female training vs men/bodybuilding techniques.....

[marilyn]

ok..so I have read and viewed hundreds of pictures over the years, if not thousands, of bodybuilding, figure, fitness..everything from aerobic exercises, kick boxing, to weight training techniques by men and women.

My questions.... is there a specific move for figure training for chest? (example question)

How about abs for ladies that want abs? VS "bodybuilding" ab training?

Is there a different way of training for females, than men for specific look on stage?

I see some weight training for men, that you don't see females do that compete.....I'm trying to find out why that is.

 

[jm425]

As a figure competitor, it is not desirable to have thick dense muscle mass like male bbers. Men train with much heavier weights and lower rep range to get that thick dense look whereas female figure competitors train the opposite to get I guess what you can call that nice "toned" look. I don't like the word toned because it doesn't do any justice to the look figure competitors want, but it's the word most commonly used. I hope this helps.

 

[RationalGaze]

Figure girls should still train heavy. Unless she's on a heavy cycle, women will not gain that much mass. I'm sick to death of all of the misconceptions that women should only train light.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

WOW

Figure girls should still train heavy. Unless she's on a heavy cycle, women will not gain that much mass. I'm sick to death of all of the misconceptions that women should only train light.

THANK YOU!! Muscle is muscle.....fat is fat.....Man or woman.....genetics determine shape..........unless hormone therapy is applied, women will not gain the kind of muscle mass they fear.

 

[Shelby]

As a figure competitor, it is not desirable to have thick dense muscle mass like male bbers. Men train with much heavier weights and lower rep range to get that thick dense look whereas female figure competitors train the opposite to get I guess what you can call that nice "toned" look. I don't like the word toned because it doesn't do any justice to the look figure competitors want, but it's the word most commonly used. I hope this helps.

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Step away from the computer....

 

[jm425]

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Step away from the computer....

Then tell me why powerlifters, regardless of whether they are female or male end up with thick dense muscle. So you are telling me that figure competitors should go lift a weight which they can only get for 3-5 reps till they hit failure? I don't think at all that they should train that way. I never once said that they should be training light but rather with higher reps compared to a powerlifter.

 

[Shelby]

As a figure competitor, it is not desirable to have thick dense muscle mass like male bbers. Men train with much heavier weights and lower rep range to get that thick dense look whereas female figure competitors train the opposite to get I guess what you can call that nice "toned" look. I don't like the word toned because it doesn't do any justice to the look figure competitors want, but it's the word most commonly used. I hope this helps.

Then tell me why powerlifters, regardless of whether they are female or male end up with thick dense muscle. So you are telling me that figure competitors should go lift a weight which they can only get for 3-5 reps till they hit failure? I don't think at all that they should train that way. I never once said that they should be training light but rather with higher reps compared to a powerlifter.

You might want to review what you actually said.

 

[jm425]

You might want to review what you actually said.

I did review what I said. You clearly misunderstood what my point. You still haven't answered my question if figure competitors should lift like powerlifters(3-5 rep range). And they shouldn't. This is my opinion, but I think they should mix up their rep ranges but never lift like powerlifters with such low reps.

 

[knucklehed]

my wife is training a gal that says she gets bulky if she lifts weights. LOL
Bulky jhappens at the table, not in the weight room and usually has little to do with muscle.
LOL

 

[Shelby]

I did review what I said. You clearly misunderstood what my point. You still haven't answered my question if figure competitors should lift like powerlifters(3-5 rep range). And they shouldn't. This is my opinion, but I think they should mix up their rep ranges but never lift like powerlifters with such low reps.

In your first post you say women do not want muscle like "male bodybuilders", but don't reference a specific rep range at all.. only saying they should train "the opposite" and that they are looking for a "toned" look.

Then in your second post you suddenly bring up powerlifters and a 3-5 rep range.

Whatever, not worth arguing about.

 

[jm425]

In your first post you say women do not want muscle like "male bodybuilders", but don't reference a specific rep range at all.. only saying they should train "the opposite" and that they are looking for a "toned" look.

Then in your second post you suddenly bring up powerlifters and a 3-5 rep range.

Whatever, not worth arguing about.

I specifically said that women(figure competitors) do not want thick dense muscles that are associated with lifting very heavy and low rep ranges. I'll leave it at that because I don't want to turn this into a pissing match and call it a day.

 

[RationalGaze]

Then tell me why powerlifters, regardless of whether they are female or male end up with thick dense muscle. So you are telling me that figure competitors should go lift a weight which they can only get for 3-5 reps till they hit failure? I don't think at all that they should train that way. I never once said that they should be training light but rather with higher reps compared to a powerlifter.

Many powerlifters are not lean. Drop the bodyfat down and a whole different physique emerges. There are plenty of women out there that have done both sports. Lynx has competed in both, is she big and bulky? I compete in strength sports and I am far from being big if my bodyfat is low.


And it's not a pissing match, if you are spreading BS fallacies and misinformation, people will call you out. Women need to train hard and push themselves, not play around with little pink dumbells because they are worried about getting big.

 

[marilyn]

hey guys..

thanks for the thoughts, as I learn from you all and respect..and I do agree that you have to train hard.

what my main question was in regards to an actual workout vs another for same body part.

If a woman trains hard on a decline bench press, is she more likely to develop a chest for bodybuilding?, since I did notice on myself a chest I may not be as happy with, or are inclines best for most females, as I often see incline chest moves for women......

Does this make sense?...or does this development also depend on genetics?

 

[marilyn]

THANK YOU!! Muscle is muscle.....fat is fat.....Man or woman.....genetics determine shape..........unless hormone therapy is applied, women will not gain the kind of muscle mass they fear.

Phil what about striations? Is this based on your own physical and genetic makeup?

I was developing these in my chest, so backed up on declines for chest...this is why I'm asking...I don't see that on figure on the kizillions photos I study, lol.....

Can this move cause this, or is in me to develop?

 

[Jappy's Boy]

THANK YOU!! Muscle is muscle.....fat is fat.....Man or woman.....genetics determine shape..........unless hormone therapy is applied, women will not gain the kind of muscle mass they fear.

ya well said. as a personal trainer that trains everyday women (not physique competitors), i deal with this EVERY SINGLE DAY! "i dont want to get big!" "i dont want to get bulky!" it's frustrating. "toning" and "shaping" is muscle building. and training heavy is the best way to build muscle.

 

[7_Deadly_Sins]

Phil what about striations? Is this based on your own physical and genetic makeup?

I was developing these in my chest, so backed up on declines for chest...this is why I'm asking...I don't see that on figure on the kizillions photos I study, lol.....

Can this move cause this, or is in me to develop?

That has to do with body fat levels...back when I was 15-16% BF..I had 0 saturations..now that I'm around 10..I got them in a lot of places.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Nice

That has to do with body fat levels...back when I was 15-16% BF..I had 0 saturations..now that I'm around 10..I got them in a lot of places.

Good answer and CONGRATS to you.......now Marilyn, they are not so attractive on you in your mind but you are just carrying low BF.

 

[mo chuisle]

I'm a figure competitor ... I train heavy ... and I don't look bulky. Trust me - it takes a lot of work for females to build up muscle.

Marilyn - in order to build up my upper chest, I did a lot of incline flyes as my first lift on Chest Day. I also do a lot of pushups - both regular and decline (feet up on a bench, hands on the floor) - and heavy db decline presses.

The only time I see striations is when I'm really lean right before a show, so like 7_Deadly and Phil said, visible striations have more to do with body fat percentage.

Personally, I don't see any difference in figure vs bodybuilding training. I usually train like a traditional bodybuilder - one or two muscle groups per day. I train heavy, and I do the same exercises bodybuilders do, focusing on areas where I need development. I've noticed that a lot of figure girls back off on training really heavy once they have a good muscle base, and switch to more functional/full body training. It seems to be the trend from what I've heard and read.

~ Mo

 

[pesty4077]

I'm a figure competitor ... I train heavy ... and I don't look bulky. Trust me - it takes a lot of work for females to build up muscle.

Marilyn - in order to build up my upper chest, I did a lot of incline flyes as my first lift on Chest Day. I also do a lot of pushups - both regular and decline (feet up on a bench, hands on the floor) - and heavy db decline presses.

The only time I see striations is when I'm really lean right before a show, so like 7_Deadly and Phil said, visible striations have more to do with body fat percentage.

Personally, I don't see any difference in figure vs bodybuilding training. I usually train like a traditional bodybuilder - one or two muscle groups per day. I train heavy, and I do the same exercises bodybuilders do, focusing on areas where I need development. I've noticed that a lot of figure girls back off on training really heavy once they have a good muscle base, and switch to more functional/full body training. It seems to be the trend from what I've heard and read.

~ Mo

Exactly! I believe that Meridith(AKA Lynx) does powerlifting, as well as figure.

 

[marilyn]

ok

this is really good...thanks Phil, and Mo!!

and 7 deadly sins...

I see and it makes sense, when I got lean it was really obvious right in the middle of my chest.

I also wondered about different techniques for figure vs bodybuilding..it sounds like its not different, it depends on what your weak areas are, and what you want to focus on, but training hard and heavy, plus good nutrition was the key to transforming my shape, and I couldn't be more pleased

great! thanks!