| The difference between bodybuilding and powerlifting | | | | physically taxing as most of us hard core lifters know |
| can be confusing to some. The best and quickest way | | | | how losing size and strength can play mental tricks on |
| to describe this is bodybuilders go for symmetry | | | | us. When those XL shirts start feeling loose, you feel |
| putting on as much muscle as possible but keeping | | | | you're going to end up in the nut-house. |
| body fat levels in the low-single digits while powerlifters | | | | The point of all this is that if you're not competing and |
| are going for pure strength. Bodybuilding is physique | | | | just weight train for your own benefit and sanity, you |
| and cosmetic based. Powerlifting is simply to lift as | | | | can certainly bodybuild as well as powerlift. Actually, |
| much weight as possible. The diet and training | | | | some compete in both sports though these are usually |
| techniques have some variations from one another | | | | genetically gifted creatures. However, I don't want to |
| due to their different objectives. | | | | say that it can't be done, good genetics or not. |
| I want to give you my personal outlook here, which is | | | | Some of the techniques that have proved to be |
| the reason for writing this article. I was always a skinny | | | | successful for me are: |
| kid throughout my childhood and couldn't gain weight to | | | | 1) Lift heavy weights with low reps for your first |
| save my life. So being big and strong is very important | | | | couple of exercises, then for your last few exercises |
| to me and probably always will be. On the same | | | | go for a few more reps while focusing more on |
| token, I don't want my gut hanging over my belt either | | | | muscle contraction. |
| so in that sense I do care what my physique looks like. | | | | 2) Perform cardio, but use your strength as a gauge |
| I've always felt I would be way too small if I ever got | | | | as to how much cardio you perform. |
| bone-ripped as what a bodybuilding competition would | | | | 3) Diet is the hardest part. You need calories to get |
| require, and in the past when I've tried to stick to a | | | | strong, bottom line. One way is to cycle your big carb |
| super strict diet (even with eating a lot of protein) my | | | | days every 2-3 days (in other words, have a high carb |
| strength dropped substantially. So I choose to stay in | | | | intake for a 2-3 days then back off for a day or two, |
| the middle of the road with bodybuilding and | | | | preferably on non-weight training days). This has been |
| powerlifting, using techniques for both causes. Since I | | | | called the zigzag diet though I never recommend |
| simply do this for myself and do not compete in either, | | | | cutting carbs all together on any day. Another way |
| I can get away with it. | | | | you can achieve good results is by keeping your carb |
| I'm not saying all powerlifters are fat, but they do tend | | | | intake very high around your workout times, and the |
| to carry more over all weight simply because they're | | | | other times don't take in as much. This concept works |
| missions has little or nothing to do with how they look. | | | | great if you train in the mornings. Otherwise just keep |
| Bodybuilders on the other hand must go through a | | | | an eye on the mirror. After all, the mirror will always be |
| rigorous dieting phase several weeks before a | | | | honest with you. If don't like what you see, adjust your |
| competition in order to drop body fat. Unfortunately | | | | diet accordingly. |
| during this process strength can drop significantly too, | | | | 4) Eat a ton of protein. You need high protein intake |
| as well as size. Bodybuilding has often been called an | | | | for both bodybuilding and powerlifting. I recommend at |
| illusion because when you're ripped with striations | | | | least 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. |
| popping out, you will appear bigger and stronger due to | | | | There's no better feeling than to be huge and strong |
| your symmetry (smaller waist line with bigger legs, | | | | yet also have a low enough level of body fat to see |
| thicker back and wider shoulders equals quite an | | | | some striations. |
| impressive look). However, this can be mentally and | | | | |