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Does running make your legs bulkier?

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violetjin123
violetjin123 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I started running a few weeks ago n noticed that my legs are getting bulkier. Ive lost 4 pounds. But I don't want my legs to appear thick.
Is running really make my legs bulkier ?
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Replies

  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
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    No, running does not make your legs bigger.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
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    Nope. I run 25-40 miles a week and my legs are much smaller than when I started.
  • violetjin123
    violetjin123 Posts: 7 Member
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    Do you have any ideas why it's getting bulkier? When I googled it, it said its water weight n I would lose it if I keep running. Some say it's because I'm running like a sprinter (high speed, low distance).
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
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    How much bigger are they?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
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    Note the particularly bulky legs of runners...

    kenyan_runners.jpg

    shutterstock1067594481.jpg

    5k-Specific-Training-Learning-from-Elite-Runners-PIN.png

    1500m-London-460.jpg

    no...running does not make your legs "bulky"....unless you have some other definition than I do.
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
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    If you look at runners, they're generally very thin with good muscle definition in their legs, but they're certainly not bulky. I walk on a treadmill on a pretty good incline 6-7 days a week and my legs are much smaller, although stronger. Strong doesn't equal bulky and huge.
  • violetjin123
    violetjin123 Posts: 7 Member
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    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
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    violetjin123 wrote: »
    Do you have any ideas why it's getting bulkier? When I googled it, it said its water weight n I would lose it if I keep running. Some say it's because I'm running like a sprinter (high speed, low distance).

    I was a sprinter...it took me years as an athletic male to get "bulky" sprinters legs....

    also, if they were getting bigger and bulkier, you would be gaining weight, not losing it...
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
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    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
    2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
    3 - you're likely retaining water
    4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.
  • violetjin123
    violetjin123 Posts: 7 Member
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    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
    2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
    3 - you're likely retaining water
    4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.

    If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
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    violetjin123 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
    2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
    3 - you're likely retaining water
    4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.

    If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?

    You just need to be patient and wait.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
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    violetjin123 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
    2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
    3 - you're likely retaining water
    4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.

    If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?

    If your muscles are retaining water, they need it. It helps in the repair process. Don't try to force your body to release fluid it needs. Wait it out.
  • violetjin123
    violetjin123 Posts: 7 Member
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    Should I keep running while waiting or only start running again after losing all those water.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
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    Now that I have lost fat you can see the muscle definition better in my legs, but they haven't grown in size. My thighs are smaller than they used to be, and I lift heavy in addition to running.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
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    diannethegeek wrote: »
    violetjin123 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    1 - you don't gain muscle mass when you're dieting...you are catabolic
    2 - all muscle is lean, squatting or not. i squat...my wife squats...our legs look normal.
    3 - you're likely retaining water
    4 - it is very difficult to actually "bulk" with a proper weight training program...never mind running. narry impossible.

    If I'm retaining water, how do I get rid of it?

    If your muscles are retaining water, they need it. It helps in the repair process. Don't try to force your body to release fluid it needs. Wait it out.

    giphy.gif

    OP...it means our body is functioning the way it's supposed to in order to repair itself...
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
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    When you exercise your muscles fill with water and glycogen to repair muscle and provide energy.

    Especially if you just started, you are likely retaining some water.

    The only reason your legs look bulky is because the muscle you DO have is covered with fat.
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
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    violetjin123 wrote: »
    I can't describe how big but they are starting to get bigger. N I can feel my jeans getting tighter.
    Like I only want to have lean muscle. Not the type of muscle you gain when you squat.

    Honey... you're female. Do you have any idea how HARD it is for women to bulk up? That is almost certainly not gonna happen to you unless you are going WAY out of your way to bulk up on purpose. Lean muscles, the kind you are talking about, are the ones you'll end up with if you don't go full-steam building/bulking plan. You don't have to worry about this. And you can do all the squats you want and STILL not have to worry about this. Women in particular have to take a whole bunch of extra steps to bulk out: the vast majority of us work out and end up SMALLER. Keep running, feel free to do some squats, and stop worrying.

    As for why your legs are bigger now, you're probably packing some water weight. This could be just cause we do that, and it could also be the intensity of your exercise. Muscles getting broken down via exercise and rebuilding require quite a lot of water. It will go away. Running is excellent for you, please don't stop doing it because you're worried about something that is completely out of the realm of stuff you have to worry about.
  • laurenlmt
    laurenlmt Posts: 141 Member
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    You just need to be patient and wait.[/quote]

    Good advice it took me about 1 months before I noticed any difference in my legs when running 4 times a week. And about 2 months from others :smile:
  • laurenlmt
    laurenlmt Posts: 141 Member
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    Drink more water if you are retaining water!
  • laurenlmt
    laurenlmt Posts: 141 Member
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    seriously though drink more water, if you dont log your water consumption you should. That is the healthiest way to get rid of water weight.

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