Opinion~BB and PL

[mrbeefy]

Hi Everybody!

Pretty exciting week here at WOTW ain't it

As you all know, I have been training as a powerlifter, and use to compete as a bodybuilder. I've read pretty much all the articles out there on these two aspects.

Here is the question:

Do you think that you can successfully do both competetively?
I understand the philosophy of "If an eagle chases two rabbits, he'll have no dinner", but I was wondering what your experiences were.

Many have transitioned from one to the other successfully (Johnnie Jackson, Lisa Aukland, etc). So I'm not looking at the transitioning question of either-or, but do you think you can do BOTH during the same competition year?

I have an opionion, but Id like to reserve it until I hear what ya'll have to say. What are your experiences?

Comments?

Thanks,

Frank

[hossjob]

Frank, what a great question! I'm wondering the same thing! As you guys know, my wife and I will be parents in January and I know that first year or so is going to be a BIG BIG BIG change and I'm not putting time I could spend with my child into the final stages of prep (shaving, tanning, posing, cardio...). I"m still going to train balls out, the only way I KNOW HOW, but I will not compete in 08 unless something drastic changes.

However, I am heavily thinkin gof taking that time to bulk and possibly power lift.

Let me say something quick. I DO NOT think you can compete in bodybuilding and do a power lifting show the last 4-6 weeks of your prep. However, depending on you natural level of strength and weight class...I think you could do one 8-16 + weeks out no problem. Hell, I think power lifting is a great way to stay motivated (competing in it) durin gyour bulking phase and also a way to keep weight within an exceptable range, granted the competition for PP has weight classes.

As far as training...If you choose something like DC training that is centered around building strength and power you will not loose any of the BB aspects of your training, but you will increase strength.

My plan is to use bodyfx's p/rr/s with his FD/FS principles included (LOOK INTO FDFS Frank). I'll do this:
1) 3 weeks FDFS
2) 1 week cruise
3) Power/Rep Range/Power/Hybrid
4) 3 weeks FDFS

etc...

That way I'm training with power movements most of the time and utilizing the negative portion of the lifts to increase my strengths.

[Tim Wescott]

Yes you can..........many have done it.

Vince Anello did it as did Bill Seno,Bud Ravenscroft,Skip Robinson,Marty Joyce,Paul Love,Sammy Willis,Justin Harris,Roger Estep.........................Google these names Frank,most are legends in one of the two sports and did quite well in both of them........some excelled in both as well.

Many more out there but memory is fading!!

[GerryT]

It is possible to excel in both. I have a few friends who have competed in BB and PL. Do whatever pleases you.

[EBA84]

I think you can do both but not at the same time. Each one takes a different kind of training aand dieting to achieve the desired results. My opinion is if you try to do both at the same time, one of them is going to suffer come contest time.

[GerryT]

Excellent point, Eric. The ones I know train for either one or the other at a given time. They are different disciplines.

[mrbeefy]

Thanks guys!

Eric: I was thinking along the same lines.
Not only different results, but when dieting as a powerlifter, you need the weight to lift, and there goes all your cuts; and when cutting for bodybuilding, there goes some strength for heavy lifts.
Of course, there are probably a few genetically gifted (Mariusz Paderuski (?) for example) that can get away with this.

Can anyone think of a sound way of doing this? I know, whatever works for YOU right? But what would YOU suggest?

One reason I think people powerlift is to get bigger and stronger, but I have found in my short/limited time powerlfiting that since the lifts are done SO differentley, that I am not necessarily getting any bigger; stonger, yes, but not necessarily bigger. Probably developing some muscles due to the difference in lifting, because I'm working the muscles differently, but I'm feeling this more in the joints/ligaments and connective tissues.

Perhaps something like:

PL 4 months, PL Competion 2-3 months, start cutting for BB, BB WO 4 months, P/RR/S last 4 weeks? BB compete 2-3 months; relax diet, begin PL Phase, etc. ?

I would imagine that if managed properly and adhered to strictly, you could build one hell of a physique in a few years time.

[masterschamp]

Frank...I think it might be possible, but I wouldn't try to do both in one year. I have always entertained doing a powermeet, as I just like to lift heavy weight, but, at least for me, I couldn't do equal justice to one if I tried to do both!
If things go right next July in Pittsburgh and I somehow get that pro card, I might consider it after that. My wife wants to try for another baby ( !), she's only 36 ...yeah I robbed the cradle!!......and I plan on being in shape for the rest of my life and I love kids, so why not? I'll focus on that after the Pittsburgh show..should be alot of fun!!....and a powermeet just might fit in there.
And speaking of babies....Kyle....take it from a father of four...don't even think about competing next year...it's the ONLY first year your son or daughter will ever have, and you want to be there for every moment!.....Plenty of contests to enter in the years to follow.

[EBA84]

masterschamp said:

Frank...I think it might be possible, but I wouldn't try to do both in one year.

Agree. I powerlifted for about two years. This was quite a while ago. I could have never competed in bodybuilding during this time.

Powerlifting is great for adding muscle but a powerlifting routine is not going to get you in contest shape. I was almost 270 and strong as sh*t but nowhere near stage ready. Had I dropped for a bodybuilding contest during this time, I would not have been as strong and my powerlifting would have suffered.

I think it is just way too much to try and do both successfully in the same year. Of course there are guys who are exceptions to this but they are few and far between.

[mrbeefy]

Thanks for all the great input guys...just the type of stuff I have been contemplating myself, so it kinda solidifies some stuff I was thinking.

MC: Another baby? Good for you guys!
Words of Wisdom: My brother/sister-in-law waited to have kids. He is now late 50's and she is early 50's. There kids are 14 and 18. They "try" to keep up and keep them active, but it's tuff on the parents. Example: They're 14 year old son is a boy scout ,and they took them white water rafting. Of course, my brother-in-law went overboard and almost drowned! So, keeping up is a mixed blessing, but a blessing, none-the-less!

[mrbeefy]

Eric,

During the time that you powerlifitng, did you follow a normal powerlifitng workout/diet?

Would you say that the amount of muscle you attained was significant?

[EBA84]

mrbeefy said:

Eric,

During the time that you powerlifitng, did you follow a normal powerlifitng workout/diet?

Would you say that the amount of muscle you attained was significant?

I followed a powerlifting diet. I gained a fair amount of muscle but also quite a bit of fat along with it. I was training with two guys who were nastionally ranked 8th and 10th in their weight classes at the time so I was doing everything they were doing. I really didn't like the way I looked so I dumped powerlifting. I was also getting injured a lot.

[mrbeefy]

Can relate with not liking the look. I'm a lot bigger, but much rounder too.

I haven't had any major injuries (knock on wood), but the wear and tear on my tendons and joints is more painful than any DOMS I feel from muscle soreness.

At my age, I am worried a bit that an inevitable injury can be around any corner, waiting to sideline me.

I still beleive I'm young enough to compete, but at what level, and how far I can go is yet to be seen.

At this last meet, there were "local guys" pulling 730 in the masters division. I think I can improve my lifts, but never anywhere near that.

Just trying to find a good balance I guess.
Trying to weigh pros' and con's.

[RUBICON19]

I think they both can be done

[EBA84]

mrbeefy said:

Can relate with not liking the look. I'm a lot bigger, but much rounder too.

I haven't had any major injuries (knock on wood), but the wear and tear on my tendons and joints is more painful than any DOMS I feel from muscle soreness.

At my age, I am worried a bit that an inevitable injury can be around any corner, waiting to sideline me.

I still beleive I'm young enough to compete, but at what level, and how far I can go is yet to be seen.

At this last meet, there were "local guys" pulling 730 in the masters division. I think I can improve my lifts, but never anywhere near that.

Just trying to find a good balance I guess.
Trying to weigh pros' and con's.

My body just couldn't handle the constant heavy pounding. I was squatting 805, deadlifting 750 and bench around 470. This was all too much and I hurt my knee and shoulder pretty bad. That was the end of it.

Injuries can happen at either but I feel there is less of a chance with bodybuilding and besides, I would rather look like I can do heavy weights then actually be able to do them.

[mrbeefy]

LOL!

Eric I concur!

I've studied the martial arts for over 30 years. I don't need to be THAT strong, when I can be smart.

Besides...how many chicks hit on powerlifters at the beach? LOL! ;D

[Tim Wescott]

One thing you`re forgetting Frank is that you do not have to get fat to be a powerlifter....................weight classes,stay in one of the lighter ones where you are not overweight.

A guy named John Redding used to compete in powerlifting.............squatted over 450 pounds at 114 bodyweight.

[mrbeefy]

Thought of that Timbo!

How old was John Redding?

[Intensity]

Frank, almost everything as been said about it, but my opinion on this is that I believe that you could do well in both… but by doing this you wont optimize your results in any of them! So these two activities are really connected and doing both would make you a more complete athlete, which is a very good thing… but if you want to surpass your limits in one of them… I believe you need to choose...

[Tim Wescott]

Frank,Redding did his best lifting well into his mid to late 40`s or longer.

Another great lifter to Google for more info.