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Bulky body from doing the pole??
Hiya iv got a bit of a problem with my arms in particular. Iv noticed that iv developed rather heafty,bulky upper arms. Iv been poling for years but iv started to do more this past year and thats when i noticed it. At first my arms got nice and toned with a hint of muscle..now they look big and fat. They are still musclular and toned but in photos and from a distance i just look like i have massive fat upper arms!!! Im beginning to hate photos of me or trying to cover em up or put my hands on my hips alot to make em look more slimmer. Im fine everywere else im not overweight and im a UK size 10 (us size 6) which is good for me. But how the hell do i get them looking more slender without losing tone or stop doing pole? How the hell do brill professional competitive polers look slender but toned at the same time?? Someone told me iv layed down the muscle over existing fat in my arms which is why im looking bulky. Is this true? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif
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34 Replies
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Well, It is true that if you have existing fat you wont see really defined muscle (you wont look cut..as they say). This is why some very thin people will look all muscly, but they don’t have a ton of strength, they just have low body fat. I would love to have more fat on my body, its not comfortable being bony, (I know most people don’t believe me) I liked my post baby body better than at the moment…after I loose all the baby fat. I say celebrate your FIT and SEXY self!! You can totally tell when someone has muscle as opposed to only fat and a strong woman is a sexy one. Now flex for us babe! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_rambo.gif
If you do want to loose body fat, (you sound perfectly sexy to me) try adding some more cardio in addition to your poling. A well rounded healthy diet is key too. Non of those fad diets, just a balanced one, and cardio, cardio, cardio.
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im not an expert by any means but it looks to me like it would just depend a lot on your natural body type. compare Nastia Liukin and Kim Zmeskal:
https://www.studioveena.comhttp:://everydayfacts.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/nastia-max-azria-ss09.jpg?w=361&h=526
https://www.studioveena.comhttp:://www.olywa.net/radu/valerie/Kzmes_7.jpg -
Good point amyxshi, here are some basic body types
Endomorph
* Soft Body
* Underdeveloped Muscles
* Round Physique
* Weight Loss is Difficult
* Gains Muscle Easily Like the Mesomorph.Ectomorph this is ME…..somewhat…I gain muscle pretty fast.
* Delicate Built Body
* Flat Chest
* Fragile
* Lean
* Lightly Muscled
* Small Shouldered
* Takes Longer to Gain Muscle
* ThinMesomorph
* Hard Body
* Hourglass Shaped (Female)
* Mature Muscle Mass
* Muscular Body
* Excellent Posture
* Gains Muscle Easily
* Gains Fat More Easily Than Ectomorphs
* Thick Skin
Most people are a mix of these…everyone is different.. I love Pantera’s strong body type, but I know I will never have her shape. -
Someone told me iv layed down the muscle over existing fat in my arms which is why im looking bulky. Is this true? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif
No, this is not true.Veena is spot on. The lower the body fat the more cut you will look. Also, fat is layered over muscle, not the other way around.
I would love to be as long ans lean as Veena but I also know that will never happen (nor will I ever have an hourglass figure). The difference in shapes is what makes each and every one of us unique and beautiful!
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I would say that if you’ve increased your poling..especially doing perhaps more inverts or other techniques which rely upon upper body strength..that you are simply adding more muscle. Try incorporating more cardio to balance out the strength training to lower your body fat, and remember that good diet and LOTS of water (to prevent bloating) to keep the body running clean and smooth will also help.
Morgan -
This happened to me as well lol…I call it the popeye syndrom…I have found pilates has helped to legthen my muscles somewhat.
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Thanks everyone,yeh I think my bodytype is close to a mesomorph. I’m tall and hourglass shaped but I can gain fat easy. I’m almost always on perminant diet so I don’t think I could cut back any more than I already do,unless I stopped eating all together! Yeh I prob need 2 do more cardio but most of my spare time is taken up with the pole just now. I take it things like going on the treadmill might help??? I haven’t a clue about cardio to be honest lol. Just hope I don’t get any more muscular in the arms! Or ill end up looking like a man!
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Hello!!
A lot of the girls I pole with have larger upper arms and slightly manly looking arms and shoulders – and I’m on my way as well! At the moment I’m still pretty psyched to have muscles, it makes me feel emotionally stronger and tougher for some reason https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
The girls I pole with complain about it too, but at the end of the day I think that perhaps this is just a small sacrifice. In return we get the ability to do jaw-dropping tricks, express our sexiness through dance, feel fit, and, when we hit our 70+ years we will have a significantly decreased risk of osteoperosis.
So count the bulky arms as a blessing, its so worth it!! Also I think many of the girls in national/world comps are often just as muscly and ‘manly’, its just that they look so damn good on the pole you don’t ever think about it!
At the end of the day your body will thank you, and personally I love the look of a girl with some muscle bulk!! We’re STRONG and I LOVE IT!!!
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Thanks everyone,yeh I think my bodytype is close to a mesomorph. I’m tall and hourglass shaped but I can gain fat easy. I’m almost always on perminant diet so I don’t think I could cut back any more than I already do,unless I stopped eating all together! Yeh I prob need 2 do more cardio but most of my spare time is taken up with the pole just now. I take it things like going on the treadmill might help??? I haven’t a clue about cardio to be honest lol. Just hope I don’t get any more muscular in the arms! Or ill end up looking like a man!
Ok wait, I never said to cut back on food or go on a diet……I said to eat a well BALANCED diet. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif Out bodies need food. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif If you eating as little as you say you are that can be a problem too. If you starve your body it will hold on to any fat you give it, (to put it simply) not eating enough can play a big part in weight gain too or not loosing weight. I just wanna make sure you don’t go starving yourself…..well balanced meals, 3 times a day, with 2 small healthy snacks. Cardio is anything that raises your heart rate for a significant period of time. Swim, walk, DANCE, https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif those are all great for cardio. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif -
Don’t worry veena I won’t go starving myself,I don’t think I could if I wanted to anyways! Lol yeh I know a balanced diet is very important as is plenty of the right excerise and I do try to do that as much as I can (I do have my off days were I eat junk but who doesn’t). Yeh ill need 2 get back to the gym and make time for cardioit will prob make a big difference.and if not then ill just have to accept that’s the way things are. I’m not giving up the pole for anything! No way on the plus side I can do cool tricks,I’m strong and more toned than iv ever been so mayb I shud just be proud of that
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You most certainly should be proud!! You had me worried there when you said if you cut back you would starve. LOL
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When I first started my weight loss expedition I started eating more and I still eat every few hours. It keeps my metabolism revving and keeps me from feeling hungry and over eating https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif
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and here’s another thing i always forget (and i bet i’m not alone) :
STRETCHING after you pole !!!! stretching does help lengthen the muscles. Maybe make sure you do opposing stretches for your biceps/triceps, etc. hold each stretch for at least 20 seconds, if not more. also make sure you keep breathing while you stretch.
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I’ve been speculating on the bulky arm issue for a while. What do you think about this theory? https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif
There are many different ways to accomplish a pole move. So, one person does the move by pure arm strength, while another person uses other muscular systems (core, back, etc). Also, it seems that many moves are dependent on body position –> the twist in your body is doing most of the work. But, these same moves can be "muscled" into working. Therefore, folks that depend more heavily on their arm strength for moves get more arm bulk.
Anyone have an opinion on this theory? Its been rolling around in my head every since I met Jenyne Butterfly. You would never guess she’s a world class athlete by just looking at her. She’s incredibly strong, but doesn’t look bulky at all.
Mindy
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I guess to each, her own. I love the look of bulky well define upper arm. My arm is just well tone looking. I’m hoping to bulk it up more. There is a woman in my pole class who has really bulky upper arms and I just can’t keep my envious eyes off her arm. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_eek.gif
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I guess everyone else has a much different definition of bulky.
But, I am a STRONG disbeliever of the pink dumbell theory.
STRONG.. so bear with me.
There are VERY few things in pole dancing that are going to make you -bulky-. Women don’t easily get bulky. Hell. Men don’t easily get bulky. You have to work hard to get significant muscle gains.
Isn’t that why we picked pole dancing as a fitness over long distance running? When you ask who’s body would be acceptable to you, you didn’t pick stringy body runner or miss olympia. You picked pole dancing. The hot girl sport.
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Seriously. Who is the "bulkiest" woman in pole dancing?….
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Anyone have an opinion on this theory? Its been rolling around in my head every since I met Jenyne Butterfly. You would never guess she’s a world class athlete by just looking at her. She’s incredibly strong, but doesn’t look bulky at all.
Mindy
I think body type has a lot to do with that though. You and I could do the exact same workout and eat the exact same things and end up looking totally different. I look at some women like Karol who is a tiny llittle things and has been poling for years and she doesn’t have any bulky muscle or biceps of steel LOL. I know I personally tend to put on muscle so I’m pretty sure when I’m 8 years in it’s gonna show with all kinds of cuts and rips LMAO! At least I hope it will! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_geek.gif
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Women don’t easily get bulky. Hell. Men don’t easily get bulky. You have to work hard to get significant muscle gains.
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I have to disagree. I have always bulked up quickly – ever since I was young and did gymnastics – it think a lot of it really depends on the body type and your musculature structure to begin with. Which isn’t to say that you don’t have to work hard but some people are just much more prone to bulking up than others.
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What I love about pd is that regardless of how ‘bulky’ someone does or doesn’t get, it leaves you with a lovely balanced bodyshape. I’ve been doing thai boxing for 6-7 years and the last year and a half of pole dancing has given me a better overall body shape than running/gym/swimming/martialarts ever did.
Some of the shapes and poses the professional pd’s make on the pole are just jaw dropping, they look so toned, slim, even petite, yet when you see them in normal photos they’re actually quite muscular.
I have to say, I’ve kinda got a crush on my new guns https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif
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Hey Mindy4pole – wrt your theory on using arms more than core.. I know I definitely do this – got good arm strength but my core needs work! So.. my arms are kinda bulky alright! Moreso than when I didn’t do pole!! But it’s okay – I like photos of me that look like I’ve got guns.. I agree with Polegrrrrl on that one!! And the fact that I can do pull ups in the gym makes me feel like a real man hahaha!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif
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I’ll use this opportunity to admit pole has given me my best body ever as well. I suffered for years with eating disorders, and I still get twinges of those feelings every now and then. But, when I look in the mirror now, my brain can’t lie to me anymore…I am smokin’, SMOKIN’ hot nakie! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif Pole comes with equal parts of fitness and outlook adjustment. All these beautiful new muscles on my body have changed my world!
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Wow! This has become a problem for me as well. My arms became flab/bulky around the same time when I started taking classes (March 2008). However, I was also doing The Firm and its videos that fused weights with cardio. I’m trying to continue lifting weights but increasing my cardio so that everything starts to slim down and (hopefully) becomes more proportionate. My thighs are bulky as well, and I think it has to do with me being able to build muscle more quickly than burn fat.
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I can’t wait til I look smokie hot nakie haha if that day ever comes. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif Contrary to popular belief, us men are just as self conscious about our bodies as you women are. I am the most cut, toned, and strong that I have ever been in my whole life as a result of poling but my body still looks awkward because I can’t seem to get any chest pecks. Does anyone know any good moves to do on the pole to develop the chest? Cuz besides yoga and pilates I can’t tolerate regular exercise hahaha https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_razz.gif
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Hi JC – for a pec exercise, what about doing push-ups with your hands on the floor as your feet/legs are still locked on the pole as you do a superman-style dismount from an invert? That would work your pecs if your body is angled pretty horizontal, and if you do push-ups as your body is still angled up the pole a little vertically (i.e. decline push-ups), you might work the upper fibres of your pecs, also incorporating your delts as you do the pole-assisted push-up? Could this be a similar type idea to an incline dumbell press which all the lads in my regular gym do to try to get the bulky pec muscles??!
Also, would anybody agree with me that a shoulder mount (esp. with straight legs) seems similar to a what they call a pull-over in the gym? And as far as I know it, a (dumbell or cable) pull-over in the gym, although usually prescribed for the back muscles, also targets the pec muscles (as well as the see-saw looking muscles at the side of the chest/ribs, I think, which when you can see them, are really the embodiment of the term "ripped" for me!!)
I’m now trying to think of some pole exercise that would be similar to a flye-type exercise for the chest (e.g. dumbell flyes) … but I cant think of one.. and some dips… hhhmmm I wonder if it’s possible from a position such as the Chinese pole pose at 2:15-2:20 in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaB_0LUGfjQ" https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif !!! That would be super-cool!!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_bounce.gif Or even the hold alone must be good for the pecs!! and triceps of course.
Having said all that (I’m in a long-winded writing mood today!!), I hear that some guys find it hard to bulk up their pec mucles especially if they are tall,lean and/or not naturally "bulky". But that’s ok… myself I’m not mad into super-pec muscles on a man!! Just a lean, mean, defined look!! That is all! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif
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i agree with you guys- i think we should celebrate our bodies instead of tear them down https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif i say that but i definitely need to live by it more…..but i think you all are beautiful!!!!
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