fat you harbor in those regions, may even shrink.

    Good luck, though.
  • CantStopWontStop92
    CantStopWontStop92 Posts: 165 Member
    You, my sweet angel face, you should probably just sit down right this minute. Standing builds massive muscles, or so I hear.
  • youngcaseyr
    youngcaseyr Posts: 293 Member
    You definitely won't get bulky legs. I started the same way you are and now I run three to four miles at least four days a week and my legs have only gotten thinner since I started running two years ago. There's a picture in which you can see my legs on my profile.
  • akathatoneguy
    akathatoneguy Posts: 38 Member
    Just run and control your diet according to your goals.

    I have no idea where you got the idea that running will make you bulky. Cheesefries make you bulky, not exercise.

    Mmmmm...cheese fries.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    hi, im gonna start running about 3 miles once or twice a week, but i will be walking some of it the first few weeks until i can fully run them all. tips on doing this without gaining a lot of muscle and weight? i want to have skinny legs.. not super muscular.

    lolwut?

    bless your heart. that's not how it works
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    hi, im gonna start running about 3 miles once or twice a week, but i will be walking some of it the first few weeks until i can fully run them all. tips on doing this without gaining a lot of muscle and weight? i want to have skinny legs.. not super muscular.

    lolwut?

    bless your heart. that's not how it works
  • JagerLewis
    JagerLewis Posts: 427 Member
    I've ran many races including 2 half marathons and 1 full one. Then of course there is all the running in between. I used to average about 50 miles a week. The only thing it did to my legs was make them sexy. :love:
  • maybeazure
    maybeazure Posts: 301 Member
    It is hard for a woman to gain enough muscle to look bulky. I have been running for a couple of months now. I am still overweight, but just today I got a complement on how nice my legs look. So just run and enjoy it.
  • ihad
    ihad Posts: 7,463 Member
    This is all you need to know:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-50GjySwew
  • __freckles__
    __freckles__ Posts: 1,238 Member
    Guys, she's 18 - stop being jerks. No, you will not get bulky.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    This misinformation may have come from fitness guru, trainer to the stars - Tracy Anderson.
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    Distance running, no ... sprints and HIT type training, will give you sprinter's legs ...
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Distance running, no ... sprints and HIT type training, will give you sprinter's legs ...

    Not without a lot of specific weight training, nutrition and genetics it won't.
  • Mighty_Rabite
    Mighty_Rabite Posts: 581 Member
    All you gotta do there is run.

    To really gain much muscle, especially as a female, you have to really have the right diet and workouts for it. No amount of running will bulk you up.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    Distance running, no ... sprints and HIT type training, will give you sprinter's legs ...

    Not without a lot of specific weight training, nutrition and genetics it won't.

    And that "nutrition" would likely need to include a caloric surplus.

    Accidentally gaining appreciable muscle in the legs (or really anywhere) is remarkably rare and completely reversible.
  • FixIngMe13
    FixIngMe13 Posts: 405 Member
    Distance running, no ... sprints and HIT type training, will give you sprinter's legs ...

    Not without a lot of specific weight training, nutrition and genetics it won't.

    And that "nutrition" would likely need to include a caloric surplus.

    Accidentally gaining appreciable muscle in the legs (or really anywhere) is remarkably rare and completely reversible.

    J... Isn't it past your bedtime? Still working days?

    So glad to see you didn't delete your account. :wink:

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