BB vs. Powerlifting

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posted by opn232003

i wanted to take a moment to hear thoughts on the differences between bodybuilding and powerlifting. anyone who has seen pictures of film of powerlifters can see that their physiques are obviously less pleasing than that of bodybuilders? what are the factors that come into play? it is a difference in excercises and training techniques, diet, genetics? most bodybuilders do not want to look like powerlifters, so how can we avoid it? in order for this to happen, one needs at least a general idea of what makes a powerlifter different from a bodybuilder.

posted by howlowcanigo

Ah someone hit my buzzer seeing as I am a former power lifter. Well usually you won't be even close to looking like a power lifter unless you train really really poorly. When you power lift your diet is pretty much just eat and no one really power lifts and orders grilled chicken salads. We used to eat lots of burgers, potatos, rice anything really cause you don't do it for physique. Now for training its pretty bad all training was like constantly maxing out, and any smart person knows thats not a good thing. Don't worry you wont get a power lifters physique on accident.

posted by canibalistic_js

With either bbing and pwlifting causes damage to the body and with both they are all going to be somewhat related to exercise and/or gear. Everything has risk and its how you manage risk which determines if you will suffer from lifting related injuries, furthermore serious dieting can hinder a plethora of body functions if your attention isn't 150% on your body. Everyone, especially young lifters have this mentality "I want instant results, I want to gain 20 poundsof muscle and be at 8% bf, ...." etc.

posted by cowcountry

Powerlifters = worlds strongest man competition (Vladimir Vladovski, Magnus VerMagnussen, etc...)

BB'ing = Ronnie Coleman

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Biggest difference - bodybuilders have a "season"

posted by MegaA

Additionally to what all you guys said - Powerlifters lift for strength and do not care about their physical shape - therefor to maximise their strength they lift fewer reps with greater weight and rarely hit 8 + more reps per set.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

Mariusz Pudzianowski looks like a bodybuilder and is stupid strong. I would guess that if most top powerlifters dieted down they would look pretty baddass. They just stay fat cause they're stronger when they're fat. just like offseason bbldrs

posted by brsett

I think he just has absurd genetics.

Most powerlifters have huge ass, hips and hams -- by design and just because most people don't taper. Very few people have the <30in waist of bodybuilders. Barrel chests are also a huge advantage in powerlifting -- but I think that's mostly genetics also. I think the elite strongmen have better physiques than many powerlifters, but they are also much better athletes than typical powerlifters too.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

I agree a lot of it must be genetics. I doubt Ronnie Coleman has a 30in waist, though. A lot of the elite powerlifters have a lot of mass, they're just not as refined. whole different game, I like 'em both.

posted by brsett

No idea on Ronnie's waist. I remember when I was a youngster and looked at Flex, that it once said Paul Dillet had a 29in waist. He was about 6' 1" as I recall also. That's a pretty serious taper (esp. since he was a mass monster for the time).

Now that the distended gut look is in though, that may throw all the numbers off -- they may still have narrow hips, but a large circumference due to the huge muscle gut.

posted by howlowcanigo

Huh what the hell is coleman's waist size I couldn't find it anywhere. Most people were speculating like 44in but who knows.

posted by cowcountry

Colemans waist is no larger than 35". He's only 5'10" at best. I've got some pics of me and him together, so I'm pretty sure of this. Plus he stays in relatively decent shape year round so it doesn't fluctuate too much.

posted by brsett

Of course, let me add. I did read it in Flex, the credibility of the Dillet claim then may not be good.

posted by Aaar0n

Pudz...

He's a powerlifter. However, i'd take his physique over most pro bb'ers.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

That guy is fkn awesome! I also hear he's into martial arts. When I was a kid I heard the bible stories about king David's "mighty men". I picture them being about like him. lol

posted by opn232003

the nephilim are the children of the gods who came down and interbred with women.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

Those stories are pre-David. David's mighty men were with him in the caves as Saul was trying to kill him. Then they were with him in wars when he was king of Israel.

posted by jcvaughn26

Wow where did this thread go? ^^^ lol

I think the main difference is 10,000 calorie diets. lol Powerlifters can eat constantly and not worry about cutting. With extra body weight they'll be stronger, most of us know that. Example would be water weight when on a cycle even though it's not muscle you still are stronger. Also when bodybuilders look their best that is when they are weakest. Powerlifters have to put up numbers, where as a bodybuilder it doesn't matter how much you lift it's how much it looks like you can lift.

posted by estray

He probably has a 35 in waist but has to wear 44 pants cause of his freakin legs. Ive got a 35 in waist and I wear size 32 jeans but theyre starting to get tight in the thighs.

posted by canibalistic_js

Well if I may recommend to you wearing your own size. lol

I have a 32-34 inch waste and I cannot wear anything smaller than 36inch waste because of my quads.

posted by estray

I was wearing 36's last year when I was fat but now I put em on and they fall down around my knees theyre so big. I have several pairs of 32s and they all fit great in the waist. not tight in the slightest way. I can tuck shirts in and theyre still loose. They are slim fit though. Might have to switch to loose fit to accomodate the legs. Ive always wondered why the size doesnt match the tape measure.

posted by canibalistic_js

Apparently the jeans co is selfesteem conscious. lol I actually have a few pair that are 31's and fit my 34 fat ass.

posted by estray

Im sure that plays a role in there. Esp with womens clothing.

posted by opn232003

i once read that powerlifters lock out the position, full extension on each movement, where as bodybuilders ideally never fully extend their range of motion--- this keeps the stress on the muscle throughout the set resulting in a greater pump and more blood forced into the muscle.

my question has been answered numerous times in this thread-so thanks. i guess the answer is that powerlifters care about lifting weights and bodybuilders care about building aesthetically pleasing physiques. its possible to build a nice body from powerlifting, and its possible to build power in your lifts from bodybuilding. i already knew the answer i just thought it was an intersting topic, how two sports can be so drastically different, but seem like the same thing to the uneducated eye.

i think that most of us are a mixture of bodybuilders and power lifters, with an emphasis on bodybuilding. i want to be strong of course, what guy doesnt, but more importantly i want women to turn their heads, i want my wife to be sexually attracted to me, and i want to feel good about the way i look.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

and I want a Ferrari

posted by Aaar0n

You said most powerlifters eat way more callories than a bodybuilders. Correct?
Because when you have more bodyfat, you're lifts are stronger.

Here's the thing I don't get. Pudz, his body fat is obviously low. However, he is lifting more than powerlifters who have a much higher body fat percentage than him.

posted by brsett

A) Mariusz is a freak.
B) I don't think he is the strongest at the powerlifts. He is actually a good athlete (he destroys the speed/distance carrying events), and very strong.

In a deadlift/squat/press event, I don't think he would be favored -- athough, he might be if he trained for it. I love the WSM competitions, but they are more well rounded than just pure strength. Conditioning is super important, as is athleticism and coordination. I think that improves the show, but I'm not sure you're really the world's strongest man if you win.

posted by SMBLSBGARMS

Depends on how you define strongest. Strength is how much can you move. Power is how much and how fast you can move.
If one guy can pick up 1000lbs one time and drop it but another guy can pick up 900lbs and run 100ft with it who's stronger?

I agree brsett, the guy is a freak. And wsm is a good contest for putting all that strength into action.

posted by John H

strength really is a relative term, calling someone the worlds strongest man is so debatable that i really hate the term.

posted by shortz

The main difference is neurological response and type of hypertrophy. In general, strength training is created more around neurological development/neuro drive and an increase in myofibrils. Meanwhile, with BBing, there is still a neuro response increase, otherwise you would not gain strength at all, but it's less and there is an increase in the sarcoplasmic fluid, which actually has less affect on strength.

Diet can actually be the same. Many feel that there is a huge difference in diet when it comes to BBing and PLing but the fact is, if you want to gain, your diet will be almost identical, BBers just have a tendency to eat differently because they want to stay more lean. Honestly, a BBer who eats like a PLer and does a little cardio will come out on top, IMO.

posted by president_fad

i didnt bother to read all of this, but i think its stupid for people to say that the typical PLer phsyique is less than pleasing, yes maybe the SHW look like dogshit but if you look at plers at 181 198 220 or so, they are usually ripped. Ronnie was a pler before he started bbing, same with warren branch and johnny jackson....just some food for thought.

posted by Dex

hmm i didnt know that. doesnt jonnie have a...813lb DL? that right?

posted by shortz

Dunno about Jackson, but I know Coleman has an 800lbs+ deadlift.

posted by Dex

ronnie does 315lbs on his back when hes doing lunges. insane....

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