People's Definition of Strength [Forum Archive]

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People's Definition of Strength

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Posted by: rangers97

I am trying to figure out what everyone thinks is the better show of strength:

(We will use the bench press for example, but it is the same for anything I guess)

1. Bench press 300lbs once or twice

or

2. Bench press 250lbs 8-10 times

So my question is basically, what is your definition of strength? Is it the ability to lift a very heavy weight once or twice or is it the ability to lift a pretty heavy weight numerous times? Now before you argue that if you can bench 250 8 times in all likelihood you can probably get 300 up once, remember that it doesn't really work both ways....if you train in low reps and get up to 300lbs, that doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to do 250 8 times.

That being said I would argue that doing the 250 8-10 times is a better show of overall strength, because it is harder to do heavy weight for higher reps than real heavy weight for low reps.

What do you all think?

Posted by: Doublebase

I guess the person doing the more reps would have better muscle endurance. As for brute strength, the person doing the 300lbs once takes it. I don't like this topic.

Posted by: rangers97

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublebase

I guess the person doing the more reps would have better muscle endurance. As for brute strength, the person doing the 300lbs once takes it. I don't like this topic.

I didn't ask if you liked this topic, I asked what you thought would be considered more overall strength. If you didn't like it, don't reply

Posted by: Doublebase

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

I didn't ask if you liked this topic, I asked what you thought would be considered more overall strength. If you didn't like it, don't reply

shut up. I told you what I thought and I just added a little more. Relax.

Posted by: rangers97

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublebase

shut up. I told you what I thought and I just added a little more. Relax.

Posted by: rangers97

ok since Mr. Doublebase didn't like this topic, I will clarify...What do you think is more impressive of the two scenarios?

Posted by: Doublebase

The heavier weight.

Posted by: Mudge

250x8 = 310 1RM
250x10 = 325 1RM
300x2 = 318 1RM

10 reps for me wont increase bench strength any longer, I never touch those kind of reps unless its a warmup.

Posted by: rangers97

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudge

250x8 = 310 1RM
250x10 = 325 1RM
300x2 = 318 1RM

10 reps for me wont increase bench strength any longer, I never touch those kind of reps unless its a warmup.

so by your example, it seems you can get to the same point doing either method,,,so I guess in a real world setting, it boils down to would you rather be able to move an extremely heavy object for 5 feet, or a little less heavy object for 15 feet? It all boils down to numbers I think. Is the added muscular endurance better for you in normal situations? Of course, this does not apply for anyone competing in power lifting or any contests like that, where numbers are what matters. But 250 lbs is a lot of weight for a bench press, at least to mere mortals it is a lot, and to be able to do that 10 times seems to me a lot more difficult than lifting the 50 more pounds twice, because you have to be both strong and have the capacity to do it 10 times.

I guess, how much carryover is there to real life situations? If I can deadlift 300 pounds twice, what is the correlation to the real world? Would I be able to lift 300 pound bags of whatever? Likewise, if I could deadlift 250 pounds 10 times, does that mean I can lift 250 lb bags of whatever and hold them 5 times longer than I can carry the 300lb bag? Do you want to be able to lift heavy things for short spurts of time or a little less heavy things for longer periods of time? does that make sense?

Posted by: devildog88

I just want muscles on top of muscles! If that means that I work out with 150 lbs on bench then so be it. Because it all boils down to what you think of yourself and how you look. If you were a fat ass who can lift 250 lbs 10 times and you are standing next to a guy that is ripped on a beach who would get the most chicks???

Posted by: naturaltan

Quote:

Originally Posted by devildog88

If you were a fat ass who can lift 250 lbs 10 times and you are standing next to a guy that is ripped on a beach who would get the most chicks???

if the fat ass was dangling keys to his BMW, he would get the most chicks

Posted by: LAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

I am trying to figure out what everyone thinks is the better show of strength:

(We will use the bench press for example, but it is the same for anything I guess)

1. Bench press 300lbs once or twice

or

2. Bench press 250lbs 8-10 times

So my question is basically, what is your definition of strength? Is it the ability to lift a very heavy weight once or twice or is it the ability to lift a pretty heavy weight numerous times? Now before you argue that if you can bench 250 8 times in all likelihood you can probably get 300 up once, remember that it doesn't really work both ways....if you train in low reps and get up to 300lbs, that doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to do 250 8 times.

That being said I would argue that doing the 250 8-10 times is a better show of overall strength, because it is harder to do heavy weight for higher reps than real heavy weight for low reps.

What do you all think?

for me it all depends on the persons BW. a 200 lber benching 250 is not impressive but a 150 lb guy benching 250 is.

Posted by: devildog88

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturaltan

if the fat ass was dangling keys to his BMW, he would get the most chicks

LMAO!!!! You have a point!

Posted by: Witmaster

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturaltan

if the fat ass was dangling keys to his BMW, he would get the most chicks

How to spot a rich guy:

Posted by: Yanick

they are both strength, just different types of strength.

in Hatfield's Power: A Scientific Approach he goes over this but a little differently.

lets say we have a marathon runner and a powerlifter...two guys that are on the opposite end of the spectrum (endurance vs. strength). now we set up an exercise where the guys have to carry 5 50lb sand bags up 2 flights of stairs for time. who do you think will win?

so you see there really is no clear cut way of answering what strength is, there are lots of different types of strength and picking what is more impressive is irrelevant IMO, kindda like a 'whats your favorite color' type thing.

i mean seeing an 800lb bench is very impressive, but then again i saw a guy squat 225x98(his bodyweight)...both very impressive feats of strength which is more impressive? who really cares?

Posted by: rangers97

ok how about instead of which is more impressive, which has more carry-over to be more functional for everyday life?

Posted by: slider

The best answer is what are you trainning for that is what is most impresive if you are showboat at a show it has nothing to do with reps it is hypertrophy and BF. if you are a powerlifter one rep 5 pounds more than everyone else is impresive. If you are an enduarance athlete more 10x10 that is heavier is more impreive. IF you are FAT personality with ladies is more impresive. if 2 guys are exactly the same build it go's to penis size and testicle girth.

IDENTIFY YOUR CIRLCE AND THEN YOU CAN BETTER IMPRESSIVE/SHOW OFF

to anyone with inteligence positvie gain is all ways impressive because who else are you lifting/competing for when you are standing on the tallest podium?? your just up there all by yourself

Posted by: largepkg

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

ok how about instead of which is more impressive, which has more carry-over to be more functional for everyday life?

Again, you're asking the same question.

Everyday life of whom? Blue collar guy/girl, white collar guy/girl, specifics of each? They're way to many variables for this to be a relevant question. Besides, the mass of todays population will never need this kind of strength in there everyday life.

Posted by: Flex

I have an idea

Who gives a shit?

Posted by: largepkg

Thanks Flex. I was trying to say that in the nicest way possible.

Posted by: Doublebase

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flex

I have an idea

Who gives a shit?

Thats what I'm saying. I hate this topic.

Posted by: Yanick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublebase

Thats what I'm saying. I hate this topic.

this is actually a very interesting topic as it touches on something that not many people realize. there are different kinds of strength and each has its own merit. most people tend to think 1rm is the only way to gauge strength, however that is just one form of it. the only thing that is irrelevant in this discussion is what is more impressive because that is just like asking what is your favorite color? we can all learn something from this thread...no need in being so negative.

if you want real world strength, you need to start strongman training. nothing more functional than "just find some heavy stuff and pick it up in as many different ways as you can."

Posted by: Doublebase

One night I was at this party and they had an empty keg there. We all decided to have a little competition to see who could throw it the furthest. I went up against this fat kid. He tore me apart. Throw it almost 15 feet further then me. He doesn't lift or anything. He probably couldn't run as long as me, do as many jumping jacks or push-ups. Does that make me stronger?

Posted by: Mudge

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

ok how about instead of which is more impressive, which has more carry-over to be more functional for everyday life?

Neither. Same with the deadlifting example. Deadlifting 300 pounds, is not going to mean you can carry 300 pounds of anything, or pick up 300 pounds of anything. Odd shapes, uneven weight distribution, and so forth make that difficult. A 7 foot Olympic bar does not mirror real life very well. I carried a straight 6 short block (no head, complete bottom end) up 4 flights of stairs, and it felt far heavier than it was. If it were on a handy dandy bar where I could put it on my back, then it would have been much easier.

If you want those kind of results then look into strongman, but then again I dont know who goes around carrying 300 pound kegs over their heads every day.

Posted by: Mudge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doublebase

He doesn't lift or anything. He probably couldn't run as long as me, do as many jumping jacks or push-ups. Does that make me stronger?

He has the advantage of body momentum. Every action imparts an equal but opposite reaction, other than frictional issues.

It would be very supprising for him to run as well as you or have the same endurance in general, but that is not a measurement of strength.

Posted by: CaptainDeadlift

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flex

Who gives a shit?

Dale Mabry.

Posted by: rangers97

to those that gave an intelligent response, thank you

to everyone else

i may not have been on these boards or post as much as others, but I think everybody's topics deserve to be discussed in an open matter without blasting the topic no matter how stupid you may think it is. I had a question that I wanted to be discussed, if you think it is stupid or don't give a shit, then don't join in that's all...simple as that. There are many many more posts on here dumber than mine, yet they seem to have 8 page discussions on them, but I guess that's cause the poster has 1500 posts under their name. Oh well, now I know for next time

Posted by: Taffin

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

ok how about instead of which is more impressive, which has more carry-over to be more functional for everyday life?

Endurance has more carry-over for everyday life. In fact, the support muscles/connective tissue are what get you through a long day of standing around, lifting lots of small objects all the time, which is what most of us do all day. The huge muscles that look good are just that- for looks for the average person. Don't kid yourself that anybody but an athlete NEEDS that kind of strength for anythign but looks/bragging rights. Even a laborer/contruction worker will get the necessary strength on their own working that sort of job (with or without the visible hypertrophy).

Posted by: WilliamB

rangers your a prick. hows that for an intelligent response?

Posted by: rangers97

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamB

rangers your a prick. hows that for an intelligent response?

Too many assholes, too few bullets....

Posted by: rangers97

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

There are many many more posts on here dumber than mine, yet they seem to have 8 page discussions on them,

I believe most of them were started by williamb....

Posted by: Kracin

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudge

If you want those kind of results then look into strongman, but then again I dont know who goes around carrying 300 pound kegs over their heads every day.

what about a guy who works at a brewery with kegs full of beer.....?

oh btw, i work every day where i have to throw 50-100 lbs of things around A LOT..

Posted by: Mudge

I dont even know what they weigh, but 55 gallons of anything liquid is going to weigh a lot. A gallon of water is something like 6 pounds, so we are looking at maybe nearly 400 pounds if the weight is similar. The kegs are aluminum I believe but I'm sure they still weigh plenty.

Aluminum is not good to consume by the way, so dont scrape your aluminum pots to death if you cook in them. Last I heard they were linking it to alzheimers and general memory loss in old age.

Posted by: WilliamB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudge

If you want those kind of results then look into strongman, but then again I dont know who goes around carrying 300 pound kegs over their heads every day.

Posted by: Lankster

yeah ranger your a dumb cunt for making such a ridiculous thread

Posted by: Mudge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracin

what about a guy who works at a brewery with kegs full of beer.....?

From my experiences long ago in warehousing, you'd probably get fired for pulling antics like that, for fear of reprisal from OSHA. But then again, I'm sure there is an outfit or two somewhere where people would cheer that kind of person on. Hard work gets old fast, I'd be using a nice dolly or forklift for sure.

Posted by: Musclebeach

WSM competition a few years ago had a keg lifting competition, I think it was a 25 gallon aluminum keg filled partially with water and a lead ball. These guys could probably push press 365-405+ with an Olympic bar, but if my memory is right I think the highest weight lifted was something like 300-310?

I flip railroad ties and am going to start lifting sandbags now. I like the 'rugged' strength. If I were to go to a liquor store would they sell me an empty keg, seeing as Im not 21?

-Jeff.

Posted by: Mudge

No harm in asking, those things are usually a deposit item that the vendor picks up afterwards though so I dont know how easy it would be to obtain one.

The world record clean and press was I think 570 or 572, so I'm sure they can push press more on a bar. As for the logs though, most of the strongman stuff doesn't mirror gym numbers of course.

Posted by: Flex

Quote:

Originally Posted by rangers97

Too many assholes, too few bullets....

I'll sell you some

Posted by: westb51

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturaltan

if the fat ass was dangling keys to his BMW, he would get the most chicks

or if he was dangling his dangle

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