Maintenance Program and Cut vs Bulk

P

punky3333

Cathlete
Hi fellow fitness nuts!

I have a few queries:

I am assuming that at some point in my fitness program I am going to get to a place where I am happy, and just want to maintain my fitness level, i.e., I don't want to do squats with 100 lbs - perhaps once I get to 35 or 40 lbs I will feel that is enough. What do people do when they get to that point to maintain fitness level - do they reduce the number of workouts they are doing a week, or just not up the weights, but rather rotate through different workouts to keep the body adequately shocked?

Second question: Does a person have control over becoming cut vs. getting bulk? For example, I would like to see lean muscle lines, but I don't want huge biceps or thighs. Is there a way to develop the muscle without bulking it up too much? I realize this must come with controlling the weights, but how do you know what is giving you cut, versus building up bulk?

Excuse me if I didn't explain that very well - I am just kind of thinking out loud. Anyone have any comments?
 
Hi Punky,

I'm not an expert but I think if I'm wrong in my response someone will be able to correct me.

If I'm not mistaken, once you reach your goal, you will wnt to continue working out like you have been but not increase your weights as frequently. To get more definition (or cut), you will want to increase your cardio workouts after you've built the muscle size you want. As a woman, you aren't really going to have to deal with bulk that much. You may find that your thighs get bigger than you would like but if you increase your cardio or add running, this should remain slight.

Hope I've helped. If I'm wrong, someone please help us out!!!
 
As far as "bulk" vs. "cut," I'm not convinced there's really any difference - I would love to see what others views are on this though. I would think that if you want to look "cut," as so many people refer to it, you need to build muscle.

I don't understand the term "bulk" in this particular context, unless you just mean building really really big muscles which, as Deborah pointed out, doesn't happen too easily in most women. Maybe bulking is having muscles, but buried by fat so that it just makes you look bigger rather than muscular? Again, love to see what other think about this. I just think that to have nice definition you need the muscles to be there, and be visible. To be visible, you need to burn off the fat surrounding them (if there's fat there to begin with).
 
I would think that by "bulk", she might mean like that girl Chyna?
The girl from the WWF?

I wonder how she got so bulked out? Maybe steroids? Could that have happened just by lifting weights?

If you don't know who I'm talking about check out the link below:

http://chynahq.hypermart.net/

Danielle :+
 
Bulky might mean chunky? You know that look where you're firm but look kind of solid or tight chubby? Like you retained water? A frankfurter? Or like Pink sometimes looks like vs. Madonna now. Or when your legs suddenly look shorter and wider vs. long and lean with the side dents? Versa Climber thighs vs. Running room thighs?
:p
 
Thanks for all the feedback. I think you answered my first question.

As for bulk, I guess I am most worried about my legs. I don't want them "chunky". I thought the comment about the cut being affected by how much fat you were carrying was interesting. I'm sure that's true. I have built up some good muscle already working out, but some of it isn't as visible under the layer of fat (especially my stomach area below the waist).

I just wasn't sure if there was a way that people went after "cut" that didn't involve super, super heavy weights to do it. I don't want to be squatting 90 lbs, because my legs tend to thicken in the thighs when they get strong. Maybe this is just a matter of genetics, and its either bulky and cut or nothing!
 
I think cardio can strip the fat and weights can build the muscle and change the shape of thighs. My experience was that Spinning (cycling classes) pretty much got rid of all the fat and then Legwork did the rest. It didn't matter whether it was FIRM videos, Cathe's endurance or S&H ... once the fat was gone the thigh circumference was pretty good. Like they keepn saying muscle takes less space than fat.
 
Hi Punky! Once you've reached your goal weight & don't wish to increase any more the best way to do it is to cycle every 6 weeks. You don't want to plateau. Change it up from lifting heavy split routines to circuits to muscle endurance. In order to get cut you have to first build a lot of muscle and then change up your program again as well change your nutrition to lose bodyfat so the muscles will show through. Just change up your routine every 6 wks., jot down your measurements & then see how you can tweak it. Best, Kathy:7
 
I don't mind bulking up, but I definitely noticed (and I wasn't looking for it) that ps and slow and heavy gave me bigger, swollen looking in a good way-muscles, but a few weeks of power hour made them more small, hard, cut with sharp lines.

Personally, the sharp lines on my arms look grisly to me since my arms are skinny. They can afford to be puffed and curvy, not sharply cut. For my lower body, tight and cut is better.

I rotate power hour and pure strength. I agree with everyone that your body needs both types. millie
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Kathy - that makes a lot of sense. I have been recording my workouts and watching my weight, but I've never measured myself to see the changes. I'll try that out!

I'm still not at my ideal anything, so I have a ways to go - just thinking ahead! The biggest worry is I didn't want to get really bulky (big thighs), so I'll just level off at some squat weight. I'm far from reaching it yet anyways :)
 
Hi Millie. I've been doing an MIS and PH rotation and am about to start a PS rotation. When you do Pure Strength, do you only do Pure Strength, each tape once a week, or do you do any other workouts the same week (like Power Hour)? If that makes any sense...

Thanks,
Melissa
 
Here is my opinion about Cut vs. bulk, I workout with cathe tapes and go to the gym every day during my lunch hour. Well one of the girls who teaches aerobics is an ESPN fitness competitor, and after numerous chats here is what I conclude from talks with her and my own personal experience.

There are parts on a woman that are going to be prone to 'bulk" up, legs especially (I have this problem). If you are at your goal weight, have regular cardio sessions and have toned, solid arms, etc. but you are not seeing the "cut", it all has to do with diet, and trust me, when I say this. I do cardio daily & weights 3x per week, so I had all the toneness, etc. And ESPN girl's advice to me was to cut carbs way down and I did try this for about 2 weeks, I didn't totally emliminate my carbs, I just didn't eat them past 1:00 p.m. And what a difference you see, I started getting all the lines and definition, I didn't change anything in my exercise routine, just diet.

Also regarding the legs- if I train my legs more than once a week, they do "bulk" up. and she even told me that you have to listen to your body and see what responds weel and doesn't. Just an example for a few months, I thought if I trained my legs 2/3 per week they would get that "slim, slender" look, WRONG, my jeans were getting tighter in the legs and butt,so just doing one intense leg workout per week and plus all the cardio, aerobics, running, etc. seems to work for me. Also - when Im training legs I noticed what exercise works better if I use weights, and other leg exercises, I do a Pilate style. Pilates are great to do if you are looking to slim down your legs.

sorry so long just wanted to give my advice and experience.

Lori
 
Wow, you guys gave some super advice!!!

Lori: Could you give some examples of how you're eating now, I think this would really help me! Thanks so much!
 
Hi Lori,

What do you mean by Pilates style? Are you talking about the sidekicks series in the mat work or Pilates style of working with weights, i.e. light weights, very slow reps.

Thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top