Increased Vein Size Since Building Muscle

I've been increasing my strength training routine and am lifting weights three times a week (heavier weight, fewer reps to build bulk and strengthen bones) and my veins are getting bigger in my arms and across my pecs, not only just when i work out but all of the time. I can see veins right now running up and down my biceps and I haven't been using them all day. Why is this?

your muscles need more blood.  try using lighter weights, more reps.  or start off with a heavy anount and lightening the weights, or the opposite.  you will still build muscle.

Are you sure they aren't just more visible now, rather than larger?

Original Post by la_fadeaway:

Are you sure they aren't just more visible now, rather than larger?

trust me, they are bigger. it's kind of cool...

Original Post by im115:

your muscles need more blood.  try using lighter weights, more reps.  or start off with a heavy anount and lightening the weights, or the opposite.  you will still build muscle.

Why aren't they getting enough blood? How does lighter weights increase blood flow?

it doesnt increase blood flow, your veins will grow to meet the needs of the muscles. normally the better in shape you get, the more visible your veins will be.

Original Post by im115:

your muscles need more blood. try using lighter weights, more reps.

I want to cry. Ignore this part.

Original Post by spirochete:

Original Post by im115:

your muscles need more blood. try using lighter weights, more reps.

I want to cry. Ignore this part.

then what's right?

spiro is, of course!

i don't understand the counter-intuitive suggestion. there is nothing about larger veins that is undesirable or unsightly. that combination of blood supply/demand and lower bodyfat shows off your health. there is no need to attempt to reverse this process in my opinion.

Don't stop lifting!!! This is normal. I have small veins. I went to a plasma donation center and was rejected for the size of my veins. The woman who rejected me said that I should lift weights for a couple of months and then try again. That lifting would help. You're going in the right direction

I agree with all except the low weight high rep idjit!!!  You want large veins - helps prevent varicose veins and peripheral vascular disease later in life.  With large veins you'll be grateful later in life trust me.  If you've seen severe varicose veins or suffered thru them you will know what I mean. 

Original Post by dbackerfan:

I agree with all except the low weight high rep idjit!!!  You want large veins - helps prevent varicose veins and peripheral vascular disease later in life.  With large veins you'll be grateful later in life trust me.  If you've seen severe varicose veins or suffered thru them you will know what I mean. 

At first i thought the veins looked kind of manly and strange but now i'm really digging them...they're so....blue! and...thick!

Yeah I have veins bulging out on the tops of my forearms.  They are awesome. 

so glad to read this! I was noticing my veins are much more obvious in my upper thighs (in the front) and I knew it couldn't have been vericose, though it had something to do with my lifting... they look great!

hooray for muscle!!

ps... nothing to do with weights/muscle... but queen, are you backpacking in that pic of yours?! that is so badass! lol.. dying to get into backpacking but I don't really have the time/money right now... hopefully something I can start doing once I graduate :)

Original Post by krrpt08:

ps... nothing to do with weights/muscle... but queen, are you backpacking in that pic of yours?! that is so badass! lol.. dying to get into backpacking but I don't really have the time/money right now... hopefully something I can start doing once I graduate :)

I am! That was a 9-day trip up/through Mt. Adam's in Washington. I'm going back to do it again in July, and then Mt. St. Helen's in August.

9 days??!! that's awesome! I'm nervous about doing an overnighter on the Buckeye Trail!! lol.. but one day I'll do it... hopefully this summer :)

Original Post by krrpt08:

9 days??!! that's awesome! I'm nervous about doing an overnighter on the Buckeye Trail!! lol.. but one day I'll do it... hopefully this summer :)

Hey how about you just do a GREAT day hike and then tell us about it?? It's so much cheaper than an overnighter, and easier because you know at the end of the day you'll be crawling into a BIG comfy bed with a pot of pasta cooking for you on the stove ;)

Really, there's nothing better than a day hike. And if you're hankering for more activity, do a couple in a row. Most mountains have several trails. There's also always water sports...but I'm scared to death of the water and won't come within 10 feet of any sort of raft or thing with sails.

I did a 5-hour hike with my bf once last year.. we both called off work/school and hiked all day :) but we don't have a lot of time for day hikes... i think my next free Saturday is.. as long as I don't go in to work... July 19th? maybe? I can't wait to be out of school! less homework and more time for the outdoors!!

funny you mentioned water sports... we made a big trip for Labor Day weekend last year and went on a 4-day canoe trip :) water was low and there was only one small bit of rapids but it was BLAST and we're doing it again this year :)

plus we're going camping all Memorial Day weekend and there will be tons of trails around where we'll be!! I'm stoked! we usually rough it and sleep outside in the forest but this year we're goin classy and staying at a cabin :)

Muscles need bigger veins for more blood, true, as blood flow (to muscles) is protein synthesis, oxygen/energy flow, blah blah. Therefore, the bigger your muscles, the bigger your veins need to be. Saying this, if you are really concered about this, Try getting a tan, it reduces the green colour of the veins, however this does not decrease the bumps veins create. Another way is to cover them up with fat, probably not what you want to do. So this brings me to my last solution which is to give blood. This will decrease your vein size and appearance, unfortunately you wont be able to workout for some time and when you do, your veins will go back to the way they were.