Will lifting weights make me bulky or actually help me lose fat?

[Anonymous]

My dad, who's a general physician, recently gave me a long lecture on why I shouldn't weightlift a lot. I'm a beginner lifter, 20F, have mild pcod and want to lose 5kgs. Goal is body recomp. I'm eating in a mild deficit (open to new suggestions if not right). My dad, however, said that I should do more aerobics, and to support his argument that I'll get too bulky, showed me images of short put athletes and bodybuilders. He then showed me photos of runners in contrast. He said that since he's an expert in his field, I should listen to him and not gym trainers who say lifting weights will aid weight loss since only aerobics does. My mom said that if she follows my dad blindly, why can't I because he's literally an expert. Is he tho? Thoughts?

[Levin]

I've been strength training for 9 years and I'm still fairly 'skinny'.

However, my body fat percentage is 11%.

I also do progressive calisthenics, which tends to shred your body and keep you lean because every movement requires so much core engagement.

Anyway, I think people who become bulky usually have that body type already. They eat too much. Or they're on roids. Roids has pretty much destroyed any sense or normality in strength training communities. Most men will fill out their shirts but not become particularly big from strength training, which is why a lot give up and quit before they know it..

[MrChinaski]

Women don't tend to bulk heavily unless they deliberately try because of the massive difference in testosterone levels.

The 'bulking' you see in body builders is a combination of hypertrophy associated with high rep (10-15 reps per set) workouts targeting individual muscle groups (e. g. biceps), and fat loss and dehydration to draw skin closer to he muscle. I was in a relationship with a serious bodybuilder. 99% of the time she did not look bulky. Just strong and healthy. 'Strength' training uses low rep (3-5 reps per set) workouts focusing on compound lifts (e. g. squat, bench) at high resistance and does not lead to hypertrophy in that way.

Yes weightlifting burns fat. It burns fat in the execution of the exercise, in the body's repair of the damaged muscle and because it raises your basal metabolic rate.

Your dad shouldn't be telling you what to do.

Build the body you want.

[Asker]

Well, I do 3*10 each exercise as well, 4x a week.

[MrChinaski]

If you want to be strong, the standard workout (with apologies because I have absolutely no idea where you are strength-wise, or whether that is even your goal) is:

Three days a week
Squat 5 sets of 5 reps
Bench 5 sets of 5 reps
(+ Some supporting exercises as you want. Chin-ups and inverted rows or barbell rows are good to balance upper body development and will avoid injury eventually. Do whatever you want.)

Start with low weight. If you complete your 5x5, add 5lb next work out. If you fail, try again two times. If you fail three times in a row, back off 15lbs and start building again.

Repeat until you squat 1.5xBW.

[LazerBean]

You can only bill of you are eating a calorie surplus. Of you are in a calorie deficit, you will lose weight. Lifting weights makes you burn more calories, so therefore lifting weights while eating a calorie deficit will make you lose weight faster.

[LazerBean]

Bulk* not bill

[Danny_dan92]

If you’re a girl. It’s extremely difficult to pack on loads of muscle. Just due to your natural hormones.




Unless you’re on anabolics, you’ll gain some muscle mass but nothing close to what men can obtain naturally

[Spencer10]

It should help. Just because you lift does not mean you will bulk up... its HOW you life that determines that.

[Alex-Snow]

Just balance cardio and strength exercises. Maybe try for more reps and less bulk when lifting.

[In_Trance]

You have no chance of bulking unless you have a solid routine that focuses on bulking. Which you don't

[Anonymous]

Depends on what kind of workout you prefer.

[Abbycado]

You want cardio.