Bodybuilding VS Powerlifting?

[roids4life]

Good evening everyone, I was wondering what is the difference between a NATURAL powerlifter's body and a bodybuilder's body?

Like if someone lifts weights using low reps and high sets and very heavy weights, how would his body differ from someone that lifts heavy but not as heavy as the other guy and does high reps 8-12 with low sets (muscle hypertrophy).

Plus if I power-lifted only doing low reps, heavy weights would I see changes in my body? Looks wise, not strength.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Headholio]

Both types of lifting will change your body.

Bodybuilding work outs are usually more concerned with symmetry and leanness. You can be a symmetrical and lean powerlifter if you make that effort, but many don't. I trained for years without hardly ever working biceps. I just didn't care because it wouldn't help me improve my bench, squat or deadlift.

The low rep work out would probably result in a little more strength and a little less size than the higher rep workout assuming the same volume of training, but either workout will make you both big and strong if you train hard and train correctly.

Bodybuilding workouts usually have shorter rest periods between sets, which results in more calorie burn and more of an aerobic benefit. You can do a serious power lifting workout without hardly breaking a sweat, but you have brief periods of VERY high intensity (near max efforts). So, it is easier to stay lean with a bodybuilding type workout. If you try to be a lean powerlifter, you end up doing some high speed light weight days, or cardio days, which is great, but might make it harder to make pure strength gains compared to a strictly powerlifting routine.

 

[roids4life]

What do you mean by "same volume of training" and what do you mean by "if you make that effort, but many don't." what is enough effort?

Thank you for your reply!

 

[Headholio]

What do you mean by "same volume of training"

Maybe volume is the wrong word. Lets just say if you work hard with either type of workout, you will get big and strong. Volume and intensity have various definitions, but in general bodybuilding workouts have more volume because you do more sets and reps, and powerlifting workouts have more intensity because you work closer to your 1RM (commonly used definitions of those terms).

"if you make that effort, but many don't." what is enough effort?

Here I am not talking about amount of effort. I'm simply talking about designing a workout that works for powerlifting, leanness, and symmetry all at the same time.
If you are a serious power lifter, you could focus almost entirely on the 3 lifts and a couple of related assistance exercises. That could make you strong, and big, but maybe not lean or symmetrical.
Like my example of not doing biceps because you don't need to.
So if you want to powerlift, but also be lean and symmetrical, you need to make the effort to to train in a way that gives you all that.

 

[roids4life]

Whats a way that would give me all that?
Plus from your experience what type of training have you tried and saw most gains with?

 

[roids4life]

To be honest, I would like to have a good body, doesn't matter weather its ripped or just big. I just want to increase my weights on squats, Dead lifts and Bench. Since they help make me stronger and I think if I build a strong strength foundation, in future when I decide to bulk using a bodybuilding program it would help me bulk faster than people who aren't strong, I guess.

 

[saleen556]

Powerlifting can build a great foundation for bodybuilding. If you concentrate on getting your BP/300#,squat to 400# and DL to 500# you will be way ahead of many guys that start bodybuilding from the start. The heavy lifting also makes for some really hard/dense muscle.

 

[roids4life]

what do you mean by "getting your BP/300#,squat to 400# and DL to 500#"

 

[saleen556]

what do you mean by "getting your BP/300#,squat to 400# and DL to 500#"

It means to bench press 300lbs,squat 400lbs and dead lift 500lbs. This gives a great foundation and basic strength for bodybuilding.

 

[Buildingup24]

You could do a hybrid-- take 5/3/1 with a bodybuilding assistance work rep scheme (buy the book its a good read for anyone who wants to be strong n look good)

Or a Layne Norton PHAT routine.

Basically you want your workouts to go heavy on the main lifts n do higher rep assistance work. you get benefits of strength & hypertrophy (personal opinion)