Bulky muscle to lean muscle?

lizzynewm · April 2012

so this might be a silly question, but my friends were equally stumped when i asked them. is there any way to somehow "convert" bulky muscle to leaner muscle without allowing the bulkier muscle to deteriorate first? i have extremely bulked up thighs and calves from years of horseback riding and i would love to know if there's any way of leaning it out other than just losing fat in those areas. i'm really doubtful, but i've been surprised by the exciting new world of exercise before, and i know a lot of you seriously know your stuff!

meshashesha2012 · April 2012

there is no such thing as bulky muscle vs lean muscle. muscle is muscle.

if you want to reduce "bulk" then reduce the amount of body fat on top of the muscle

zanAspera · April 2012

Great job researching your answer. As a matter of fact there are different types of muscle fibers .

I know wikipedia is not always wholey accurate, but nothing on the internet is 100% accurate. More research to validate the references would be a good idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_striated_muscle

I quick read of the article suggest that doing sort strenuous exercise targets the while striated muscle fibers which tire easily rather than the blukier red straited fibers. If I read the article correctly that is... Try an interval training regimen rather than an endurance regimen,

Aperture_Science · April 2012

there is no such thing as bulky muscle vs lean muscle. muscle is muscle.

if you want to reduce "bulk" then reduce the amount of body fat on top of the muscle

^^this

Great job researching your answer. As a matter of fact there are different types of muscle fibers .

I know wikipedia is not always wholey accurate, but nothing on the internet is 100% accurate. More research to validate the references would be a good idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_striated_muscle

I quick read of the article suggest that doing sort strenuous exercise targets the while striated muscle fibers which tire easily rather than the blukier red straited fibers. If I read the article correctly that is... Try an interval training regimen rather than an endurance regimen,

^^not this

Lolli1986 · April 2012

i'd like to hear this one too.

i used to run 5K slow a few times a week and ended up with bulkier muscles.

i presume running = leaner since marathoners are lean; and lifting = bulkier since body builders are big... but perhaps longer distance running would be necessary... and there are plenty of lean women lifting.

personally i went the route of following my fitness goals and accepting my body within those goals, but i still wonder if i could get leaner leg muscles.

Lolli1986 · April 2012

@aperture_science (i'm presuming you've got science in your name for a reason here, don't mind me if i'm wrong)

cardio training and strength do primarily utilise different muscle fibres; slow-twitch and fast-twitch... are you saying each type gets equally big?

mogletdeluxe · April 2012

Another one watching this with interest; I have quite bulky calves and thighs so would like to see if there are any suggestions.

georgina1970 · April 2012

There are many different contributing factors such as genetics, muscle type (yes, striated and non-striated, fast or slow twitch muscle fibres,) and the type of excercises your muscles do each day. If your weight programme is light weight with high reps (15-20/set, 2-3 sets) then your muscles are unlikely to 'bulk up.' I would suggest you try this sort of programme, combined with cardio so you can maintain your fitness.

Aperture_Science · April 2012

@aperture_science (i'm presuming you've got science in your name for a reason here, don't mind me if i'm wrong)

Although I work in a scientific area and I have qualifications in Chemistry I'm not a doctor or qualified in exercise or nutrition. My name is derived form a video game. the only thing that qualifies me in this area is that I've been doing for a long time (on another site before this one) so take my advice as that of a member of the general public.

cardio training and strength do primarily utilise different muscle fibres; slow-twitch and fast-twitch... are you saying each type gets equally big?

Yes, different training techniques build different fibers but I feel that for someone new to structured eating and structured exercise (as the OP is) that level of detail is irrelevant, since any muscle mass will (as meshashesha20 points out) still be masked by body fat. So, my advice for the lizzynewm is; forget about trying to convert one type of muscle to another, which will be difficult, and concentrate on dropping that fat.

@lizzynewm, what type of exercise you choose, if any, is up to you. You will get as many opinions as there are members in MFP as to what is best but what is essential is that you eat to a calorie deficit to remove the fat. If you are pear shaped that may be because of your horse riding but could also be because of genetics: That being where you hold your weight. Either way, the bulk will decrease as your % body fat reduces.

Best wishes

Meggles63 · April 2012

Lifting heavy does NOT bulk up muscles. If you appear bulky, it's because there is fat in and around the muscles, fat that needs to be burned off. Cardio is one way to burn that fat, so that the muscle begins to appear. Muscle type applies to endurance vs. speed and has nothing to do with bulk. If you want to appear leaner, lift heavy and at a small deficit to burn the fat.

juan_carlos_f · April 2012

Bulk is nothing but fluid between the muscle fibers...whether it be blood (from working out), water, or fat...to get to lean muscle, reduce the levels of fluids in the muscle and/or increase the density of muscle fibers (you can do this through low weight/high rep strength training)...diet is an essential part of it as well...regular guys in the gym and bodybuilders have different agenda...guys in the gym usually workout with heavy weights to get bigger...bodybuilders workout for looks (i.e. definition) so the weights and repetitions are different...bulk does not necessarily equal fat, the same as super thin does not equal healthy...if definition is what you seek, your workout and diet must be tailored to attain this goal...some people (guys) bulk up on purpose to have a bigger frame to start chiseling out definition...

Aperture_Science · April 2012

There are many different contributing factors such as genetics, muscle type (yes, striated and non-striated, fast or slow twitch muscle fibres,) and the type of excercises your muscles do each day. If your weight programme is light weight with high reps (15-20/set, 2-3 sets) then your muscles are unlikely to 'bulk up.' I would suggest you try this sort of programme, combined with cardio so you can maintain your fitness.

Lift heavy, lift light, run, jump, swim, PX90, bodypump, Zumba, and on and on, the OP will not put on Bulk in the form of muscle unless she eats more than her maintenance calories per day. Even then, adding muscle for females is hard, very hard.

Aperture_Science · April 2012

i'd like to hear this one too.

i used to run 5K slow a few times a week and ended up with bulkier muscles.

i presume running = leaner since marathoners are lean; and lifting = bulkier since body builders are big... but perhaps longer distance running would be necessary... and there are plenty of lean women lifting.

personally i went the route of following my fitness goals and accepting my body within those goals, but i still wonder if i could get leaner leg muscles.

@Lolli1986 assuming you were on a calorie deficit during this period I would think that your bulkier muscles were actually fluid retention as your muscles retained water to repair form the running, not muscle growth.

It's true that many distance runners are lean, typically holding less fat AND less muscle than many other people. This is, in part because of the massive calorie expenditure in maintaining the fitness required to run distance. But also from the muscle depletion which occurs during distance running. Bodybuilders/strength athletes tend not to partake in distance running because of this muscle depletion and distance runners find it very, very hard to gain muscle mass (even in their legs) because of the extensive long steady cardio training.

Lolli1986 · April 2012

thanks @ aperture_science, for the explanation.

I would not have a clue if i was eating at a deficit at the time or not as I didn't count calories. I just ate healthy, and ate when i was hungry. I maintained the same weight from when i started running and for a year or so afterwards to when i was at my peak. i suppose i just have a large volume of leg muscle.

BeautyFromPain · April 2012

there is no such thing as bulky muscle vs lean muscle. muscle is muscle.

if you want to reduce "bulk" then reduce the amount of body fat on top of the muscle

^^this

Great job researching your answer. As a matter of fact there are different types of muscle fibers .

I know wikipedia is not always wholey accurate, but nothing on the internet is 100% accurate. More research to validate the references would be a good idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_striated_muscle

I quick read of the article suggest that doing sort strenuous exercise targets the while striated muscle fibers which tire easily rather than the blukier red straited fibers. If I read the article correctly that is... Try an interval training regimen rather than an endurance regimen,

^^not this

HeidiMightyRawr · April 2012

there is no such thing as bulky muscle vs lean muscle. muscle is muscle.

if you want to reduce "bulk" then reduce the amount of body fat on top of the muscle

^^this

Great job researching your answer. As a matter of fact there are different types of muscle fibers .

I know wikipedia is not always wholey accurate, but nothing on the internet is 100% accurate. More research to validate the references would be a good idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeletal_striated_muscle

I quick read of the article suggest that doing sort strenuous exercise targets the while striated muscle fibers which tire easily rather than the blukier red straited fibers. If I read the article correctly that is... Try an interval training regimen rather than an endurance regimen,

^^not this

All of this!!

If your muscles look bulky, it's likely that you just have too much fat in the same place. Lose overall body fat, and you will appear leaner.

gerard54 · April 2012

i dont know if this was posted already, but stetching after youtr workouts will give you that lean look...

monty619 · April 2012

all muscle is lean muscle... the bulky part is the fat on top of it.

EDIT: didnt look at previous answers they pretty much covered it.

bcattoes · April 2012

If you think your thighs are too bulky, then I'd suggest working the muscles aerobically. That should lose some of the fat and a little of the muscle without leaving them looking flabby.

LorinaLynn · April 2012

What worked for me is accepting that larger thighs are the result of doing activities I want to be able to do. I have some fat on my thighs because that's where my body stores fat, but a lot of it is muscle. And I love it.

I'd rather have bigger, stronger legs than weak, gazelle-like legs.

ninerbuff · April 2012

i dont know if this was posted already, but stetching after youtr workouts will give you that lean look...

False. If that were true then the "flexible" instructors who are overweight at Martial Arts studios would look lean.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff · April 2012

There's no such thing as "bulky" muscle and "lean" muscle. There fat on the muscle and between the muscle though. Reduce body fat to see a leaner you.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bcattoes · April 2012

I'd rather have bigger, stronger legs than weak, gazelle-like legs.

Sorry, but this struck me as funny. Gazelle-like legs would be anything but weak. I'd love to have gazelle-like legs. Long, lean and strong.

LorinaLynn · April 2012

I'd rather have bigger, stronger legs than weak, gazelle-like legs.

Sorry, but this struck me as funny. Gazelle-like legs would be anything but weak. I'd love to have gazelle-like legs. Long, lean and strong.

On a gazelle, sure. But when I had skinny legs, they were wimpy.

withervein · April 2012

In addition to the comments above, the shape of your muscle (minus the layer of flubber on top) is entirely determined by its mass and where the ligaments connect it to the bone.

If you have a short muscle, you can't lengthen it short of some pretty painful surgery, I'm guessing.

I always thought I just have large calf muscles and that's why I couldn't wear those cute high boots and skinny jeans. I lost about 30 pounds and while the skinny jeans still look stupid as all hell on me, the boots go on without a hitch these days.

It's fat. I still have some. That's fine.

I'm also stronger, healthier and I have these rockin boots that go over my calves now.

tenunderfour · April 2012

I'm under the impression that what most people consider "bulky" muscle is actually a nice, thick layer of fat on top!! I have a similar issue with my thighs...... and I'm coming to terms with it. Just gotta lose that fat!!

zanAspera · April 2012

Although I work in a scientific area and I have qualifications in Chemistry I'm not a doctor or qualified in exercise or nutrition. My name is derived form a video game. the only thing that qualifies me in this area is that I've been doing for a long time (on another site before this one) so take my advice as that of a member of the general public.

Portal is an awesome game! Err I mean at least two awesome games. Dependign if you count the challeges and the multipalyer modes as other games.

And just because "The cake is a lie" doesn't mean you don't need to log it. }}:P

JNick77 · April 2012

so this might be a silly question, but my friends were equally stumped when i asked them. is there any way to somehow "convert" bulky muscle to leaner muscle without allowing the bulkier muscle to deteriorate first? i have extremely bulked up thighs and calves from years of horseback riding and i would love to know if there's any way of leaning it out other than just losing fat in those areas. i'm really doubtful, but i've been surprised by the exciting new world of exercise before, and i know a lot of you seriously know your stuff!

A good friend of mine rides too and her legs are pretty nice, not sure how your legs are bulky. Size is more about diet, no such thing as bulky muscle, just have to reduce the bodyfat "protecting" it.

DocGu · April 2012

There is something to be said about good ol' genetics too. Exercise and diet helps and long distance running is certainly going to help but some people just have certain genetic predispositions. I love to run and I run 1-2 marathons a year and a host of other races and do relatively little weight lifting. My body resembles a "body builders" body far more then a "runners body." I will never have a long distance runners body, it's just not in the cards, I will also never run a sub 3:30 marathon either (pr is currently 3:52). With that being said, when I was lifting heavy my legs were like tree trunks, now that I am running long they are still fairly bulky but nothing compared to how they used to be.

dlwyatt82 · April 2012

Although I work in a scientific area and I have qualifications in Chemistry I'm not a doctor or qualified in exercise or nutrition. My name is derived form a video game. the only thing that qualifies me in this area is that I've been doing for a long time (on another site before this one) so take my advice as that of a member of the general public.

Portal is an awesome game! Err I mean at least two awesome games. Dependign if you count the challeges and the multipalyer modes as other games.

And just because "The cake is a lie" doesn't mean you don't need to log it. }}:P

Assume the Party Escort Submission Position! :laugh:

70davis · April 2012

bump

Bulky muscle to lean muscle?

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