Female who WANTS to get a little bulky?

2»

Replies

  • eating4me
    eating4me Posts: 239 Member
    You can do it! It takes a LOT of heavy lifting, and a LOT of food. Compound lifts, super sets, progressive sets, giant sets -- will get you to where you want to be, but it doesn't happen overnight. You burn many more calories when you have a greater percentage of lean muscle mass, so you need to eat a tremendous amount of food, or it's easy to lose muscle mass & weight....at least this is what I'm finding out, but I'm by no means a professional. My goals are the same as yours. Read everything you can get your hands on about bodybuilding, and ignore the haters--you'll hear people telling you "Don't get any bigger, you don't want to look like a man" -- but that's their problem. Enjoy the journey! I wish I would have started lifting heavy a long time ago. I'll be 57 in December.
  • Arydria
    Arydria Posts: 179 Member
    I'd also mention that it's going to be easier if you are following a well defined lifting program with progressive resistance. A lot of people don't have the experience to write an effective lifting program.

    Could you link me to any programs you know that have had high success rate? I'm currently doing my own routine, and I'm getting good results, but I want the best. Thank you.

    any program that's progressive will be good- and any program you'll do.

    The which one is largely irrelevant- building a really solid base of STRENGTH before really hammaring for size is wise (Remeber Arnold started young with Oly lifting before switching to body building)

    We often suggest something like strong lifts- starting strength- new rules of lifting- this will just get you strong- and you can really pack on some size and then go for definition later.

    You don't have to do it that way- but it's a good way to go- gives you something to work with.

    In all honesty, if she really wants to look like that, she needs to shell out some money for a qualified (not just certified) personal trainer who has experience in training figure competitors.

    ^This. A good trainer can work with you on both lifting and nutrition to meet your goals. But remember that getting a competition ready body requires strict discipline and hard work (and a seemingly endless supply of egg whites!) I know several competitors, and the reality is they look like normal people in the off season.

    If you can afford it, hire a trainer. They'll help you reach YOUR goals.
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member

    "do the thing"

    C'mon Jo, do the thing. :wink:
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    aw- I'll have take a new one- I don't have a any good/recent "do the thing" pictures!!!
  • CoachChris78
    CoachChris78 Posts: 30 Member
    or get into Crossfit so you learn proper form.

    Ha, ha, ha, ha

    so funny

    Oh wait were you being serious?
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    If you continue eating 1800 calories a day, there's no way you'll bulk.
  • Docbanana2002
    Docbanana2002 Posts: 357 Member
    Just took a quick look at your diary too. You're going to need A LOT more than 1800 net calories to bulk...I guarantee it.

    Oh my, yes! I have to eat at least 2,400!

    I currently have my goal set to 1800 calories, meaning I burn 500 minimum at the gym, 1300 is my bmr, and then I add 200 calories to get a surplus... but this is not what I actually eat, its just so that I can plan ahead of time. I wear a heart rate monitor in the gym, and whatever calories it says I burn over 500, I add on to my exercise, and eat it back a long with the 200 calorie surplus. It usually is around 2300.

    If you are just 200 above your BMR (plus eating back exercise calories) then you are still in a deficit mode, aren't you? How are you accounting for the calories burned while driving around, working, conducting your daily life outside of the gym? If you are doing something other than sleeping on the couch outside the gym, those aren't factored into your BMR.
  • mereditheve
    mereditheve Posts: 142 Member
    or get into Crossfit so you learn proper form.

    Ha, ha, ha, ha

    so funny

    Oh wait were you being serious?

    I thought the same thing... not bashing Crossfit, but it's not exactly about form....
  • Katzedernacht
    Katzedernacht Posts: 266 Member
    or get into Crossfit so you learn proper form.

    Ha, ha, ha, ha

    so funny

    Oh wait were you being serious?

    I thought the same thing... not bashing Crossfit, but it's not exactly about form....

    :B sometimes you sacrifice speed for proper form.
    Yeh I've done CF
    now I'm mixing it with weightlifting.
    I am more careful with my form than I was.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    or get into Crossfit so you learn proper form.

    Ha, ha, ha, ha

    so funny

    Oh wait were you being serious?

    I thought the same thing... not bashing Crossfit, but it's not exactly about form....

    :B sometimes you sacrifice speed for proper form.
    Yeh I've done CF
    now I'm mixing it with weightlifting.
    I am more careful with my form than I was.

    You bumped almost a year old thread to whiteknight cross fit?
  • Nickers5405
    Nickers5405 Posts: 32 Member
    One thing to take into account as well is some of those women are dieting and cutting down leading up to when you see them on stage. They may look different in between shows or during their off season.

    Like male body builders and physique competitors, when they look They're best on stage they're usually at their weakest
  • stephxo1
    stephxo1 Posts: 191 Member
    Drop me a PM if you want some advice. I did a bulk between December-June of this year eating 3000 cals a day, following a strict lifting program called PMB and added 17lbs to my frame in that timescale. Bodyfat went up to around 25% as I got myself pretty lean before bulking. This is also important when you start so that you don't get put off when you start gaining some fat. And carbs will be your friend while bulking to keep strength up when lifting, I was averaging 350g a day at the time. I'm cutting at the mo on between 1800-2000 cals so you're going to have to up the calorie intake if you're wanting to see some gains. Good luck and it can be done with the right mindset and determination.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    stephxo1 wrote: »
    Drop me a PM if you want some advice. I did a bulk between December-June of this year eating 3000 cals a day, following a strict lifting program called PMB and added 17lbs to my frame in that timescale. Bodyfat went up to around 25% as I got myself pretty lean before bulking. This is also important when you start so that you don't get put off when you start gaining some fat. And carbs will be your friend while bulking to keep strength up when lifting, I was averaging 350g a day at the time. I'm cutting at the mo on between 1800-2000 cals so you're going to have to up the calorie intake if you're wanting to see some gains. Good luck and it can be done with the right mindset and determination.

    Wow, sounds like you did amazing on your bulk! OP, I have nothing to add, but you've gotten some advice from some people with great experience. Good luck with the bulk!
  • slaite1
    slaite1 Posts: 1,307 Member
    JoRocka wrote: »
    or get into Crossfit so you learn proper form.

    Ha, ha, ha, ha

    so funny

    Oh wait were you being serious?

    I thought the same thing... not bashing Crossfit, but it's not exactly about form....

    :B sometimes you sacrifice speed for proper form.
    Yeh I've done CF
    now I'm mixing it with weightlifting.
    I am more careful with my form than I was.

    You bumped almost a year old thread to whiteknight cross fit?

    How about that flexing pic?
  • sweetochiken
    sweetochiken Posts: 51 Member
    ishkur wrote: »
    I see tons of posts about women being afraid that if they lift more than a pink 5lb weight they will explode into a she-hulk overnight, and tons of posts and articles about how its impossible for that to happen, that "women can't get bulky, they just get a toned figure". Which is nice and all, but I personally want to look athletic, maybe more than athletic. I want to look close to those who compete in Figure, or maybe between Figure and Physique. Which to me isn't too bulky to me, its just right. I was wondering if it is possible to reach that sort of fitness naturally, without steroids? I currently am bulking and lift around 6 hours a week, what would it take to reach that if it is possible? I'm willing to put my all into it, its something I want a lot, and have looked up to strong women since I was a kid. Could maybe some of you tell me how you started, and your stories to reach you're figure? Thanks!

    Hey lady, i'm trying to do the same thing as you, and it's even tougher since i am breastfeeding. Especially when i cant take preworkouts or recovery drinks. So i stuck by counting my MACROS, and seriously has changed my life. Ive been counting for 6 wks, (fell off the wagon a few times, its very maticulous). But i was 4 months post partum when i started my journey, and i weighed 135 lbs(im 5'7"), started my macros diet at 129lbs and the lbs melted away. I now weigh 120, and i see muscle!. I am so proud of myself. I know i can be even more muscular, but i got a kid off for the summer and a very active 6 month old. Anyway, prep your meals, label them, freeze them for freshness , and you wont be tempted to eat crap. It is possible to achieve muscular goals lol, without all the supplements. For sure i take protein, but thats about it. I eat while i workout (like a carb, so a banana and a granola bar) it helps a ton, gives me a natural boost of energy. Also, i eat a ton! Lol i nurse so i have to eat an absurd amount of calories, on a upper body day i do 170 g of protein (normal amount for non-nursing ladies is 150g) carbs is at 240, and fats are at 50. On leg day i have to eat more carbs so that number goes up to 270. So i am eatung between 1800-2100 calories on a given day.At first i started with 150g(p), 200g (c) and 30g (f). I was starving, but you will get used to it. Sorry this became a crazy rant, but i am also looking to become a phisique (or bikini at first) competitor; theres a npc competition in november and im hoping to make it to my goal so i can compete.
This discussion has been closed.