Anonymous wrote:

Personally i dont see anything wrong with a shapely bubble butt.

THIS

A nice, high rounded butt = GREAT. At least it is in my culture and a few others similar to mine.

Anonymous wrote:I have read repeatedly that women don't bulk up, but in my experience that is simply not true. Have you ever seen female speed skaters or cyclists? If I do the wrong types of exercise for me -- stair climber, step classes, too many lunges and squats, or God forbid, biking -- my thighs and glutes get quite large, even if I maintain a low weight. It depends on the individual.

That is A LOT of training though (i.e. a full time job), to get like that. The non-Olympians probably work out an hour a day.

If you are working out enough to have true "bulk" in your thighs and legs and aren't confusing that with extra body fat--rock on and embrace it! I'm thin but lazy and would kill for more muscle in my butt and thighs. I bet you look great.

try less glute activation when exercising, you probably have genetics working for you in that department. For instance when doing squats or lunges do partials, don't go down so deep where it hits the glutes and thighs. And less frequent lower body exercising. For maintaining, i would do exercises like reverse hypers or kettlebell swings which targets the upper glutes to have that lifted appearance.

Personally i dont see anything wrong with a shapely bubble butt.

Yep. Roller derby playing cyclist and runner here. My legs are massive. I have decided that I like it, which solved everything.

I have read repeatedly that women don't bulk up, but in my experience that is simply not true. Have you ever seen female speed skaters or cyclists? If I do the wrong types of exercise for me -- stair climber, step classes, too many lunges and squats, or God forbid, biking -- my thighs and glutes get quite large, even if I maintain a low weight. It depends on the individual.

Difference between toning and bulking up typically has more to do with diet than exercise. http://jillfit.com/2012/12/04/bulk-up/

lifting heavy weights do not add bulk. Excess body fat adds bulk. Most women are not capable of getting bulky unless they are workign really really hard to do so.

Anonymous wrote:Lower weight higher reps should thin those areas. Also, body weight lunges (LOTS OF THEM) will achieve the same result. Heavy weight + low reps = bulk.

OP Here. I go back and forth. Lunges, squats, etc. Just body weight. But then I feel like the muscle is growing too much and I stop.

What are you doing? The stair climber is notorious for this. I wish I would have known in the 90s.

As long as you're not jiggling, it's all good.

Lower weight higher reps should thin those areas. Also, body weight lunges (LOTS OF THEM) will achieve the same result. Heavy weight + low reps = bulk.

I do, depending on what kind of exercise I do. When I was rowing competitively and weight lifting as part of training, my thighs/butt got much bigger. Stronger, too, of course. Running and yoga seem to give me the best combination of strength and leanness, but I put on muscle mass very easily, and have a lot of it to begin with.

And my thighs, too. I feel all out of proportion. I've always exercised but started putting on more muscle on the bottom half in the past year or so. Anyone else have this problem??