Learn the Secret to This Program

To learn how to maximize your results, read my article on the Four Dimensions of Fitness. The Four dimensions are Diet, Resistance Training, Cardio and Commitment. Please Contact Us now to request a copy. You can also Contact Us with your questions and suggestions for more articles

Strength Training: Getting Bulky

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people, mostly women, telling me how they are scared that weight lifting will make them big and bulky. I have heard it so many times. But I almost never see it. I'm wondering where all these accidental bulky people are and why I haven't seen anybody in my life who says that lifting weights ruined their life because they got too big and bulky.

It seems like pretty much every time I hear this concern, its from a woman with a high percentage of body fat. Women forget that fat and muscle are two entirely different things. Men and women alike should do research before they start complaining about the "dangers" of weight lifting. The fact of the matter is, muscle is half the size of fat, it burns fat, and will actually help you appear toned and attractive.

So, I figured that I would tell a bit about my experience with lifting weights and use this experience to calm the fears many men and women have. This belief is so prominent that I just talked to a guy about this yesterday at the gym. I explained to him how he needed to build more muscle to get thinner, but I'll leave that story for another day.

You see, I know many people are vastly misinformed about this subject. I myself have tried for 10 years of my life to look bulky by lifting weights and I still don't look bulky. And I was actually trying to do this. Read about my experience and extreme measures I went to in my quest to get huge and learn what this means for you in achieving the nice toned look.

I started lifting when I was 13 years old and I'm now 25 years old. I have been lifting the entire time with one goal in mind. To get as huge as possible. I gain on average of about 2.5 pounds of muscle every year.

Here is a list of some crazy things I've done in the process:

• Every year, I learn new techniques for my specific goal of getting bigger
• I have taken many cycles of creatine(muscle building supplement)
• I have worked out till I puked, many times
• I am a retired college athlete
• I eat and lift at least twice the average man on a consistent basis (4,000 calories)
• I have trained college athletes and many bigger structured people
• I can lift up the end of some cars
• I have 10 times more testosterone then most woman because I'm a guy
• I know more about fitness and nutrition then almost anyone I know.

So you see, it will be virtually impossible for you to gain the bulky look unless you are really trying to. I've been trying to for years and still haven't! The only way you could get bulky is if you take steroids or if you have insane genetics that are less then 1% of the population. Even if you do have larger genetics, you will still have to eat insane amounts of food, lift very heavy with low reps, and train for years at the highest level.

Additionally, even if you have naturally bigger genetics, you still should want to put on muscle. You must remember this. Don't be afraid of the weight. The weight isn't a magic genie that is going to transform you into a hulking monster over night. And never tell me that you are accidentally bulking up unless your body fat is lower then 20%. I'm tired of having overweight people tell me they are bulking up. Its not muscle your bulking up on, its fat. Get rid of the fat then come to me and tell me this. I'll believe you then.

Exactly how much muscle you put on is up to you. You can stop whenever you like.

But keep the following facts in mind:

• Almost every muscle man or woman you see that is unattractive muscular is on steroids. If they aren't, you can bet they have been training for years and have freaky genetics.
• These freaks can get smaller any time they want. The hard thing is to get where they are, not shrink back down!
• I'm a guy, and have been training forever! And I still look average despite all my efforts.
• The more muscle you have, the more calories and fat you burn. Period...
• When you have more muscle, you burn calories in your sleep. Because your metabolism is faster.
• Muscle on women shows up as definition. Not bulk because it is so hard for them to gain muscle at all.
• Doing too much cardio can actually slow down your metabolism and break down muscle which is your precious fat burning tissue. To all you cardio bunnies.

I've written some other articles to help you with your workout results. You can read more and join in the discussion of these workout articles in our Forums.

• Nutrition: Before you even start thinking about exercising.
• Nutrition: What is the best nutritional program?
• Nutrition: Alcohol (The good and the bad)
• Nutrition: Milk - "It does a body bad, real bad"
• Strength Training: "Just do it" Why Nike has it right...
• Strength Training: It's called Intensity!!
• Strength Training: Toning and Building the Arms
• Strength Training: The Best Exercise Routine For Busy People
• Strength Training: Ladies! Toning your Thighs and Butt.
• Strength Training: How can I be Consistent with my Workouts and get Results with my busy schedule?
• Strength Training: How to get a Sexy Flat Stomach
• Strength Training: Getting Bulky
• Cardiovascular Training: It is crucial to know your why...
• Cardiovascular Training: Why you should be exercising less
• Cardiovascular Training: Cardio the right way, intensity.
• Commitment: It takes six weeks
• Commitment: How I went from cute pretty boy to hot stud in 5 seconds flat
• Commitment: Train for your potential

Contact Us with your questions and suggestions for more articles

Please Note

The articles are only simple guidelines. They do not stand alone in your success. Workout 4 Results specializes in providing results and forming your body into a balanced, athletic, and aesthetic shape. In every case, this requires individualized programming in every area of each dimension. Your diet, your resistance program, and your cardiovascular program, and even your committed approach will all be unique in order to reap the biggest results.