Should women be concerned about bulkiness from strength training?

One of the primary strength training concerns for women is growth in muscle bulk. Many women are uncomfortable with the notion of bulky muscles. If you've been sedentary, however, whether a man or woman, you'll find that even a little strength training will produce gratifying strength gains without appreciable gains in muscle size. At some point, of course, a muscle has to grow to become still stronger, but women generally don't gain muscle size as readily as men do, so concerns about significant and unwanted gains in size are unwarranted; generally, when women begin a serious program of weight training, they tend to become much more slender in appearance as body fat is worked off and slack, untrained muscles firm up.

Strength training is actually a great way to get a tight, toned look. Women do not need to be worried about bulking up and can count on strength training to help them lose weight and acheive the body shape they desire.

This question is presented to me on a daily to weekly basis and I love to receive it.  The answer is simple, no; women will NOT get bulky from strength training.  The answer is simple; women do not produce enough testosterone for their bodies to produce physiques similar to males.  One thing to keep in mind, everyone’s body is different and some people store fat in areas they do not want.  Eat well and exercise and one day that fat storage will disappear but do not expect it to be easy!

I've answered this question (in other forms) a few times - even here on Sharecare. :-)

My first question is what do you mean by "bulky?" Will lifting weights increase your muscle mass? Depending on how you train and eat, yes. Men can "bulk up" more than women - thanks to hormones. Women who just lift heavy and train hard, and do NOT add steroidal support, won't look "man-ish." But they will have some enviable arms come summer. So, the simple answer is "no."

Different training protocols will send different messages to your body (and your muscles). A qualified trainer can help you design a program that's right for you and your goals. But don't be afraid of looking "muscle-bound." Be proud!