We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
HALP! Heavy Lifting Made Me SUPAH Bulky!!!
Replies
-
gradchica27 wrote: »I'm just getting huuuge, ladies. If by huge I really mean 5lbs and one size below my lightest/smallest size as an adult. I hit 70lbs lost today--and finally got to 100 lbs on my deadlift! I am so excited, but no one IRL gets my excitement...so I just needed to share here
That's awesome!! We totally get you.3 -
It's not a myth. Some women, depending on their build and body fat distribution, do get bigger.
FFS only with "intervention"...women can't get "huge" just doing regular lifting and eating enough...smh10 -
This content has been removed.
-
Hi guys. I have finally gotten a spot cleared out in the basement for my weights! I am in the process of figuring out where to start...I am a beginner, besides doing things like body beast and chalean extreme, but thats a whole different thing. I have been looking in to strong lifts 5x5 and the NROWL for women. Any advice or suggestions? I am looking forward to this new adventure and finally feeling motivated again. Plus its something I've wanted to get in to for a long time now.
Did you read New Rules yet? I'd say read it. You'll get a better idea of the program and if you don't want to do it there is a lot to take away from it, and it's a fun read. I think I did it in an afternoon or so.
There is a big difference between the two programs. If you want to get under the barbell, lift heavy, and not mess around with jack kniving on fitness balls and crap, then go for SL. If you like all the accessory work and super setting, go for New Rules.
ETA don't forget you can also add a bit of accessory work to Strong Lifts in time as well. SL with accessories is basically the program Ice Cream Fitness.6 -
This content has been removed.
-
I'm so happy to see another woman that looks like me! I'm a breast cancer survivor who didn't do reconstruction either, but I'm still sporting my radiation tan and my scars aren't as faded as yours yet. Great job on your body!!Kerryatoon wrote: »I'm just getting started in weight lifting but here is my progress so far. The first pics I was losing weight eating at a deficit and doing cardio.. 12 lbs later I'm doing a 5x5 program. I'm looking super bulky right?
FYI: I'm a breast cancer survivor without reconstruction.. if my scars offend you I'm so not sorry.
23 -
shortchange1 wrote: »I'm so happy to see another woman that looks like me! I'm a breast cancer survivor who didn't do reconstruction either, but I'm still sporting my radiation tan and my scars aren't as faded as yours yet. Great job on your body!!
We are so proud of you ladies! It's NEVER EVER offensive to see brave and very strong women, you inspire me and make me brave and strong too.6 -
starting over since baby and here is current progress
have bodpod scheduled for 9/9 to figure out what my body fat is at.
I follow ice cream fitness. with a few of the modification listed in the link below.
https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/jason-blaha-ice-cream-fitness-5x5-novice-workout17 -
Bump0
-
I love this thread! Before I had my youngest and when I was at my fittest, I lifted heavy 4 days a week. I was still a little young and dumb, though, and while I did take measurements and progress pics, I was still a slave to a number on the scale. I often felt like a failure because I couldn't seem to get into the elusive 120's. (I'm 5'4") I look back at those old pics now, and realized I was in fantastic shape at 136-138#. Reading this thread has helped me understand that there comes a point when one must stop relying on the scale. It won't give the full story!
I've been sedentary my last kiddo was born *cough*7yearsago*cough* and I've recently started getting back into working out and getting a handle on my eats. (I've sadly got a lot of damage to undo.) Despite having personally experienced the benefits of lifting, I was toying with the idea of waiting to add it to my regime until I've lost more pounds. Thank you for reminding me that I'll get better results if I lift now.
(By the way, I started lifting last week--but ya'll just showed me that I made the right decision!)
P.S. What is TDEE? I don't remember that acronym from my fitness days nearly a decade ago. Thanks!8 -
Total Daily Energy Expenditurepandahead76 wrote: »
P.S. What is TDEE? I don't remember that acronym from my fitness days nearly a decade ago. Thanks!
Happy lifting!
1 -
DontStopB_Leakin wrote: »Before, a few months prior to heavy lifting:
170 lbs. Size 12 dress. Approximately 30% BF.
Waist = 33 inches
Hips = 41 inches
Under bust = 38 inches
Thighs = 23 inches
Arms = 13 inches
Now, 5 months after starting a progressive loading heavy lifting program:
151.8 lbs. Size 4 dress. Approximately 20% BF.
Waist = 27 inches
Hips = 36.5 inches
Under bust = 31 inches
Thighs = 21.5 inches
Arms = 11 inches
17.2 lbs lost. 4 sizes lost. Approximately 10% BF lost. 21 inches (and counting) lost.
Still think heavy lifting will make you "bulky?" Think again.
Heavy lifting ladies, I invite you to post YOUR before and after pics. Maybe, just maybe, we can attempt to snuff out this, "WEIGHT LIFTING WILL MAKE ME HYOOOOGE" myth.
Wooow you look fantastic - well done you! My measurements are just a little bit more than yours are now but I want the toned effect you have! So I'm a bit of virgin with weights- do you lift the heavy weights in a gym? I have dumb bells at home I use every day they are timing my arms n shoulders that's it tho! Do you only do weights? Or cardio as well xx0 -
lauraemily84 wrote: »Wooow you look fantastic - well done you! My measurements are just a little bit more than yours are now but I want the toned effect you have! So I'm a bit of virgin with weights- do you lift the heavy weights in a gym? I have dumb bells at home I use every day they are timing my arms n shoulders that's it tho! Do you only do weights? Or cardio as well xx
The OP started this thread over three years ago - I don't think she's on MFP any more!
1 -
IILikeToMoveItMoveIt wrote: »Total Daily Energy Expenditure
Happy lifting!
Thank you!1 -
-
Oh wow, @arditarose you are stunning
3 -
It's a darn shame.
0 -
0
-
.1
-
FFS only with "intervention"...women can't get "huge" just doing regular lifting and eating enough...smh
They may not get "huge", but they may get bigger than they like.1 -
Hey Arditarose
If I can tell you anything about heavy weight lifting is DON'T FORGET CARDIO. I did heavy weight lifting for 20yrs. without CARDIO. When I was 42yrs I had TIA stroke from enlarged heart from not doing CARDIO. Lifting heavy and playing ball was my passion. When the heart Dr. said no more heavy lifting I lost my drive. So I quit everything, I know now that that was dumb. I could have just picked up lighter weights and more reps, biking, or other CARDIO. I'm not saying this could happen to you, Just make sure you have good CARDIO. With my sugar out of control last year. I had been walking and losing, but Dr. said you need to do more. So hello gym I now doing 30 to 40 Minutes of CARDIO. My old mind wants to lift those heavy weights so bad. So I do lighters weights and a lot of reps. But I don't stop telling others at the gym when I see them lifting only heavy weights without CARDIO, you need to add CARDIO to your workout and why. I'm over 60 now and I do not want to discourage any one from their goals. I know how quickly goals can be shattered. You have made great progress and the last thing I would want is to hurt your amazing progress.11 -
I still have a ways to go to where I want to be but lifting was the best choice I made to get there.42 -
bigguyreed wrote: »Hey Arditarose
If I can tell you anything about heavy weight lifting is DON'T FORGET CARDIO. I did heavy weight lifting for 20yrs. without CARDIO. When I was 42yrs I had TIA stroke from enlarged heart from not doing CARDIO. Lifting heavy and playing ball was my passion. When the heart Dr. said no more heavy lifting I lost my drive. So I quit everything, I know now that that was dumb. I could have just picked up lighter weights and more reps, biking, or other CARDIO. I'm not saying this could happen to you, Just make sure you have good CARDIO. With my sugar out of control last year. I had been walking and losing, but Dr. said you need to do more. So hello gym I now doing 30 to 40 Minutes of CARDIO. My old mind wants to lift those heavy weights so bad. So I do lighters weights and a lot of reps. But I don't stop telling others at the gym when I see them lifting only heavy weights without CARDIO, you need to add CARDIO to your workout and why. I'm over 60 now and I do not want to discourage any one from their goals. I know how quickly goals can be shattered. You have made great progress and the last thing I would want is to hurt your amazing progress.
Thank you?2 -
They may not get "huge", but they may get bigger than they like.
@SezxyStef is correct, and this is a ridiculous argument. If anyone gets bigger than s/he wants to be, that person can stop lifting. Unless you think our little lady-brains are too dim to figure that out.10 -
amyrebeccah wrote: »
Absolutely, but I will say I love the shade 19-year-old you is throwing at the camera.
lolol. I have like no full body pictures of me during my fat years. I finally came across that and was embarrassed but oh well. Probably drinking jungle juice.2 -
Hah yeah the "I don't want to lift because I'll get bulky" thing is ridiculous. As if you can just pack slabs of muscle onto your body by accident. Transformations take a long time and adding muscle is not easy, its not something you are going to wake up and go "oh noes I'm huge now".
No one gets "bulky" by mistake.13 -
Pinklacroix wrote: »
I still have a ways to go to where I want to be but lifting was the best choice I made to get there.
Wow fantastic
4 -
I've lost 83 lbs doing mostly lifting. I've recently started doing cardio only because I've torn the tendon in my right arm (tennis elbow) so not able to lift anything right now. Mainly doing SL 5x5 or variants thereof.
Here's my before and afters (during really, as I'm still working on weight loss). First pic is around 235 lbs, 2nd pic is about a month ago, at around 162 (?) lbs. My current weight is 156.0 lbs.
Feel free to ask any questions
43
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.6K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions
Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!