Don't want to get bigger, why am I working out???

[Gladiola]

Since last Nov, I lifted heavy, regularly, because I loved it, wanted more muscle, wanted to get stronger.

Then in July I switched to the Olympic Lifting. At that time, I did NOT want my shoulders any larger than they already are, & I DEFINITELY do not need my glutes to hypertrophy, but was totally willing to deal with it as sort of a necessary side-effect of reaching my goal. I wanted to lift heavy, & if I got bigger, than OK.

Now that OL, or at least competing, is probably history, I don't know what to do with myself. I don't think I'm interested in PL, nor competing in BB.

Freak that I am, I did NOT ATROPHY, nor lose strength in pecs & biceps when barely working them for 2-3 mos. I know that if I go back to training as I did, I'll keep growing (Oh, and yes, I"m all natual, always have been). But if I don't lift heavy, I won't enjoy the workouts & it won't be a stress relief (I HATE sets of more than 12), but I don't want to grow anymore if I'm not going to compete.

I'm considering slashing former volume by half - lifting for 30 min instead of 60, & then doing 30 min cardio. This just sucks though. I didn't ever expect to be at this point, it's sad to be here.

 

[VooDoo Lady]

Quit agonizing about it and just make the adjustment to a maintenance routine. There's nothing wrong with that. You don't HAVE to want to be a mass monster to lift weights. It's not all about lifting the most weight or losing the most body fat so that you can win competitions. For a lot of people it’s about feeling good and fitting into a certain dress size. I know that that’s not a popular notion around here, but there is nothing wrong with that, IF that’s what you want right now.

Go to the gym, enjoy your workout, go home, and move on.

 

[JJFigure]

I think what you're saying is you only enjoy lifting when you're lifting heavy, but if you're not competing, what's the point in training heavy and consequently continuing to hypertrophy?

IMO, if you don't enjoy the workout, you'll quit. Train the way you enjoy training. Besides, training for strength doesn't necessarily mean you'll hypertrophy. If you train with a focus on strength vs mass building, you probably won't grow much more.

 

[Candi Barr]

Unless you eat an excess of calories, how are you going to get bigger, not matter how you train?

 

[Gladiola]

I think what you're saying is you only enjoy lifting when you're lifting heavy, but if you're not competing, what's the point in training heavy and consequently continuing to hypertrophy?

Yes, EXACTLY!!! I don't enjoy lifting only moderately. Not only is it not "fun", it's not a stress relief. Light lifting is about as fun to me as shaving my legs! & EXACTLY what else you wrote - I can NOT get myself motivated to go do that regularly.

Besides, training for strength doesn't necessarily mean you'll hypertrophy.

I know, you're right. It states right in my NSCA manual that the way to train for size is slightly different than training for strength. Strength is less reps, more sets, less recovery time, and only going to 80-90%, not pushing yourself to total failure. This is EXACTLY how I've trained my shoulders since July & THEY FREAKING STILL GREW!!!!

I would also think that with maintenance calories, I shouldn't grow. I admit my intake was too high the past few months, so we'll see how it goes with decreased intake. Still though, I barely worked my biceps & pecs & they didn't shrink at all.

 

[Candi Barr]

I wish I had some of your problems. I've been eating until I'm about to puke to try to get to 120 lb. Send me your extra muscle. I love scary shoulders.

 

[wilson6]

"I did NOT ATROPHY, nor lose strength in pecs & biceps when barely working them for 2-3 mos."

Sucks to be her doesn't it Lobo?

W6

 

[MS]

Why not try training for strength, but eating BELOW maintenance?? That should be fun!

 

[JJFigure]

Still though, I barely worked my biceps & pecs & they didn't shrink at all.

But you were performing Olymic Lifts, which even though they don't specifically isolate biceps and pecs, these lifts will still impact those muscles. As hard as you've been training, I wouldn't think any of your muscle groups would atrophy, even though you weren't performing isolation work.

I have to admit I'm jealous - I really struggle to put on muscle.

BooHoo!

 

[Gladiola]

Absolutely, low cal diets are the way to go!
http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151087&highlight=slimfast

I know there are tons of ppl thinking, "Sheesh, what a thing to complain about!" but seriously, we don't all here want to look like a mass monster. Having clothes not fit gets real tiresome.

JJFigure - you have a point - the OL was total body, but I still thought I would at least lose strength in the movements of bicep curls & chest DB presses.

 

[wilson6]

Glad,

Now I'm really curious as to what you define as big on yourself. A mass monster is Lenda Murray at the Olympia. Anything less is just fit looking.

Post a pic.

W6

 

[valerie]

Hey Glad-how about getting a new perspective on this. In reality how much muscle mass can you as a natural athlete put on? Perhaps you making much out of little? Do what brings you pleasure! Nobody looking at you knows what size clothes you wear. Besides as we all know muscle gives you shape, its the dreaded fat that makes us look "bulky".

I have had the same thoughts but am going to still lift heavy and just buy larger sized clothes if I get to that point. Besides we look better in clothes that don't fit too tight.-Valerie

 

[Intenceman]

Just train like they suggest in the Weider magazines and don't take steroids,- you won't grow, unless you are truly a freak.

 

[SteelWeaver]

Yeah, like Intenceman said - train really really hard at high intensity for high volume, and you easily won't grow

Or eat less.

 

[scrummy]

just a suggestion

Have you thought about joining a rugby team or soccer or something? That way you can lift lots of weight and you get a bunch of cardio by default. You can still use you Olympic lifts and any size you may have.

 

[KISAWA]

Unless you eat an excess of calories, how are you going to get bigger, not matter how you train?

RIGHT!!absolutely right!!

 

[Gladiola]

Do what makes you happy

Unfortunately what makes me happy is lifting heavy. Lifting heavy makes me bigger (it always has so far) & being bigger makes me unhappy.
Therefore, Doing what makes me happy makes me unhappy.

I'm not posting a pic on this thread b/c I'm not going to debate whether or not I'm "Big". It's a freaking matter of opinion & I really don't give a fuck about anyone else's opinion of whether or not I'm "Big". I'm bigger than **I** want to be, & that's the point. I don't think anyone will debate that I have a muscular physique & I am not a headcase here. I also do not want to buy an entire new wardrobe!

I also won't debate Can women get big naturally??? No, they can't get Ms O. big, but they CAN get big. It's not common, & it takes a LOT of hard work & some time, but it IS possible. Get a clue if you think it's physiologically impossible. Actually I probably do have naturally extra high test levels - that would explain a lot.

Anyways, I'm going to try reducing my calories, which makes sense. Although being hungry makes me way more miserable than lifting light, but I'm sure with enough fiber, veggies, water, I'll be fine & not feel too hungry on a level right at maintenance.

 

[SouthernBell]

I agree with you 100% Gladiola. I am the same I love lifting heavy. But no matter how much I try to convince myself the extra weight and size is muscle not fat, I can cry everytime I put on a pair of jeans or step on the scale. It is like a total rollercoaster of emotions. I can't seem to find a perfect medium. Espically when I grow out of proportion. My lower body seem to overpower my upper body.

I am by no means at all big, muscular, but neither am I skinny. I have more body fat than I desire but I can't build muscle and lose body fat at the same time or maintain my body fat it seems like with one comes another and in turn so does the weight and the size.

I hope you can find that perfect medium where you are happy with your body and enjoying what you are doing. I am also still searching, but I also do not want to have to sacrifice one for the other.

good luck

lovemymuscle

 

[dudelift]

Do what makes ya happy !!

Damn , damn damn damn damn damn .
Do whatever makes ya happy Gladiola , yes, it's been said already , but is it YOU that doesn't want to get any bigger ? or someone else putting pressure on you ?

Im sure it's you , but damn i hate to hear a woman who CAN get that big NATURALLY , but doesn't want to . I know , i know, i respect your feelings , so do what makes ya happy girl ))