Bodybuilding vs. Powerlifting – Similar? Different?

By : Mike Jesowshek

Bodybuilding and Powerlifting are very similar; they are also very different though.  They both involve lifting weights, but a body of a powerlifter is completely different than a body of a bodybuilder.  Simply powerlifting is judged by how strong you are and bodybuilding is by how muscular you are.  In powerlifting there is three main lifts: bench, squat, and deadlift.  The purpose is to lift as much weight on one rep.  In powerlifting competitions, it doesn’t matter what your body looks like, just so you can lift the most weight.  Bodybuilding is a lot about appearance.  In a bodybuilding competition, they are judged on how they look and that could have nothing to do with how much weight they can bench.  Because of this difference between bodybuilding and powerlifting, training for each sport is much different.

Like I said earlier, powerlifters only perform three exercises.  They typically train each lift every 7-10 days.  All they care about is how much weight they can perform on those lifts.  They train using many different kinds of techniques.  While training, powerlifters actually wear special equipment.  For example, they have a “squat suit” that they put on when squatting to help perform the lift better and decrease the chance of injury.  They do not follow any kind of strict diet, they actually try to consume as many calories a day that they can.  Bodybuilding is all about proportions.  If a guy has 12-inch arms, and 20-inch calves, he will not make it real far in the life of a bodybuilder.  A bodybuilder typically trains specific body parts, instead of specific lifts.  A lot about bodybuilding is the diet.  They want to have very little body fat.  They watch what they eat and make sure they are getting the proper food in there body.

Sample Weekly Powerlifting Routine

 

Day of Week	Exercise
Monday	Squat
Tuesday	-
Wednesday	Bench Press
Thursday	-
Friday	Dead Lift

Sample Weekly Bodybuilding Routine

 

Day of Week	Exercise
Monday	Quads, hams, calves, abs
Tuesday	Chest, back, triceps, shoulders, biceps
Wednesday	Cardio
Thursday	Quads, hams, calves, abs
Friday	Chest, back, triceps, shoulders, biceps
Weekend	Days Off!

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