Powerlifting vs. Bodybuilding
Andrew Jankowski
ENG 1055
10/15/14
CE3 Power lifting vs. Bodybuilding
The sports of Bodybuilding and Power lifting may seem like the same thing to most, when in fact, they are worlds apart. The same basic guidelines and principals apply to each, but the way in which the goals are met, are completely different. Most people would view a large muscular person as being fit, and strong, but that is not always the case. Likewise, the same people might think a seemingly overweight person would not be fit when in fact he or she could be tremendously skilled and athletic. Both forms of weight training use Compound movements, Diet, and the Competitions, but they are used differently.
Compound movements are the essentials in Power lifting. Compound movements focus on a larger muscle group, but must be supported by several other smaller muscles to be performed. Supporting muscle exercises may be done to improve strength, but generally, appearance is not a concern. The Bench press, Dead lift, and Squat are compound movements. These three lifts are Power lifters favorite exercises; they all work more than one muscle group and are their strongest lifts. The Bench works mostly upper body, the Dead lift works lower and upper body, and the Squat works mostly legs and core. How Power lifters use these workouts is different than Bodybuilders. Low reps and high weight are used in sets of 4-5 in order to reach the power lifters’ goal. This method is used to build strength. Power lifters’ diet is not that important. Unlike the Bodybuilder, they can eat everything. They make up their own diets to fit their life style, but have to maintain more than 2,000 calories, 200g of protein, and 300g of carbohydrates a day. High proteins and high calories are needed to bulk up. Bulking is a long phase Power lifters go through in order to gain weight, which body uses for fuel, and the fat breaks down into more muscle after working out. It’s like a constant source of nutrition. More fat
ENG 1055
10/15/14
CE3 Power lifting vs. Bodybuilding
The sports of Bodybuilding and Power lifting may seem like the same thing to most, when in fact, they are worlds apart. The same basic guidelines and principals apply to each, but the way in which the goals are met, are completely different. Most people would view a large muscular person as being fit, and strong, but that is not always the case. Likewise, the same people might think a seemingly overweight person would not be fit when in fact he or she could be tremendously skilled and athletic. Both forms of weight training use Compound movements, Diet, and the Competitions, but they are used differently.
Compound movements are the essentials in Power lifting. Compound movements focus on a larger muscle group, but must be supported by several other smaller muscles to be performed. Supporting muscle exercises may be done to improve strength, but generally, appearance is not a concern. The Bench press, Dead lift, and Squat are compound movements. These three lifts are Power lifters favorite exercises; they all work more than one muscle group and are their strongest lifts. The Bench works mostly upper body, the Dead lift works lower and upper body, and the Squat works mostly legs and core. How Power lifters use these workouts is different than Bodybuilders. Low reps and high weight are used in sets of 4-5 in order to reach the power lifters’ goal. This method is used to build strength. Power lifters’ diet is not that important. Unlike the Bodybuilder, they can eat everything. They make up their own diets to fit their life style, but have to maintain more than 2,000 calories, 200g of protein, and 300g of carbohydrates a day. High proteins and high calories are needed to bulk up. Bulking is a long phase Power lifters go through in order to gain weight, which body uses for fuel, and the fat breaks down into more muscle after working out. It’s like a constant source of nutrition. More fat