In my opinion there are fewer benefits to powerlifting but still there are some. One benefit to powerlifting is a huge boost in self confidence when you bench that huge amount of weight as everyone looks in awe. I can imagine the great feeling of pride that comes along with achieving your goals of lifting the enormous amounts of weight that some natural powerlifters are capable of. Get the opinions right here as our forum members explain the similarities and differences between the two sports.

Heather Black, CPT is a NASM-certified personal trainer and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by nutrition and exercise professionals. Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research.

Because powerlifters are judged on their performance on the 3 big lifts—deadlifts, back squats, and bench presses, their bodies will adapt to the stresses to handle this. This implies that the muscles that are recruited in these 3 will be developed and larger. The body will be conditioned to be a machine that handles these exercises efficiently. You’ll really only need to mind your weight if you’re targeting a specific weight class to compete in. Powerlifters also tend to carry excess body fat more comfortably during competition off-season. While the stereotypes in everyday people’s minds exist around these two, even within the fitness world bodybuilders and powerlifters have different ideas of one another.

Up to the point where you can’t recover from even more training, of course. Stretching in the mornings and evenings can also help to relax and recover muscles. Journalists have historically harmed Indigenous communities by overlooking their stories, contributing to stereotypes, and telling their stories without their input. Therefore, we make this acknowledgement as a starting point for our responsibility to tell those stories more accurately, critically, and in accordance with the wishes of Indigenous peoples. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. Luis Santa’s Passion for Bodybuilding and Service Burns as Bright as Eve…

In powerlifting, the competition is simple, who can lift the most weight in the 3 main lifts . The truth is, a completely dedicated powerlifter will not care about his looks and will focus solely on the weight that he is determined to move. The lack of good body appearance may make him appear fat, but in his sport, his body could be considered a work of art depending on how much he can lift. You can separate a bodybuilder and a powerlifter most times just by looking at them. The bodybuilder will appear to be a toned, muscular, athletic looking person where as the powerlifter may look muscular, but out of shape and “fat.”

Olympic lifts require a great amount of explosive power to propel the weight through the air. All that being said, you don’t need to compete at high levels, or at all, to gain the benefits from bodybuilding. Young, old, disabled, overweight…everyone can improve their body aesthetics.

While powerlifting often prioritizes all those weight #gains over cardio, bodybuilding never skimps on getting your heart pumping. Just like Arnold, bodybuilders pose on stage in Speedos, bikinis, or other barely-there uchicago international relations outfits to show off the goods. Even though bodybuilding requires you to practice and perfect your muscular regimen, you’ll be judged based on your overall aesthetic rather than your physical performance.

At some point in your lifting career, you might decide to specialize in either powerlifting or bodybuilding training. Therefore, it’s important to understand exactly how these two styles of lifting differ in order to maximize your training efforts. Using heavy weights for low reps is effective for improving maximal strength, including increasing bone and connective-tissue density. While you still lift reasonably heavy weights, you lift slightly less weight than a powerlifting workout but do more overall repetitions. With the massive amount of weight your body must support to be effective at powerlifting, you need to train additional exercises in conjunction with your squat, bench, and deadlift.