When do you become a powerlifter/bodybuilder/strongman?

[Spartigus]

Hey MAB!

I have been thinking about this for a while, so I wondered what you all think? At what point can you call yourself a powerlifter/bodybuilder/strongman? When have your first comp or reach a certain level? When you start training hard? When you have it as a goal?

[LtL]

IMO you are what you do. If you train for PL, you're a powerlifter. I don't think you need to compete to validate that.

LtL

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Spartigus

Hey MAB!

I have been thinking about this for a while, so I wondered what you all think? At what point can you call yourself a powerlifter/bodybuilder/strongman? When have your first comp or reach a certain level? When you start training hard? When you have it as a goal?

Bodybuilder - Much earlier than most people suspect. At your average local shows many competitors compete in the 150-160s, with the best usually in the 170s. If you have any noticeable degree of muscularity and have built it from training and proper diet you can pretty much compete or call yourself a bodybuilder.

Basically anyone who "gets it" is a recreational bodybuilder.

Powerlifting - Whenever you want. You will get supported no matter where you are at. For meets...I would say you must at least have a minimal understanding of good form so you don't bomb and waste your own time. Other than that, my opinion is have at it.

[Aurik]

What Al said.

IMO the fundamental difference between bodybuilder/powerlifter/strongman is the training. Case in point: I'll go into the gym and someone will ask me what I'm working today, and I'll say "Bench". They go, "Oh, chest", and I'm thinking "No, BENCH".

A bodybuilder generally thinks of training in terms of body parts. Arms, legs, chest, back, shoulders, etc. A powerlifter thinks of training in terms of "What will get me stronger on the bench, squat, and deadlift." A bodybuilder will do some bench and/or incline bench, and then think of where their arms or chest are lacking in size, and then perform accessory work to hit those muscles. A powerlifter will do his bench press (or similar movement), and then pick accessory work to hit his/her weaknesses.

Now a professional bodybuilder will be stronger than 99% of the guys in the gym, and a professional powerlifter will be more muscular and bigger than 99% of the guys in the gym, but their overall goals are different.

Again, the difference between the three is all in attitude and training. If you decide to compete that's another thing entirely.

[Spartigus]

Thanks guys! Very interesting posts.

[MC]

Agree with what both BTB and LtL said. This hit a chord with me as well:

Originally Posted by Aurik

...

A bodybuilder generally thinks of training in terms of body parts. Arms, legs, chest, back, shoulders, etc. A powerlifter thinks of training in terms of "What will get me stronger on the bench, squat, and deadlift." A bodybuilder will do some bench and/or incline bench, and then think of where their arms or chest are lacking in size, and then perform accessory work to hit those muscles. A powerlifter will do his bench press (or similar movement), and then pick accessory work to hit his/her weaknesses.

...

Took me a while to understand that I was training for aesthetics. I like being stronger, but if I have to choose between a 315 bench press and a bigger, better looking chest with lighter DBs, I'm picking number 2.

Aurik really hit the nail in the head. I have been thinking, "What will get my legs looking better?" not, "I can't wait to have a 300 pound squat." Now, I fully understand that the quest for a 300 pound squat can and will make my legs look better, but hitting that number is not my primary goal.

[BigFiveFive]

I'm going to have to go with after you officially compete. Had a lot of older guys and professional bodybuilders say the same thing after my first competition, "Now you can officially call yourself a bodybuilder!"

Same with PL, go compete, grow from there.

[BendtheBar]

The difference will always be the primary end goal.

I have always wanted big legs and a big squat. I never mentally saw them as separate concepts or goals. It wasn't until 2007 when I started poking around on lifting sites that I learned that some lifters wanted big muscles without big lifts. (No disrespect meant)

I was always a powerbuilder in heart, mind and soul. I wanted to be big and strong and never had intentions of competing.

[Carl1174]

My trouble is I have still yet to decide which i prefer... I want big lift totals and I want to look big and well built... I nver know which way to trin to be honest. I wont stop trying to lift heavy, but I also want to lift to look good. The only lift Im not concerned about having a good total on is bench press, but i would love a good looking chest. That being said I wouldnt sacrifice size fore a higher toatl on the big lifts (except perhaps a 200kg deadlift....)

Suppose Im a powerbuilder.

Carl.

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by Carl1174

Suppose Im a powerbuilder.

Most days I don't know what I am Carl. Mostly I'm just a dad.

I figure sooner or later I will try a few things to knock them off the bucket list.