Zumba = bulky muscles?

time2change14
time2change14 Posts: 70
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone. I am interested in doing some Zumba, but I told my friend this and she said if I do Zumba a lot my calf muscles will get bulky from all the dancing. I do want to do zumba, but I don't want bulky muscles though. Should I do it anyway?
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Replies

  • godsgrl33
    godsgrl33 Posts: 307 Member
    Yes! Zumba is great for a cardio workout. No, you will not get bulky muscles at all. Your muscles should get toned, but not bulky. Haven't you seen pictures of the Zumba dancers? They look amazing.
  • geonbaeLeilee
    geonbaeLeilee Posts: 606 Member
    I've been doing Zumba for two years and my leg muscles have never gotten bulky. O.o
  • j6o4
    j6o4 Posts: 871 Member
    You don't get bulky from exercise, you only get bulky from eating a lot calories.
  • RosyBest
    RosyBest Posts: 303 Member
    Been doing Zumba for 2 months...no bulky calves here. Great cardio
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Is this a joke? Wrong on so many levels...
  • KatM2014
    KatM2014 Posts: 263 Member
    ...I just... I can't...

    ...no, it won't. It is a great cardiovascular exercise, and a fun one at that! You won't, however, get 'bulky'.
  • ElsaVonMarmalade
    ElsaVonMarmalade Posts: 154 Member
    Ignore the snark. We're all at different places in our fitness and health education journeys.

    But I agree, go forth and Zumba. You won't get bulky.
  • gmallan
    gmallan Posts: 2,099 Member
    Is this a joke? Wrong on so many levels...

    I call troll
  • TheFitnessTutor
    TheFitnessTutor Posts: 356 Member
    I'm getting ready to do a video called "ladies Stop using the word bulky!!!" ....and "toned" too for that matter
  • V0lver
    V0lver Posts: 915 Member
    Yup. I also throw some pilates in the mix and i think i should be stage ready by the end of the year :wink:
  • HeyGoRun
    HeyGoRun Posts: 550 Member
    Too funny! Dancers are toned not bulky! Takes very hard work to build calf muscles!!
  • time2change14
    time2change14 Posts: 70
    .
  • time2change14
    time2change14 Posts: 70
    Hi I want to apologize to some of you who thought this question was a joke. No, I really wondered about it. I'm sorry if I upset anyone, that was not my intention. I'm very new to the whole diet & fitness thing so I don't know much about really anything. Bulky muscles is not my goal, I prefer looking skinny, but in a healthy way.

    But thank you for all the answers. I guess it was a silly question...sorry about that. I guess I should look into a zumba class.
  • SilverLotusGirl
    SilverLotusGirl Posts: 537 Member
    Everyone will react to zumba differently. Most people will not get get bulky anywhere from it, maybe your friend did but she may be more prone to building muscle or her definition of bulky may not be what the rest of us would call bulky. I've not seen anyone get bulky from doing zumba, zumba is cardio and women don't have the testosterone to get bulky. So if you just wanna dance off some calories and feel sexy and shake your bum while getting in a great cardio workout, go for it. It's a lot of fun.
  • tjthegreatone
    tjthegreatone Posts: 324
    Anytime I hear women obsessing about exercise making them 'bulky'...:mad: :explode:
    Where's that 'nope' GIF that ends with the person flying off in a rocket?
    Seriously...I know what's making me 'bulky' these days - stuffing my gob. NOT any form of exercise.

    On an unrelated note I saw a telemarketing ad for some fitness/weight loss for women programme, recommending cardio and light weights as women get 'too bulky' on heavier lifting programmes :explode: :explode:
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Is your friend an expert on zumba? Or on building muscles?

    You can always rely on a straight answer on MFP - sometimes it might come across as a bit blunt, but you'll get an answer :smile:
  • dianamatienzo
    dianamatienzo Posts: 127
    "Bulky"..... I despise that word -_- Zumba is just cardio; I do it all the time. It's super fun and I'd really recommend it ^_^ You will NOT get "bulky" from it; that's ridiculous >.< That irrational fear is the reason a lot of women don't weight train. Please believe me when I tell you that unless you take artificial hormones to raise your testosterone levels or other competition-type drugs, or work your *kitten* off weight lifting for a WHILE, you will not get "bulky." Zumba is a great and fun form of cardio :)
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    The last time I commented on a thread like this it was deemed to be 'not constructive' and negative to the OP... seeing as I don't want another strike right now, I'm just gonna go ahead and say no. Zumba will not make you bulky.

    Years of strength training and copious amounts of steroids will make you bulky... not much else will.
  • dianamatienzo
    dianamatienzo Posts: 127
    Hi I want to apologize to some of you who thought this question was a joke. No, I really wondered about it. I'm sorry if I upset anyone, that was not my intention. I'm very new to the whole diet & fitness thing so I don't know much about really anything. Bulky muscles is not my goal, I prefer looking skinny, but in a healthy way.

    But thank you for all the answers. I guess it was a silly question...sorry about that. I guess I should look into a zumba class.

    Don't worry about it! It's not your fault! We're fed to believe that women should stick to running and yoga and band resistance training ("light" weights) and leave the squats, deadlifts, bench press, or any heavy lifting to the men because we'll get "bulky." It's all lies. We're not built like men; and it's even hard for MEN to get really muscular :P So there's no need to apologize :) It wasn't a silly question because it was really something you were wondering! We all have different knowledge and the sharing of it is what helps us all grow! :)
  • SilverLotusGirl
    SilverLotusGirl Posts: 537 Member
    Hi I want to apologize to some of you who thought this question was a joke. No, I really wondered about it. I'm sorry if I upset anyone, that was not my intention. I'm very new to the whole diet & fitness thing so I don't know much about really anything. Bulky muscles is not my goal, I prefer looking skinny, but in a healthy way.

    But thank you for all the answers. I guess it was a silly question...sorry about that. I guess I should look into a zumba class.

    Don't worry about it! It's not your fault! We're fed to believe that women should stick to running and yoga and band resistance training ("light" weights) and leave the squats, deadlifts, bench press, or any heavy lifting to the men because we'll get "bulky." It's all lies. We're not built like men; and it's even hard for MEN to get really muscular :P So there's no need to apologize :) It wasn't a silly question because it was really something you were wondering! We all have different knowledge and the sharing of it is what helps us all grow! :)

    Also, there does seem to be a lot of people who come to forums like this to ask silly questions on purpose as jokes or just to rile up posters and a lot of commenters are so used to them that they assume that most people are just trying to get a rise out of people. But everywhere starts out knowing or thinking different things and learns as they go along and even then, no two people will ever fully agree about things anyway.

    But if you want to stay lean and skinny I say do yoga. How many super muscular dancers do you see really?
  • Lemongrab1
    Lemongrab1 Posts: 158 Member
    Wth is with some women and this bulky muscle crap?
    At the rate these types of women actually exercise, it would take them a couple of millennia to get bulky muscles.
    2 strides per minute on the elliptical.
  • AnexRavensong
    AnexRavensong Posts: 262 Member
    "Skinny in a healthy way" but without muscles? Does that exist? Why are people afraid of muscles?! Ever since I started eating more I've gotten muscles and now have less body fat and fit in smaller clothes! O_o

    You're not going to turn into the Hulk. You can't get all buff unless you INTENTIONALLY want to get that way. Takes a ton of food and for women some sort of steroids.

    Reminds me of this pic:

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=522542131131532&set=a.401622213223525.109046.398751400177273&type=1&theater

    Anyway, I doubt Zumba will give you huge calf muscles, again, muscles need FOOD to exist and a lot of it. If you're one of those 1200 cal people on Zumba, you won't gain muscle.. and you probably won't lose weight after a while either, but that is another discussion.

    PS: I'm not trying to rag on you, the question you asked is understandable for someone looking for information (that is why we ASK), but I'm really bothered when I see women afraid of muscle because they think they will turn into the hulk. It just isn't possible.
  • 2012loseit
    2012loseit Posts: 37 Member
    Zumba is fun, give it a try!!

    i have the Xbox game of it and dance around my family room like an idiot (while no one is home!) I have found my waist has got smaller and i can feel my stomach muscles after i have really pushed myself.

    There are some aquatic centres that do water zumba, just try it and have fun!
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Your friend is an idiot sorry.
  • dianamatienzo
    dianamatienzo Posts: 127
    Ignore the snark. We're all at different places in our fitness and health education journeys.

    But I agree, go forth and Zumba. You won't get bulky.

    Amen! :)
  • sunglasses_and_ocean_waves
    sunglasses_and_ocean_waves Posts: 2,757 Member
    Your friend is an idiot sorry.

    this.
  • Sandigesha
    Sandigesha Posts: 226 Member
    As far as i know, Zumba is very dangerous for women, who are not wanting to look like huge muscular men. Effects of Zumba have been classified by scientists as "similar, or in some cases superior mass builder than most steroids on the market ". If you've already made mistake, and accidently done some Zumba, avoid eating protein for next 3 weeks, to minimise bulking effects of hypetrophy-gene, activated by Zumba.Also, avoid walking, as it will have a "superset effect" on your calves, making them swole to the point where you can't put yout feet together. Hope you don't look like Arnold in his best years yet. Get well, good luck!
  • laughingdani
    laughingdani Posts: 2,275 Member
    wolverine_facepalm.gif
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    No, you won't get bulky muscles. Yes you should go ahead and do it if you want. Your friend doesn't have a clue.

    You get bulky muscles, by eating lots (a surplus of calories) and by lifting with the intention of hypertrophy (gaining muscle) for a significant period of time. Testosterone (a mostly male hormone), and a little extra body fat helps a lot too.

    Since zumba is cardio, your chances of gaining muscle doing it are next to nothing, and I'm going to assume you're not in a calorie surplus, so you shouldn't gain anything, fat or muscle.
  • percypat
    percypat Posts: 26
    Zumba instructor here. You know what I'm going to say as everyone has said it already :)

    Go forth and shake your thang <3

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