Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below You could also look at the reverse of this from reading several of the posts above. Maybe power lifting causes one to gain more body fat as a side affect to gaining the muscle mass. There is a big difference in the way you feel while toning than lifting for sheer power. To put that kind weight into motion takes more fuel and more substancial fuel like protien which is often accompanied by hidden sources of fat. I have gained on the bench while losing weight but I found the more I focused of the lifting, the more it got the fuel it demanded. I'm a big lad at 245 lbs and my bench is at 370 for 12 reps. I've been at it for about 18 months after a long period away. I've gained 10 pounds in that time frame. My point is that fat doesn't add to strength. Added strength causes the addition of weight.
Why does additional bf% make you a better powerlifter?
- Thread starter psychedout
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i read along time ago that the reason that strongmen were fat around their midsection was so the fat protects their organs from exploding under the pressure. thus the advantage of not having a ripped six pack.
i'd say a lot of powerlifters tend to store fat on the midsection, but check their arms and legs..
i'd say a lot of powerlifters tend to store fat on the midsection, but check their arms and legs..
Quadsweeps Sister
New member
IMO how you feel when lifting has a lot to do with the level of your health overall. Like some said - nutrition, hydration, etc. have much to do with what weights you are hitting...then again some people just 'have it' no matter what. For the rest of us - finding out what works best for us takes time.
Time is needed to develop the muscles for the required lifts, since that is what we train for in powerlifting. I used to weigh 150 at 10% bodyfat and was strong in many forms of lifts, but I could only squat 315 one time at my 'heaviest'. Now I have squatted 315 off a low box at 135 and I have no idea what my bodyfat is...probably somewhere around 17%. Not being too lean probably protects our tendons, joints and etc. from possible tears, etc., but the top level PL's I have watched lift - many are not fat.
If you want to compete in a certain weight class I think it is best to stay somewhere around that within 8-10lbs if you can. That way when the time comes to weigh in - you don't have to put your body through such stresses where it won't perform under optimal conditions as it normally would.
In the end, I think many achievements come from a combination of fitness level, training knowledge, nutrition and a knowledge of our own body - developed over time with trial and error. I don't feel these achievements can be attributed to just the gain or loss of bodyfat alone. Just my .02.
__________________
Mythicwrld
"We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more."
Time is needed to develop the muscles for the required lifts, since that is what we train for in powerlifting. I used to weigh 150 at 10% bodyfat and was strong in many forms of lifts, but I could only squat 315 one time at my 'heaviest'. Now I have squatted 315 off a low box at 135 and I have no idea what my bodyfat is...probably somewhere around 17%. Not being too lean probably protects our tendons, joints and etc. from possible tears, etc., but the top level PL's I have watched lift - many are not fat.
If you want to compete in a certain weight class I think it is best to stay somewhere around that within 8-10lbs if you can. That way when the time comes to weigh in - you don't have to put your body through such stresses where it won't perform under optimal conditions as it normally would.
In the end, I think many achievements come from a combination of fitness level, training knowledge, nutrition and a knowledge of our own body - developed over time with trial and error. I don't feel these achievements can be attributed to just the gain or loss of bodyfat alone. Just my .02.
__________________
Mythicwrld
"We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more."
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