Exercises that won't bulk

[AppleGirl]

Does anyone have any advice about which cardio machines will help me slim without adding bulk? I already have enough (in my opinion, too much) muscle, but I'd really like to slim down all over. I've been dancing since I was little, so my muscles built up pretty easily. Also, since I'm petite, the muscles tend to be more compacted looking and less elongated. I've been wanting to lose weight/shape up, but I'm scared of bulking up more muscle.

Any ideas to burn the calories and fat but not build the muscles up too much? I'm open to anything...right now I do low resistance elliptical jogger.

[Verdant]

If you're worried about bulking up, just stick to endurance activities and reduce or skip weight training entirely. And since you were a dancer, I'd go for the endurance activities that don't use your legs so much, like swimming and rowing on an erg machine. You'll get some growth in your shoulders and arms, but at least you'll slim down without bulking up those dancer legs even more. But dang girl! I wish I had your problems ;).

[carrot]

This worries me too, since I did ballet as a child, I've got really defined legs :sick:

[toadstool]

Try yoga or pilates.

Or count your blessings. ;) I so wish I could build muscle instead of these puny little things I call arms and legs. :(

[Verdant]

This worries me too, since I did ballet as a child, I've got really defined legs :sick:

On a sidenote, I think it sucks that many societies put pressure on women to have as little muscular definition as possible. You should be proud of those ballet legs :hamster:!

[AppleGirl]

On a sidenote, I think it sucks that many societies put pressure on women to have as little muscular definition as possible. You should be proud of those ballet legs :hamster:!

If only *sigh*...I mean, I'm glad I don't have flabby no-muscle legs, but it's hard bc now I'm living in Taiwan, a place where everyone seems to think my 105 lbs is "on the meaty/chubby side"...In the US, people always considered me pretty small, but over here i'm considered too muscular and too-curvy...they like stick-thin women.

[rabid_child]

It's difficult for women to really bulk up since we don't have a ton of testosterone.

[DoshKel]

105 is meaty?!

Wow... thats horrible. From your picture, you are really pretty. In my guy-like opinion, stay where you are and be happy.

Please take care and don't let others decide what you should look like.

[jupiterjuniper]

I second what DoshKel said, from a girl-like point of view. You seem to be at a perfect weight and size/shape.

[zoebird]

bulking up doesn't exist. neither does toning to get elongated muscles.

work on being healthy and happy, rather than someone else's idea of beauty.

[Verdant]

I think AppleGirl is pretty d*mn hot! And I'm gay, so I have no ulterior motives for saying so :D.

[AppleGirl]

aww thanks for all the support! that's really nice of y'all to say, esp bc lately I've been feeling so blah about this. I've already been here about 3 months, so it's easy to get sucked into that whole thing. A lot of it has to do with my work, though, so on some levels, I don't have as much of a choice right now. I'm just looking forward to when I can go back to the States and feel ok about myself. I've discovered that the US is one of the more accepting societies where many different sizes, shapes, colors are accepted. Standards of beauty are even more rigid in Asian countries.

Thanks for making my day =)

[Virtue23]

Applegirl - how tall are you?? I'd even think you may be a little underweight. Either way, you look great so don't get down on yourself. :up:

[AppleGirl]

I'm 5'3"...I think I might be technically borderline. My BMI is about 18.5, so Whenever I do BMI calculators, I usually end up right at the line. The thing is, I have a very small frame, like small bones/ankles/wrists, so I should probably be a little bit lighter than the average 5'3" person.

People here (in Taiwan) are so small...most girls that are my weight over here are around 5'6" or 5'7", and most girls my height are around 43 kg (just under 95 lbs). It's scary, but that's the norm here...

Thanks for all the support, though! I just haven't been as active for the past few months, so I'm trying to get into the swing of things again.

[SeaSiren]

elliptical is great as well as the hand bike (bicycle operated by hand) if they have it.

[Erin]

I'm 5'3"...I think I might be technically borderline. My BMI is about 18.5, so Whenever I do BMI calculators, I usually end up right at the line. The thing is, I have a very small frame, like small bones/ankles/wrists, so I should probably be a little bit lighter than the average 5'3" person.
Chiming in late...

You're right, 18.5 is at the borderline. The "normal" BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9 and allows for different frame sizes within the range; therefore, someone with the most medium of medium frames would have a 21.7 BMI. Since you have a small frame size, you would want to be on the lower end of the range, but you're already at the lowest mark. If you lose any weight, you would be underweight according to BMI.

I feel sad when already healthy people feel they have to restrict themselves further to conform to some arbitrary standard, whether it's the BMI or society or whatever. Your only concern should be whether YOU feel good, although I know it's hard to shush all those judgmental voices and really listen to what your body is telling you... it's an ongoing struggle (and a whole 'nother topic!).

[KulaShaker]

If only *sigh*...I mean, I'm glad I don't have flabby no-muscle legs, but it's hard bc now I'm living in Taiwan, a place where everyone seems to think my 105 lbs is "on the meaty/chubby side"...In the US, people always considered me pretty small, but over here i'm considered too muscular and too-curvy...they like stick-thin women.

Thats insane. Im never going to Taiwan! Celebrate the fatc that your curvey, its a good thing, im glad i am, even if its not always considered attractive...

[ilovemydragon]

Walking = great exercise

[Erin]

Thats insane. Im never going to Taiwan! Celebrate the fatc that your curvey, its a good thing, im glad i am, even if its not always considered attractive...
I totally agree... Every body type has been considered the most desirable one to have at one time or another throughout history, and curves are appreciated in many cultures today. Don't let geography get you down. :love:

[Adagio]

I think AppleGirl is pretty d*mn hot! And I'm gay, so I have no ulterior motives for saying so :D.

Ditto.

;)

[Adagio]

More to the point of the subject, if you're still set on less image-affecting exercise, Pilates is quite good for longer, thinner, stronger muscles, as far as I know.

[AppleGirl]

Thanks for all your input (especially yours Adagio =P)!

I think I'm going to just focus on staying healthy, not the numbers on the scale (scale = Evil). It just gets so frustrating living here...I really took growing up in the States for granted. I was born and raised in Texas, and those Texans love the curvy gals!

[zoebird]

from your description, though, i would hardly call you 'curvy' by the standards that i consider 'curvy.' but hey, whatever. :)

[nkace]

If only I could have a dancers legs, wow, one could dream since a little too late for me. People work hard for what you have so be glad you do.

[Starblossom]

Wow I wish I had the "problem" of having defined legs! I think girls who have some muscle look sexy. I saw a show on "top model" or whatever stupid show that was, and the one girl decided that her "weakness" was too many muscles! She wasn't even all that bulky! Since when are muscles so undesirable??

Anyways, don't let other people get you down on your looks. All that matters is that you're healthy and happy with yourself.

And I gotta disagree with adagio. You can't make your muscles a certain shape by the exercise you do. It is physically impossible to make your muscles "longer" or "shorter." You can only lose muscle mass or gain muscle mass. Period. As a woman, you will never, ever look anything even remotely close to She-Hulk unless you start taking steriods and pump iron like a crazy woman. :)