To be so upset that exercise has effectively ruined my figure?

[MyBodySucks]

I was a size 6-8 until about a year ago, when I started Pole Fitness classes, as well as a few other classes at the same club, things like Body Pump.

I've eaten the same as always (clean!) but the exercising has given me a body that I hate and I'm so upset about it.

Basically my thighs and upper arms have beefed up, for want of a better expression. I can barely even get size 10 jeans over my thighs now, and my arms look like men's arms. My waist, and tummy look good I suppose but everything else is just horrible and I hate how I look!

I'm quite short at 5ft 4 inches and so in clothes I just look large and stocky.

Has anyone else found the same thing? I am stopping classes and going to just walk and do pilates in future and hopefully my muscles will shrink and I'll look ok again.

AIBU to be upset?

This has got to be trolling

Lifting lighter weights for many many reps is what bodybuilders do. Bodybuilders want to build visible muscle.

Heavier weights for fewer reps shouldn't make you bulky if you are not over eating.

Light weight high rep is the exact recipe for visible muscle growth. That's the way men train in my gym. For women who want to be strong without bulking up they need very heavy weight and low rep. So think 8-10 kg dumbbells instead of 2 kg.

And not 20 reps but 6-8 until failure

I’ve always had a large frame. Tall, long legs, broad shoulders, big hands and feet, no waist. I’m 5’8 and when I was running marathons I weighed about 10st. Started weight training a year or so ago and I weigh about 9st2. Sure my arms and shoulders are bigger, but they were always bulky, it’s just muscle now. I’ve got a proper bum for the first time in my life. I’m fit and strong and my BMI is under 20. I’m 47 and the upsides massively outweigh the odd ‘Christ my arms are massive’ moment. I’m conscious that I have to be a bit mindful of what I eat because weight training does make you feel incredibly hungry.

Each to their own - if you are not happy, then stop the body pump. I’m a bit jealous to be honest - I’ve been doing HIT classes for a year now. At least four 45 minutes sessions a week and over lockdown I did 6 sessions a week. I use of a variety of weights - some just body weight, but I use a 12/14kg for kettlebell swings, 20kg for squats, 32kg for deadlifts for example. So not small weights I don’t think. I’ve definitely toned up a bit, but still have no obvious muscle definition, which I would like a bit. The grass is always greener I guess.

As others say, change the exercises you do. I would ask a personal trainer.
I do want fit arms! I used to have muscle on them and I am trying to get it back!

YANBU- It's your body. Do what gives you the shape you want (as long as it's medically healthy, healthy BMI etc) and what you enjoy. Maybe a compromise- a bit of this stuff and some other stuff/more downtime?

@Plussizejumpsuit

This has got to be trolling

Agreed. ''Oh I'm so sick of my long, muscular legs, I actually have too use dressage length leathers when I go riding''

Oh I'm so sick of weighing six stone, I sweat my horse doesn't know I'm on his back

Oh it's so annoying being tiny ..I have to shop in children's shops and save the VAT

&c&c&c 🤔

Urgh..to, not too swear not sweat. {auto predict}

I did a jogging course and the coach was very emphatic that we need to do proper stretches in the middle of the run and even more so at the end. She said otherwise we’d get unattractive bulky muscles because of somethingorother build up.

I have found that gym classes never allow anywhere near enough time for stretching, I always go off in a corner for 20 mins after class to do stretches, and I wonder if a lack of stretches might be part of your problem?

Do you have a lot of protein in your diet?

Some serious snide replies in this post. Jealously is a horrible trait.

Do yoga. I get what you mean OP. It's the same way that gymnasts can look stocky. Tiny bodies and frame but bulky muscles on top of them. I think it's a great look, but if you don't like it, start doing power yoga or hot yoga which strengthens but elongates the muscles. Drop the body pump and pole. Within three months you'll look lean again.

@TempestHayes

That's weight gain.

To put on muscle, you need to eat a calorific surplus. If you've been doing strength training and eating a surplus, you will grow. However you won't grow 2 clothes sizes. Putting on muscle is not easy or fast.

Just keep a closer eye on what you're eating. And don't eat a surplus.

Agreed. "Weight training will make me look manly" is such a stupid myth. It takes serious effort and a lot of calories to bulk up. I can't cram enough food into my day to bulk.

Understand you OP! I'm slim and noticed that my arms get very muscular when I have young children, from all the carrying. Some people build muscle more easily. Tbh I just think you could use lighter weights or skip a class here and there if you're unhappy feeling bulkier. I'm enjoying my stronger arms as they'll go back to normal soon and muscles are good really (I've got arthritis).

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen 🤮🤮🤮

@Overrunwithlego not sure how much you weigh, but lifting "heavy" weights for women means a goal of deadlifts of 1.5x body weight, for instance. A standard Olympic bar for squats/deadlifts weighs 20kg before you add any weight plates.

Have you been eating more 🤷‍♀️ I’m with “TempestHayes”.

Is your diet protein high? I’d move to low carb/medium protein. It’s quite hard for a woman to put huge amounts of muscle - absolutely possible but it usually is a conscious decision. Do you take regular rest days?

Moderation in all things. Just do one class & short bits at home or, a couple of runs a week.

Well i definitely don’t weigh 20kg! Interesting fact though. Although I’m not trying to be a body builder. Just a bit surprised at how little muscle definition I’ve developed. I would certainly be doing a lot more than OP, who is concerned about too much muscle, appears to be doing. Everyone is different I guess.

This just comes down to choosing the wrong forms of exercise (and definitely wrong classes!) for your goals and body type. I’m surprised you’ve kept going for so long given your goal wasn’t to build up muscle. I’d suggest a personal trainer for a few sessions to talk through what you want to achieve. Body pump doesn’t sound like the right exercise for you at all if you don’t want to build muscle. I’m another who bulks up with muscle in my arms and thighs super easily if I do any sort of weights for a few months - but I don’t mind and am aware that’s what will happen.

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

Pilates. Long, lean, toned muscles. I have defined thighs, arse, arms and stomach but no bulk. I am not a fan of the big arse, thick thighs look currently being peddled as ‘the ideal’.

Give us big arsed, thick thighed women a break, mate. Never been fashionable before...

@Overrunwithlego exactly. You can probably lift much much heavier than you realise and that might improve your physique (and definitely strength!). If you weigh for example 70kg, it shouldn't take more than a few months for you to be able to deadlift 70kg (1x body weight) with a goal of building up to deadlifts of 105kg (1.5x body weight).

The point being that heavier weights = leaner physique (if you don't over eat). Lower weights at more reps = "bodybuilding"

I run regularly and I'm not lean, but I am fairly toned. My calfs are v chunky we wont talk about my thighs
When I was pregnant and stopped running, I lost quite a bit of muscle from my legs and they looked much leaner but less toned.