They say women don't get bulky when they lift. I'm getting bulky :(

[Anonymous]

I'm not totally getting massive, but I know my arms, shoulders, and traps have increased in size (and I know it's muscle, not fat, my waist is actually a little smaller), which I feel is making me look bulky, and also causing issues with fitting into some fitted shirts in my upper body. Maybe most women don't get bulky, but I seem to be one of the few who do, and I don't like it. It feels like it showed out out of nowhere and rather quickly

If I stop lifting, how long will it take for the muscles to shrink?

[Anonymous]

I bulk, but I own it.

It's better than flab or loose skin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bulk, but I own it.

It's better than flab or loose skin.

All the respect in the world for women who don't mind or even love getting bulky. I don't. I miss my previous frame. Or maybe somewhere in-between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bulk, but I own it.

It's better than flab or loose skin.

All the respect in the world for women who don't mind or even love getting bulky. I don't. I miss my previous frame. Or maybe somewhere in-between.

Can I ask how you are lifting. Heavy? Low reps, high weight? It can make a difference.

But some of it is genetics. I lift a lot and lift heavy. I am pretty strong. And yet I look like a wimp.

[Anonymous]

Whoever "they" are, they seem to misunderstand that not all bodies are the same, no matter the gender.

[Anonymous]

I bulk up easily too. I stick with mostly cardio and then yoga for toning and it keeps the bulk away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bulk, but I own it.

It's better than flab or loose skin.

All the respect in the world for women who don't mind or even love getting bulky. I don't. I miss my previous frame. Or maybe somewhere in-between.

Can I ask how you are lifting. Heavy? Low reps, high weight? It can make a difference.

But some of it is genetics. I lift a lot and lift heavy. I am pretty strong. And yet I look like a wimp.

I've been doing both, on different days, in different activities/classes.

If I stop lifting altogether, how long will it take for my muscles to decrease in size?

[Anonymous]

what is wrong with bulky

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, when I lift, it just pushes all the fat up a little bit. All the definition is hidden beneath a layer of fat. I can't seem to control what I put in my mouth, so I'm forced to just run, run, run and run some more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoever "they" are, they seem to misunderstand that not all bodies are the same, no matter the gender.

Yup. I bulk too. It's frustrating when trainers don't believe me--like I don't know my own body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what is wrong with bulky

Nothing, if it's how you like yourself.

For me I feel like I look really manly. I also miss my clothes being able to fit comfortably. To each their own.

[Anonymous]

Try lighter weights, with more reps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what is wrong with bulky

Nothing, if it's how you like yourself.

For me I feel like I look really manly. I also miss my clothes being able to fit comfortably. To each their own.

Easy fix. Stop lifting.

[Anonymous]

I feel ya. I love the way lifting makes me feel. I love feeling strong. But I hate the way my shirts fit in the shoulders and arms. Definitely feel like I look manly too. It's a conundrum. I don't want to stop lifting, but I wish there was a happy medium somehow.

[Anonymous]

I bulk. I used to lift 3 to 4 times a week, now just 1x or 2x. My arms and legs get big.

I do mostly cardio.