How to get lean muscles and not bulky?

Ballet workouts are super!

An aerobics teacher told me that stretching after exercising is important if I didn't want bulky calves but long slender looking muscles in my calves. I do stretch my legs out quiet a bit so far no bulk.

Does anyone know if this is myth or fact? I was wondering this myself. (articles or research on this would be very helpful)

Stretching is always good after a workout. I've read that ballet dancers stretch after a workout to prevent bulkiness.

Ballet workouts are good.

Ballet is a great workout. I did ballet and the stretching was to improve flexibility not prevent bulkiness. Woman don't get "bulky" they get very toned and lean. I think when you say bulky you're talking about that, not the male bulky.

.......there are, in fact, some users on this site that are experts. Some of these people have devoted their lives to the study of the human body, and to the training of those of us who have not done this study. Not everyone is on this site because they need to lose weight, or even because they have ever had to lose weight. Some are here to gain, and some are here solely to support those of us that have questions on how to do this. I, for one, appreciate their time and advice.

I do as well ! - Thanks to each and everyone.

Leksandra, you have a right to ask questions and not only that, everyone should respect you. No one on here is an expert. Everyone is sharing their opinion.

AZackery - there are, in fact, some users on this site that are experts. Some of these people have devoted their lives to the study of the human body, and to the training of those of us who have not done this study. Not everyone is on this site because they need to lose weight, or even because they have ever had to lose weight. Some are here to gain, and some are here solely to support those of us that have questions on how to do this. I, for one, appreciate their time and advice.

Vim_n_vigor, believe who you want. I've study the human body myself and I have a degree to back that up, but my degree is not important.

I know that everyone on here is not here to lose weight. People are going to believe what they want and who they want. I don't come on forums to change anyone's mind.

The OP wanted to know how to get lean muscle and not bulky, I've suggest Cardio Sculpt. A person can agree with that or disagree. It doesn't matter.

A lot of people believe that a woman should lift heavy. I disagree with that. I don't have to lift heavy to get the body I'm aiming for. That's all I'm going to say about that matter.

Again, a person can believe whomever they want, but a person shouldn't think that because a person isn't "so and so" they don't know what they are talking about. It's easy to look up information on the internet and repeat it. It's also easy to claim to be anything on Myfitnesspal. I could claim to be a doctor and even put that in my signature.

People need to understand that everyone's body is different. I know people don't want to believe this, but it's true. A person can only speak for their own body.

My body is my canvas. I speak from experience. I can't and will never speak for another person's body and a person can't speak for mine.

Ballet is a great workout. I did ballet and the stretching was to improve flexibility not prevent bulkiness. Woman don't get "bulky" they get very toned and lean. I think when you say bulky you're talking about that, not the male bulky.

I've said that I've read that ballet dancers stretch to prevent bulkiness.I'm not a ballet dancer nor have I've ever been a ballet dancer, but I do own ballet workouts.

Yes, a woman can get bulky. People don't want to believe this, but it's true.

DISCLAIMER: Positive she won't see this, as I'm positive that she's ignoring me. Oh well...

Vim_n_vigor, believe who you want. I've study the human body myself and I have a degree to back that up, but my degree is not important.

Please back up your continual statements that women will always bulk up with weight lifting with some empirical data -- something beyond your experiences with your body.

I can't and will never speak for another person's body and a person can't speak for mine.

Then, please stop doing it.

quoted so she can see

Stretching doesn't, and can't prevent "bulkiness." That's just silly. Your muscle size and shape is genetic, and there is nothing you can do to change the shape of them. No amount of stretching will make them longer or leaner. It is physically impossible, unless you cut your muscle off the bone and surgically reattach it somewhere else.

Now, for the "bulk" vs "muscular" argument. If you don't want the defined muscular look, don't lower your body fat too much. A woman that just finished P90x doesn't look super muscular because she built up a ton of muscle, it's because she drastically lowered her body fat, allowing the muscles to show through. If you don't like that look, don't let your body fat get that low. As for not wanting to look bulky, that's got nothing to do with muscle definition, and all to do with excess body fat.

Without steroids a woman cannot get bulky.Best result is coming from light weights with high reps.
The leaner you get the less bulky your calves are going to be.

Incorrect. Depending on how you lift you can get bulky. Even if you are a women. It has nothing to do with male vs female.

Are you seriously trying to claim that testosterone levels don't have any effect on the amount of muscle one can gain?

Leksandra, you have a right to ask questions and not only that, everyone should respect you. No one on here is an expert. Everyone is sharing their opinion.

AZackery - there are, in fact, some users on this site that are experts. Some of these people have devoted their lives to the study of the human body, and to the training of those of us who have not done this study. Not everyone is on this site because they need to lose weight, or even because they have ever had to lose weight. Some are here to gain, and some are here solely to support those of us that have questions on how to do this. I, for one, appreciate their time and advice.

Vim_n_vigor, believe who you want. I've study the human body myself and I have a degree to back that up, but my degree is not important.

I know that everyone on here is not here to lose weight. People are going to believe what they want and who they want. I don't come on forums to change anyone's mind.

The OP wanted to know how to get lean muscle and not bulky, I've suggest Cardio Sculpt. A person can agree with that or disagree. It doesn't matter.

A lot of people believe that a woman should lift heavy. I disagree with that. I don't have to lift heavy to get the body I'm aiming for. That's all I'm going to say about that matter.

Again, a person can believe whomever they want, but a person shouldn't think that because a person isn't "so and so" they don't know what they are talking about. It's easy to look up information on the internet and repeat it. It's also easy to claim to be anything on Myfitnesspal. I could claim to be a doctor and even put that in my signature.

People need to understand that everyone's body is different. I know people don't want to believe this, but it's true. A person can only speak for their own body.

My body is my canvas. I speak from experience. I can't and will never speak for another person's body and a person can't speak for mine.

^^ Says the person with no weight loss ticker or proof of a weight loss journey!!


Sorry just pointing out the obvious

^^ Says the person with no weight loss ticker or proof of a weight loss journey!!


Sorry just pointing out the obvious

RyanDanielle5, I'm not trying to lose scale weight. So, why should I have a weight loss ticker? I have proof of my results, but you aren't going to see it. I don't have to prove myself to you.