"Lifting makes you bulky"

Let’s chat about the stigma, “strength training makes you bulky”

We have all seen it, the double upside down, triple banded, glute thrusts that is being advertised as the secret to the gains.  The fancy movements you see advertised by “fitness influencers” is not the way. The truth is, those movements are for attention. Resistance strength training is about results. With proper coaching and guidance, the movements and exercises you chose to do most must proven to stimulate and build strength, muscle, and promote growth. The fact is, the movements that yield the highest return  aren’t fancy, flashy, or often times fun, but, are proven to work.

If you have said the words, “I don’t want to get bulky, I want to get toned,” and have found yourself having problems building your body because you are afraid to strength train with heavier weights than the 15lb dumbbells, now is the time to let go of that fear and get into the mindset of doing something new.

Lifting weights will not make you bulky or become “manly.” I wish it was that easy. LOL. If that was the case, I would be 200lb of muscle as I have devoted years of my life to building.

Muscle growth boils down to three things, genetics, nutrition, and how you train. Some of you will build muscle in your lower body faster and easier than others. Some, your shoulders and upper body responds better. Muscle growth is person specific and everyone isn’t the same. 

If you are currently doing a ton of cardio, I would suggest lowering your output to allow your muscles to grow.

Lastly, bulking and weight loss is directly related to calories in vs. calories out. You’re not going to become a 200lb bodybuilder by optimizing a resistance strength training program. You’re not going to get bulky from lifting weights. Your weight may increase slightly due to a gain in muscle but let’s not watch the scale. Let’s focus on results. The scale means nothing, how you feel and what you begin to notice does.

​Rome wasn’t built in a day and the booty of your dreams won’t be built in one month. If you have big ass-pirations, take it one day at a time and one rep at a time. The goal is to increase the weights on the movements you do over time to progressively build strength. Pick weight you are comfortable using and move up from there.