Lifting like a body builder...

[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".