newbie question about powerlifters?

[kentucky]

i was watching powerlifters on ESPN the other day, and I was wondering... Why their stomachs were so damn big? I know they don't cut and shit, but They looked bloated...

I'm not into powerlifting so I don't know what these guys do, but I know they are amazing!

 

[jeremys]

you have to remember that when they lift, they breathe air into the stomach for more intra abdominaol pressure (helps stabilize lift)

 

[TheProject]

jeremy is right, but not all powerlifters are big and fat...

This question seems to come up a lot.

The meets I've been to, there's only a few "big stomach" guys.

 

[IronLion]

because it makes the bench stroke shorter

also most powerlifters either train without a belt or do heavy ab work which does enlarge the ab muscles, combine that with a bf between 15-20 percent and you get the uni ab that you speak of. I also feel on bench it has a good deal to do with what jeremy and project mentioned

 

[slobberknocker]

Extremely well developed abdominal muscles with a layer of fat on top.


Powerlifting on ESPN???

 

[revexrevex]

Slobber, they were showing mountaneer cup 2001. There were some big name powerlifters like ed coan there. He totaled 2,450 I think, and won the $10,000 check. They showed deadlift, bench and squat for all the 5 participants. It was pretty awesome, everyone totalled atleast 2,000.

 

[slobberknocker]

Holy shit I missed it.

 

[circusgirl]

Coz once you are a SHW, it doesn't matter how much you weigh. And leaning out can affect strength. Possibly not much if you do it right, but even a tiny performance hit is too much for a world-class lifter.

Check out the SHW OLers as well - these guys have big bellies too, and it's not because they don't feel like doing cardio.

BTW the technical term for the belly is a "monoab" I believe

 

[slobberknocker]

http://www.mcshane-enterprises.com/ASL/images/Kaz/jpkaz.jpg


Kaz had low bodyfat for a shw, yet his abs still stuck out.

 

[spatts]

jeremy is right, but not all powerlifters are big and fat...

This question seems to come up a lot.

The meets I've been to, there's only a few "big stomach" guys.

Yep.