General Discussion Triathlon Talk » How do I stop building so much muscle? Rss Feed  
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2007-03-13 5:14 PM

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Champion
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Subject: How do I stop building so much muscle?
I know this might not seem like a problem to some, but at 4'10" and 102lbs. (BF 13%) my thighs and calves are making some weight lifters at my gym envious. The more I train, the bigger they get.

I am orignally a marathoner (run about 70mpw), but have been riding about 2 years. I am also a newbie to swimming. My goal is to do short distance tri's in '08. I don't lift any weights because I build muscle so quickly.

I really feel like all this muscle is slowing me down. Any advice?

PS Forgot to mention I am a female.





2007-03-13 5:18 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
You should take up body building.  Sounds like you are gifted.
2007-03-13 5:21 PM
in reply to: #721839

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
Not exactly the answer I was looking for!
2007-03-13 5:29 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Master
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

SSMinnow - 2007-03-13 3:14 PM I know this might not seem like a problem to some, but at 4'10" and 102lbs. (BF 13%) my thighs and calves are making some weight lifters at my gym envious. The more I train, the bigger they get. I am orignally a marathoner (run about 70mpw), but have been riding about 2 years. I am also a newbie to swimming. My goal is to do short distance tri's in '08. I don't lift any weights because I build muscle so quickly. I really feel like all this muscle is slowing me down. Any advice? PS Forgot to mention I am a female.

"All this muscle" is not slowing you down - even if it was, there isn't a whole lot you can do about it and still eat enough to support your training for race season.

FWIW - are you actually measuring your legs to track their 'growth' or are you just eyeballing it (or do your pants legs feel tighter?). At a very low BF% (which for a woman, 13% is very low), the muscles in your legs would look much more pronounced than at a higher BF%.

But, to answer your original question? Eating at a calorie deficit witll pretty much keep you from building much noticeable muscle. 



Edited by coachese 2007-03-13 5:31 PM
2007-03-13 5:32 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
I think a lot has to do with genetics. My wife has muscular legs, she could probably be a power lifter if she wanted to. Her dad never worked out and he had huge ripped calves. I really don't have any advise. Maybe change your diet a little.
2007-03-13 5:37 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Master
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

I would stop working out and eat more fast food.  That seems to slow down muscle growth for me.  

Really, I cannot imagine muscle slowing you down.  At 102, with some decent muscle you should have a nice power to weight ratio that will probably help your speed more than hurt it.   (And you SHOULD have ripped calves if you run 70 miles a week.)  Your body is building up the muscle in response to the stress you are placing on your body.   You are training hard enough to generate muscle growth that your body needs.   If you do not want to build muscle, stop training at the level you are and drop the intensity down a few notches.  For short distance tris, you should not need anywhere near 70 miles a week.   Maybe 15-20 at the most

 

 

 

 



2007-03-13 5:41 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
I'm thinking pictures would be in order... You know, to make a more specific evaluation... yeah, that's it.
2007-03-13 6:10 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

You could sit on the sofa eating Cheetos until the muscles go away...

 

2007-03-13 7:27 PM
in reply to: #721837

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COURT JESTER
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
Being a FAN of well developed legs, my question is:  Can you please post a picture?  Thank you.
2007-03-13 7:33 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

I do not know much about body building or power lifting but I do know that lifting heavy weights will produce big muscles and lifting smaller weights with more repetitions will produce lean muscle mass.  Before anyone can tell you what to do to avoid building bulky muscles, you have to tell us what you are doing to produce them.  What does your training consist of?  Do you train for high cadence in a smaller gear while cycling?  Or do you pick the highest gear and grind away like a track sprinter.  Do you pace yourself on the run or run all out?

2007-03-13 8:57 PM
in reply to: #721934

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
Machiavelo - 2007-03-13 7:33 PM

Before anyone can tell you what to do to avoid building bulky muscles, you have to tell us what you are doing to produce them.  What does your training consist of?  Do you train for high cadence in a smaller gear while cycling?  Or do you pick the highest gear and grind away like a track sprinter.  Do you pace yourself on the run or run all out?


Good point. Biking is a Spring/Summer thing for me (I live in WI) so I only bike about 50-60mpw in smaller gears. I have not spent a lot of time on hills yet. I hope to spend more time in the saddle this year given my workload.

I run 6 days per week and my schedule varies on upcoming races. just finished a half and am prepping for a 30K in April and marathon in May. A typical week could include 1 quality work-out (5m tempo @ 7:55 pace), 1 long run 16-20m (9:15ish pace) with occasional MP long runs, 5 8-10m easier days (8:30-9:00 pace).

How do I know my muscles are bigger? I have not measured them, but I can tell by my pants. Getting them over my calves is an exercise in itself.

Thanks
SS


2007-03-13 9:00 PM
in reply to: #721927

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
Excuse #1: I would, but I don't know how to do it.

Excuse #2: The most recent race photo I have is from 2004 and I am sure I have gained alot more muscle since then!
2007-03-13 9:08 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

1.  Eat more.  As stated above, a little more bodyfat and the muscles just won't be as pronounced!  Snack on healthy high-fat stuff:  nuts, avocados.   Avocados have something like 5 times the potassium of bananas!

2.  Hang out with tri guys.  As stated above... well, you got the idea, didn't you?

 Enjoy your health, girl, and have a great season!

2007-03-13 9:37 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

Learn to love them?

If you aren't doing strength training, your body is adapting to the stresses (ie training) you are placing on it. To be better prepared and adapting to the stresses it is adding muscle which will make you stronger/better at what you are doing? Don't you want to be stronger and faster? I sure do!

I personally love the way my calves look and my kids laugh at me when I move different ways to show off. I think I'm kind of medium for a women for building muscle. My lean body mass is 126 and I'm 5'5". I know women my height that weigh what my lean body mass does. I could stand to lose weight but I don't want to lose muscle. It makes me faster, helps me avoid injuries and now that I'm 45 will keep me healthy longer.

2007-03-13 11:27 PM
in reply to: #721999

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
SSMinnow - 2007-03-13 9:00 PM

Excuse #1: I would, but I don't know how to do it.

Excuse #2: The most recent race photo I have is from 2004 and I am sure I have gained alot more muscle since then!




Click here. Attach more recent file.

I'm a problem solver. It's part of who I am.



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2007-03-14 12:47 AM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
Send some of the muscle to me


2007-03-14 9:40 AM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

Judging by your training schedule, I would say that you are doing everything well.  Your running although a bit much should keep you lean.  Your cycling seems okay but you do not mention your cadence.  Perhaps you should incorporate stationary cycling on a trainer and do an hour of TT training per week.  You should talk to a coach who could put together a training schedule to suit your personal needs.

If that is your photo in the avatar, you look very fit and very strong.  You say that you've put on more muscle in the last few years.  Unless you walk around like Bluto, I don't see that as a problem.  Those big calves you say you have would be great when running or cycling up hills.

2007-03-14 12:20 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
As a former body builder, heavy weights, low reps, and lots of protien built muscle. When my running endeavors overtook lifting, high carb intake and low protien intake seemed to bring my mass down. One caveat, my calves never really shrank although my upper body and thighs did.
2007-03-14 3:19 PM
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Coach
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
A better question is why do you think the muscle is slowing you down? As Kathy said, your muscles are simply adapting to the stress that you place on them. If you are running faster (less marathon training), and doing more biking, your muscles will adapt to the way you train. More muscle means more power which means you go faster. As far as the pants go, just get bigger jeans.

It sounds like your main problem is more with your perception of your body image than with any objective data that directly links the appearance and size of your calves to your triathlon performance.

Don't stop the process, just enjoy it.
2007-03-14 3:23 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
I will take some if you want. I have little chicken legs and can't do anything to get them bigger.
2007-03-14 5:00 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Champion
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

Stop using all those mysterious products that your trainer assures you are just flaxseed oil.



2007-03-14 10:25 PM
in reply to: #721837

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
excess muscle DOES hinder your endurance sports. This is a simple thing learned in a rudimentary college level biology class. Or by simply looking at the prototypical marathon winner compared to a 100 m champion.




2007-03-15 2:57 AM
in reply to: #723443

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
RBRMIKE - 2007-03-14 9:25 PM

excess muscle DOES hinder your endurance sports. This is a simple thing learned in a rudimentary college level biology class. Or by simply looking at the prototypical marathon winner compared to a 100 m champion.






But if she's building this muscle by ADDING tri specific sports to her training, then the muscle is beneficial and required for her to R/B/S. There's not enough information in her posts yet to really weigh in on what the cause is or if it's helpful or hurtful.

If the excess muscle is from doing calf raises in the gym, then it's probably not beneficial. But if it's because she's just recently added biking, then her body is doing what it needs to do. Just because her jeans fit differently doesn't mean it's a hinderance.

You need muscle to move the body no matter how fast or how far.
2007-03-15 5:07 AM
in reply to: #723510

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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?
AdventureBear - 2007-03-15 2:57 AM

But if she's building this muscle by ADDING tri specific sports to her training, then the muscle is beneficial and required for her to R/B/S. There's not enough information in her posts yet to really weigh in on what the cause is or if it's helpful or hurtful.

If the excess muscle is from doing calf raises in the gym, then it's probably not beneficial. But if it's because she's just recently added biking, then her body is doing what it needs to do. Just because her jeans fit differently doesn't mean it's a hinderance.

You need muscle to move the body no matter how fast or how far.



The muscle I have been building is coming strictly from the sports I participate in, mainly running for the last five years at greater levels, but also biking and now swimming. I have been learning to swim since November and can already see upper body definition from that endeavor. And I am not cranking out any distance in the pool yet.

I have been told by my PT one of the reasons I build more muscle than average is because of my size, smaller lengthed limbs tends to build it faster, especially with my frame size (more medium).

In general, the faster athletes that I have seen have less body mass (e.g muscle) which is why I asked the question in the first place. It is not causing me to lose sleep at night, but if there was a better way to get my body less bulky, still train and the level I want to and still be healthy I would consider it. If not, I will live on just fine.


2007-03-15 6:42 AM
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Subject: RE: How do I stop building so much muscle?

Ditto.

The comment to which you responded was ill thought out at best.

AB, maybe we should go back and take basic biology?

AdventureBear - 2007-03-15 2:57 AM
RBRMIKE - 2007-03-14 9:25 PM excess muscle DOES hinder your endurance sports. This is a simple thing learned in a rudimentary college level biology class. Or by simply looking at the prototypical marathon winner compared to a 100 m champion.
But if she's building this muscle by ADDING tri specific sports to her training, then the muscle is beneficial and required for her to R/B/S. There's not enough information in her posts yet to really weigh in on what the cause is or if it's helpful or hurtful. If the excess muscle is from doing calf raises in the gym, then it's probably not beneficial. But if it's because she's just recently added biking, then her body is doing what it needs to do. Just because her jeans fit differently doesn't mean it's a hinderance. You need muscle to move the body no matter how fast or how far.

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