there are SO many outrageous myths about fitness out there, and today i'm gonna tackle one of the big ones...weightlifting makes you bulky.
to be honest, i kind of forget that this is a thing that people still think because most of the things i read and follow and surround myself with is fitness related and this is something that i feel like gets repeated over and over again.. . and i don't want to beat a dead horse...but i STILL see being said.
I get it a lot while i'm doing fitness consultations, meeting potential clients. Usually someone saying they want to get "toned" and lean out but "don't want to get bulky!!! so i don't want to lift too much weight!" and i have to explain to them that lifting weights won't make them bulky.
so here it is: weightlifting will not make you bulky. (unless you are working insanely hard to BE BULKY).
(side note: WTF is bulky?? like how does one define "bulk???" it is different for everyone i've talked to!)
so what does weight lifting do for you??
- you'll burn more calories throughout the day ~ when you are weight lifting you are building lean mass up in your body and lean mass uses more calories throughout the day.
- you are not making your body bigger, you are shaping your body ~ adding weight training into your workout routine is exactly how you get the "toned" looks that everyone asks how to get!
important factors to remember:
- every body is going to react differently to weight training ~ we are all different people (yes, shocking brand new information!!) and so our bodies will react and adapt differently to adding resistance training into your workout routine. this DOES NOT mean that you're going to be bulky... it just means your results are not going to look the same as someone else following the same/a similar training plan.
- you are training for the results you want ~ look, if you want to be lean and strong, that's what you work towards, if you want to get big AF, that's what you make your program work towards.
- to get big, you have to EAT big ~ have you ever seen those big bodybuilders? they are eating A LOT, like, all the time. you have to eat SO MUCH to build and fuel those giant muscles.
- it takes TIME ~ you are not going to wake up the morning after a strength training session looking like Johnny Bravo. people work their entire lives to get that strong.
Some bonus benefits of strength training:
- new types of goals: with my clients i try to make a few different types of goals, and one of the best kinds are strength training based goals. it is a real boost when you hit a deadlift or bench press PR and really keeps you moving towards your goals
- confidence boost ~ hitting goals and lifting weights you haven't before is such a high. it's a great motivator and will keep you working towards more goals at the gym.
- get better at life ~ strength training helps you perform better at the gym, but also is gonna help you be better at getting through life. you'll be stronger and functionally fit so you don't hurt yourself going throughout your day.
SO here it is:
go strength train!
start with the basics and build those muscles!
need some help to get started? i have training available- just send me a message and we can get you going! email me at tiffnessfitness@gmail.com or on instagram or facebook!