This is probably a stupid question, but I've been running & I know that it will lose overall body fat, but will it make my legs bigger? I don't want my legs to get any bigger than they already are. I'm 16 & a size 5 if that helps at all...
Hey lovely, no it’s not a stupid question! Before I got into running and learned more about fitness I used to wonder the same thing.
Of course it depends on your individual body type/genetics and how quickly your body gains muscle, but generally no, long distance running will not make you look bulky. You will lose overall body fat (if coupled with a proper diet) and gain muscle tone in your legs, but usually not in a way that increases size. In my own experience as a casual runner, my legs became more toned but smaller. Plus, running makes you feel great once you get into it! I could never give it up now. You might see a bit more of a size increase in your legs if you do a lot of HIIT (high intensity interval training), sprints, or hills, as these exercises use more muscle power. However, you likely would have to train pretty hard to see noticeable gains on your legs as a girl! We lack the testosterone to build really big muscles, even with a lot of HIIT and resistance training.
Keep at it and I think you’ll be really happy with the results! Let me know how its going :)
PS - you’re beautiful regardless of the size of your legs!
