Now onto Powerlifting…
Now that we’ve covered the body building side I’ll cover some of the powerlifting side. The name powerlifting practically speaks for itself. You are using your max power output to lift the weight. So how do you train to lift heavy weight? You train heavy! Yes it is still important to go down in weight at times to gives your bones, tendons, muscles, etc. a break from the heavy weight. But while preparing for a powerlifting meet you want to be on a type of powerlifting program. So in this case rather than lifting slow and contracted for 10 reps you would want to stay around the 1-5 rep range while using a pretty heavy weight.
Another difference between the two sports is that in body building you are trying to target one specific muscle and trying to get that mind muscle connection so that the muscle will expand and grow. Where as in powerlifting you are using all types of muscle for one lift. A good example is if you are a bodybuilder doing bench press you will get a weight you can control and contract the pectoral muscles as much as possible. On the other hand in powerlifting you are loading up in weight and using multiple muscles to do whatever it takes to push up the weight. For powerlifting you will want to recruit your lats, triceps, pecs, legs, etc!
There’s one more way the two sports differ that I will quickly touch base on. And while they do differ in this aspect, it’s not by a whole lot – I’m speaking of course on their diets. Basically as a body builder you are CONSTANTLY counting calories and taking your micro and macro nutrients into consideration while preparing for a show. Which can affect your training. There may be days as a bodybuilder where you are cutting your carbs and feeling very weak, yet you have to continue to use that drive and call on will power to push through it. On the other hand powerlifters can be more lenient diet wise depending on what weight class they are. For instance many of the big guys are going to want to continue to feed their bodies so that: 1. They continue to bulk up and 2. So that their stomach area gets bigger. Yes, many power lifters want a bigger belly that way there is less space between them and the bar for bench press.
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On the other hand people, like me, that bounce between weight classes still have to closely watch their diet that way they are maintaining/increasing muscle while losing/gaining weight. Another thing with powerlifters is that they have to prepare for competitions as if they are an MMA fighter in the aspect that they suck as much weight as possible, weigh in, then carb back up and get fluids the day before competing. There have been times where I weighed in at 148 pounds and competed the next day at almost 165 pounds. Even though the dieting between bodybuilding and powerlifting may be a little different, they both play very important rules in your performance.
All in all there are many similarities and differences between body building and power lifting. It is amazing how both sports revolve a lot around the same things such as lifting weights and dieting, but they differ so much at the same time. There is one important thing to look at no matter what style of strength training you may do. That was best explained by Rich Piana and that is the fact that we are all in this together! It doesn’t matter if you are a bodybuilder, power lifter, cross fitter, whatever you may be. We are all in this to better our bodies and do what we love! The training becomes an addiction to us no matter how it is we train. We all do it because it motivates ourselves and others. We all do it because we want to improve ourselves! We all do it because we love it! No matter what you train for, you are doing something positive for yourself. At the end of the day you can look back after training and know that you accomplished something. That sense of accomplishment can add positivity in many other aspects in your life and that’s what it’s all about! On that note, keep killing it in the gym every day and make your dreams a reality!
My name is Zack Cantrell. I am 22 years old, a body builder/ power lifter, sponsored by Rich Pianas 5% Nutrition & currently doing personal training for various people in my community as well as online training. I’m also currently pursuing a degree in Health Sciences which has tremendously helped me in the body building/ powerlifting aspects. I also hold multiple National (USA) & State (Ohio) records in powerlifting in multiple weight classes & federations. My mission is to do the best things for my body & also to inform others of the great strengths & capabilities inside each & every one of us.
