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Getting bigger is not my goal. Should I start doing cardio?
I've been working out since the end of January. Some people have told me I look like I'm getting bigger. I'm 5'4", male. I weighed around 133 when I started. I now weigh around 143. I'm slim with the slightest hint of a tummy, but I am not wanting to become big/bulky. I am wanting to be slim but muscular. Like a swimmer's build, which I should probably start swimming too. I don't want to end up too big. My routine has been:
squats
dead lifts
clean and presses
bench press
lunges
skull crushers
and different machines for my triceps and back
I do the max I can lift with the shortest amount of reps, usually around 5 reps, maybe 4. I haven't been doing cardio. Can someone recommend a routine that builds muscle but without bulking you up too much? Or would I just have to change routines every now and then? Like work on building muscle for a few months, do more cardio to slim down for a few months, work on building more muscle again for some months, and repeat with more cardio?
The thing is that I'm short and I don't want to get wide. That would end up making me look even shorter.
Thanks, I don't think I eat too much carbs. My diet is mainly protein, carbs, and some fats, but yes, I have been eating more lately, especially with the increased weights. I think I definitely need to cut down my cal intake.
2 Answers
- tennisloverLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
well either way.. continue with the weight lifting
do higher reps.. an also add some cardio in there after the workout. that way u stay lean an fit
also reduce carbs an eat more proteins
dont lift heavy reduce the weight
and reduce your caloric intake
- HopelessRomanticLv 68 years ago
1) I don't want to end up too big.
Noone accidentedly becomes too big from bodybuilding or training weightlifting. Ever. It takes years and years of dedicated practice and hard work to ever begin to approach a size that would be considered "big" So in other words as long as you're not actively trying to look "big" you will never become "big".
2) If you're lifting heavy weight low reps (as you are now, 1-5 reps) then most of your size gains will be from myofibrillar hypertrophy. Myofibrillar hypertrophy increases the size and strength of your muscle fibers but it doesn't make your muscles puff out, become as big volume-wise as you would if you were training for sarcoplasmic hypertrophy. That being said keep training the way you're training and you won't get huge - you'll get bigger, sure but never "bulky"
3) Do cardio if you want to train your heart or your performance @ cardio. It won't make you look leaner. That's completely dependent on your diet only. What you need to do is track how many calories it takes for you to maintain your weight.
Once you find your maintenance values, when you want to gain weight increase the calories by around 300, if you want to lose weight decrease calories from maintenance by 300.
I'd recommend you don't cycle weightlifting and cardio. You should always be weightlifting for someone with your goals. If you'd like do cardio once in a while, perhaps once or twice a week depending on your recovery capacity and the intensity of your workouts.
