5 Reasons Why Lifting Weights Won’t Make You Bulky

“Will weights make me bulky?” If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, we’re going to crush that argument once and for all. 

No, lifting weights won’t make you bulky. In fact, it does the exact opposite. If your goals are to get toned, burn fat and gain strength, go ahead and grab some dumbbells. If you’re still not sold, here are 5 reasons why lifting weights won’t make you bulky.

#1: You’ll Actually Burn Way More Calories

Lifting weights increases lean muscle mass, which increases the number of calories you burn on a daily basis. By adding more lean muscle, you’ll burn more calories long after your workout is over, a phenomenon known as the afterburn effect. You could literally be chilling on the couch and you’ll still be burning more calories thanks to weight training.

#2: You Can’t Get Bulky Through Exercise Alone

Do you expect to lose weight from just working out? It doesn’t happen that way. The combination of exercise and a healthy diet is the ultimate answer to weight loss. The same can be said for getting bulky. 

Getting bulky would require heavy weight lifting combined with an excess amount of calories—we’re talking 1000s of calories per day. 

The bottom line: If you weight train 3 days a week and you’re creating a negative caloric balance—burning more calories than you intake in a day—you won’t bulk up. Instead, you’ll boost your metabolism, which makes it much easier to burn fat. 

#3: You’ll Develop Lean (Not Bulky) Muscle

Want tight buns? Add squats, lunges and deadlifts to your workout routine. How about defined arm muscles? Grab some dumbbells. 

While you could spend hours on the treadmill or elliptical trying to burn fat, the secret to a tight and toned body isn’t burning off extra fat—it’s creating lean muscle. 

Related: Why You Should Strength Train to Improve Your Long-Term Health

#4: You Won’t Get Bulky Overnight 

Let’s be clear—”bulking up” is a serious task that requires high levels of commitment and rigorous programming. The program typically consists of a heavy weight training routine 4-5 days a week and a very specific “bulking” diet. And it usually takes months to see progress. 

The bottom line: Simply adding strength workouts to your regular workout routine doesn’t equate to “bulking up.” To get the level of “bulk” a bodybuilder possesses takes years of extreme exercise and clean eating. 

#5: It’s Fat (Not Muscle) That Creates Bulk 

What’s the true culprit that leads to a bulky physique? Fat accumulation! Excess body fat sees no gender, causing both men and women to look bulky. 

The only way to de-bulk is to decrease your body fat percentage. Lifting weights significantly helps lower body fat percentages. 

Takeaway

To reap the benefits of weight training, it takes hard work and consistency. Consistency is the key to success when it comes to just about anything. This is exactly why weight training once a week won’t do much for you. To see real results, you need to train consistently at least 3 times per week. 

If you’re still a bit nervous about grabbing a set of dumbbells, start weight lifting with Gymondo. You’ll find strength training programs tailored to your fitness level and goals. Before you know it, you’ll look like a bad-ass! 

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