Does My Current Fitness Regimen Make Me Bulky?

Do you understand your body type to how to build muscle without getting bulky?

Do you know which body weight exercises to do and which ones to avoid?

Do you avoid heavy squats?

Do you avoid doing CrossFit?

Do you lift lighter weights for higher repetitions?

Do you avoid HIIT (high intensity interval training)?

Do you avoid eating more calories than you burn off?

Do you time your meals correctly?

Based on your answers, your current fitness regimen may make you bulky, if you like it or not. You may be exercising regularly, pushing yourself to your maximum and adding more weight each time. You do heavy squats, lunges and HIIT. This type of training and exercises will make you bulkier and bigger, not leaner. If you would like to tone up but don’t get bulky, you should still do weight training, however, you should focus on lower weights and more repetitions. Besides, a clean diet is very important and cardio as well.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of a fitness regimen that will result in a bulkier body. Strength training is an essential element of a balanced fitness regimen, but many people (especially women) are worried about the physical changes they may experience as a consequence of lifting weights. Thanks to, or despite their hormone profile, women can ‘easily’ tone without getting bulky, but at the same time they will have difficulties losing the fat they may desire. A clean diet is important, cardio, and lower weightlifting for higher repetitions to get ‘lean’ muscles instead of bulky ones.

Based on your answers, it’s unlikely that your current fitness regimen will result in a bulkier body. Remember that for women it’s harder to bulk up comparing to men, because they have a different hormone profile. Because men have more testosterone than women, their muscles will grow faster and more easily. For women, their hormone profile allows them to tone without getting bulky, and at the same time makes it harder to lose fat. For a ‘toned’ look, you should perform many reps per set using light weight. Make sure to have a clean diet as well and don’t forget to do your cardio.