Your genetic makeup is responsible for your body shape and all the components that make you look the way you do. Tall and lean or short and stocky -- both are specific body types that are chosen for you. However, there are ways to avoid stockiness, or the bulked up muscle appearance, when working out. Although you cannot change your height or muscle type with exercise, you can sculpt and tone that lean muscle mass for a more svelte appearance.
Step 1
Lose weight if you have an increased body mass index, or BMI, over 25. Layers of adipose tissue, or fat, on top of muscle may enhance the stocky appearance of your torso and shoulders.
Step 2
Decrease the amount of weight you use. Try at least 15 repetitions, or as many as you can complete without difficulty, when lifting weights. Lifting heavy weights and low repetitions will rip and grow new muscle mass, which will enhance your stocky figure. Better yet, unless you are trying to build muscle mass, stop using weights and complete resistance exercises using your body weight only. Pushups, crunches, squats and lunges are resistance exercises that will tone your muscles without bulking you up.
Step 3
Rev up your heart rate and strengthen your muscles without building new ones by increasing your cardio workout. Try aerobic activity, such as swimming and jogging.
Step 4
Use resistance bands. Resistance bands are used for strength training of lean muscle mass. These bands will tone and strengthen your skeletal muscles without bulking your body shape.
Step 5
Enroll in a yoga or Pilates class, or try a DVD session at home. These types of exercises are known for lengthening and strengthening muscle groups -- ultimately providing a leaner, meaner appearance.
Step 6
Time your sessions and keep strength-training sessions at 20 to 30 minutes two or three times weekly. Work different muscle groups during the sessions unless you are working only the large muscle groups, such as the gluteal muscles, which can handle daily workouts.
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