Interesting quote on bodyfat for powerlifting

[thumpinos]

Originally Posted by J_Byrd

It is not the fat soft stomach they are looking for. It is the actual mass of the gut. It is just like any other muscle, the more muscle that is packed on the stronger it will be. I have found that when my stomach is not strong enough, I shake in the squat. I will never have a 6pack, but I am not soft either. People mistake abs for strength, and that is not normally the case.

Can you clarify that please. Even when training the abs hard they don't get very thick. Not trying to debate. I just want to better understand your point.

[J_Byrd]

No problem. Its not about hitting 100000000000^3 crunches and sit ups. Its about weighted movements. I have seen the times where I would do sets of weighted sit ups with 100lb plate. Its about heavy squats and using that stomach to stay tight (no belt) Its about Romanian deads. Those are the things that add mass. I had a training partner who was 50+ that when he would train his gut, it looked like he just ate an alligators. Was the craziest thing ever. Another example would be Donnie Thompson. He weighs 380+ and had a solid as a rock stomach. No abs, but I promise if you hit it, it would hurt your hand.

[IronManlet]

Now see, a big stomach simply from getting bigger stomach muscles I can understand.

But would you rather lift at 275lbs and 12% bodyfat or 275lbs and 20% bodyfat?

[LtL]

If there was an advantage to be had by being lean, guys like Mark Bell, Donnie Thompson, Chaid Aichs, Scott Cartwright would be cleaning up their diets a bit. Even the biggest RAW lifters are not lean: Eric Lilliebridge, Malanichev, Wilkerson. If being lean had any bearing on how strong you were, you'd see more record breakers with ab's.

LtL

[IronManlet]

Originally Posted by LtL

If there was an advantage to be had by being lean, guys like Mark Bell, Donnie Thompson, Chaid Aichs, Scott Cartwright would be cleaning up their diets a bit. Even the biggest RAW lifters are not lean: Eric Lilliebridge, Malanichev, Wilkerson. If being lean had any bearing on how strong you were, you'd see more record breakers with ab's.

LtL

True, but many lighter lifters in the 165's, 181's, or even 198's stay leaner to maximize their muscle build in their weight class. I guess it depends somewhat on how heavy you compete.

[J_Byrd]

Originally Posted by IronManlet

Now see, a big stomach simply from getting bigger stomach muscles I can understand.

But would you rather lift at 275lbs and 12% bodyfat or 275lbs and 20% bodyfat?

I think when you are getting below 20% you are getting into a different type of lifting. Of course I would love to be as long as I could...but not realistic.

Originally Posted by LtL

If there was an advantage to be had by being lean, guys like Mark Bell, Donnie Thompson, Chaid Aichs, Scott Cartwright would be cleaning up their diets a bit. Even the biggest RAW lifters are not lean: Eric Lilliebridge, Malanichev, Wilkerson. If being lean had any bearing on how strong you were, you'd see more record breakers with ab's.

LtL

I think Wilkerson is the exception here because he has a pretty high %. The rest I would bet are not soft in the middle so to speak.

[LtL]

I still maintain that by staying lean not only will you cut back on muscle gains that you could be making but you will ultimately not be as strong due to the lack of stability and support.

I would also say that those lighter lifters are leaner as a by-product of keeping their BW down to remain in their classes not because it helps them to maximise muscle mass or strength.

LtL

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by IronManlet

But would you rather lift at 275lbs and 12% bodyfat or 275lbs and 20% bodyfat?

In either scenario you are gassed into epic bodybuilder status. 275 @ 20% bodyfat is a 220 lean body mass and would crush 90% of NPC and IFBB bodybuilders. 275 @ 12% is a 242 base lean mass. That's monster-level.

Both of these aren't really realistic looks at the bodyfat of most 270 pound lifters...even the jacked ones.

My only point is that both creatures you presented are as rare as the Yeti. Most have much higher bodyfat levels.

[J_Byrd]

I train with a 198 guy who is a top 30 guy in the US. He stays around 202, but could really put some weight if he wants. Eats a good clean diet to stay at 202. He does have abs, but thats due to squats, deads, weighted roman chairs. I think being lean has some advantages. The biggest to me would be levage in the deadlift. Hard to get around a big gut.

Again the goal is a solid mid section, not a chewed up bubble gum one.

FYI my avatar picture has my training parners in it from left to right

matt 198 class, me 308 class, brett 242 class. Obviously I have the heights fat % out of the group.

[IronManlet]

Originally Posted by BendtheBar

In either scenario you are gassed into epic bodybuilder status. 275 @ 20% bodyfat is a 220 lean body mass and would crush 90% of NPC and IFBB bodybuilders. 275 @ 12% is a 242 base lean mass. That's monster-level.

Both of these aren't really realistic looks at the bodyfat of most 270 pound lifters...even the jacked ones.

My only point is that both creatures you presented are as rare as the Yeti. Most have much higher bodyfat levels.

Captain Kirk was pretty lean in the 275's I think, but you're right; kind of unrealistic for the most part.