how good is one pound of muscle?

[8krunner]

So, you know how some people are like "I weight 200 pounds and want to gain 20 more pounds of muscle so that I can bench press 300 pounds" or "I've gotten stronger so that's why I've gained so much weight" and other people are like "I weigh 125 lbs and can bench press 275 pounds"? Well, it led me to wonder..."just how good is one pound of muscle". Cause if the 125lb person is stronger than the 200lb person then surely they don't NEED to gain that extra 20 pounds, right? Also, being that strong doesn't mean that you have to have gained weight. So, what's the deal? I never know what to think when people are like "I've gained 20 pounds of muscle". Are they sure that it isn't just like water weight, fat, and just left-over digestive junk?

 

[Assertive Guy]

So, you know how some people are like "I weight 200 pounds and want to gain 20 more pounds of muscle so that I can bench press 300 pounds" or "I've gotten stronger so that's why I've gained so much weight" and other people are like "I weigh 125 lbs and can bench press 275 pounds"? Well, it led me to wonder..."just how good is one pound of muscle". Cause if the 125lb person is stronger than the 200lb person then surely they don't NEED to gain that extra 20 pounds, right? Also, being that strong doesn't mean that you have to have gained weight. So, what's the deal? I never know what to think when people are like "I've gained 20 pounds of muscle". Are they sure that it isn't just like water weight, fat, and just left-over digestive junk?

I've a friend who trained with a UK pro for some months as part of a group he was coaching (the pro) with bodybuilding. This guy was HUGE, no fat etc. Anyway one of the skinny kids he was teaching went for the bench and got an easy 10 reps (sorry I dont know the lb's here), this monster then got on the bench and cranked out 10, got up and was shaking and very out of breath lol.

Science partly explains this by neuro-muscular connections which are much better in some than others, some people's muscle's are denser than others and some people's connective tissue is stronger.

After about 18 months of training with weights seriously I was only 150lbs but could lift weights on par with people who were 250lbs (who trained regularly) and they were not fat either.

Usually those who are strong for their size, have less body mass, relatively less weight, lift heavier for less reps and with longer rest between sets as opposed to a bodybuilder that might train higher reps, lighter weights more volume, less rest.

The rest would be explained by diet, rest (between workouts), genetics and 'other stuff' - like supplements.

 

[TheOak84]

i kno the feeling... i like the fact that im smaller, yet stronger then the average juice head... the juice can be very effective for strength, but i think the average asshole usses it wrong way.

i must have been lucky, i gained 20 pounds a year throughout highschool. i wish i can do that now