Will weight training make me bulky?

100% not photo shopped...

I wish.

To be fair, it's not a silly question to ask. But the short answer is no.

Weights and bodybuilders, we're almost programmed to link the two together. Probably because we're more exposed to extreme examples of what it means to be or look 'fit'.

But what are you trying to achieve?

I'd say the most common phrase I hear in consultations is, "I want to tone up but I don't want to look too bulky". Now I'm going to skip explaining why I hate the phrase "tone up"(That's for another day) and focus on why you will not "get bulky" with a weight training regime.

What is "Bulky"?

I don't know. That's totally subjective. You've got your own opinion on how muscular is "Too muscular" and I've got mine and that's different to someone else's, that's okay. You just have to think about what you'd want for yourself and not compare against anyone else. Your idea of "too bulky" could be someone's idea of toned, curvy, lean, soft, "et cetera" - Hedwig, 'Split', 2017.

I should look to gain muscle then?

Yup. Muscle is more dense than fat, so you'll notice those problem areas start to "firm up" the more you increase your lean muscle percentage. Also, your body needs to use more calories to maintain muscle than it does to maintain fat, so the more muscle you have the more calories you burn at rest. #winning.

Okay I'm sold! How do I do it then?

Well, you're going to have to lift some heavy s**t over and over again, for x amount of time and for x amount of days. I'd love to sell you some quick muscle building guide here or a special supplement I invented, but, that's the truth. It's repetitive and it takes time (aim for 1 - 2 lbs of lean muscle gain per month) it does work though, and the results could change your life.

If you're already doing some weight training and your routine consists of 5 sets of 30 donkey kicks (or whatever they're called) with a 3 kg dumbbell then please STOP! It's not doing much good and it's wasting your time. Challenge yourself. Up the weight and drop the reps. Between 8 and 12 reps for 3 - 6 sets is the ideal range to build some lean muscle. If the last 3 or 4 reps of each set is a struggle then you've got your weight right. Squats, dead-lifts, bench press, these are some of the main compound moves that you should not be neglecting. I promise that perfecting these will be the foundation to any goal that you set yourself.

Remember, progress takes time and it's not always fun. But don't give up, it'll be worth it in the end and you'll feel so much better for it. Switch up your routine every four weeks or so to keep things interesting and to avoid plateauing. Lift heavy and often with good form and technique, that's how you'll achieve your goal. Weight training makes you strong and healthy. Not Bulky.

#newpost #blog #fitnessblog #imcurrentlyonatwoyearbulk #newblog #fitnesstips #ihavealltheanswers #pleasereadme #personaltrainer