Why does additional bf% make you a better powerlifter?

[psychedout]

I have pondered this and I cannot understand.

More muscle = more strength yes, but why would more fat = more strength?

I think its ashamed there aren't more 12% powerlifters around.

 

[H_T_]

Leverage.

 

[JT Iron]

Who told you that? Are you even a powerlifter? Most elite powerlifters I know are pretty well built.

Fat DOES NOT make you stronger. Fat doesn't flex. I know a 1000+ squatter who just dieted down from 420 to 380 and got STRONGER.

 

[NeoSoul]

You do know there are weight classes in powerlifting right? take a look at some of the guys in the 165 weight class or 198.

 

[genarr3]

I have pondered this and I cannot understand.

More muscle = more strength yes, but why would more fat = more strength?

I think its ashamed there aren't more 12% powerlifters around.

Go to a real powerlifting meet. See some fellas that actually compete and don't just call themselves powerlifters.

It's just like boxing, there are weight classes. Outside the heavy and superheavy classes you will see some lean mofo's.

 

[Fast Twitch Fiber]

I know what he's saying. When I was my strongest I was also at my fattest. My peak strength I weighed 198 at 25% BF. This made me about 148 lbs. lean. I benched 405 and squatted in the low 500's (around 525). However, I went on a cutting cycle and ended up weighing 183 at 15% making me 156 lbs. lean. My bench dropped down to about 335-345 and squat around 475. I'm old enough that there would have been no height change to factor in. You would think that with an added 8 pounds of muscle I would be stronger but I was weaker without the fat. What's up with that?

 

[Becoming]

I agree with genarr3 when he says go to a meet, you will see a lot of lean dudes... I know of a dude who is ripped as hell (you can see all kinds of seperation in his hammies, they looked like a bundle of ropes, etc) and he recently pulled over 3x bodyweight @181... (natural too)

That said, I personally feel stronger with a little fat (like ~15%) but I think it has more to do with having a little more room for error as far as keeping a calorie/protein surplus to stay strong and for optimal strength gains... when you are eating to stay too lean, I am sure you eat less than you need to a lot of times and this has negative effects on your strenght levels... I think water and hydration also has a HUGE effect on strength...

I think it is a personal thing and you should lift at whatever bf% you feel strongest at...

 

[Scotsman]

Simple you have to diet hard to get below 10% bodyfat. When your goal is to be strong and add as much muscle as possible you are going to add some fat along the way. Also a little extra bodyfat also helps your joints by adding more water into your body to help keep them lubricated. Also in order to store more glycogen for muscular effort you can't limit your caloric intake as much. Furthermore many powerlifters look fat in regular clothes because of the shape of their muscles. They want a bigger waist with more muscle, as opposed to the thin tapered bodybuilding waistline, so they have more stability. If you see Ed Coan, Chuck Vogelpohl, Brent Mikesall, or Scott Mendelson with their shirts off you wouldn't call them fat. Their abs bulge out but are very well defined due to their style of training.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[pee wee]

Ive noticed adding fat adds weight to my lifts too.

 

[WalkingBeast]

The bigger the potbelly the lesser the range of motion, and who can argue that? A 56 inch waist is ideal for my goals.

 

[Brutass]

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.

 

[suk1978]

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..

 

[Quadsweeps Sister]

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."