"Bill" <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> Mari Jaine wrote:
> > yeah i guess this may sound a bit strange, but here
> > goes.. after years of lifting i have pretty beefy,
> > muscular legs for a chick
Nope, sounds very logical.
...and
> > i'm getting frustrated by it. i've read many articles
> > saying how women can't "bulk up" from strength training,
That is a whole bunch of B*LL SH*T brought on by the pop
"women's magazine" press.
It does not take in all the genetic diversity in the female
population. Check out this article about the amazing
muscular baby and note that his mom is also very muscular.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/24/science/24muscle.html?ex=-
1088654400&en=caa1695e9f110761&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
I lifted for three semesters in high school. By the end of
my third semester, doing the same workouts/reps as every
other girl & guy in the class, I was phenomenally stronger
than other girl (including girls of similar weight). You
don't b.p. 185 and squat 255 without gaining some muscle
mass. I think it's a genetic thing in my case and it may be
similar in yours.
but apparently i have a
> > body type where i do bulk up and build -a lot- of
> > muscle.
Me too! Quite easily. When I stopped swimming to become an
ultimate (frisbee) player/runner type, my very lean legs got
bulkier and my very bulky shoulders got leaner.
i know
> > it's beneficial to lift for many reasons, but i've been
> > really trying to get more lean-looking, so i quit
> > lifting about a month ago and upped the running and x-
> > training cardio..
Actually, any weight bearing exercise will give you many of
the same benefits of lifting. Fortunately, running is
weight bearing.
i've also followed a pretty
> > strict low carb diet to try to lose 10-15 pounds for the
> > past couple months. i've lost some inches and about 7
> > pounds but my legs still look very big. could a high
> > intake of protein be responsible for keeping my legs
> > bulked up?
When I trained as a collegiate swimmer, I found that hard
workouts made me crave protein. When I supplied my body with
that protein, my body did a great job of building/rebuilding
my muscles. Lots of protein is great for muscle building. If
you don't want to build as much eat a more balanced diet.
I would advocate a fairly balanced diet to lose weight. I'm
a bigger fan of protein than some folks on this forum, but I
also don't run as long as them. I go for a roughly 30%
protein, 30% fat, 40% carb diet. Of course, what you use to
make up all those percentages is what really matters!
any suggestions would be appreciated.
> > thx
>
> I would expect your body to adapt to the demands put on
> it. Run more to look more like a runner, lift more to ...
> A month of running is just a start. Focus on fitness
> rather than the profile.
I agree with this statement as well. And I think that your
body will change shape but it's not an overnight thing.
My other piece on this is that some activities give a more
lean shape. Yoga comes to mind because it is so focused on
lengthening muscles and stretching.
Also, swimming and other upper body type activities will
help you to build stronger shoulders/delts/pecs and can give
you a more balanced look. This may not make your legs
actually leaner, but will keep your body more proportional.
Finally, if you are the muscle-building type, whatever
muscles you use will be "bulkier". So use all your muscles
(including core muscles like abs, etc.) throughout the week.
This will help keep any one area from being too out of
proportion.
If you are healthy and proud of your body, screw the image.
You have something far more valuable - a functioning body
able to take on everything you throw at it.
> Why not continue a weekly maintenance lift session?
Why continue? There are other activities that will give the
same benefits of weight bearing exercise without focusing on
just specifically building muscle. Basically, if you are
under 40, not losing muscle, and not prone to osteoperosis,
I don't think any woman needs to lift unless she likes the
effects on her appearance/enjoys the activitiy.
I did meet one young
> woman who had this concern and it was likely valid.
> However, she let herself go and became fat.
Yeah because that's a great solution. = )
Watch out for the fear of bulk hysteria, which
> most of the time is ignorance and an excuse to take
> it easy.
Hopefully Meri isn't one of these as she seems commited to
keeping active.