Muscle

[Jupiter]

Hi. This is a query, not a problem.

I put on muscle really easily. I'm ok with this, it's always been that way - in fact if I could be a*sed to lose more fat I'd give a couple of lads a my gym a run for their money!

But I don't seem to have to lift that much to gain the muscle shape - it's almost like they're phantom muscles, or muscles like in the cartoons where the good guy comes along and sticks a needle in the bad guy to make him deflate! In other words, I've got muscles, but they're quite weak.

Here are a couple of examples (in kg - I'm British - but with, hopefully, accurate conversions)

Lat Pulldown: 35kg, 7 reps (77lbs)
35kg, 6 reps
Single Arm Row: 12kg, 10 reps (26lbs)
12kg, 8 reps
Upright Row: 18kg, 5reps (39lbs)
18kg, 5reps
Bicep Curl: 7kg, 8 reps (15lbs)
7kg, 3 reps

I'd be grateful if someone could give me feedback. (These are just examples, I do do more lifts than this, but I was getting bored with the math)
Jupiter

[LongboardLuLu]

If you're asking how to make your muscles stronger, then you need to lift...and lift heavy. I was never very good at planning out routines so I can't help you there, but I would just say use heavier weights, do 5-8 reps 2-3 times and you should notice an increase in strength after a few weeks.

Maybe some others will chime in with some ideas...

[Jupiter]

But if I lift even heavier, I might not fit into my clothes. You don't get many size 10 dresses with size 16 sleeves

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by Jupiter

But if I lift even heavier, I might not fit into my clothes. You don't get many size 10 dresses with size 16 sleeves

I can assure you that wont happen anytime soon Jupiter, not unless your injecting test and even then its hardwork all the way.

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

Pardon me here in the ladies room, but I seriously doubt you pack on muscle that easily. There are tons and tons and tons of grown men here with testosterone running through there bodies who do not pack on muscle as easily as you claim too.

I think this is a common misconception with women as I have certainly heard this believed myth plenty of times

This myth never seems to die. Women hav approximately one-third of the testosterone of a man. Unless a woman is on steroids, growth hormones or other chemicals, a woman will never achieve the muscular size of a man or even close to it. However, a woman can still obtain some muscularity that makes her lean, hard and tight...

[POWERJIM]

Please check this out Women and Weight Training: Countering Myths and Misperceptions

[BiggerGuns=LongerDrives]

LOL here's another

BODYBUILDING GUIDE - Real Muscle Mass Fast! - Womens Training

[Jupiter]

I am not swayed by the myths, just by what I see in the mirror. I am not comparing myself to a man, just to me and how I think I ought to look lifting these paltry weights.

I actively increase my weights - I do 6-8 reps, and when I can do 9 reps, I go up. This is working well as I am increasing at least one exercise every time I train. But, my muscle strength seems disproportionate to the size - I look stronger than I am. I struggle with 8lb weights on my lateral raises, for example.

PowerJim - my arms have actually grown out of a shirt that still fits everywhere else, not 3 dress size different, I admit - that was for comic effect... badly...

[POWERJIM]

Originally Posted by Jupiter

PowerJim - my arms have actually grown out of a shirt that still fits everywhere else, not 3 dress size different, I admit - that was for comic effect... badly...

I would love to see some pics of you posing Jupiter, you sound like abit of a genetic freak, in a good way that is.

[CubanChick]

Originally Posted by BiggerGuns=LongerDrives

Pardon me here in the ladies room, but I seriously doubt you pack on muscle that easily. There are tons and tons and tons of grown men here with testosterone running through there bodies who do not pack on muscle as easily as you claim too.

I think this is a common misconception with women as I have certainly heard this believed myth plenty of times

This myth never seems to die. Women hav approximately one-third of the testosterone of a man. Unless a woman is on steroids, growth hormones or other chemicals, a woman will never achieve the muscular size of a man or even close to it. However, a woman can still obtain some muscularity that makes her lean, hard and tight...

Well said Tommy - amen!