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Original poster

Do I stop weight training? Feeling bulky

31 replies

prettyinpink23x · 08/10/2025 12:45

Ive been with my PT for 7 months focusing on progressive overload 3x strength training 10,000 steps small deficit and body recomp. My waist measurement has gone down but my hip has gone up an inch and my glutes have grown. I think my body looks a lot more toned but as Im tall I feel quite bulky. I am up 2kg since March and I’ve had a family member say I need to stop as I will ‘look like a body builder’.

Do I stop strength training/ do more cardio/ eat less? My PT has told me to continue strength training and not to drastically cut calories.

OP posts:
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UpMyself · 15/11/2025 17:50

You looking fit and toned probably makes them feel like a blob. Smile

Original poster
prettyinpink23x · 15/11/2025 17:40

@UpMyself yes thats true

OP posts:
UpMyself · 15/11/2025 17:36

@prettyinpink23x , am I right in thinking that the person who said it is not exactly lean and toned?

Original poster
prettyinpink23x · 15/11/2025 17:27

Ive struggled with an eating disorder before so this is the biggest Ive been and also have body dysmorphia so the comment has really stuck. Thankyou everyone for your kind comments.

OP posts:
UpMyself · 15/11/2025 16:27

I forgot the 'Men like a bit of padding' and 'You need a bit of reserve in case you get ill' (from the more well-padded family members).

should have gone to spec savers
Please don't. There are far better places to get an eye test.

NutButterOnToast · 15/11/2025 16:03

You look great. Fit and toned. Keep it up!

MikeRafone · 15/11/2025 15:55

whats that saying

should have gone to spec savers

tell your family member to book in for an eye test and get themselves sorted out with glasses

BogRollBOGOF · 15/11/2025 15:12

prettyinpink23x · 15/11/2025 14:28

I dont think I look like a bodybuilder its whats been said to me

Show quote history

You have a lovely physique with muscle definition. You look strong and healthy and many people consider this to be an aspirational body type and reflective of healthy diet and exercise.

There's a catalogue of dumb, inaccurate comments out there that insecure, unmotivated people use to put people down to their level.

UpMyself · 15/11/2025 14:48

Family members and friends do this if you do exercise and they don't.
I've had 'running is bad for the knees', 'it's not safe to run alone', 'you'll get all bulky', 'runners always look haggard' etc.
They do it to justify their lack of exercise.

UpMyself · 15/11/2025 14:38

The family member is probably untoned and envious.

Thebigonesgetaway · 15/11/2025 14:32

Op you look fit/toned, ignore the family member, either their perception is off or they are jealous. You look great, keep going, the pt is correct.

Original poster
prettyinpink23x · 15/11/2025 14:28

Thebigonesgetaway · 15/11/2025 08:56

Can you post an image without your face? It would be hugely unusual to look anywhere close to a body builder in this amount of time with little weight gain, women really need to go some to build muscle to that extent. I’m wondering if your family member is incorrect and its impact your own thoughts.

I dont think I look like a bodybuilder its whats been said to me

Do I stop weight training? Feeling bulky
OP posts:
Thebigonesgetaway · 15/11/2025 08:56

Can you post an image without your face? It would be hugely unusual to look anywhere close to a body builder in this amount of time with little weight gain, women really need to go some to build muscle to that extent. I’m wondering if your family member is incorrect and its impact your own thoughts.

MikeRafone · 15/11/2025 08:13

I’d also like to know what qualifies this family member to pass judgement?

gamerchick · 15/11/2025 07:35

I'm surprised that you have gains like that after 7 months. I'll bet you look amazing. He sounds like an excellent trainer. Can we see a photo?

You literally can't bulk up like a man, we don't have the hormones for it. Unless you're taking steroids and on it 24/7.

LottieMary · 15/11/2025 07:31

Sounds more like misogyny to me.. it’s highly unlikely you look like a body builder, ao ask yourself if a man had this kind of muscle tone would anyone be saying anything other than well done?

StripyShirt · 14/11/2025 17:56

If it was that easy to get big, body builders wouldn't be injecting themselves with stuff and living on liquified chicken 😃

mondaytosunday · 17/10/2025 17:18

Um, any body builder will tell you it takes years of training plus performance enhancers and them living on a carb free diet for weeks to cut to look like a body builder!
I had a PT who played rugby for England. She was very self conscious of her butt and thighs, which you can imagine were muscular. But she wasn’t big, just athletic looking for that kind of sport. In clothes she just looked fit . Keep it up!

MO0N · 17/10/2025 17:07

I need to stop as I will ‘look like a body builder’
🤣🤣🤭

ParmaVioletTea · 17/10/2025 17:03

BeLimeTiger · 08/10/2025 12:59

You must have outstanding genetics to look like a body builder after 7 months of training. I’m tempted to advise that you trust the process. You’re in a calorie deficit so you’ll continue to lose body fat and your muscle building capacity won’t grow exponentially like it did in the first 6 months of training (assuming you’re new to strength training and benefitting from ‘newbie gains’). I bet you look amazing

Yes!

I'm envious of what you've achieved. Ahhhh, newbie gains ...

ParmaVioletTea · 17/10/2025 17:01

Do you feel good? That's the main thing!

I'd love my glutes to grow - the amount of squats & lunges I do just can't counter the genetics of a flat pancake bottom. But I love having glutes & quads of steel and a tough core, even if it's all covered in a layer of fat, sadly.

BogRollBOGOF · 10/10/2025 07:22

What are the relevent qualifications of this family member?
Do they have a lifestyle you're keen to emulate?
Is their advice usually from good exposure to a variety of sources and experiences or out-dated and prejudiced? Would they offer the same advice to a man or are they just sexist?

RayKray · 09/10/2025 17:31

Depends why you do strength training. I do it to be strong, so it wouldn’t matter to me. Muscles are cool. If that isn’t why you do it, then you might feel differently. I wouldn’t change what I wanted to do based on a family member’s comments.

Riverz · 08/10/2025 13:18

I met my PT last week for the first time and she asked me for my weight as was setting me up on things, I said 67kg she said are you sure? You don’t look 67kg on first glance as you lean then I showed her my glutes and quads and she laughed and said ok you not been skipping leg day

Hdpr · 08/10/2025 13:14

I weight train and am so much stronger. My measurements are the same and my weight is up but I just look better. Trust the process and cut calories if you want to lose more fat. But keep the training up