Will whey protein help me get a thicker physique?

Question

I've been told constantly that I could use some more meat on my bones and I would love to have a more athletic physique. I am 5'2 and petite so I was wondering if exercise and using whey protein will help me gain muscle mass. Will I burn off any fat in places like my butt or chest? Because that's not what I want. I want an over all toned look and a body that is more shapely.

Updates

+1 y

My shape is similar to the girl in the middle and the girl to the left of her (except I am way thinner and I have small boobs. <_<). But their tone and thickness is what I am after.

link</a>

candlewax · Accepted Answer

First off, if you're petite, guess what? You may just be that and physiologically can't bulk up. If that's the case, you can do every myth out there to gain muscle mass and it won't work. Some people are born with athletic physiques. Some aren't. They can work out all they want and they may never look athletic. It happens.

But in regard to the question, no. The average American gets more than enough protein in their diet. Taking on more protein won't really do much. The body is just going to get rid of it. Too much can also harm the kidneys. Protein isn't even THAT important to bulking up. It has importance, but not as much as popular believe leads you to believe. You need those carbs since that's the first source of energy the body goes for. THAT'S what's going to help those muscles get energy and endure work outs.

As far as burning fat, your body decides what goes first. There is a chance you'd lose it in your butt or boobs, but it depends on what it's predisposed to lose first. Unfortunately for a lot of women, it seems that the weight drops in the boobs first. Boo. :(

But what you can try, if you haven't already, is get a cardio routine together and combine with with alternating days of resistance training. You can be thin and still over fat. Starting up cardio will burn that fat covering those muscles. The resistance training will help with strength and bulking can be done by gradually working in low reps high weights to increase muscle mass. Give it 6-8 weeks. Measure parts like bicep, calves, thighs, waist, and compare them from the beginning to the end of the 6-8 week period. People always expect instant results and can't see the tiny changes going on in the body during this period.

DeidreK · Accepted Answer

Protein should help. Calcium also helps build muscle. If you don't over do it you shouldn't lose what you have...But I know what you mean about being petite. I'm sorta like the girl in the orange, but smaller boobs(even though everyone tells me they're big for my body), and I'm softer and less muscular. And I'm only  4'8" and I'm 19, so you aren't alone. :)

WeaponZero · Accepted Answer

You can get what you want with very minor supplementation as long as you follow specific types of workout regimens and specific diets.

1. Adding muscle mass is a result of having a calorie SURPLUS (not a calorie deficit, as is commonly taught) combined with doing intense resistance training and allowing more than the minimum 48 hours rest in between. Bodybuilders looking to add on serious size only work each muscle group ONCE A WEEK if that tells you anything, because size isn't added during your workouts, it's added during the rest period following your workout.

2. Cardio will burn fat off your body but the only way to actually add shape to it or reshape it is through resistance training. Depending on your goals you need to decide whether a plan using high weight, low reps, or high reps, low weight, or something in between is right for you.

3. When it comes to nutrition, fat, protein, and carbohydrates are all important and it isn't necessarily best to have any one of them (even fat) be too low.

In other words, EAT, WOMAN! And EAT RIGHT! And then go play around in the weight room and don't p****foot around with light weights. Your muscles need to be torn down and then rebuilt to add size. And the rebuilding process after the kind of workout you need is going to take more than just the minimum 48 hours.

Prof_Don · Accepted Answer

WeaponZero said just about everything I wanted to say...but I'll kick in info when I can.

Chainging your body composition, is 100% done by resistance training to build muscle.

There is a reason that NOBODY gets "ripped" from doing lap-band surgery. Diet alone may make you lose some weight, but their body composition is the same. Thus you're the same "shape", only "smaller"

So many females focus on numbers on a scale, & I think that is the mistake for those looking for your type of results.

Build that muscle by doing heavy weights (3 reps, sets of 6 or less) in the gym 1-2 times per week, and making sure you're eating enough calories to recover, since muscle is rebuilt at rest, not when you workout.

This means you're gonna be eating MORE, not less. Muscle needs fuel to be built, and THAT will give you that shapely body that you want.

As for the protein? Protein supplements are very useful for this. As a female, get soy protein powder. It's detrimental for men, but has excellent benefits for women. :)

christian2724 · Answer

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think the recipe for mass is lifting very heavy weight with low reps. Almost at the max you can lift. I think strength is less weight, higher reps. Toning is lighter weights with very high reps. Something like that. Bodybuilding websites could point you in the right direction.

I'm guessing you'll want to keep your calories the same or up them a bit so you don't cut any fat.

Sounds logical to me.

Fat on your butt or chest is probably pretty stubborn anyways, or easily replaced. I wouldn't be surprised if your body did it's own thing and didn't cooperate with your plan.

dons220 · Answer

Well, if you want more mass, then yes, do weight training with high weight and low reps, for guys this makes us more bulky. But, if you want to be over all more toned, then you are going to want to do low weight and high reps. You cannot target fat for removal, you lose fat proportionally all over you body. Another good way to get maximize results is to try to stimulate as many muscle groups as you can with your lifting.

I think what you should do is do good moderate weight lifting, and swim. That way the weight lifting will give you more muscle, and the swimming will help tone everything in general, since swimming is a whole body workout.

Black_Swan_12 · Answer

if you want to be toned without being muscular I suggest you not lift really heavy weights.  Whey protein is good to use because it speeds up your metabolism and it nourishes your body with protein right after your workout or during your workout (thats the best use for it, with water).  Best thing to do is to take it but don't over do it, rely on whole foods more.  lot of cardio and work out each muscle group once a week would do you good.  You should probably look up more tips on google or YouTube.

Jager66 · Answer

if you want to add meat the only way to do it is through exercise, you may want to make an appointment with a personal trainer to get you set up with a program and some tips on proper diet. some people use whey some eat food like chicken. there is allot of info on this topic you'll probably have to do some research.

Livestrong58 · Answer

Personally, I'm avidly against supplements except for bodybuilders in bulking phase. For someone in your case (from the few sentences), you need to build the right type of muscle. Athletic physiques stand out because of the development of fast twitch muscle fiber. If you're wanting lean muscle mass in your lower body, weight lifting with whey supplements will not get you the desired results IMO.

kheserthorpe · Answer

Squats, deadlifts, lunges. Go heavy. You don't need protein shakes, but you do need to eat caloric surplus with plenty of protein and some fat if you want ot build muscle.

I'd aim for sets at weight where you can do something like 8 reps.

Anonymous · Answer

if you exercise well, and eat protein in amounts then theoretically yes. but- whey protein alone won't just help you- your muscles need some more ingredients too, like some amount of fat. xD. I'm a bad advisor in this - ask someone at your local gym.

martyfellow · Answer

You don't rally need th whey if your diet is noral.  Exercise will firm you up but not 'burn fat' in specific places.   Setttle for firming up.

WoIIie · Answer

Eat chicken breasts like they are the body of Christ. Forget WHEY.

Anonymous · Answer

"Meat on your bones"? WTF? Is someone planning to barbecue you?

Xx_DRE_xX · Answer

Omg, your beautiful there is no need.

Will whey protein help me get a thicker physique?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Will whey protein help me get a thicker physique?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.