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Proof Lifting heavy doesn't bulk up females - PICS

Posts: 266 Member
edited December 2024 in Success Stories
So I've been lifting as heavy as I can, short reps (started 12, now down to 8 with increased weight).

Oh, and I lowered my carbs and upped fat and protein - best change I've ever done.

It's been hard work but I LOVE lifting now.

Still got a long way to go, but here are the results in the last month:

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Replies

  • Posts: 145
    Please dont take this the wrong way, but i think you looked better before, more womanly. However i applaud your hard work :-)
  • Posts: 764 Member
    You have such a teeny frame!
    Great work though, keep it up and you have the means to look like a fitness model!
  • Posts: 97
    Please dont take this the wrong way, but i think you looked better before, more womanly. However i applaud your hard work :-)

    I agree
  • Posts: 99 Member
    Please dont take this the wrong way, but i think you looked better before, more womanly. However i applaud your hard work :-)

    I respectfully disagree, you look great both ways. There is no right or wrong way to look like a woman. I would like to know, what you calorie intake was like though. Did you eat at or below maintenance. Just curious, because I've been lifting and it was recommended to me to eat at maintenance. Great job!
  • Posts: 389 Member

    I agree

    Oops I feel bad now, but guess people are like me & prefer honesty. The "black" photos, you look curvy, womanly & may I say downright sexy. In the "whites" you look too thin, jmo.

    It isn't what is aesthetically pleasing to others though, so great job on the life changes & going after your goals. Well Done :)

    Russ
  • Posts: 266 Member

    I respectfully disagree, you look great both ways. There is no right or wrong way to look like a woman. I would like to know, what you calorie intake was like though. Did you eat at or below maintenance. Just curious, because I've been lifting and it was recommended to me to eat at maintenance. Great job!

    Normally below maintenance. between 1500-1900. But not a massive deflict. Now that I've cut down on carbs and upped protein and fat I just eat if I'm hungry, I don't look at calories anymore. But I'm not as hungry as I use to be on my "low fat" diet.
    In 2 weeks I'm going to cut right down on carbs and hopefully that will remove more fat and show some muscle.
    I think you need to eat properly to grow and develop muscle, then cut down and remove the fat. you can't do both.
  • Posts: 266 Member

    Oops I feel bad now, but guess people are like me & prefer honesty. The "black" photos, you look curvy, womanly & may I say downright sexy. In the "whites" you look too thin, jmo.

    It isn't what is aesthetically pleasing to others though, so great job on the life changes & going after your goals. Well Done :)

    Russ

    Most people do seem to think that females don't suit muscle.
  • I feel like you looked great in the black photos, very lean, and muscular, but you're defiantly a woman... This is for you to be proud of something you've worked for, don't listen to anyone who says "you looked better before". I think you look awesome now, and if someone has a rude comment, they can keep it to themselves. This is not a bashing board! But either way, you look sexy, and confident, and I love it!!!!
  • Posts: 98

    Normally below maintenance. between 1500-1900. But not a massive deflict. Now that I've cut down on carbs and upped protein and fat I just eat if I'm hungry, I don't look at calories anymore. But I'm not as hungry as I use to be on my "low fat" diet.
    In 2 weeks I'm going to cut right down on carbs and hopefully that will remove more fat and show some muscle.
    I think you need to eat properly to grow and develop muscle, then cut down and remove the fat. you can't do both.


    Well, to build muscle, you're supposed to eat at a surplus. I actually think you look like you have lost muscle. Have to agree with the above and say you looked better before.
  • Posts: 594 Member
    Please dont take this the wrong way, but i think you looked better before, more womanly. However i applaud your hard work :-)

    Agreed. I think now you look too thin and ALMOST sickly. Before, you were nearly perfect, in my honest opinion.
    However, I also applaud your hard work, and at the end of the day it comes down to how YOU see yourself and how YOU feel about yourself. So long as you're happy and healthy, nothing else matters. :)

    Love and Alohas,
    Ihilani Kapuniai
  • Posts: 6,420 Member
    Congratulations on achieving what you were looking for. I remember you were a bit upset about your progress some time ago but I hope you've found happiness now. I won't say any negative things to you since you're a very kind hearted person and I know that you definitely worked very hard for this so Congrats :)

    -Riz
  • Posts: 283 Member
    You look great! Both ways! Don't let anyone get you down by saying "You looked better before." So many girls would kill to look like this. If you are happy with the way you look that is all that matters!
  • I see a big difference in your legs/thighs! What kind of leg work did you do? I cannot get rid of my fat upper thighs for the life of me...or I get super bulky quads :[
    Thanks!
  • Posts: 1,281 Member

    I respectfully disagree, you look great both ways. There is no right or wrong way to look like a woman. I would like to know, what you calorie intake was like though. Did you eat at or below maintenance. Just curious, because I've been lifting and it was recommended to me to eat at maintenance. Great job!

    Ditto! You're new pics show that your liftng has worked. You have wonderful muscle tone!
  • Posts: 135 Member
    Good job! You look beautiful.

    I've just decided to start lifting heavy, too, and it's nice to have threads like this to share with my friends who think I'm going to "get bulky". :happy:
  • Holy crap, you look awesome in both the befores and afters...it is evident that you're working hard and it's paid off. Hell, I would kill just to look like your "before" picture :wink:
  • Me too....almost looks anorexic
  • Posts: 625 Member
    You look good, can see your muscle tone in your arm. Good job :)
  • Posts: 291 Member
    I'm skrry that a lot of people can't appreciate the hard work that you've put into this. It's an amazing change, and I would love to look like you. You look amazing in both, but I absolutely love your afters. Just ignore those who are being rude.
  • Posts: 5 Member
    I Thought you looked stunning in your before pics, your after ones, i think you look very thin
  • Posts: 5,310 Member
    I'm skrry that a lot of people can't appreciate the hard work that you've put into this. It's an amazing change, and I would love to look like you. You look amazing in both, but I absolutely love your afters. Just ignore those who are being rude.

    It isn't rude to worry about someone's health.
  • Posts: 625 Member

    It isn't rude to worry about someone's health.

    She doesn't look unhealthy. I think people who see this as unhealthy are taking in the contrast to much of a tan pic against an un-tan pic of herself. I'm that pale if I don't tan, alot of people are. And to one person who stated anorexic looking, she is by far from looking anorexic. There are no bones that are protruding that shouldn't be, she is skinner then the before picture but not to an unhealthy point.
  • Posts: 1,263 Member
    Normally below maintenance. between 1500-1900. But not a massive deflict. Now that I've cut down on carbs and upped protein and fat I just eat if I'm hungry, I don't look at calories anymore. But I'm not as hungry as I use to be on my "low fat" diet.
    In 2 weeks I'm going to cut right down on carbs and hopefully that will remove more fat and show some muscle.
    I think you need to eat properly to grow and develop muscle, then cut down and remove the fat. you can't do both.

    I think your results are amazing and motivational. I just hope that you're still eating enough to stay healthy. Being "not as hungry" can easily lead to undereating, so just be careful with that.
  • Me too....almost looks anorexic
    Anorexia is a DISEASE not a SIZE
    Someone can be a size 30, and still be anorexic.
    Keep your ignorance to yourself please.
  • Posts: 373 Member

    Agreed. I think now you look too thin and ALMOST sickly. Before, you were nearly perfect, in my honest opinion.
    However, I also applaud your hard work, and at the end of the day it comes down to how YOU see yourself and how YOU feel about yourself. So long as you're happy and healthy, nothing else matters. :)

    I agree but then that is just my opinion I applaud your efforts to get to your goals
  • Posts: 4,564 Member
    Wow people are nasty!!!! You look great and with a few bulk cycle you could be a fitness model. I enjoy lifting heavy very much also.
  • Posts: 266 Member
    I am very far from being anorexic. if anorexics eat 3 cheesecakes for desert like I did last night, they have fun!
  • Posts: 5,966 Member
    Nice :) Have you considered eating at a surplus instead? I have been lifting weights and eating either around maintenance or up to 300ish calories over it and I'm still maintaining the same weight... have been for a couple of months.
  • She put her picture on here for peoples honest opinion and she is getting it.
    I don't believe that anyone is trying to hurt her feelings in any way. They are just telling her what they think.
    I don't think anything that has been said has been nasty or mean in any way.

    I thought you looked great before!! I applaud your hard work and dedication. It comes down to what you want to look like.
    And how you feel.
  • Posts: 275 Member
    She put her picture on here for peoples honest opinion and she is getting it.
    I don't believe that anyone is trying to hurt her feelings in any way. They are just telling her what they think.
    I don't think anything that has been said has been nasty or mean in any way.

    I thought you looked great before!! I applaud your hard work and dedication. It comes down to what you want to look like.
    And how you feel.

    Exactly. If you put your pictures on a public web site, you need to be prepared for all responses.

    I also think you looked better in your before pictures, but I like a few more curves. I would also love to have your before body!
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