Women DO get 'bulky' from working out...

[thesinner]

I think what you need to do is define your goal as specifically as possible.

Do you want smaller measurements? do you want to lose weight? or do you just want to look better in the mirror?

You would assume they all go hand in hand.....but we all know what happens when you assume

[B-natural]

ass-u-me.
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Muad, you show off, lengthy stuff, but good man

[egodog48]

Originally Posted by B-natural

ass-u-me.
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Muad, you show off, lengthy stuff, but good man

I found his writing better than the original article.

[B-natural]

Originally Posted by egodog48

I found his writing better than the original article.

This is true, bit more informative anyways

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by B-natural

And why is he having a woman do 4 reps, unless she wanted to build or strengthen, to me, it was a poorly outlined program.

this is what I was noticing, 4reps? eesh, I dont even do that to start. 12-15 hell even 20.. something in that range will work better for toning

[muad33b]

Originally Posted by B-natural

Muad, you show off, lengthy stuff, but good man

Yea, that's "Muad -v" (that's a computer geek joke for "verbose" mode) - thanks tho...

Originally Posted by egodog48

I found his writing better than the original article.

Originally Posted by B-natural

This is true, bit more informative anyways

LOL, thanks guys; although I think the bar was pretty low... anyhow, when do I get the LB Pulitzer again?

Originally Posted by Voodoo

this is what I was noticing, 4reps? eesh, I dont even do that to start. 12-15 hell even 20.. something in that range will work better for toning

Agreed; although I don't like the "toning" term, as I think it's kind of a myth in the way the general public uses it... although this may be more a semantics discussion... I mean, IMO you can decrease bodyfat and look "toned", and you can increase muscle "hardness" by lifting for strength (i.e. heavy, low reps) and look "toned" - but the idea of high reps increasing muscle density / definition isn't really true I think... I think of high rep work as increasing endurance, and allowing for a better contraction (which may help a bit to "shape" the muscle through mind-muscle connection) never mind the GH release / cardio benefits... although that being said, I continue to be married to a pyramid shape to my sets, and change up my rest periods, as I like to get a bit of everything in there... and I'm told by many at my gym that I look very "hard" (insert jokes here) which I attribute more to intensity (as D_ defines it) then anything...

Originally Posted by thesinner

I think what you need to do is define your goal as specifically as possible.
Do you want smaller measurements? do you want to lose weight? or do you just want to look better in the mirror?
You would assume they all go hand in hand.....but we all know what happens when you assume

Originally Posted by janedoe

Thanks for all that, Muad!!

I don't know if it's 'easy' for me to gain muscle, as I don't know what's normal, relative to others, BUT I have had a trainer comment that I'm 'lucky that I gain muscle so easily' (his opinion after seeing how my body reacted after training, 5X/week with him). Since I started lifting heavier 2 months ago, I HAVE seen an increase in my upper arms and my calves, and I am scared that "women CAN'T get bulky because they don't have enough testosterone" doesn't apply to me. I guess right now, I am in the assessing my program stage, because I don't think it's working for me. But I don't know how to change it. Because everywhere I turn, I find people that say "It's impossible for a woman to get bulky because of testosterone issues..." blah blah blah. You know what I mean?

My goal is for ALL of my measurements to get smaller. But I am confused because people say that in order to get smaller, you need to raise you BMR, which you need to do by building more muscle... which you do by lifting heavy!

I guess... I need help. What kind of program do you suggest for someone who is of an average physique wanting ALL measurements to go down?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'll never run out of suggestions, as to whether they're good or not... hehe...

I agree with thesinner here... this sounds like more of an issue of the specifics of your goals... which appear to still be a little foggy for you... so I think we need to take a step back and talk about your motivations, and then talk about what you want from a body locale specific perspective (e.g. I want bigger arms and abs, but my legs are fine) and then talk about what's possible/reasonable to be able to obtain (e.g. but trying to grow mini-me, short of surgery, just ain't gonna happen)

All that get's a little personal, so I'll try to carve out some time today to get you a PM with a boatload of questions to answer...

[dinoiii]

There is one single most important point Chad is seemingly forgetting:





Shhhhhhh.........................

















HORMONES


Yup, some women have naturally high testosterone levels and they are usually inclined to be more aggressive.




The prototypical "FLAB 5 Woman's Workout" at the gym:

[1] Cardio (they may many times stop with this)
[2] Leg Adductors
[3] Leg Abductors
[4] Leg Curls
[5] Abs

Anyone see any issue with this protocol? Because I assure you woman are NOT doing squats!!!

HORMONES.

Yup,
squats = compound move; growth hormone explosion if done right - will contribute to a more svelte you

This leaves testosterone; beautiful testosterone - so wrong for all the right reasons...you make our women crave sex; you make them more developed. Some woman have it; others could only dream.


D_

[thesinner]

So getting the ladies to do more squats will make them look better (IMO, I love girls with leg development) and more apt to do the no pants dance?

I'm going to have to start putting chocolate and pictures of Orlando Bloom by the squat rack, and see if this might lure them im.

[RisingAgainst]

as much as I enjoy the humor left by some here... I have to admit women that have a little bit of size, look DAMN sexy. Not like what you see on TV, but a woman that is toned and actually has a muscular shape, instead of a bone/skin or skin/flab form..

[dinoiii]

Originally Posted by thesinner

So getting the ladies to do more squats will make them look better (IMO, I love girls with leg development) and more apt to do the no pants dance?

I'm going to have to start putting chocolate and pictures of Orlando Bloom by the squat rack, and see if this might lure them im.

You know...there's an ole mantra that exists that goes like:

If you want decent bicep development...you must SQUAT.
If you want decent tricep development...you must SQUAT.
If you want decent chest development...you must SQUAT.
If you want decent back development...you must SQUAT.
If you want decent abdominal development...you must SQUAT.



And the list would essentially progress onward until every imaginable body composition feat is included. One thing woman must understand is that they'll NEVER look like the "ladies" in the bb magazines without some sort of injection voray.

I'm not so certain I understand the Orlando Bloom scenario, however...if you can minimally pop all the exercise balls and remove the yoga mats, you may be taking a step in the right direction.


D_