The Health and Fitness Thread

[David]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

I'm not David - BUT I've read that it takes a LOT of effort and supplements and testosterone for a woman to bulk up.

Deanna's right, Paula. It's a common misconception women are worried about for nothing. Physiologically, there's no difference between "bulking up" & "toning." either way, you are destroying muscle tissue, which has a tendency to regrow in greater quantity & quality.

using weights or weight machines just sort of lightly (you see people -- mostly women -- do this at the gym all the time), doing some rep 20 or 30 times or even more ... you aren't doing anything more than you would be just sitting on a chair swinging your arms around. Whether you want to "tone" (which IS building muscle) or turn into Ahnold, you need to push the muscle to failure. Otherwise, it doesn't trigger growth. Otherwise, all you're doing is just burning calories (expending energy) just as you'd be doing walking or driving or typing or sewing or burning DVDs of Bob Welch Live at the Roxy.

It's an unfounded fear women have of "bulking up." It takes men years to bulk up. It isn't going to happen to women presto chango.

Also, don't do your weights on the same days you do your aerobics. Just do your weights & then go home & eat fresh fruit & vegetables & fish & whole-wheat bread. In one year, you will have whatever waist you dream about.