Do any of you fellow powerlifters worry about your physique?

[b fold the truth]

I tried pretty hard to increase my bodyfat % for my last contest for strength...but the more events I did, the leaner I got in my training.

B True

 

[Welsh power house]

I dont care too much about if i can see my abs or not....chicks dig abs thoough...no two ways about that one.
But i will never give up strength to loose a little bit of fat to gain 'extra bit o' definition on my glutes!'
I think that is pretty damn gay if you ask me.

W.P.H

 

[J-Power]

You guys think this is an issue for you? Try being a female Powerlifter! As if we don't already have body image porblems! One of the women I lift with Is going to therapy for her body image issues! My workout mentality is 60% strength, 40% looks and I can't change that mentality.

 

[cheesePuss]

correct me if I'm wrong.....I'm new to this but you can't flex fat right? It seems to me all fat does is put you in a higher weight class.......I mean how can fat help you lift the wieght.

I'd rather be 220 solid than in the 242's with the same muscle just more fat.

what do you guys think?

 

[b fold the truth]

Having fat does help with leverage...and strength.

B True

 

[Exodus]

im confused bfold........ please elaborate

X

 

[BigPhysicsBastard]

your muscles DEMAND some serious energy resources when you go through a powerlifting meet......having a layer or two of fat on you is advantageous as an energy reservoir, maybe not for the actual lifts themselves, but the body will utilize the fat stores for general bodily functions while saving the "high grade" fuel for the muscles. You'll never see a champion powerlifter come in shredded........he'd have about one max lift in him.

 

[Exodus]

thanks for clearing that one up..... bfold do you agree?

 

[b fold the truth]

Hmmmm...having a large stomach does help with leverage in the squat. How lean is Garry Frank? He weighs 365 last time I checked. How many ripped powerlifters do you know that are squatting in the 9's? Not many.

B True

 

[flex-mb]

I hate to dis-agree, but having fat has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the Krebs Cycle when lifting at a powerlifting meet. Creatine Phosphate restores ATP. ATP is converted into ADP when the musccle 'fires'. Fat is at the back end of the Krebs cycle and plays not part whatsoever in max lift attempts. The Krebs Cycle is in any Physiology textbook and is considered basic information. The body will use almost NO fat unless the stomach is completely empty and all the glycogen stores have been depleted from the muscle. What powerlifter will let this condition happen to them anytime during a powerlifting meet? Fat as a fuel source during a powerlifting meet is inconsequential and is not a factor as the powerlifter's body will have plenty of glycogen to use.