The other day I published a link to Leigh Peele’s blog article Defining Bulky where she discussed how women define the term “bulky” and their thoughts on strength training in general as well as her own explanation of what is happening when a female starts strength training and think she’s getting bulky, which according to Leigh, and I agree, is a body fat issue and not a muscle gaining issue.
In conjunction with the above article, I want to draw your attention to an article by JC of JCD Fitness entitled “Muscle Building Guide for Women” The article is an excellent primer for women on how to start gaining muscle. One of the things I like most of the article is that JC goes into more detail about a subject that Leigh alluded to in her’s. The fact that there is a genetic limit to the amount of muscle that one can gain over their lifetime, provided that they are NOT using any type of anabolic steroids.
For women this equates to 17-25lbs of muscle mass over the course of a lifetime. For men it’s between 35-50lbs. Now 17-25lbs of muscle may seem like a lot to some and not so much to others. It’s really relative to the type of physique that you want. But the fact is if you want to shed fat and have the physique you aspire too, adding muscle by strength training is the surest way to get there. You aren’t going to gain 17lbs of muscle overnight. You’re not even going to be able to do it in 6 months or a year, believe me unless you’re using drugs NOT going to happen ladies.
Putting on muscle doesn’t mean you are going to look like the hulk, there is a wide spectrum of physiques that encompass variable amounts of muscle depending on your genetics and taste.
So time to put down the pink dumbells and stop doing 200 sit ups and come join me in the weight room.
Until the next time
Train Hard, Be Well
Michelle
