i lift heavy weights but im not big! why?
602341
man, you are one pathetic loser...no offense
370356
you are building more muscle mass which actually weighs more than fat
502949
If you're looking to gain mass (size), do heavy weight/low reps.  Low weight/high reps builds strength, but not size
1046580
You might be gaining weight through your fat turning into muscle, which weighs more.\n\nI'd stop doing any weights in the gym, and do more cardiovascular work. If you get a bad back stick to more swimming- I'd go everyday if possible.
1004677
I've been up to a high level, without steroids, and I'd say out of dumb ego, most guys train with too heavy a weight and too few reps.  Look at Olympic rowers, they work a 30lb equivalent weight with their full body over and over and over, they are very supple, low-fat, with high muscle definition and aerobically excellent performance and recovery. I have trained guys up with low weights and higher reps, and they find that they lay a great foundation of muscle-tendon-bone strength.  When they have that, the too-heavy becomes simply un-liftable, rather than tendon-popping.
438592
as a track and cross country runner building my legs mass wasn't something that I needed to do but as I've gotten older I got more interested in it cuz I was always skinny. I can eat anything and never gain any weight. Well, as usual when I'm in training, I eat everything and my apetite is always so much more. \nHere's my advice, when I wanted to gain mass I worked out twice a day and I lifed weights on my shoulders on a machine that allowed me to lay in an angle and I lifted more weight than what was comfortable for me. I would hold weights in my hands and stand on the edge of the stairs and work my calfs too. Sometimes I would fill a back pack up with heavy books and lift them to work my calfs.\nI would sit on the work out machine that would allow me to lift the weight that would work my quads and hamstrings.\nWhile working out I made sure that I ate steaks, vegetables at every meal and lots of bread. I ate so much food so I could put more weight on. I always had a water bottle with me and that and Gatorade was all I drank. I drank so much water that everytime I peed it was nothing but water.\nN E Way, within 2 weeks of working out twice a day and everyday making my workout harder, I became so huge in the legs. It was so cool. Of course, after I noticed the difference and everyone noticing the difference it made me work harder.\nI wouldn't try anything unnatural or the powder (which my husband used to use and it did nothing for him) but I guess it works differently with everyone. Some people I know who use the powder look like they are on steriods and they begin to look freakish. \nDo it naturally cuz the minute you stop using that stuff you will loose all mass.
402734
If your goal is to bench a heavier amount, then you have to lift heavier amounts.  You can't lift heavy if you're doing high reps.  Firstly, you should be at least an intermediate weight trainer (2+ years experience) before even considering what I'm about to advise.  \n\nThere are three primary energy systems in the body, phospho-creatine, glycogen-lactic acid and aerobic.  If you want to lift heavy, you must focus on the phospho-creatine system, meaning your lifts should be no more than 8-10s (or less than 6 reps).  If you extend beyond this limit, you begin to kick in the glycogen-lactic acid system which is more related to strength gains than power.  6 reps or less will allow you to stimulate the appropriate energy system so that you may adapt to lifting heavier with more power as your training regimen progresses.  Creatine supplementation is also advisable and works very well with this type of training.\n\nPlease seek the advice of a professional trainer if you are not an experienced lifter.  Training 6 reps or less takes considerable knowledge on the basics before you can excel at this level.  Always use a spotter and you should be maxing out on the 5th or 6th rep and no more.  Also, stay away from any aerobic or cardiovascular activies as they will hamper your progression.  If you don't need to run then walk, if you don't need to walk then stand, if you don't need to stand then sit, if you don't need to sit then lie down, and if you don't need to stay awake then sleep.  The goal is to maximize growth and power, and you need plenty of rest and plenty of calories to achieve this.
821888
Yes, your Dr is telling you the truth.  You must be 'big-boned', which has nothing to do with your weight.  It simply means that your frame is large, as opposed to small-boned people who are more delicate.
675224
It takes heavy weight to develop bulk. light weights with more repetitions will tone and slenderize
1148031
it could be your diet. what you put into your body is really important. also some people get gains easier than others. it's in your genes. try modifying your diet. other conclusions could be:\n- you might be takking tooo much protein. if you way 140 and want big gains, shoot for around 140 grams of protein. Stay away from fatty foods. get enough fiber into your diet. Good fats can be found in fish. go for tuna. it's got a lot of protein without the bad fats.\n- are you excercising right? try breaking your work out down. If you are looking for big gains. cut down on cardio. use PROPER FORM! some examples of my favorite excercises are barbell bicep curls. great for your biceps. hang crunches for abs. bench for your chest. squats for great leg gains.\n- avoid over training\n-use the right amomunt of weight. push yourself. do you know the all or nothing theory? if not, here it is in a nutshell. lets say your doing bicep curls with dumbells. you can handle 25 in each hand but you have to push yourself mentally. if your lazy and you take the 20's or 15's, you will not get gains. your muscles are layered. the closer you get to your one rep max, the more layers of muscle are being excercised. lower weights = less muscle being excercised. so work hard. and use the right weights.\n\nif you're doing it properly but you aren't seeing the gains you want. it could just your genes.
1035097
Heavy weights does not necessarily mean you will get bigger and more bulky muscles.  If you are doing 10 pound dumbbells for 40 reps, that is by no means going to equal big bulky muscles.  The rule of thumb is for mass and strength, you should have sets with reps in the range of 8-12.  Anything below 8 reps is generally consider more for power and strength.  Anything above 12 reps is considered for endurance.  If you are trying to keep yourself from getting bulky than do weights that you can do for 10 or more reps.  There are so many factors that go into how your muscles develop and your diet and gentics are probably the ultimate factor on if you get bulky muscles.  My suggestion is for you to use weights that allow you to do 10 or more reps during your workout and maintain a very strict diet.  20 pounds roughly 3 months is not hard at all to obtain as long as you stay strict on your diet.
802358
I'm exactly the same height and very small boned.  Yes...  you're definitely underweight but not by a huge amount.  It might be because you're extremely active and physical.  You may just need to eat a little more.  Please tell me you haven't dieted!\n\nTry to make healthy food choices and whatever you do read package labels and STOP eating all trans fats, which are dangerous for everyone.  It might just take an extra snack here and there to boost your weight a bit.\n\nTry not to obsess over your weight.  It will only set you up for a possible eating disorder.  If you feel good and are in a normal range you have nothing to worry about.
567756
Lifting weights does NOT affect your height.  Anyone who tells you it does is going on old school beliefs.  In the '50's people thought lifting weights made you bulky and slow and told athletes NOt to do it.  That is obviously wrong.  That same time is when people were told lifting weights could affect your height.  They were wrong about that one too.  Anyone up to date on research knows weightlifting is healthy.  PERIOD.  THe biggest tip I can give you, however, is stability must precede strength.  So... Stay away from machines, start with DB's, do squats on a Bosu ball, Push-ups off a swiss ball.  This work strengthens the small muscles that stabliize a joint and keep you "in the groove" when lifting.  Do a weeks of this type of work every couple months, it will keep you healthy.
267817
Don't take anything and just lift light weights.\n\nYour muscles and bones are still developing so it's bad for them to lift heavy weights until you are finished growing.\n\nStay off steroids and supplements because they are not good for anyone.\n\nAsk your doctor or someone else who has some knowledge.
927903
To your muscles, they do not know if you are pushing or lifting your body, a big rock, or even a set of weights. WEIGHT is WEIGHT.\n\nWhen you exercise to failure, your muscles are simply worn out.\nIf you exercise AGAIN, the same day, after you have worn out your muscles, you are damaging your muscles, not helping them.\n\nIf you want to get good results; do your exercises, and then rest a day before you exercise again. The muscles grow stronger and healthier when they are resting, not when you are exercising.\n\nNOW for the difference with calisthenics and weightlifting. \n\nWhen you do weightlifting, you can choose how much weight you are lifting. When you do calisthenics, or even pushups, the amount of weight you push against or lift, is based entirely on the weight of your body. You cannot add weight, or take weight away.\n\nSoooo, if your are not physically fit enough to push or lift against your body weight, you strain and sprain yourself into injury. With weights, you can CHOOSE how much to lift and avoid injury if what you want to lift is too heavy. Simply cut back on the weights.\n\nBottom line, weightlifting will take you further, with rest included, than any other exercise.
1084428
you are not fat, don't even think of that.  to tell the truth you may even be under-weighted.  but look at all of those other people in the world who are overweight, and think, do i look like that?  no you don't.  so the next time that fat question comes your way just read this answer and that problem will be solved
794393
That height and weight doesn't sound like you have a weight problem, but it sounds like you lack lean mass (muscle). Start lifting some weights, get some cardiovascular activity, and start watching the food intake (for healthy changes you can make), and you can start to see an improvement. \n\nI'm assuming you're quite young, so just get active. That "softness" will melt away very quickly with a little activity.