Worried about getting bulky

Bissoux · 24-Jun-06, 10:46 PM

I've been lazy for awhile and I'm starting to get back in shape - I'm working with a trainer on a weight lifting program and a diet program. I've only been lifting for 1 week but I feel like I'm bulking up - is it possible that it's just my muscles being swollen b/c I'm starting? Does anyone have advice toning up without adding bulk? I'm built pretty think and I'd really just like to take off inches. Thanks!

**Lady C** · 25-Jun-06, 09:28 AM

The idea behind weight training is to gain muscle mass. This is good because maintaining muscle will prevent many injuries and healthy bodies as we age. If you are female, don't be concerned with looking 'bulky' it is almost impossible without some increased testosterone or other substances that are not natural. There is no such thing as 'toning' because toning is essentially adding muscle and dropping bodyfat.

standAPART · 25-Jun-06, 10:29 AM

Initially, if you are feeling "bulky or tight" in a new exercise program, you may just be experiecing swollen muscle bellies recovering from micro-tears. However, if your nutrition is off then all that muscle will grow and the fat layer on top will not decrease. So the muscle growing under the layer of fat will simply add to the "bulki-ness" appearence. A big mistake most people do in the pursuit of mass is they eat alot and then they don't want to get "fat". Well, you have to do one or the other first. That's why in pro-bodybuiilding, there is an off-season.

ebon00 · 26-Jun-06, 02:56 AM

Seriously, most people have a very, very hard time adding functional weight and it takes a very good training regimen and fairly strict eating habits to "bulk". It's not something that just happens. At 1 week into any program you won't even have had time to build any muscle (the adaptation is a lot slower than that). Don't worry about it, stick with the program. If anything I suspect you'll soon be looking for more results than you think you've gotten so far.

Bissoux · 15-Jul-06, 08:01 PM

I've been on my excercise/diet regiment for 4 weeks now, I've lost 10 lbs of fat and gained 7 in muscle but I definately look thinner and didn't bulk up...thanks for the advice!