Bulky muscles versus lean muscles

VelveteenArabian
VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Can someone break it down for me and explain what makes muscle look big and bulky (like a powerlifter or bodybuilder) versus slender and lean (like a dancer)? Does one kind of muscle have fat in it to bulk it and the other doesn't?
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Replies

  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    muscle is muscle ad we all have the same muscles that attach to the ligaments the same exact way. one has bigger muscles that's all. and a lot of it is genetic. for instance. misty copeland is a ballet dancer but doesnt exactly fit the mold of what people think ballerinas should look like


    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg
  • Daiako
    Daiako Posts: 12,545 Member
    ^^Hot.

    That's all I have to contribute.
  • jyogit
    jyogit Posts: 280 Member
    i'll second that ..ouch !!!
  • TiberiusClaudis
    TiberiusClaudis Posts: 423 Member
    Can someone break it down for me and explain what makes muscle look big and bulky (like a powerlifter or bodybuilder) versus slender and lean (like a dancer)? Does one kind of muscle have fat in it to bulk it and the other doesn't?

    Very basic: To get like a BB, you need to eat a lot of food, preferably protein and do a lot of weight lifting. Cardio amounts differ, I do 60 mins 4 times a week. Most BB would think that was excessive I think

    Dancer like muscluar people may do some weights but light. Instead they focus on cardio. I doubt they eat more than maintenance.

    I totally respect dancers..and the pic above is awesome.
  • africanmasq
    africanmasq Posts: 53
    There is a difference between being toned and gaining muscle. Models for example are usually told to focus on getting toned, but if they start looking too athletic (unless they are sport models, obviously) they are told to lift less. Toning does not necessarily make you stronger since the exercises/weights are very light. Lifting heavier weights and eating more protein is what helps you to gain muscle. Hope that helps :)
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Can someone break it down for me and explain what makes muscle look big and bulky (like a powerlifter or bodybuilder) versus slender and lean (like a dancer)? Does one kind of muscle have fat in it to bulk it and the other doesn't?

    Well, muscle CAN sometimes have marbling of fat in it, but the main reasons typical bodybuilders look bigger than typical dancers is due to:
    - greater percentage of type 2 muscle fibers (google that term if it's new to you).
    - higher level of male hormones
    - greater stimulus on the muscles (lifting super intensely vs. prancing around)
    The first 2 are mostly genetic.
    Other factors:
    - calorie surplus
    - genetically shorter tendons and longer muscle bellies, which makes the muscle look bigger.

    Why do you ask?
  • SparkleMotion30
    SparkleMotion30 Posts: 4 Member
    Everybody does have the same muscles but those muscles are composed of groups of three different types of muscle cells. Different muscles have different proportions of each type and people also vary on terms of proportions of different muscle cell types. These proportions are genetically determined, but by training you can develop one type more than another. Since the different types of muscle cells have different physical characteristics that can result in the difference in appearance between a power lifter and a marathon runner.

    Type 1 muscle cells are relatively slow to contract so they are not good at power movements, but they have high endurance since they are really good at using oxidative phosphorylation to generate energy. Since that requires oxygen, type 1 muscle cells are thin so that oxygen can diffuse quickly from the capillaries into the muscle cells. Athletes that perform activities requiring endurance end up training those fibers more than the other types ( which they still have). They also may have a higher proportion of type 1 cells due to genetics.

    Type 2 low oxidative muscle cells are able to contract really rapidly and don't use oxygen much to make energy. They do not have the endurance that type 1 cells do. They do not need oxygen and tend to be bigger in diameter since the rate of diffusion of oxygen into them is not a limiting factor. They also contain more contractile proteins than type 1 cells. Because they are bigger in diameter people who either have a higher number of this type of cell in their muscles or who train to optimize the performance of type 2 low oxidative muscle cells like power lifters will have bulkier looking muscles. The muscles get bigger by adding more contractile proteins within the cell, not by making more cells. Muscle grows by hypertrophy, not hyperplasia.

    The third type of muscle cell are type two high oxidative. These fall somewhere in between the other two. They contract fairly quickly are between the other two on terms of endurance. And because they like to use oxygen, are smaller in diameter than the other type 2 muscle cells.

    If you want to see the difference yourself compare the meat of a chicken breast to its thighs. The breast muscle is composed mainly of type two cells. They provide the power a bird needs for taking off and beating its wings. It is paler because type 2 muscle cells have less of the oxygen binding protein myoglobin. The dark meat has more type 1 and type 2 high oxidative muscle cells which have more myoglobin to help them transfer oxygen from the blood

    That is my essay on muscle fiber types. Thank you and goodnight.
  • steveyinasia
    steveyinasia Posts: 121 Member
    muscle is muscle ad we all have the same muscles that attach to the ligaments the same exact way. one has bigger muscles that's all. and a lot of it is genetic. for instance. misty copeland is a ballet dancer but doesnt exactly fit the mold of what people think ballerinas should look like


    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg

    Thanks all for the inside into muscle theory and thank you to Mesh for the new appreciation to ballet....off to get tickets.
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    muscle is muscle ad we all have the same muscles that attach to the ligaments the same exact way. one has bigger muscles that's all. and a lot of it is genetic. for instance. misty copeland is a ballet dancer but doesnt exactly fit the mold of what people think ballerinas should look like


    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg

    Im signing up for Ballet!
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Muscle tissue is just that, a tissue of muscle cells or myocytes. You have three types, the striated type of which is found in skeletal muscles (voluntary; cardiac and smooth muscles are involuntary).

    When you use your muscles, they either stay the same size or they grow. If you don't use them, they atrophy. Deliberate increase of "visual volume" is hypertrophy, which is what you do in body building. The number of cells doesn't increase, but the cell volume itself does increase to create the look that is typical for people into body building.

    As for adipose tissue, or fat, it's located underneath the skin, roughly put. There's internal fat stored, too, to protect organs etc., but overweight is excess fat stored in the superficial layers.

    I'm not sure any of us has answered your question, though.
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Everybody does have the same muscles but those muscles are composed of groups of three different types of muscle cells. Different muscles have different proportions of each type and people also vary on terms of proportions of different muscle cell types. These proportions are genetically determined, but by training you can develop one type more than another. Since the different types of muscle cells have different physical characteristics that can result in the difference in appearance between a power lifter and a marathon runner.

    ...

    That is my essay on muscle fiber types. Thank you and goodnight.
    This comment is about the sub-division of skeletal muscles, just for clarification, with "type" not being the same "type" as I mentioned when explaining muscle tissue in general.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    This can help clarify what "bulky" vs "muscular" is.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/511229--bulky-vs-muscular-the-real-definition?hl=bulky+vs+muscular&page=1

    A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Can someone break it down for me and explain what makes muscle look big and bulky (like a powerlifter or bodybuilder) versus slender and lean (like a dancer)? Does one kind of muscle have fat in it to bulk it and the other doesn't?


    Basically its the amount of muscle - body builders have lots of muscle, dancers have much less.

    BTW strength =/= amount of muscle
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    muscle is muscle ad we all have the same muscles that attach to the ligaments the same exact way. one has bigger muscles that's all. and a lot of it is genetic. for instance. misty copeland is a ballet dancer but doesnt exactly fit the mold of what people think ballerinas should look like


    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg


    to be fair- while she's probably a more muscled dancer- honestly she doesn't fit most people's expectations of what ballerina's look like because she's short and black. not because she's a little muscular. most of them are a little muscular- they are all just significantly taller- and usually white.

    She's still fabulous.



    And for what it's worth- I'm a dancer- and a power lifter- I just have muscles- I don't think they are bulky or lean.
  • jeffpettis
    jeffpettis Posts: 865 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg
    Just because her legs are awesome and it won't kill us to look at her again.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?

    Because muscle IS muscle. There are different types of muscle fibres but those don't have a massive impact on size. Everyone has a mixture of the types - some may have more than others, but it's the amount of muscle that you have makes you have "bulky" muscles.

    If you have large muscles you just have more muscle. There is no such thing as bulky and lean muscle.
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?

    Because muscle IS muscle. There are different types of muscle fibres but those don't have a massive impact on size. Everyone has a mixture of the types - some may have more than others, but it's the amount of muscle that you have makes you have "bulky" muscles.

    If you have large muscles you just have more muscle. There is no such thing as bulky and lean muscle.
    Sure, but if there is a question on the specifics of histology, I do think it is a vital detail to discuss for instance what is behind "bulking"; increase in cell amount and/or cell volume. Also the different types of fibres are interesting to learn more about in general. So when you say "you just have more muscle", with the naked eye most of us will agree with you, but how about the microscope? More muscle could be anything and my perception of the OP was that "more muscle" was dissatisfactory.
  • 12by311
    12by311 Posts: 1,716 Member
    There is a difference between being toned and gaining muscle. Models for example are usually told to focus on getting toned, but if they start looking too athletic (unless they are sport models, obviously) they are told to lift less. Toning does not necessarily make you stronger since the exercises/weights are very light. Lifting heavier weights and eating more protein is what helps you to gain muscle. Hope that helps :)

    I didn't know toning was a thing.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?

    Because muscle IS muscle. There are different types of muscle fibres but those don't have a massive impact on size. Everyone has a mixture of the types - some may have more than others, but it's the amount of muscle that you have makes you have "bulky" muscles.

    If you have large muscles you just have more muscle. There is no such thing as bulky and lean muscle.
    Sure, but if there is a question on the specifics of histology, I do think it is a vital detail to discuss for instance what is behind "bulking"; increase in cell amount and/or cell volume. Also the different types of fibres are interesting to learn more about in general. So when you say "you just have more muscle", with the naked eye most of us will agree with you, but how about the microscope? More muscle could be anything and my perception of the OP was that "more muscle" was dissatisfactory.

    I'm impressed the you know that the op wants a scientific breakdown rather than just the basics.

    It is not a vital detail to discuss the histology - in fact you are making it needlessly complicated and probably confusing the issue. If you want to learn specifics about fibre types feel free to google. I certainly don't have time to write up an essay of an answer.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    There is a difference between being toned and gaining muscle. Models for example are usually told to focus on getting toned, but if they start looking too athletic (unless they are sport models, obviously) they are told to lift less. Toning does not necessarily make you stronger since the exercises/weights are very light. Lifting heavier weights and eating more protein is what helps you to gain muscle. Hope that helps :)

    I didn't know toning was a thing.

    it is according to shape.

    really the difference between "toned" is just muscle definition and amount of body fat.

    gaining muscle is actually a process of putting on size.

    toning just is a lack of body fat with some muscle you can see for a LITTLE definition- too much definition and the word BULK starts getting tossed around- which makes me craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?

    Because muscle IS muscle. There are different types of muscle fibres but those don't have a massive impact on size. Everyone has a mixture of the types - some may have more than others, but it's the amount of muscle that you have makes you have "bulky" muscles.

    If you have large muscles you just have more muscle. There is no such thing as bulky and lean muscle.
    Sure, but if there is a question on the specifics of histology, I do think it is a vital detail to discuss for instance what is behind "bulking"; increase in cell amount and/or cell volume. Also the different types of fibres are interesting to learn more about in general. So when you say "you just have more muscle", with the naked eye most of us will agree with you, but how about the microscope? More muscle could be anything and my perception of the OP was that "more muscle" was dissatisfactory.

    I'm impressed the you know that the op wants a scientific breakdown rather than just the basics.

    It is not a vital detail to discuss the histology - in fact you are making it needlessly complicated and probably confusing the issue. If you want to learn specifics about fibre types feel free to google. I certainly don't have time to write up an essay of an answer.
    If you read my first comment, I don't know what the OP wants, since there is no further posts from them; I was guessing.

    Thanks for the reminder that google exists.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    PS- whose here running a steep deficit- the cranky pants is strong this morning it seems!
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
    muscle is muscle ad we all have the same muscles that attach to the ligaments the same exact way. one has bigger muscles that's all. and a lot of it is genetic. for instance. misty copeland is a ballet dancer but doesnt exactly fit the mold of what people think ballerinas should look like


    ac73a6ef9c32b5a3a8955fbae14dfe0305f6de00.jpg
    I tried to make my feet do that...........now I can't walk
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Body builders eat a LOT more than dancers. They do bulk cut cycles where they purposely gain both fat and muscle for a while (6 months), then cut the fat, leaving "extra" muscles. Dancers don't do that. You can't make dramatic increases in size without a surplus of calories.
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Misty on youtube, she's gorgeous!
    http://youtu.be/ZY0cdXr_1MA
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Misty on youtube, she's gorgeous!
    http://youtu.be/ZY0cdXr_1MA

    I got sucked into several interviews with her- seriously- she's pretty fabulous- she's a lovely person- and a fabulous dancer- and I love that she's clawed her way into the dance world.

    To me- as a "none dancer" body type- it's really inspiring. The bellydance world is much more losey goosey about such things- but the program I am requires real hard efgggin work- and while we don't exclude body types- hard work is a requirement- and all of it gives me hope- that even though I'm not a "dance body" there is no question- I AM a dancer- and anyone who wants to dance- can DANCE. and not just in their kitchen.
  • AglaeaC
    AglaeaC Posts: 1,974 Member
    Misty on youtube, she's gorgeous!
    http://youtu.be/ZY0cdXr_1MA

    I got sucked into several interviews with her- seriously- she's pretty fabulous- she's a lovely person- and a fabulous dancer- and I love that she's clawed her way into the dance world.

    To me- as a "none dancer" body type- it's really inspiring. The bellydance world is much more losey goosey about such things- but the program I am requires real hard efgggin work- and while we don't exclude body types- hard work is a requirement- and all of it gives me hope- that even though I'm not a "dance body" there is no question- I AM a dancer- and anyone who wants to dance- can DANCE. and not just in their kitchen.
    She sounds humble and kind. I've lost count how many ballets I've seen and sure, it is "art", but one youtube comment made me snort a bit; "ballet dancers aren't athletes, they are Artists"...I feel like I should dust off that person a bit.
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Muscle is muscle. This will explain it better than I or anyone else can...

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/i-dont-want-to-get-too-big/
    No disrespect intended, but "muscle is muscle" to me sounds like you're saying "a car is a car". Who is "anyone else"?

    Because muscle IS muscle. There are different types of muscle fibres but those don't have a massive impact on size. Everyone has a mixture of the types - some may have more than others, but it's the amount of muscle that you have makes you have "bulky" muscles.

    If you have large muscles you just have more muscle. There is no such thing as bulky and lean muscle.
    Sure, but if there is a question on the specifics of histology, I do think it is a vital detail to discuss for instance what is behind "bulking"; increase in cell amount and/or cell volume. Also the different types of fibres are interesting to learn more about in general. So when you say "you just have more muscle", with the naked eye most of us will agree with you, but how about the microscope? More muscle could be anything and my perception of the OP was that "more muscle" was dissatisfactory.

    I'm impressed the you know that the op wants a scientific breakdown rather than just the basics.

    It is not a vital detail to discuss the histology - in fact you are making it needlessly complicated and probably confusing the issue. If you want to learn specifics about fibre types feel free to google. I certainly don't have time to write up an essay of an answer.
    If you read my first comment, I don't know what the OP wants, since there is no further posts from them; I was guessing.

    Thanks for the reminder that google exists.

    You're welcome. :flowerforyou:

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