Lean VS Bulky (help)
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ellieebxx1
Posts: 14 Member
So! Since the last time I've posted, I've started the SL5x5 and today is gonna be the last weightlifting day of the week. But this week has got me thinking..
My goal is a leaner, stronger body. Not a bulky, huge body. Should this affect the way I'm lifting/training? Or does this have more to do with what I'm eating ?
FYI...
I'm 154 cm (a bit over 5'0)
49.3 kg (108.7 lbs)
I aim to add more protein in my diet through foods like chicken breast, tuna, eggs, etc
I cut out white bread and white rice out of my diet
I rarely ever eat out/drink anything other than fruit juices or water
Right now I aim to be in caloric deficit as my goal is a lower %BF
Anything I could/should be doing to help me achieve my fitness goals? Thank you guys so much in advance 💕
My goal is a leaner, stronger body. Not a bulky, huge body. Should this affect the way I'm lifting/training? Or does this have more to do with what I'm eating ?
FYI...
I'm 154 cm (a bit over 5'0)
49.3 kg (108.7 lbs)
I aim to add more protein in my diet through foods like chicken breast, tuna, eggs, etc
I cut out white bread and white rice out of my diet
I rarely ever eat out/drink anything other than fruit juices or water
Right now I aim to be in caloric deficit as my goal is a lower %BF
Anything I could/should be doing to help me achieve my fitness goals? Thank you guys so much in advance 💕
0
Replies
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To me, looking bulky comes from having excess fat on top of muscles. Being leaner makes you look less bulky...
Getting muscles big enough to look bulky even when lean would require years of focused training and probably some extra assistance.5 -
You have nothing to worry about. You won't get bulky, and except for enough protein to support muscle growth in general, nothing else will matter as much as a good workout routine.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/894293-ladies-weight-lifting-will-make-something-bulky
Oh, if weight is healthy but higher BF% then you'd like - suggest focus on lifting and eat at maintenance - makes it easier to transform faster to lose that BF and gain muscle.
At some point when stronger, the SL5X5 can be swapped for another progressive program that hits more muscles.4 -
Please read this article (written by a woman, for a woman's perspective) - it will answer a lot of questions for you: https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/strength-training/heavy-bulky/4
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don't worry, you wont accidentally get bulky overnight.
when you get to a body composition that you like, you can work to maintain it.5 -
Thanks for all the lovely replies! I read the articles and they definitely did put my mind to ease0
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You won’t produce enough testosterone to get “manly” bulky. Muscle growth will benefit greatly and really help with fat burning.1
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As mentioned, most women won't get bulky from lifting in a deficit or even with bulk cycles, especially not all of a sudden. But that also depends on their definition of bulky. Some women actually get really lean and think they look bulky because the muscle shows more. Others consider bulky like the above, muscle + fat together, and others think too much muscle or certain proportions is bulky.
I run bulk cycles and while I don't consider myself bulky, I am more muscular than average and might be too much for some people. I would imagine if I keep putting on mass, there could come a point where I could get bulky (by my own standards). But this clearly takes very hard and focused work and it clearly wouldn't just happen suddenly.2 -
As mentioned, most women won't get bulky from lifting in a deficit or even with bulk cycles, especially not all of a sudden. But that also depends on their definition of bulky. Some women actually get really lean and think they look bulky because the muscle shows more. Others consider bulky like the above, muscle + fat together, and others think too much muscle or certain proportions is bulky.
I run bulk cycles and while I don't consider myself bulky, I am more muscular than average and might be too much for some people. I would imagine if I keep putting on mass, there could come a point where I could get bulky (by my own standards). But this clearly takes very hard and focused work and it clearly wouldn't just happen suddenly.
This all day long. I eat in a surplus more often than not and still am not bulky, though I actually wouldn't mind being "bulky."2 -
While I agree with what everyone else is saying, I'm going to take a slightly different angle with my answer...
"lean" and "bulky" are subjective terms. What you think is lean or bulky or skinny or fit or whatever else may be very different from what someone else thinks of relative to those terms. So without knowing what YOU mean by lean vs bulky, we can't really say whether or not you should change up your programming.
Ultimately though, no changes happen quickly. You won't wake up in 4 weeks and not recognize yourself. If you go to a family reunion next year, people will still know who you are. So the answer to your question is... Get on a good lifting program and manage your intake (which it seems like you're doing). Then just monitor your progress. If you get to where you don't like what you're seeing, then change things up. But based on where you're at now, based on what you said in your post, there's no reason to change something proactively. You're off to a good start. Keep going and see how things go.3 -
It takes a lot of effort and work to get "bulky". It's not just going to happen accidentally. I will never be super muscular and lean because I'm simply not willing to put that much effort into it.1
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More awesome heavy-lifting females. Check out these threads, too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1120789/females-only-lifting-weight-training-results/p11 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »More awesome heavy-lifting females. Check out these threads, too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1120789/females-only-lifting-weight-training-results/p1
You could also google the female 56 kg record holders and see how bulky they look.1 -
stanmann571 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »More awesome heavy-lifting females. Check out these threads, too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1120789/females-only-lifting-weight-training-results/p1
You could also google the female 56 kg record holders and see how bulky they look.
I'm pretty sure the 84 kg is where it's at!
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quiksylver296 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »More awesome heavy-lifting females. Check out these threads, too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1120789/females-only-lifting-weight-training-results/p1
You could also google the female 56 kg record holders and see how bulky they look.
I'm pretty sure the 84 kg is where it's at!
May be, but I don't think anyone has ever accused this young lady of being bulky.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariša_Golob2 -
Davidsdottir wrote: »As mentioned, most women won't get bulky from lifting in a deficit or even with bulk cycles, especially not all of a sudden. But that also depends on their definition of bulky. Some women actually get really lean and think they look bulky because the muscle shows more. Others consider bulky like the above, muscle + fat together, and others think too much muscle or certain proportions is bulky.
I run bulk cycles and while I don't consider myself bulky, I am more muscular than average and might be too much for some people. I would imagine if I keep putting on mass, there could come a point where I could get bulky (by my own standards). But this clearly takes very hard and focused work and it clearly wouldn't just happen suddenly.
This all day long. I eat in a surplus more often than not and still am not bulky, though I actually wouldn't mind being "bulky."
Yea 3 bulks later and still I look like I've never touched a weight (haha.. ok slight exaggeration but still)
0 -
Davidsdottir wrote: »As mentioned, most women won't get bulky from lifting in a deficit or even with bulk cycles, especially not all of a sudden. But that also depends on their definition of bulky. Some women actually get really lean and think they look bulky because the muscle shows more. Others consider bulky like the above, muscle + fat together, and others think too much muscle or certain proportions is bulky.
I run bulk cycles and while I don't consider myself bulky, I am more muscular than average and might be too much for some people. I would imagine if I keep putting on mass, there could come a point where I could get bulky (by my own standards). But this clearly takes very hard and focused work and it clearly wouldn't just happen suddenly.
This all day long. I eat in a surplus more often than not and still am not bulky, though I actually wouldn't mind being "bulky."
Yea 3 bulks later and still I look like I've never touched a weight (haha.. ok slight exaggeration but still)
What's that line about our worst critics...?0 -
Please read this article (written by a woman, for a woman's perspective) - it will answer a lot of questions for you: https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/strength-training/heavy-bulky/
a third of respondents said that Jessica Biel looks bulky
Oh my. 0 -
5 -
stanmann571 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »stanmann571 wrote: »quiksylver296 wrote: »More awesome heavy-lifting females. Check out these threads, too.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/977538/halp-heavy-lifting-made-me-supah-bulky/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1045433/women-lifting-heavy-with-pics/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1120789/females-only-lifting-weight-training-results/p1
You could also google the female 56 kg record holders and see how bulky they look.
I'm pretty sure the 84 kg is where it's at!
May be, but I don't think anyone has ever accused this young lady of being bulky.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariša_Golob
Actually she looks to be what, IMO, is "bulky". Not my personal ideal. But I'm sure it takes a ton of work by her to get that body, and OP needn't worry about that happening to her accidentally if she doesn't like that look.0 -
Please read this article (written by a woman, for a woman's perspective) - it will answer a lot of questions for you: https://www.girlsgonestrong.com/blog/strength-training/heavy-bulky/
a third of respondents said that Jessica Biel looks bulky Oh my.
Jessica Biel's body = perfection!
1
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