Spin class - will it make my legs bigger?

[lemonaaade]

I’ve joined back at the gym and discovered a love for spin classes, I want to keep going as I really enjoy it but was told by a friend that they bulk your legs?
I’m a pear shape so I hold weight in my calves and thighs… I really don’t want to make them bigger!! Or will my calorie deficit help. Thanks

It depends. If your legs are muscley already then yes it will make them bigger. If you carry more fat on your thighs and you're eating less then you'll lose the fat on your thighs and tone them up.
If you only exercise and don't watch your diet then yes your legs could get bigger as you'll be building muscle in your legs whilst not really losing the fat (it's v hard to lose fat by exercise alone).

I definitely carry more fat on my thighs at the moment…. I’ll have to ensure I’m in a deficit then

Initially, I'd concentrate on just enjoying it, when your thighs do get too big, then move to another class. Until then enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of it.

My arms are like this - muscly AND fat. But I'm hoping the far will burn off eventually with my dietary changes

No it will not, track sprinters do serious amounts of weight training to bulk their legs

rd cyclists are thin and lean

I'm a roadie (road cyclist - female, I race road, mountain bike and cyclo cross, I am not a track sprinter, or any kind of sprinter). I have big glutes, big quads and well defined calf muscles. Like most cyclists (male and female) finding jeans to fit can be a challenged as I have a small waist, flat stomach and not much on my hips... but my muscular arse and thighs cause trousers that fit, not to fit!!

It depends how often you spin and what resistance you use. Potentially you absolute will grow your cycling muscles. Embrace it. I fucking love mine... especially when they show up in photos of me. I'm fit, strong, healthy and proud.

If you’re enjoying it, then just keep going. Exercise should be fun. If you’re going once or twice a week then I’m not sure you’ll notice much difference to start.

if you’re doing it more and over a period of 12 weeks, you may start to notice your shape changing. There are other cardio exercises you can use if you’re finding this is the case. But I would just go and have fun