I think that muscles actually form during the rest periods, so it's important to alternate upper and lower body if you're training every day. It's also important to do a good stretch to prevent bulking. From what I understand, very few women have the body type form really big muscles, and that's using very heavy weights. Still, if you find that an area is getting too big, just stop working it as hard - muscles will naturally atrophe (shrink) when they're not used.

Nothing wrong with bulking up http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/sm...on_biggrin.gif But higher reps will tone rather then build.

http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif @ Jon http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif . (can't help it.)

Dont wanna bulk up
 

If I do 30 minutes of cardio 5 days a week and also do weight training 4-5 days a week in a row will I bulk up or will I just replace fat with muscle faster?

I know you are supposed to let your muscles rest between days but I was hoping that I could replace the fat a little faster.

I am currently doing about 40 minutes on the curcuit. Thats a row of 10 machines that work out every muscle group. You do each machine for 30 seconds and go through the curcuit twice. It equates out to about 20 reps each round.

Thanks,

Tonya

How can I not laugh at that jonathan? http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif

Thanks for the help guys.

You answered all of my questions and concerns.

But I need to be a little more clear I think in that I guess I am not worried about being macho woman. What I really want to know is will my fat shrink with the workouts 4 days a week or will it stay the same size and just be replaced with muscle?

I have seem women trainers at the gym who from far away look like they have fat arms, but when you get close to them you can see that there arms are very tight. I just want to make sure my arms look toned, and not fat when I am done.

Thanks guys,

Tonya

Yea it's important to allow your muscles to rest at least a day or two between workouts. You definately won't bulk up if you exercise the same muscle groups everyday because your muscles only recover and grow stronger during rest as Patty has mentioned. Infact you can loose muscle if you work them out everyday repeatedly over time.

You can still work out everyday though if you wish. Just make sure to split things up. You can do as Patty mentioned, and work out the bottom half one day and the top half the next day... Or you can do what I have been doing and work out just a few or one muscle group everyday.. that way you get lots of rest to specific muscle groups before working them out again.

If you like, you can check out my workout thread here, and see what I have been doing. http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif

As for bulking up, I wouldn't worry about it. It's very difficult for a woman to grow Hulk like muscles.. besides those crazy strong women, are on steroids just like those crazy strong men. If you think you are bulking up on any perticular muscle just ease off the exercise a bit. http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/sm...icon_smile.gif

Although I have to say that I have just learned a new trick. My chest exercises are improving so fast. That I can actually now flex my chest quite easily and make my man boobs move. LOL Some day I might justb be able to make them dance. http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif I'm serious I'm like totally proud of my ability to move my tits. :P http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/sm...on_biggrin.gif 8)

DON'T LAUGH AT ME! http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/sm...on_biggrin.gif

Alright, hope everything goes well Luna. If you have any questions I'd be heppy to help. http://www.lowcarbsite.com/images/sm...icon_smile.gif

Ditto what PattyC said - bulking up for most women is close to impossible without steroids and extremely hard workouts. I wouldn't worry about it. Try to lift a weight that you can only lift 10-12 times or so before you're too tired to do another rep. Do 2-3 sets of each exercise. In order to build larger muscles, you would lift a heavier weight that you could only lift 6-8 times to failure.

If you work the same muscles too frequently, you start what is called "overtraining" in which the muscle is not able to repair itself before you work it again. This results in a decrease in strength, and it also leads to a run-down feeling. I don't recommend it as a strategy.

Remember that muscle is only 1/7th the size of fat - so it you lose a lb of fat and gain a lb of muscle, you will still be smaller. I'd take that trade any time!

Good luck!