Post: #1

Hey forum fam, I'm not asking you guys for advice on what program to use or anything like that, but was wondering whether you guys like lifting for strength gains or size gains. I've been lifting for about a year and a half on and off, and I've gained 20 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I'm still slim bit not frail anymore. The thing is I just have this urge to be stronger and not focus on building muscle. Is the extra fat I'm gonna put on from powerlifting worth it?

Post: #2

(01-08-2015 09:45 PM)RasCharlamagne Wrote:  Hey forum fam, I'm not asking you guys for advice on what program to use or anything like that, but was wondering whether you guys like lifting for strength gains or size gains. I've been lifting for about a year and a half on and off, and I've gained 20 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I'm still slim bit not frail anymore. The thing is I just have this urge to be stronger and not focus on building muscle. Is the extra fat I'm gonna put on from powerlifting worth it?

Yes, the more you eat = the more you can lift, its simple mathematics.

Try focusing on exercises building core-strenght such as Deadlifts, squats, over-the-head presses, and to lesser extent benchpresses, barbell rows and weighted pull-ups.

Stay in the short repetition side 3-6 reps, specially on deadlifts.. use pyramid method going from lighter to heavier weights ,try finding a good spotter because working in pairs is always handier and prevents you from suffering demotivation in the long term.

Most people in the gym lacks of confidence and go there to compensate, specially those who are the most adept and you are likely to see them on a daily basis, I'm not generalizing here but its almost always spot on, regardless of the excusses they are going to give you when you ask them about their goals/reasons to lift that often.

And going by the experience I can tell you that if you are insecure you gonna feel insecure regardless of how you look like, some of the most insecure people on earth are actually those who look better than average... So you arent going to fix insecurity problems going to the gym.. you are just persueing for a healthier lifestyle and that's how it should be.

Post: #3

(01-08-2015 09:45 PM)RasCharlamagne Wrote:  Hey forum fam, I'm not asking you guys for advice on what program to use or anything like that, but was wondering whether you guys like lifting for strength gains or size gains. I've been lifting for about a year and a half on and off, and I've gained 20 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I'm still slim bit not frail anymore. The thing is I just have this urge to be stronger and not focus on building muscle. Is the extra fat I'm gonna put on from powerlifting worth it?

It's your diet that will determine whether you put on "extra fat" not whether you're working out to be a bodybuilder vs. powerlifter.

Post: #4

It's a personal preference. Sounds like you are a naturally skinny guy. It's easier to lose the fat than gain the muscle. Seeing your numbers go up is a confidence booster for me, makes me feel like a badass. I lifted for strength last year and felt amazing despite noticeable aesthetic gains, now I will go for size this year because I want my clothes to fit better.

Post: #5

Meant to type "small but noticeable" after the word despite and it's too late to edit.

Post: #6

You can have both strength and aesthetics, it just depends on how much work you want to put into it. There's a lot of good "powerbuilding" routines on the internet.

If you want something to put on size and strength and you don't want to put too much thought into it, you could go for 5/3/1 with the Boring but Big template. That looks like a strength routine that focuses on one lift a day, four days a week (squat, bench, deadlift, overhead press I think). Then you do assistance exercises for 5 sets of 10 reps.

Post: #7

I don't care about strength but I think I need to lift certain weights to put on more muscle.

I am a slim guy, 6'2" 182 lbs with no extra body fat. My goal is reaching 190 lbs.

For bench press, dead lift and squat, I lift 185 lbs for 8 reps of 4 sets. I am thinking I should be able to lift 225 lbs (45 lbs x 2 each side) to reach that size.

If you don't increase the weight and keep lifting the same weight, chances are you will get only definition not muscle size gain?

Post: #8

As a drug free lifter they are basically the same thing, you can't get bigger without getting stronger, and you won't get stronger without getting bigger. It's only when you throw drugs into the equation that you're free to choose: oh I wanna stay (relatively) weak but still have the muscles/look of a stronger man.

Post: #9

Thanks guys, these responses were what I was actually looking for

Post: #10

I lift to get stronger, most the guys I talk to believe I should go to a meet. I hope to real soon. I would be around 900 lb total and I weigh around 150 (but I will cut about 5 lbs first)

Post: #11

Does it matter? If you lift weights 6 times a week, you'r gonna be stronger than 99.9% of people anyway.

Post: #12

The bodybuilder versus powerlifter distinction does not need to be that extreme.

If bodybuilders only use machines, always be a powerlifter.
If powerlifters are required to get fat, always be a bodybuilder.

But thank god, those are false dilemmas. You can get shredded by using powerlifting routines.
Master the big three (squat, deadlift, bench) and add another three (military press, pull ups, rows).
Eat clean, also when bulking, and you will gain muscle without fat.
Fat powerlifters are just lazy eaters and often look down on being ripped, "because that's for pussies."

Post: #13

I've always thought of body development in this sense: Strength Core, body building on top. The only thing that makes me back off on strength is joint issues. Ironically, higher reps lower weight, and mad concentration during the movement seems to repair and lubricate the joint and alleviate many joint problems over time for me.

I'm dealing with that very issue right now with elbows and shoulders. You lose a shoulder and you're fucked. So now with bench, 315 can take a seat while <225 will rep me out just fine, and I'll still remain strong and keep on my size.

Post: #14

(01-12-2015 10:10 AM)sixsix Wrote:  The bodybuilder versus powerlifter distinction does not need to be that extreme.

If bodybuilders only use machines, always be a powerlifter.
If powerlifters are required to get fat, always be a bodybuilder.

But thank god, those are false dilemmas. You can get shredded by using powerlifting routines.
Master the big three (squat, deadlift, bench) and add another three (military press, pull ups, rows).
Eat clean, also when bulking, and you will gain muscle without fat.
Fat powerlifters are just lazy eaters and often look down on being ripped, "because that's for pussies."

Funny I'm 25 lbs lighter than I was a few years ago and 97% as strong, and even stronger in my legs. I'll gladly take my shrunk belly and non-puffy face, knowing I'm a higher quality version of myself now.

Post: #15

For some reason, I enjoy training for strength more these days. There is something inherently more fun about lifting heavy ass weights for trebles or singles and challenging yourself to break your personal records.

While I'm sure I will do more size-based routines in future, I don't seem to get the same high and general sense of achievement from them.

Post: #16

Size builds strength and strength builds size? Oh dear, oh dear.

Volume builds size. Strength reps build strength. If you're a newbie or haven't been training for long you will gain size with strength training reps regardless. Its only later down the line where it becomes harder to gain size with lower reps.

I see way too many big guys doing light and medium weights for the strength builds size bullshit to have any merit and I shoudl know because I've done strength training for years. I hardly see these guys squat or bench and yet they're big, not the Jusatin bieber big either.

I've recently gone into more volume whilst dropping a bit of the weight moved. Big difference across the board from what I can tell.

There is nothing wrong with building strength and size by combining the two.