Starting today! How do you like your new shape?
lavendy17
Posts: 309 Member
Hi!
I am a 31 yr old woman from NYC. I am starting 5x5 today!!! I did NROLFW up to mid stage 3, when it got too time consuming and ineffective, I decided to follow my gut feeling and seek something better.
I was mostly unhappy with the constant stage changes, not being able to add weight. If you've done it you know, every 4 times you switch routines. 4 times is barely enough to figure the right beginning weight... It just felt like a big waste of time, because I was always going backwards in weights.
So I felt 5x5 was just right.
My question-
I'm reading on stronglifts.com and the language is very manly, and talks about getting a big chest and big arms. I know women don't get bulky, but just wanted to hear from you ladies, since it's not really discussed on his site, how do you feel about the changes in your body shape? Is it working for you?
I want to be fit but also keep a feminine shape if possible.
Thanks!!!
I am a 31 yr old woman from NYC. I am starting 5x5 today!!! I did NROLFW up to mid stage 3, when it got too time consuming and ineffective, I decided to follow my gut feeling and seek something better.
I was mostly unhappy with the constant stage changes, not being able to add weight. If you've done it you know, every 4 times you switch routines. 4 times is barely enough to figure the right beginning weight... It just felt like a big waste of time, because I was always going backwards in weights.
So I felt 5x5 was just right.
My question-
I'm reading on stronglifts.com and the language is very manly, and talks about getting a big chest and big arms. I know women don't get bulky, but just wanted to hear from you ladies, since it's not really discussed on his site, how do you feel about the changes in your body shape? Is it working for you?
I want to be fit but also keep a feminine shape if possible.
Thanks!!!
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Replies
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Well, genetics ultimately determines your shape - where you store fat, where fat comes off of first, how dangerous your curves will be, etc. so can't really make any promises on that front. If you're eating at a deficit, then you will not increase your current muscle mass (fat loss should be occurring which will make your muscles more visible, but they will not grow bigger - it's an optical illusion that often gets misconstrued as "bulky"). However, for me personally, I love what lifting has done and continues to do for my body. Everything feels firmer. I feel stronger. I am stronger. My butt looks fantastic. Lifting for me just brings out whatever shape I am naturally under all my fat, which is again, pre-determined by genetics. I'll always be busty no matter what my body fat percentage is and having muscle definition in general makes me feel good about myself.0
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Well, genetics ultimately determines your shape - where you store fat, where fat comes off of first, how dangerous your curves will be, etc. so can't really make any promises on that front. If you're eating at a deficit, then you will not increase your current muscle mass (fat loss should be occurring which will make your muscles more visible, but they will not grow bigger - it's an optical illusion that often gets misconstrued as "bulky"). However, for me personally, I love what lifting has done and continues to do for my body. Everything feels firmer. I feel stronger. I am stronger. My butt looks fantastic. Lifting for me just brings out whatever shape I am naturally under all my fat, which is again, pre-determined by genetics. I'll always be busty no matter what my body fat percentage is and having muscle definition in general makes me feel good about myself.
^^All of this except I'm not busty lol!
I write this as I'm sitting in my office at work flexing my arms right now..... I like to feel the muscles in my arm hahaha I hope I'm not the only one that does this.0 -
Well, genetics ultimately determines your shape - where you store fat, where fat comes off of first, how dangerous your curves will be, etc. so can't really make any promises on that front. If you're eating at a deficit, then you will not increase your current muscle mass (fat loss should be occurring which will make your muscles more visible, but they will not grow bigger - it's an optical illusion that often gets misconstrued as "bulky"). However, for me personally, I love what lifting has done and continues to do for my body. Everything feels firmer. I feel stronger. I am stronger. My butt looks fantastic. Lifting for me just brings out whatever shape I am naturally under all my fat, which is again, pre-determined by genetics. I'll always be busty no matter what my body fat percentage is and having muscle definition in general makes me feel good about myself.
^^All of this except I'm not busty lol!
I write this as I'm sitting in my office at work flexing my arms right now..... I like to feel the muscles in my arm hahaha I hope I'm not the only one that does this.
My husband looks at me funny when i am checking out my arms! Hehe I love my arms!0 -
Speaking of husbands- mine is trying to talk me out of this program.
1. He is concerned that I might hurt myself. I am going at it alone, no spotters. But if I take it slow and educate myself on proper form, I should be OK, no? (Review SL again and again and post form check videos....)
2. We started trying to grow our family and he says that when I'm preggers I'll have to stop. I guess that's true (is it?!?), but we'll climb that bridge when we get to it, right?0 -
Speaking of husbands- mine is trying to talk me out of this program.
1. He is concerned that I might hurt myself. I am going at it alone, no spotters. But if I take it slow and educate myself on proper form, I should be OK, no? (Review SL again and again and post form check videos....)
2. We started trying to grow our family and he says that when I'm preggers I'll have to stop. I guess that's true (is it?!?), but we'll climb that bridge when we get to it, right?
I don't use a spotter and I've been fine.
Also, any program you already start before you get pregnant, you can continue into pregnancy. Although I'm sure with slight modifications depending on circumstances of the pregnancy. 0 -
Speaking of husbands- mine is trying to talk me out of this program.
1. He is concerned that I might hurt myself. I am going at it alone, no spotters. But if I take it slow and educate myself on proper form, I should be OK, no? (Review SL again and again and post form check videos....)
2. We started trying to grow our family and he says that when I'm preggers I'll have to stop. I guess that's true (is it?!?), but we'll climb that bridge when we get to it, right?
1. Yeah I think it'll be okay without a spotter as long as you increase your weight slowly. You might have to bail and things might be embarrassing, but I imagine injury risk is as low as any other workout program.
2. I'd ask your doctor to be safe. Not that I think this specifically is bad, but there might be movements you'll have to modify really late into pregnancy or be unfortunate enough to need bed rest at some point.
But really anything other than contact sports are usually okay for the first two trimesters. 0 -
Thanks!0
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In 6 weeks of starting Stronglifts 5x5, I have lost 10 lbs and 10 inches.
My face is leaner, my collar bones are visible, my breasts are perkier, my clothes fit better, my nails are healthier and my skin is clearer and brighter. Lifting has encouraged me to be my best self and it is a fantastic and exciting journey. Kudos to you and good luck on your journey :drinker:0 -
Speaking of husbands- mine is trying to talk me out of this program.
1. He is concerned that I might hurt myself. I am going at it alone, no spotters. But if I take it slow and educate myself on proper form, I should be OK, no? (Review SL again and again and post form check videos....)
2. We started trying to grow our family and he says that when I'm preggers I'll have to stop. I guess that's true (is it?!?), but we'll climb that bridge when we get to it, right?
To answer your first question I love my shape again...my shoulders and back are defined my butt is absolutely hard as a rock and lifted (yes I have pics) and I can see the outline of abs...I lost my girls tho...36B...(which is where I was before I got pregnant anyway) so it's all good..
To the quote...if he is worried have him build you a squat rack/power cage like mine did...makes my squats easier and safer along with my benching. However I don't use it for my bench much...it's a pain...
I don't push past what i know I can do tho if I don't have him here to spot me...
Learn how to fail...
No you don't have to stop when you are pregnant...that is a 20 year old fallacy....(I know cause when I got pregnant 20 years ago the military made me stop all physical exercise...I was only allowed to walk)...I mean I couldn't lift my 5lb helmet and I was like ah don't you think my baby will weigh that at least????
Talk to your doctor and they may suggest lowering the weights but otherwise lots of women lift while pregnant...0 -
I've only been doing SL for 10 weeks as of this coming Saturday and I've had a couple times when I haven't been at the gym every other day. When I started, I was 6 weeks post-partum from a c-section and months of no exercise due to placenta previa. Before I got pregnant, I was around 125 lb. I don't know my highest weight since I spent the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy in the hospital, but the last time I stepped on the scale at home, I was 174. I probably was around 190 at some point since I was pumped full of fluids. When I came home from the hospital, I was about 164. This time, the weight has not fallen off like it usually does when I'm breastfeeding but my shape has definitely changed in the last 10 weeks.
FWIW, I run 3 times a week and try to lift 3 times a week so I'm not just doing SL. I was logging all of my food and not losing so I quit logging and am just eating normally. I decided to accept whatever weight I'm at for right now (while breastfeeding) and concentrate on getting good exercise and eating well.
A couple of months ago, I needed new pants since I'm so much heavier than before. I couldn't fit into a size 14. A few weeks after starting SL, I fit into a size 10. I can now fit into an 8 in some clothing although I keep wearing the 10s because I like pants a bit loose. I've only taken my measurements a couple of times but I've lost inches everywhere except my bicep (because it's getting HUGE, lol, no not really).
I *feel* different. I feel stronger and less jiggly. I'm not the stick that I was before, but I'm not huge, either.
The worst thing for me when I started going to the gym was that I saw my mother's body in the mirror. I know that sounds really awful, but she's always been really heavy and her crazy dieting during my teen years really messed up my body image. Now, I no longer see my mom's body. I see mine again. I'm not super thin like I was before, but I'm at a size I can accept for now. I felt depressed before because I felt so incredibly out of shape but that hasn't been an issue for several weeks.
Anyway, for your husband's concerns --
I don't use a spotter. Initially, my 19 year old son came to the gym to help me, but I think it's fairly easy to figure out how much you can lift.
I wanted to start lifting last year and planned to sign up for the gym right at the time I got pregnant. We were trying but it was a little unexpected because I was 45 then (turned 46 in November) so I wasn't really anticipating that we'd be successful. Anyway, because the risk of miscarriage is so high when you're old like me, I decided it wasn't a good idea to start lifting in early pregnancy. If I were younger and had been lifting weights before I got pregnant, heck yes I'd continue until my doctor gave me a good reason not to.
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I love my body *shrug* I can't stand the word bulky. People do not know what it really means.0
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In 6 weeks of starting Stronglifts 5x5, I have lost 10 lbs and 10 inches.
My face is leaner, my collar bones are visible, my breasts are perkier, my clothes fit better, my nails are healthier and my skin is clearer and brighter. Lifting has encouraged me to be my best self and it is a fantastic and exciting journey. Kudos to you and good luck on your journey
started today
I want this to be my post in 6 weeks! Congrats!!!!!!0 -
I write this as I'm sitting in my office at work flexing my arms right now..... I like to feel the muscles in my arm hahaha I hope I'm not the only one that does this.
constantly, except i've progressed past squeezing the biceps to poking myself in the tummy all the time, and/or punching my own quads. narcissist, me.
i have this colleague with this little stick-figure wife who he adores, who also got very manic about lifting weights recently. and since he's so fond of her and knows that i like her too, he was telling me about her doing exactly this all the time, and constantly asking him to check her out too. we cooked up a plan between us that the next time i see her, i'll just kind of 'casually' say something like 'gee, [name] . . . you look different somehow. have your ARMS got bigger?'
i haven't had a chance to do it yet, but i am so going to when the time comes.0 -
I have a bit ambivalent result from Stronglift aesthetic wise.
I started Stronglifts at the beginning of March and I did roughly 3.5 months where I had 2 breaks each maybe 10 days long ( kid sick and wrist problems).
My working weight reached 100 lb for bench, 110 for row, 125 lb for squat, 165 for dead-lift and 70 lb for OHP. I love the fact that I became so strong, it makes me feel a powerful badass.:bigsmile:
In the past few months I lost 5 lb, and my tummy is flatter , my waistline is smaller and generally I look less fat and much more fit. The loss looks much more than just 5lb.
I did grow muscles though, and some of it is very welcomed others are not so much. I generally have a very strong pear shape with barely shoulder and small ribcage and giant *kitten* and super strong quad dominant legs to begin with. In the past few months my shoulders got a bit more rounded /prominent and I find my lats. These are very positive changes for me because it helps to get my upper and lower body a bit more proportional to each other and I am very happy about that.
Unfortunately my quads grow a lot as well. First I thought it is all in my head, but I actually measured and my thigh increased almost 1 inch. :sad: Since I lost weight that confirm the calorie deficit , so it can not be fat.
I dropped squatting down to twice a week around mid June, but I am considering dropping squat to once a week or skipping it altogether. In the past few weeks I was reading up on this issue and it seems this is not really unheard of. Women have tendency to be quad dominant , and depends on genetics it may be really out of proportion.
Putting on muscle mass while in deficit is debatable and recently I read a lot about that it is actually possible if you are a beginner ( fist year of lifting), especially if you are obese/overweight. See Scooby website and a lot of personal trainer mentioned that in this forums recently as well.
Anyway I am not going to stop lifting, but probably tweaking Stronglift or switching to something less quad dominant program. Many website / people suggested the book strong curves by Bret Contreras ( the glutes guy who invented hip thrust ) and I ordered last week and hopefully it gets here today or monday. His program has some squat , but different versions that activate the glutes more and less the quads. He also focuses on glute bridges, hip thrust etc for lower body instead on traditional squat.
Do not get me wrong, I do not regret to do Strong lifts et all. It is just maybe the time to move on for something that more suitable for my body. At the end of the day Strong lift is a power-lifter program and for me aesthetic is more important than just pure strength.0 -
I'm reading on stronglifts.com and the language is very manly
hee! to be honest . . . i like stronglifts as a program, but sometimes i go re-read the site for the sheer entertainment of it. i read that guy mehdi the way i used to watch those super-late-night commercials for discount used cars and bulk carpet and stuff that would come on during the 2-am dr who reruns in the 1980's. spend half my time trying to guess what he's on, and the other half wondering if maybe he *should* be on something. like lithium, maybe. or ritalin.
it's like a little piece of cosmic perfection to me that you can shorten his name down to 'meh'. i mean, how much more good can it get?
as far as shape . . . well, meh. i'm early with this, and i don't think i ever had a 'feminine' shape to begin with. when i was at the weight that i'm aiming for now (around 120 lb), i myself mistook pictures of me for my 12-yo son; and after i picked up 25 extra pounds, i just looked . . . dumpy, i think. i've never really had boobs, just a ribcage with nipples on it. so, y'know. it's partly what you start with, i think.
with all that said though: i've pretty much realised i'm not going to get back the shape that i was the last time i weighed 120, even if i do get to 120 again. lifting heavy might be handing me curves i've never had in my life. i was kind of concerned about this as well, because i consistently bike quite a lot, and the last thing i felt like i need is more thighs. instead, what seems to be happening is a general balancing thing. i've still got the quads, but they're getting harder and tighter, not bulkier. i've got this single clean curve now from knee up to hip that i've never had in my life. the deadlifting is finally adding hamstring muscles that i never got from the bike, which i'm really really happy about. we won't discuss my bum yet, if you don't mind. but i don't think this programme is hurting it any. aesthetically, anyway. in other ways, ow.
i don't think you can get 'big' by pure accident. i guess my plan is to keep an eye on how i feel about The Look, carry on while i'm still liking The Look, and rethink if i ever get to where i dislike The Look more than i like lifting whatever weights i'll be lifting by then. and i know from my on-off experience as a bike commuter that if you don't like muscles . . . all you have to do is quit using them and they go away.0 -
Thanks for all the honest replies. I guess what you say @canadianlbs about keeping an eye on how I look and then going from there is a good idea.
@redheadmommy, I'm not an expert but I think in the squats, if your quads are getting worked- possibly you're not hitting parallel? I think squats work your glutes and core, at least from what I gather watching Mehdi's videos.0 -
I've been doing a modified stronglifts (basically just compounds anymore) for almost a year. My weight hasn't changed, but my body sure has, and people definitely notice. I'm more compact, have visible abs, and very little cellulite any more. Still need a little work in the bum area (IMO), but I'm going to need a bulk for that. :-)0
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@redheadmommy, I'm not an expert but I think in the squats, if your quads are getting worked- possibly you're not hitting parallel? I think squats work your glutes and core, at least from what I gather watching Mehdi's videos.
Yup, properly done squats hit your glutes as well. I know when I squat, I feel it in my glutes, hammies and quads. I am also a "quad dominant" person.0 -
Well, genetics ultimately determines your shape - where you store fat, where fat comes off of first, how dangerous your curves will be, etc. so can't really make any promises on that front. If you're eating at a deficit, then you will not increase your current muscle mass (fat loss should be occurring which will make your muscles more visible, but they will not grow bigger - it's an optical illusion that often gets misconstrued as "bulky"). However, for me personally, I love what lifting has done and continues to do for my body. Everything feels firmer. I feel stronger. I am stronger. My butt looks fantastic. Lifting for me just brings out whatever shape I am naturally under all my fat, which is again, pre-determined by genetics. I'll always be busty no matter what my body fat percentage is and having muscle definition in general makes me feel good about myself.
^^All of this except I'm not busty lol!
I write this as I'm sitting in my office at work flexing my arms right now..... I like to feel the muscles in my arm hahaha I hope I'm not the only one that does this.
I LOVE the changes to my body!! I have been at it for about 4.5 months, and my butt is rising, stomach flattening, shoulders looking firmer--more straight across. But my arms--my gosh! I am like Christiano Ronaldo now with my mirror obsession--It really is embarassing how much I love my arms. Still a little jiggly on the underside, but not enough to make me buy a dress or a shirt with sleeves for the summer--LOL......
Give the program a go--you can always slow down or stop, if you dont like what's going on with your own self... But I bet you will!! Good luck.0 -
Well, genetics ultimately determines your shape - where you store fat, where fat comes off of first, how dangerous your curves will be, etc. so can't really make any promises on that front. If you're eating at a deficit, then you will not increase your current muscle mass (fat loss should be occurring which will make your muscles more visible, but they will not grow bigger - it's an optical illusion that often gets misconstrued as "bulky"). However, for me personally, I love what lifting has done and continues to do for my body. Everything feels firmer. I feel stronger. I am stronger. My butt looks fantastic. Lifting for me just brings out whatever shape I am naturally under all my fat, which is again, pre-determined by genetics. I'll always be busty no matter what my body fat percentage is and having muscle definition in general makes me feel good about myself.
^^All of this except I'm not busty lol!
I write this as I'm sitting in my office at work flexing my arms right now..... I like to feel the muscles in my arm hahaha I hope I'm not the only one that does this.
I LOVE the changes to my body!! I have been at it for about 4.5 months, and my butt is rising, stomach flattening, shoulders looking firmer--more straight across. But my arms--my gosh! I am like Christiano Ronaldo now with my mirror obsession--It really is embarassing how much I love my arms. Still a little jiggly on the underside, but not enough to make me buy a dress or a shirt with sleeves for the summer--LOL......
Give the program a go--you can always slow down or stop, if you dont like what's going on with your own self... But I bet you will!! Good luck.
Your changes sound awesome! Kudos!0 -
I have ****ty form in some moves, but squat is definetly not one of them. I go waay below parallel. Actually I got a couple of complement about my squat form because I go lower than anybody in my gym. I literally almost hit the floor with my butt. I also tried wider stance , because some personal trainer suggested it. At the end of the day, it is genetic. Squat is great full lower body exercise that works on everything , but some muscle respond to it faster than others. The meanwhile my Strong curves book arrived and it really opened my eyes about glutes. I strongly recommend BTW.Thanks for all the honest replies. I guess what you say @canadianlbs about keeping an eye on how I look and then going from there is a good idea.
@redheadmommy, I'm not an expert but I think in the squats, if your quads are getting worked- possibly you're not hitting parallel? I think squats work your glutes and core, at least from what I gather watching Mehdi's videos.
Also the truth to be told, from spring to fall I commute by bike (45 minutes one way). Moreover I pull my toddler and my kindergartener behind me until about half way. This is the first year I have a double trailer with 2 kids, so that is quite a bit of load increase from before. (Kids, trailer, backbacks together are 120lb or more) .
I know the biking is partially responsible about my unwanted quad increase this year. Also different people have different expectation / preference what they want to look like. I personally I do not want to look like Elisa Frisoni ( italian cyclist) and I am heading into that direction.
The good things is, muscle takes time to grow. After a few months you can review your progress and if things heading into direction that is not welcomed, program can be changed/ tweaked etc. Form me that time have come. I need/ want more arms/ upper body than Stronglift alone can give me and I want less quads than 3 heavy squatting generates. If you peak into the check in threads, you will see that most women tweaked the original SL 5x5 program after a few months.
It is a great base / beginner program to heavy lifting. It doesn't mean you have to keep do it unchanged for years.0 -
I have ****ty form in some moves, but squat is definetly not one of them. I go waay below parallel. Actually I got a couple of complement about my squat form because I go lower than anybody in my gym. I literally almost hit the floor with my butt. I also tried wider stance , because some personal trainer suggested it. At the end of the day, it is genetic. Squat is great full lower body exercise that works on everything , but some muscle respond to it faster than others. The meanwhile my Strong curves book arrived and it really opened my eyes about glutes. I strongly recommend BTW.Thanks for all the honest replies. I guess what you say @canadianlbs about keeping an eye on how I look and then going from there is a good idea.
@redheadmommy, I'm not an expert but I think in the squats, if your quads are getting worked- possibly you're not hitting parallel? I think squats work your glutes and core, at least from what I gather watching Mehdi's videos.
Also the truth to be told, from spring to fall I commute by bike (45 minutes one way). Moreover I pull my toddler and my kindergartener behind me until about half way. This is the first year I have a double trailer with 2 kids, so that is quite a bit of load increase from before. (Kids, trailer, backbacks together are 120lb or more) .
I know the biking is partially responsible about my unwanted quad increase this year. Also different people have different expectation / preference what they want to look like. I personally I do not want to look like Elisa Frisoni ( italian cyclist) and I am heading into that direction.
The good things is, muscle takes time to grow. After a few months you can review your progress and if things heading into direction that is not welcomed, program can be changed/ tweaked etc. Form me that time have come. I need/ want more arms/ upper body than Stronglift alone can give me and I want less quads than 3 heavy squatting generates. If you peak into the check in threads, you will see that most women tweaked the original SL 5x5 program after a few months.
It is a great base / beginner program to heavy lifting. It doesn't mean you have to keep do it unchanged for years.
So it was the biking and not the squats... ok.0 -
Speaking of husbands- mine is trying to talk me out of this program.
1. He is concerned that I might hurt myself. I am going at it alone, no spotters. But if I take it slow and educate myself on proper form, I should be OK, no? (Review SL again and again and post form check videos....)
2. We started trying to grow our family and he says that when I'm preggers I'll have to stop. I guess that's true (is it?!?), but we'll climb that bridge when we get to it, right?
1- I was so afraid to hurt myself when I started. I did my first row and already thought I shouldn't be doing that. But I kept going anyway, watching videos on youtube and reading about form has helped me tons. I'm not afraid of hurting myself anymore, I know my limits and I don't push them too hard if I don't have a spotter (my husband) around. I felt a lot of pain on my lower back in the beginning but now I don't anymore, I work on my form every single workout. It's an ongoing process, you will love it
2- I was thinking about that a while ago and I remember looking up online and reading a few articles. From what I gathered, basically you are working out just to keep SOME of the strength you gained, but you are not supposed to push yourself too hard. It also depends how fit you are when you get pregnant.0
