Will Lifting Weights Make You Bulky?
Many women are interested in lifting weights but are worried that they will start looking bulky and masculine in appearance. Fortunately, lifting weights does not make you bulky. In fact, lifting weights can help you appear slimmer and leaner by helping you build muscle, boost your metabolism and burn fat. Lifting weights can actually make you leaner and denser.
Will Lifting Weights Make you Slimmer?
Lifting weights can actually make you appear slimmer, by boosting muscle mass and helping you lose fat. Building muscle can also help boost your metabolism so that you burn more calories at rest, helping you burn more fat all the time. Strength training will help you develop a more shapely appearance, but you will likely also look leaner and more toned.
How do I create more muscle tone?
Remember that “toning” is a myth. You cannot actually tone a muscle. You also cannot make your muscles longer and leaner by doing light weight exercises for high reps, pilates, ballet, or any other type of exercise.
To get a toned appearance, you need a combination of more muscle mass and less fat. You grow muscle by engaging in strenuous strength training two to five times per week. You can lose fat by monitoring your calorie intake, getting adequate protein and enough quality sleep.
If you want a toned appearance, make sure you challenge yourself with progressive resistance training and follow good nutritional habits.
Lifting light weights that don’t challenge you won’t allow you to accomplish your goals of a toned body. However, lifting weights that fatigue you and getting in quality strength training can contribute to a toned appearance.
Is it Possible to Get Bulky as a Female?
In short, lifting heavy weights won’t make you bulky, even if you lift heavy weights every day for many years. A bulky appearance is more likely caused by too much fat rather than too much muscle, or by using anabolic steroids. If you feel that your appearance is too bulky, rather than stop lifting weights, you should probably try to monitor your nutrition and calorie intake more closely.
Benefits of Lifting Weights
Lifting weights can provide you with many benefits–both to your health and your appearance. Lifting weights and doing strength training can help you burn fat, build muscle, lower your risk of falls and many diseases, boost athletic performance and yes, even boost your appearance and physique.
Don’t be afraid of getting bulky or developing a masculine appearance. Building lots of muscle mass is extremely hard for women (and men) and won’t happen unless you gain a lot of fat tissue by overeating or by using anabolic steroid drugs!
Final Thoughts
Lifting heavy weights or doing a lot of strength training does not cause you to look bulky as a woman. While you may gain a bit of muscle if you do strength training consistently, muscle gain does not happen on accident or result in muscle bulk for women. Additionally, you can gain a lot of health and performance benefits from lifting weights that have nothing to do with your appearance. So get off that elliptical and get into the strength room!
Consider scheduling a consultation to discuss personal training if you need more help incorporating strength training into your exercise routine!
