Lifting like a body builder...

[Inhibitor13]

Ok, Since on being on this board I havce heard many guys says "to get big, you gotta lift big" then you have others like omega who even proved that you dont have to lift big to get big. Just curious to what you guys think about this, maybe we can clearify on some things.

 

[Mavafanculo]

I dont know what they did to build their base, but the biggest guys at my gym dont use real heavy weights - more peak contraction work with lighter weights than you'd think given their size.

 

[mattdan]

I dont know what they did to build their base, but the biggest guys at my gym dont use real heavy weights - more peak contraction work with lighter weights than you'd think given their size.

That's because BB's are puzzes.

Power lifters are the real men here.

 

[Inhibitor13]

I dont know what they did to build their base, but the biggest guys at my gym dont use real heavy weights - more peak contraction work with lighter weights than you'd think given their size.

I read somewhere that jay cutler said one of his problems or peeves I guess you can say when he worked out is that other guys would be throwing up more weight than him. He said once he got over that everything cool.

 

[Inhibitor13]

That's because BB's are puzzes.

Power lifters are the real men here.

Thats how Ive been going about my routines, Heavy! But I dont wanna be a powerlifter, just a bodybuilder. However throwing around some heavy weights and getting the looks on peoples faces is great.

 

[mattdan]

Just kiddin bro. Nothing wrong with some good natured ribbing.

My best friend was a nationally ranked power lifter and tought me much of what I know about lifting.

Most power lifters look down on BB'ers because many don't lift big. Can't say I agree with that, but when you hang with PL's you hear it all the damn time.

Not being an ass here, just stating the facts.

 

[skullcrushin22]

I like being in between. I like some looks but I really like lifting heavy weights.

 

[airsmith2k]

ill lift really heavy and light ...ill do heavy benches for chest then do light flyes at the end

 

[instant.muscle]

the best thing is change, 1 week i do power movement with heavy weight like cleans squats all that good free weight stuff, next week all machines, squeezing and peaking the muscle on every rep, its the best

 

[CremasterBlaster]

I have nothing against powerlifters......alot of guys I started with could move really big weights...

The old saying though "It doesn't matter if you can lift 500 pounds, as long as you LOOK like you can lift 500 pounds" holds true for most BB'ers.

Personally, I feel I get more of a workout from the 8-12 rep range with slow, controlled movements and nice contraction....but I think most will agree also that some days you just gotta put up as much as you can, just to keep an edge and switch things up.....

 

[bigmodean]

I tweaked my back several times over the past 5 years or so,most of the time I am limited to just moderate weight on key lifts like deads and squats,(315 lbs or less)so I have manuvered my workout into more of a "bb'ers" workout,bench still strong though,yet still see growth.

 

[chazk]

To each their own.
I compete with myself not others in the gym.

 

[BBBBig Phenom]

i lift to look like brad pitt

 

[BigCracker]

Thats how Ive been going about my routines, Heavy! But I dont wanna be a powerlifter, just a bodybuilder. However throwing around some heavy weights and getting the looks on peoples faces is great.

You need to be more specific. "the looks on dude's faces is great" would be more appropriate. Personally I don't give a fuck about impressing dudes with my strength. I'd much rather impress chicks by appearing to be strong and muscular even if I am not as strong as the GH gut powerlifter (that probably hasn't seen his dick in 4 years) that can bench press a house. When is the last time you heard one of the bitches on Sex And The City say "I only fuck guys that bench 400lbs plus"?

I truly believe heavy is a relative term. Form is also another factor. So is genetics. I've seen quite a few big guys in my day that never go heavy. One I know does more cable and isolation exercises than I've ever seen anyone do. Of course, he also takes enough gear to kill an elephant-which is another factor not to be overlooked.

I seem to get my best gains from mixing up my reps and poundages. I also never do the same workout for a bodypart 2x in a row. It's my philosophy that keeping the muscles confused should stimulate growth. I also believe training lighter makes one less susceptible to injury. Injuries will hinder gains more than anything. With that being said, when it comes to training heavy, I leave my ego at the gym door.

 

[st8grad]

Thats how Ive been going about my routines, Heavy! But I dont wanna be a powerlifter, just a bodybuilder. However throwing around some heavy weights and getting the looks on peoples faces is great.

I can get some funny looks on peoples faces if I dead lift with my pants off. But I'm not in there to get attention.

 

[OMEGA]

Thanks for mentioning me

I just feel that True bodybuilding is a Lost Art.
That has the chance to be Ultra Refined with new Ideas and synthesized into a higher form.

And that this way is not only more aesthetic but a more sustainable life style well into someones older ages.

What is interesting is that we must thank the power people for a certain degree of knowledge.

The Mini Ebook I will write will show that its NOT bodyscuplting that I do
but rather newer way to look at basic things, and in the end it will yield real world results in the Trenches.


I wont site any fancy studies or try to make is deliberately complicated I will just share it and I am sure alot of people will love it and not love it lololl

 

[Inhibitor13]

You need to be more specific. "the looks on dude's faces is great" would be more appropriate. Personally I don't give a fuck about impressing dudes with my strength. I'd much rather impress chicks by appearing to be strong and muscular even if I am not as strong as the gh - growth hormone (somatropin) - - growth hormone (somatropin) - gut powerlifter (that probably hasn't seen his dick in 4 years) that can bench press a house. When is the last time you heard one of the bitches on Sex And The City say "I only fuck guys that bench 400lbs plus"?

I truly believe heavy is a relative term. Form is also another factor. So is genetics. I've seen quite a few big guys in my day that never go heavy. One I know does more cable and isolation exercises than I've ever seen anyone do. Of course, he also takes enough gear to kill an elephant-which is another factor not to be overlooked.

I seem to get my best gains from mixing up my reps and poundages. I also never do the same workout for a bodypart 2x in a row. It's my philosophy that keeping the muscles confused should stimulate growth. I also believe training lighter makes one less susceptible to injury. Injuries will hinder gains more than anything. With that being said, when it comes to training heavy, I leave my ego at the gym door.

Interesting...

 

[advanced-stealth]

LMAO

That's because BB's are puzzes.

Power lifters are the real men here.

 

[iHulk]

you can't go heavy every session, you'll eventually get injured. But you can't half ass it every session either. Some weeks its all out heavy and other its lighter and more reps. Add the "x-rep" in there once in a while and you will shock the shit outta your muscles.

 

[Inhibitor13]

you can't go heavy every session, you'll eventually get injured. But you can't half ass it every session either. Some weeks its all out heavy and other its lighter and more reps. Add the "x-rep" in there once in a while and you will shock the shit outta your muscles.

so what do you think about 1 week heavy and the next light then repeat? Would that shock em?

 

[iHulk]

I think that would be a good change if its not something you regulary do... but even then your body will adapt to that routine after several weeks and you'll need to change it again. I also think what your on at the time has a lot to do with how you train. Go heavy when bulking and lighter when cutting. Just a matter of physics... u need mass to lift mass. But as you cut you tend to lose a bit of that weighted water mass so you back the load off the bar but crunch out a few extra reps.

so what do you think about 1 week heavy and the next light then repeat? Would that shock em?

 

[Harleymarleybone]

i lift to look like brad pitt

So you stay in the women's section. HEHE.

 

[Inhibitor13]

I think that would be a good change if its not something you regulary do... but even then your body will adapt to that routine after several weeks and you'll need to change it again. I also think what your on at the time has a lot to do with how you train. Go heavy when bulking and lighter when cutting. Just a matter of physics... u need mass to lift mass. But as you cut you tend to lose a bit of that weighted water mass so you back the load off the bar but crunch out a few extra reps.

How do you go about shocking the muscles if you dont mind telling that is..

 

[iHulk]

How do you go about shocking the muscles if you dont mind telling that is..

For me its supersets. I've always been a big proponent of them. For example after an incline bench I'll immediately go into either flies or sometimes I'll hit the incline row to get a push-pull superset. Other times its just maxing the weight and other times its doing excessive reps with x-reps thrown in there. Anything to pump the shit outta the muscle.

 

[talus29]

How do you go about shocking the muscles if you dont mind telling that is..

Find a lamp , unscrew bulb, put finger where bulb was and the turn lamp on.. Guarantee to shock all the muscles instantly lol
Seriously though shockin the muscle can be as easy as changing up the excersises u do for a particular body part .. Supersetin , drop sets , low reps high reps , negatives all these forms of training have a place in everyones routine.. Just by varying ur routine from one workout to another ur body can never adapt and will always keep growing..

 

[solidspine]

What is a power lifter, nothing but a fat body builder?

You have to lift heavy there is no conversation or debate, if you want to build your muscles and be a body builder you have to lift heavy


OVER

 

[chazk]

What is a power lifter, nothing but a fat body builder?

You have to lift heavy there is no conversation or debate, if you want to build your muscles and be a body builder you have to lift heavy


OVER

This debate takes me back to a time over in clearwater florida i walked into the gym to see hulk hogan and eddie robinson a pro ifbb bodybuilder training biceps
keep in mind hulk has big arms and liftes very heavey
but eddie had 20 inch arms also and lifts what most would consider light
eddie was curling 80lbs with a straight bar that was it.he was using strict form 3 seconds up 3 seconds down flexing on the top and not relaxing at the bottom always had the stress on the biceps
eddie is 5'8 and stepped on stage with 20 inch arms at 6% bf in the mid 90's
While hulk was curling 225lbs swinging his whole body back and fourth wroking his biceps
both guys at that time had roughly the same size arms

that was the point in my life where i relized that bodybuilding and just slinging weight were two totally different things

besides no one on this board has even defined what heavy is .
is heavy bench pressing 2-3 times your body weight for one rep?
or lifting your body weight for 12 reps.

A 150lb man bench pressing 300lbs double his body weight
is more inpressive then a 260lb guy only pressing 500lbs not even double his body weight
lb for pound the smaller guy is stonger

the debate can and will go on forever.but for bodybuilders the only thing that is true is the body has red fibers and white fibers that respond to low reps heavey weight and higher reps lighter weight
so both fibers must be trained to build the maximum amout of muscle one can achieve.

 

[Inhibitor13]

This debate takes me back to a time over in clearwater florida i walked into the gym to see hulk hogan and eddie robinson a pro ifbb bodybuilder training biceps
keep in mind hulk has big arms and liftes very heavey
but eddie had 20 inch arms also and lifts what most would consider light
eddie was curling 80lbs with a straight bar that was it.he was using strict form 3 seconds up 3 seconds down flexing on the top and not relaxing at the bottom always had the stress on the biceps
eddie is 5'8 and stepped on stage with 20 inch arms at 6% bf in the mid 90's
While hulk was curling 225lbs swinging his whole body back and fourth wroking his biceps
both guys at that time had roughly the same size arms

that was the point in my life where i relized that bodybuilding and just slinging weight were two totally different things

besides no one on this board has even defined what heavy is .
is heavy bench pressing 2-3 times your body weight for one rep?
or lifting your body weight for 12 reps.

A 150lb man bench pressing 300lbs double his body weight
is more inpressive then a 260lb guy only pressing 500lbs not even double his body weight
lb for pound the smaller guy is stonger

the debate can and will go on forever.but for bodybuilders the only thing that is true is the body has red fibers and white fibers that respond to low reps heavey weight and higher reps lighter weight
so both fibers must be trained to build the maximum amout of muscle one can achieve.

Good point ! Then from the way it sounds Ive been doing what I was supposed to be doing. I LOVE supersets ! Makes me feel like Ive actually worked that muscle to the max that day. I do a lot of heavy lifting but its really just on my compound lifts and even after that I drop some weight and bust out a quick 12-15 rep set. I still like hearing what other people do though just to get some ideas when I change it up again.

 

[mattdan]

This debate takes me back to a time over in clearwater florida i walked into the gym to see hulk hogan and eddie robinson a pro ifbb bodybuilder training biceps
keep in mind hulk has big arms and liftes very heavey
but eddie had 20 inch arms also and lifts what most would consider light
eddie was curling 80lbs with a straight bar that was it.he was using strict form 3 seconds up 3 seconds down flexing on the top and not relaxing at the bottom always had the stress on the biceps
eddie is 5'8 and stepped on stage with 20 inch arms at 6% bf in the mid 90's
While hulk was curling 225lbs swinging his whole body back and fourth wroking his biceps
both guys at that time had roughly the same size arms

that was the point in my life where i relized that bodybuilding and just slinging weight were two totally different things

besides no one on this board has even defined what heavy is .
is heavy bench pressing 2-3 times your body weight for one rep?
or lifting your body weight for 12 reps.

A 150lb man bench pressing 300lbs double his body weight
is more inpressive then a 260lb guy only pressing 500lbs not even double his body weight
lb for pound the smaller guy is stonger

the debate can and will go on forever.but for bodybuilders the only thing that is true is the body has red fibers and white fibers that respond to low reps heavey weight and higher reps lighter weight
so both fibers must be trained to build the maximum amout of muscle one can achieve.

You just took all the fun outta ribbing the BB's here.

 

[BigCracker]

besides no one on this board has even defined what heavy is .
is heavy bench pressing 2-3 times your body weight for one rep?
or lifting your body weight for 12 reps.

A 150lb man bench pressing 300lbs double his body weight
is more inpressive then a 260lb guy only pressing 500lbs not even double his body weight
lb for pound the smaller guy is stonger

the debate can and will go on forever.but for bodybuilders the only thing that is true is the body has red fibers and white fibers that respond to low reps heavey weight and higher reps lighter weight
so both fibers must be trained to build the maximum amout of muscle one can achieve.

I stated that heavy was a relative term in my earlier post. Isn't there something the poerrlifters call the Schwartz Formula that determines strength:bodyweight??? Or is it just some fancy bagel recipe?

 

[hurricane]

controled movement .. feeling the muscles .. hitting the correct muscle group..performing the excercise right is much more important then throwing around heavy weights IMO .. if u can work out heavy RIGHT then so be it but some idiots are just throwin heavy weight around with no idea on what they doing

 

[b_light]

IMO each muscle needs to be treated differently.

 

[Inhibitor13]

IMO each muscle needs to be treated differently.

Which is true, some respond to better to high reps and some low reps... hence fast twitch and slow twitch muscles.

 

[jmead]

i think a fast twitch slow twitch muscle list thread is needed here

 

[BigCracker]

I masturbate a lot. This has nothing to do with this thread. I just felt like announcing this.

 

[abolish the weak]

Bodybuilders can go heavy, we just dont much of the time because once you build your base development and definition mean more. It's easy to hold your size given the right amounts of food, protien, and yes anabolics. But no bodybuilder looks huge w/out being strong. Where there is mass, there is power, and vice versa. Once or twice/month is enough to grow when it comes to heavy weights

 

[OMEGA]

You have to lift heavy there is no conversation or debate, if you want to build your muscles and be a body builder you have to lift heavy


OVER

OH NO YOU DONT

but as Cracker said Strength is somewhat of a Relative term

 

[layinback]

i am 43 yers old and my teenage sons will not introduce me to their girlfreinds. "dad we get sick of hearing it." i walk down the strip in vegas and women do 180's. it aint braggin if its true. you DO NOT have to go heavy to look good. what is the point if you are not a powerlifter. a true powerlifter who competes. powerlifting is incredible sport and i have the utmost respect.

 

[samoth]

I recently read an article discussing bench strength of top bodybuilders versus top powerlifters. It addresses some of the issues discussed in this thread.

If anyone is interested, the link is http://www.criticalbench.com/bodybuilders-bench-pressing.htm

 

[Inhibitor13]

i think a fast twitch slow twitch muscle list thread is needed here

Agreed !

 

[BigCracker]

Bodybuilders can go heavy, we just dont much of the time because once you build your base development and definition mean more. It's easy to hold your size given the right amounts of food, protien, and yes anabolics. But no bodybuilder looks huge w/out being strong. Where there is mass, there is power, and vice versa. Once or twice/month is enough to grow when it comes to heavy weights

OK. Answer me this. Let's say one guy 240 lb guy bench presses 400lbs for a 1 rep max and can bench press 225 lbs 40 times . Another 240 lb guy can only bench press 350 lbs for a 1 rep max, but he can put up 225 lbs 60 times.

Which guy is stronger? The guy with the heavy max that runs out of gas at 40 reps with 225 lbs? Or the guy with the 350 lb 1 rep max bench that can outbench the other guy by 20 reps with 225 lbs?

Wanna know the answer? Who gives a flying fuck? The guy that has taken the time to figure out the way his body responds to high reps and low reps along with the right diet, genetics, discipline, drugs, lifestyle choices, etc are the ones that take home the trophy on contest day. I'm not saying heavy resistance training isn't necessary. I'm just saying it doesn't matter on contest day or at the beach.

 

[abolish the weak]

OK. Answer me this. Let's say one guy 240 lb guy bench presses 400lbs for a 1 rep max and can bench press 225 lbs 40 times . Another 240 lb guy can only bench press 350 lbs for a 1 rep max, but he can put up 225 lbs 60 times.

Which guy is stronger? The guy with the heavy max that runs out of gas at 40 reps with 225 lbs? Or the guy with the 350 lb 1 rep max bench that can outbench the other guy by 20 reps with 225 lbs?

Wanna know the answer? Who gives a flying fuck? The guy that has taken the time to figure out the way his body responds to high reps and low reps along with the right diet, genetics, discipline, drugs, lifestyle choices, etc are the ones that take home the trophy on contest day. I'm not saying heavy resistance training isn't necessary. I'm just saying it doesn't matter on contest day or at the beach.

No, here is the answer...... Somebody who can bench press 225 lbs for over 40 reps has a max well over 500 lbs, guaranteed. And to do 225 lbs 40 or 50 reps you are not training with 225 all the time, most days your training heavier.

 

[BigCracker]

No, here is the answer...... Somebody who can bench press 225 lbs for over 40 reps has a max well over 500 lbs, guaranteed. And to do 225 lbs 40 or 50 reps you are not training with 225 all the time, most days your training heavier.

Ummm...there's just a little too much speculation going on here for my taste.

Explain how some bbs never squat over 315 and still have killer leg developement. And how come some guys that have awesome chest development only go up to 100lb dumbell presses on incline? By your claims these guys should look like shit because they don't go heavy enough.
I've seen a lot of guys in my time that had national caliber physiques that paid little or no attention to their max poundages. One guy I know that busted the top 10 as a Light Heavy in nats awhile back rarely did full range of motion on any exercise. He did a lot of partial reps with low weights on cables and extremely high reps of 30+ with dumbells. How did this guy build a physique good enough to qualify for Nats without ever doing a lot of compound movements or heavy weights?

By remaining so closed minded you are almost guaranteed to hit a plateau with your physique that will never be overcome. By going heavy too often injuries will be inevitable and likely slow your overall progress.

Bodybuilding is not an exact science. Until you realize that different physiques respond to different types of stimuli, and one set way of doing things isn't for everybody, you will never be able to get the most out of your training.

If you have this type of mentality when preparing for a contest, I highly doubt you will do very well. I have a lot of friends that compete. I don't know one of them that does exactly the same thing as another does to prep for a show. If prep was straight across the board for everyone, everybody that competes would look their absolute best come showtime and there would be less soft and/or flat, sloppy looking physiques on stage. Same goes for weight training and diet. What works well for me may not work well for you.

Think of the guy that gains weight easily. Then think of the guy that loses 4lbs if he so much as skips 1 meal. Should both of these guys eat the same things and train the same way to look their best? Personally, I don't think so.

 

[Inhibitor13]

One guy I know that busted the top 10 as a Light Heavy in nats awhile back rarely did full range of motion on any exercise. He did a lot of partial reps with low weights on cables and extremely high reps of 30+ with dumbells. QUOTE]

I seemed to have found this out on the bench press. Doing partials keeps the stress on my chest muscles the whole lift. Rather than going full range of motion where most of the weight will then transfer to my triceps. Ive tried this out for a lil over a month just on that exercise and see a nice chest difference !


I also liked what else you had to say, when I started going to another gym, I seen this huge guy there every now and then. I noticed he wasnt benching that much, or at least as much as I thought he could bench. I thought maybe its his light day. But the next time I saw him and the same thing, lightweight. So I thought, how is this guy bigger than me but I am pushing more weight than him? So thats pretty much when I realized and had been given solid evidence that you dont have to lift like a PL to be a BB. I eventually became friends with him and now we share techniques and aas use. I just turned 22 so I am young in the game and my goal is to soak up as much info about this sport as I can.

 

[cboogsrun]

Just kiddin bro. Nothing wrong with some good natured ribbing.

My best friend was a nationally ranked power lifter and tought me much of what I know about lifting.

Most power lifters look down on BB'ers because many don't lift big. Can't say I agree with that, but when you hang with PL's you hear it all the damn time.

Not being an ass here, just stating the facts.

I'm not a pl or bb, but if you take all the double denim inzers and all that shit away from the pl, what do you have? A fat bodybuilder. lol! That is funny. Actually I think applying both angles to your workout will benefit you the most. No one can lift heavy continuously and stay healthy. At some point you need to change is up.

 

[instant.muscle]

well a lot of people say when bulking lift heavy and build mass, when cutting low weight high reps, i do the exact opposite heavy weight on cutting days to retain size and count on my diet and cardio to get cut

 

[theplastickid]

I think peeps should just lift as heavy as they can. And change up rep ranges from time to time, it can only be beneficial.

 

[ShowKidd]

this is just my opinion so take it with a grain of salt.i think that there is a certain amount of stress that needs to be put on the muscle for tissue breakdown and repair for hypertrophy specific trainers, i also believe that there is a direct size/weight relation because if not then Ronnie wouldn't be using two 200lb DB for pressing because that is a shit load of weight on each arm.he is a perfect example of strength/size relation.however i am not saying you cant get big with lighter weight it just requires more sets/reps for tissue damage, which makes the workout a lot longer so by doing heavier weight with less reps/sets it gets the same job done using up less time(ie bill stars 5x5). so with that being said i would bet every thing i own that Ronnie wouldn't get to 300 lbs cut with only a 100lb bench press unless he did a 1000 reps a day to break down the tissue(not really 1000 reps but you get what i mean)

 

[instant.muscle]

No, here is the answer...... Somebody who can bench press 225 lbs for over 40 reps has a max well over 500 lbs, guaranteed. And to do 225 lbs 40 or 50 reps you are not training with 225 all the time, most days your training heavier.

he was making a point smart ass

 

[hesnobradpitt]

the best thing is change, 1 week i do power movement with heavy weight like cleans squats all that good free weight stuff, next week all machines, squeezing and peaking the muscle on every rep, its the best

I find my self getting good results doing this to .
Brad.

 

[Sub-Zero]

this is a good thread.

i get just straight up depressed when i read threads like this, because it makes me question just about EVERYTHING (everything since my life is lifting and everything is for it)

for me personally though, i do both. i love power motions like cleans and i love going heavy from time to time. i will go through periods of going super heavy and pushing my low rep numbers, and then periods of pyramiding up, and then periods of just all out high reps. - on my compounds.

for my end of the workout lifts, like flys, biceps, and pullovers and similar things, i will not even pay attention to weight, just grabbing whatever i can get for over 10 and pump blood into my muscles and just fuck them up.

but for over a year ididnt even bother with those "end of the workout lifts" and still made good gains.


the basic principles though are the same...excess cals to get big, below maintainece to get cut, progress over time (lift more weigjht, or an extra rep or two than i did last month) and im content and growing.

 

[Hybridtheory2o]

I can attest to this. You cant lift as heavy as you possibly can for low reps every training session. I started doing this and hello joint pains. My body overall just started to go the opposite way. I felt tired and weaker and just my body felt like it was 80years old instead of 21years old.

I began switching it up. Gotta keep the heavy weight comin sometimes to shock your muscles but I have found that keeping a rep range of 6-10 and lifting decently heavy weight while maintaining form has been crucial.

I go to the gym and see the puzzled look of way smaller and less developed guys that have been going to the gym just as long as me but yet I look like the bodybuilder and they just look beat.

I am now 181lbs and pushing a lot more weight for 6-10 reps safer than I ever thought possible. I train pretty heavy on my heavy weeks but now my body doesnt scream in pain afterwards.

So I def agree with Omega when he says you dont have to train with real real heavy weight to get big not to mention your body aches after awhile.

 

[Hybridtheory2o]

One more thing...

WE are bodybuilders not powerlifters(some of us may be) we are supposed to be relatively strong and supposed to be big(depending on our personal goals) and ripped(again depending on what you want) but for the most part we are big ripped guys that dont bench 500lbs but damnit we sure look like we do.

To me powerlifting and bodybuilding are two separate things and each have their place.

 

[bigmodean]

Sounds about right,especially when your aches and pains(over 30 years old) force you to lift moderate- heavy,instead of balls out heavy.

 

[silver_shadow]

so this was moved from the ASS board?

 

[pappad]

Just kiddin bro. Nothing wrong with some good natured ribbing.

My best friend was a nationally ranked power lifter and tought me much of what I know about lifting.

Most power lifters look down on BB'ers because many don't lift big. Can't say I agree with that, but when you hang with PL's you hear it all the damn time.

Not being an ass here, just stating the facts.

This is the same conflict between guys that build show cars vs race cars. They are two different animals and each has its advantage. I don't care how fast your car is when I roll up and hit my switches and drop it to the ground heads are gonna turn and people are going to come look.

Same thing is with bodybuilders. Yes, the powerlifters are strong and manly BUT when a BB comes in huge and ripped no one looks a the power lifter. Except other power lifters and who really wants another dude looking at you!!!

I give mad props to the Power guys and respect their ability but I would rather look like Arnold and lift less!!!

 

[funkyfresh]

Most bodybuilders I know or who I've met, don't lift particularly heavy for their size or weight (in fact, alot of them are pretty lazy when it comes to training).

Personally, I love lifting heavy but never as a result of form. I don't have an ego about it or try to use weights beyond my capability. It's counterproductive to train balls out heavy week in week out, even for a powerlifter. But I would definately agree with Omega in that you don't have to lift particularly big, to get big. Whatever works for you.

I think it also depends on what muscle group you are working and lots of other factors.

For big bodyparts, I like to lift as heavy as possible (never at the expense of form though) 6 - 8 reps, where as smaller muscles like arms, I prefer higher reps and lighter weights and really just work on squeezing the blood into the muscle and getting a good pump. Some people respond better to lighter weights, some people respond well to heavier weights...it really depends on your body and your genetic makeup.

Alot of it comes down to experimenting.
My arms never responded to heavy weights, so I tried a different approach and it's been working great.

Ronnie Coleman is a strong motherf*cker, no doubt. But you have to remember the guy is around 315lbs in the off season and when you really break that down and compare him to one of the lighter guys. Pound for pound, some of these smaller guys are equally or nearly as strong as he is.

So how strong you are can largely depend on bodyweight. I'm not the biggest guy at the gym or the strongest by any means, but pound for pound I could probably hold my own against most of them.

Shawn Ray using 160lb Incline DB Presses @ 211lb bodyweight vs Ronnie Coleman using the 200lb DBs @ a bw of 290lbs.....if you think about it, there isn't a huge difference in strength on a pound for pound scale.

Leave the ego at home, train hard and do what works for your body.

 

[musclemom]

I don't think you can "LOOK" strong without BEING strong, period, you're just talking about degrees of strength as well as muscular endurance.

 

[GUARDIAN]

I have achieved alot of size and can mantain it without lifting "heavy".