Hi, I kinda have a different problem at this point than others. I have a around 5-8 lbs. I want to lose (fat not muscle) before I hit my goal. But now I am look bulky from all the muscle I have gained. Especially around my arms. I want the skinny but toned look. I have always had big muscles for being a woman but now there to big. I took pride in it at first, but I think it makes me look kind of manly now. I would decrease the weight, but when I try that I don't feel like I am working out at all. A typical work out for me goes as follows: short cardio for warm up on MWF and full cardio and abs on TTH. On MWF arms and legs. Arms: dumbells each for 1 set 12 reps; 20-25lbs. curls, 20lbs. triceps extension, then machines; 70 lbs superset (lowering by 10 lbs. at a time) on the bicep lift, 20 lbs. on tricep pulldown thing, etc. Legs: squats, lunges, 120 on leg press, 120 on calves, 70 on inner thighs, and 70 on outer thighs and butt. My legs aren't that bad but I don't know. Am I being obnoxious not wanting to have this muscle or do I have legitimate complaint? If I do how can I get the skinny toned look I want? My stats are 133 lbs, female, 5'6"... :confused: :bb: :db:

Why not share a picture of your arms with us? That will help.

I don't doubt what you are saying, but I find many women feel they are bulky and in reality it turns out that the bulk is a bit of denial for the fat that is there. It is extremely difficult for women to get a bulky look because of the hormone balance in women ... most women will never gain large muscles, as those you see who do are either on steroids or are 1 in a million with a genetic disposition.

What do you mean by bulky? Can you see the separation between your biceps and triceps, and the striations in your muscles, and they still look large? Or are your arms just big? If they are big, there is a good chance you still have fat to lose from them.

Again, it's tough to say, again, I'm not calling you into question, just sharing my experience with clients in the past who have truly felt they had muscle but really did not ... a picture can definitely clarify that (doesn't have to include your face or anything, just a shot of your arms can help us help you decide what the best course will be).

You certainly have the strength. I'm concerned about the workout. There is a lot of quad in there and inner/outer thigh but almost no hamstring (the lunges hit these a little, but at least hamstring curls or stiff-legged deads would help bring it into more balance).

Also, what do you do for your chest and back? What does your ab routine look like?

Jeremy

Hi, I kinda have a different problem at this point than others. I have a around 5-8 lbs. I want to lose (fat not muscle) before I hit my goal. But now I am look bulky from all the muscle I have gained. Especially around my arms. I want the skinny but toned look. I have always had big muscles for being a woman but now there to big. I took pride in it at first, but I think it makes me look kind of manly now. I would decrease the weight, but when I try that I don't feel like I am working out at all. A typical work out for me goes as follows: short cardio for warm up on MWF and full cardio and abs on TTH. On MWF arms and legs. Arms: dumbells each for 1 set 12 reps; 20-25lbs. curls, 20lbs. triceps extension, then machines; 70 lbs superset (lowering by 10 lbs. at a time) on the bicep lift, 20 lbs. on tricep pulldown thing, etc. Legs: squats, lunges, 120 on leg press, 120 on calves, 70 on inner thighs, and 70 on outer thighs and butt. My legs aren't that bad but I don't know. Am I being obnoxious not wanting to have this muscle or do I have legitimate complaint? If I do how can I get the skinny toned look I want? My stats are 133 lbs, female, 5'6"... :confused: :bb: :db:

Once you lose the fat, you'll probably look fine. You likely have a layer of fat around the muscles that make them look more "bulky" than they really are. Get down to very low bodyfat levels, and you'll have the look you want with the same amount of muscle you've got now. If you look at fitness models, who probably have the "look" you're shooting for, their muscles would look "bulky" too if their bodyfat were 5-10 percentage points higher.

Pictures? Of course, it's all a matter of personal preference. But your scale weight and the weights that you are lifting wouldn't indicate to me that you're too muscular or manly.

I think you guys are right as far as the fat around my arms is concerned. But I do see major definition! I will post some pics later this week. Got to borrow my moms dig. camera. I am going to show whole body with specifics of my arms, legs, and abs. To Jeremy, I don't do chest b/c I heard you lose your boobs!! I can't be losing any of those or I might have nothing less. As far as abs are concerned I concentrate TTh after cardio; 100 full sit ups, 20 core crunches, 12 10lb. obliques (on the thing you rest your hip on and go down and up) (both sides) and then 40 oblique crunches on both sides. The days I do arms and legs, I do about 50 cruches and thats it. I figured if noone can decide whether abs are everyday or they need rest, I would do active rest. I let you guys know when my pics are up. :tucool:

To Jeremy, I don't do chest b/c I heard you lose your boobs!! I can't be losing any of those or I might have nothing less.

I can't speak for everyone, but since I started doing chest exercises (around a month ago), my boobs look larger. If I had to take a guess, I'd say it was because the muscles underneath perked up a bit and then handed the perkiness on to my breastage. I have lost half an inch around my chest under my boobs, but the boobs themselves are going great.

That was probably TMI for a lot of you out there. Sorry!

I can't speak for everyone, but since I started doing chest exercises (around a month ago), my boobs look larger. If I had to take a guess, I'd say it was because the muscles underneath perked up a bit and then handed the perkiness on to my breastage. I have lost half an inch around my chest under my boobs, but the boobs themselves are going great.

That was probably TMI for a lot of you out there. Sorry!

I have also noticed that before...

mereduke, whoever gave you that 'false' information should be smacked... the only reason your boobs might get smaller is reduced body fat... as you lose body fat you might lose some size their too.. but building your chest muscles will do nothing but good things for you... it actually helps to lift your boobs and make them look perkier... at least that's what it did for me :p :nod:

Cheers to breast perkiness! :tucool:

Cheers to breast perkiness! :tucool:

Cheers!

I have also noticed that before...

mereduke, whoever gave you that 'false' information should be smacked... the only reason your boobs might get smaller is reduced body fat... as you lose body fat you might lose some size their too.. but building your chest muscles will do nothing but good things for you... it actually helps to lift your boobs and make them look perkier... at least that's what it did for me :p :nod:

:)
I agree with you Chameleon, the only time I ever really HAD breast (such as they were) was when I was in my fifties and FAT. Then I started working with weights (9 years now), lost weight (body fat measured a month ago at 14.3%) and now I’m back to my girlish breast size (and I mean really girlish breast size…….like 5th grade) EXCEPT my entire chest area never looked so good…because of lifting weights I actually have chest definition or “cleavage”. I don’t miss the fatty tissue at all (never having had it). This “look” isn’t for everyone I know but I adore it! Keep lifting I say, if you’ve got ‘em they will only be “perkier” because of lifting and if you don’t with the added muscle definition and weight loss you can still look great! :tu:

Curvature, im confused can you post a pic? lol, yeah Ive had this argument with my girlfriend about bulking ect, other than some suspicious romanian weight lifting women, ive never seen any that work out alot, that ended up super huge.. then theres me I lift tons..but never get much bigger either???

This might be the best thread ever. :tucool: :lol:

Muscle chicks are sexy :)

Curvature, im confused can you post a pic? lol, yeah Ive had this argument with my girlfriend about bulking ect, other than some suspicious romanian weight lifting women, ive never seen any that work out alot, that ended up super huge.. then theres me I lift tons..but never get much bigger either???

Left pic, 1 month ago, right pic, current. Definite improvement in "perkiness".

Of course, it's more evident with no top on, but you're not getting those pics :d_biggrin

Left pic, 1 month ago, right pic, current. Definite improvement in "perkiness".

Of course, it's more evident with no top on, but you're not getting those pics :d_biggrin

:(

For real if, as a woman, you are slender with good muscle tone, it's awesome. I know that a decent build of muscle can look bad on a woman if she's got too much fat, but if her fat levels are decently low then it's difficult for her to have too much muscle, and I am speaking in regards to upper body btw. I know a couple of girls with some arms...nothing crazy, but you cna see they do biceps, and I think it looks great.

lol well figured I had to ask :)

I can't speak for everyone, but since I started doing chest exercises (around a month ago), my boobs look larger. If I had to take a guess, I'd say it was because the muscles underneath perked up a bit and then handed the perkiness on to my breastage. I have lost half an inch around my chest under my boobs, but the boobs themselves are going great.

That was probably TMI for a lot of you out there. Sorry!

I agree. That is the last place on my body that will shrink and I always heard that large breasts = sag after 30 :lol: I have found that with regular chest exercises they look even better than they did when I was 16 :claphigh:

Ok girls you've sold me...what are some good chest exercises to do with free weights??

May I suggest pec fly’s………….on a deck, cables or bench. Really great for definition. Incline, decline and flat bench presses. Good for perkiness! :nod: