Why do you need strength ?

Vieope · 02-16-2004, 12:11 PM

If I can build a nice body, symmetric, all this things and with strength. I will not complain. If I can build without strength, I will not complain either.

But I heard a lot of ppl saying that they prefer to look bad as long they have their strength, everything is ok. Tell me something..
Why do you need strength ? Unless you are a professional fighter or a powerliflter, you rarely use strength.
The world out there today is about brain power and how sexy you look. I wonder if one day it was different.

plouffe · 02-16-2004, 12:31 PM

Well along with gaining mass, you gain strength. And inorder to keep gaining size, you'll need strength to push heavy weights.. So to get big you still need to continually get strong? Understand? And sometimes peoples genetics blow, and they don't have to potential to have a nice body -- so they just say fuck it, I'll get strong as hell.

**CowPimp** · 02-16-2004, 01:05 PM

Because I enjoy being strong, just as you enjoy/appreciate looking good. Granted, looking good is part of the reason for my lifting, but strength is my main goal. Why are you so vehemently against people wanting to get strong? I've seen posts from you in multiple threads talking about how strength is worthless, or you don't understand, or most people are in it for the looks, etc.

I would much rather bench 400 pounds and look the way I do now than bench 250 pounds and have another 15 pounds of muscle on me. It's really not of any concern to you why I feel that way. Just let me train however I want, and you can train however you want.

DeadBolt · 02-16-2004, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CowPimp
Because I enjoy being strong, just as you enjoy/appreciate looking good. Granted, looking good is part of the reason for my lifting, but strength is my main goal. Why are you so vehemently against people wanting to get strong? I've seen posts from you in multiple threads talking about how strength is worthless, or you don't understand, or most people are in it for the looks, etc.

I would much rather bench 400 pounds and look the way I do now than bench 250 pounds and have another 15 pounds of muscle on me. It's really not of any concern to you why I feel that way. Just let me train however I want, and you can train however you want.

I second that!

Strength is also good for a profession, ie sports, construction, anything physical. I would love to see a massive football player in the NFL who looks like he could bench 550 and struggles on 250. He would be getting his ass whooped.

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 01:32 PM

From a bodybuilding standpoint strength is irrelevant, but it's inevitable that you will get stronger, you have to lift more weights as your strength increases (which it will) to continue over loading muscle for continued growth.

So, strength and size pretty much go hand in hand, although strength training is very different than bodybuilding. And someone that trains for pure strength will not look like a bodybuilder, and will typically be much stronger.

derekisdman · 02-16-2004, 01:35 PM

I'm with Vieope, but I probably only say that cause i'm weak ;p

Sure, i'd like to be strong too, but given the choice of strength over mass, I pick mass. Though, as previously stated, they really go hand and hand.

*edit
Beat me to it Prince ;p

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 01:37 PM

I enjoy strength and getting stronger, but is has never been my focus. I never do a lift where I cannot get at least 4 reps, my typical rep range is 4-8, but on some weeks I go as high as 12.

Lifting heavy, doing singles, even doubles, is risking injury in my book, so I avoid it.

sYkboY · 02-16-2004, 01:50 PM

I can't get out of the strength mentality or at least I am struggling with it. Two Fridays ago I was deadlifting and got a spazm in my back and was down for a couple of days. Now I am not sure what I want to do. I have that heavy weight mentallity(not that I am pushing really heavy weight again, YET) and feel like a pussy when I am not doing as much as I think I should. I have only been back for a month+ and I think I need to slow down.

I want to look good but to put it in terms of cars, looking like a Corvette and going like a Chevette just doesn't appeal to me.

**CowPimp** · 02-16-2004, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prince
I enjoy strength and getting stronger, but is has never been my focus. I never do a lift where I cannot get at least 4 reps, my typical rep range is 4-8, but on some weeks I go as high as 12.

Lifting heavy, doing singles, even doubles, is risking injury in my book, so I avoid it.

I agree that it is more of a risk doing repititions in the 1-3 range, especially because I usually have no spotter. I usually aim for 4-6 repititions. Although that is not the best range with which to gain strength, I seem to get quite a bit stronger sticking to repititions in that range. I only max out once in a while. I try to find a healthy medium between strength, mass, and safety.

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sYkboY
...and feel like a pussy when I am not doing as much as I think I should.

LOL!

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CowPimp
I agree that it is more of a risk doing repititions in the 1-3 range, especially because I usually have no spotter. I usually aim for 4-6 repititions. Although that is not the best range with which to gain strength, I seem to get quite a bit stronger sticking to repititions in that range. I only max out once in a while. I try to find a healthy medium between strength, mass, and safety.

I have just seen (and heard about) too many injuries, pec tears, bicep tears, tricep tears, back and shoulder injuries.

and as I said from a bodybuilding standpoint I don't believe that anything less than 4 reps will really do much in regards to gaining mass.

**CowPimp** · 02-16-2004, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vieope
If I can build a nice body, symmetric, all this things and with strength. I will not complain. If I can build without strength, I will not complain either.

But I heard a lot of ppl saying that they prefer to look bad as long they have their strength, everything is ok. Tell me something..
Why do you need strength ? Unless you are a professional fighter or a powerliflter, you rarely use strength.
The world out there today is about brain power and how sexy you look. I wonder if one day it was different.

Oh yeah, I have another real world example of the usefulness of strength. Approximately the same time that I started lifting again, my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. As well, she had surgery on one of her knees a while back. The knee began to act up a bit. Well, no treatments were working, and she was getting less and less mobile.

We took a vacation to Europe so she could go to a couple places she had always wanted to. If it wasn't for my strength, she wouldn't have been able to see the blue grado on the isle of Capri. I had to carry her up and down about 100 steps because she just couldn't walk it. Also, I could carry her up and down the steps in our house so that she could have some scenery changes and take more frequent baths.

You never know when that extra strength might come in handy.

Premo55 · 02-16-2004, 04:43 PM

I don't agree that rep schemes less than 4 reps cannot translate into mass gains. I switch my workouts every week, one week I might do 3 sets of 8, the next week I might do 8 sets of 3, or 12 sets of 2, and I gain mass and strength concurrently while switching my routines up. I basically do GoPro's rep range/shock/power plan, but add a bit more volume ( I respond better to more volume) and rep ranges (yes, I have done 12 sets of 2 before). My routine is basically a powerlifting routine with two or three isolation exercises, though. I love the tough exercises.

And why strength? It's functional. Muscle is in every sense other than aesthetic absolutely worthless.

Peace.

BBBoogieWoogie · 02-16-2004, 05:49 PM

Strength Rules!

Mr.No · 02-16-2004, 06:16 PM

Tell me something, do you have any respect for a juicemonkey who looks like he could carry a building, and yet he cant even come close to what you are lifting?
I DONT (no matter how good and big he looks)
Some people might not agree but strength WILL get you respect as well as confidence in the gym and anywhere else, just like the nicely built body will.

Vieope · 02-16-2004, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prince
From a bodybuilding standpoint strength is irrelevant, but it's inevitable that you will get stronger, you have to lift more weights as your strength increases (which it will) to continue over loading muscle for continued growth.

Exactly

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.No
Tell me something, do you have any respect for a juicemonkey who looks like he could carry a building, and yet he cant even come close to what you are lifting?

Yes, I do have respect for them. I don´t use anabolic steroids or prohormones because I am not educated yet on this subject.

It is all about what you are trying to accomplish.

Mr.No · 02-16-2004, 08:25 PM

People are often ignorant of the things they lack...
Once you start lifting heavy, and you will because that is a ticket for gaining muscle mass, then you'r gonna realize the satisfaction and enjoyment it gives you. When you set a goal to lift certain weight and once you accomplish this goal, you WILL be satisfied regardless of what you think now, and then you'll see what I'm talking about.
As for anabolic stereoids, I have nothing against it. It just looks odd to see some of those huge guys strugling with 185lb bench press.

gr81 · 02-16-2004, 09:51 PM

this is ridiculous fellas, first of all, in the context of what is practical in a real world setting, strength is much more relevant in our day to day lives, as well as struggles, then asthetics are. There doesn't have to be such a seperation either man. I started out strictly BB and as tiem went on I realized that you can focus on both and not have such a distinction. You aren't gonna be a pro BB, nor are you gonna be a world class PL, so why worry so much about catagorizing man. Weight training involves both mindsets and countuing one out is silly IMO. To build teh physique you want, you have to engage in pregressive resistance training, which involves building strength. Its that simple for you BBs. why not aim to be a big strong mo fo and not worry about the rest huh?

Sara Valentine · 02-16-2004, 11:31 PM

"Why do you need strength ? Unless you are a professional fighter or a powerliflter, you rarely use strength.
The world out there today is about brain power and how sexy you look. I wonder if one day it was different"

Actually I'm a single girl with 2 kids and strength is needed in all that I do. From carrying the 76lbs child up a really long flight of stairs because he fell asleep in the living room, to hauling 2 hockey bags (one on each arm) 4 times a week or what my friends like to say is really important is the fact I love changing the way my furniture in the house is arranged without having to call my male friends or friends husbands or brothers over.
Our day to day activities do require some strength and the people who are out of shape and have minimul muscle tone are the ones who get hurt easliy just by trying to bring in a case of dog food or pull their backs because they promised to help their girlfriends move etc... I'm sure you get my point.
Some people want to be big and some people just want to be healthy but all of us use our muscles everyday because all movement does require a little strength.

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr.No
Once you start lifting heavy, and you will because that is a ticket for gaining muscle mass, then you'r gonna realize the satisfaction and enjoyment it gives you. When you set a goal to lift certain weight and once you accomplish this goal, you WILL be satisfied regardless of what you think now, and then you'll see what I'm talking about.

I will not deny that getting stronger and pushing heavier weight gives me a certain amount of satisfaction, however it has never been my goal. I honestly could not care less how much I can press, as long as I look like I can squat 500lbs that is all I care about.

I do not set out with a goal of lifting a certain amount of weight, never have. I have always lifted weights from a bodybuilding standpoint, my satisfaction comes from the mirror.

**Dale Mabry** · 02-16-2004, 11:44 PM

My goals are more geared towards performance rather than just looking good. I want more than just strength, i want balance, speed, flexibility, etc.

Mr.No · 02-16-2004, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
i want balance.

Amen to that!

**Prince** · 02-16-2004, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dale Mabry
My goals are more geared towards performance rather than just looking good. I want more than just strength, i want balance, speed, flexibility, etc.

that is cool and respectable, but that tells me one thing: you're not a bodybuilder!

**Dale Mabry** · 02-17-2004, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prince
that is cool and respectable, but that tells me one thing: you're not a bodybuilder!

I could have told you that myself, brother.

02-16-2004, 12:11 PM	#1
Vieope Monochromatic Bunny Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: drinking coffee.. Posts: 14,863 Photos: 10	Why do you need strength ? If I can build a nice body, symmetric, all this things and with strength. I will not complain. If I can build without strength, I will not complain either. But I heard a lot of ppl saying that they prefer to look bad as long they have their strength, everything is ok. Tell me something.. Why do you need strength ? Unless you are a professional fighter or a powerliflter, you rarely use strength. The world out there today is about brain power and how sexy you look. I wonder if one day it was different.
	FURtherness

02-16-2004, 12:31 PM	#2
plouffe is bulking Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,786 Photos: 6	Well along with gaining mass, you gain strength. And inorder to keep gaining size, you'll need strength to push heavy weights.. So to get big you still need to continually get strong? Understand? And sometimes peoples genetics blow, and they don't have to potential to have a nice body -- so they just say fuck it, I'll get strong as hell.
	These are my favorite faces : - - - Personal Bests: Bench - 235 Deadlift - 315 X 17 Squat - 315 X 11 40 yrd. - 4.65

02-16-2004, 01:05 PM	#3
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,428	Because I enjoy being strong, just as you enjoy/appreciate looking good. Granted, looking good is part of the reason for my lifting, but strength is my main goal. Why are you so vehemently against people wanting to get strong? I've seen posts from you in multiple threads talking about how strength is worthless, or you don't understand, or most people are in it for the looks, etc. I would much rather bench 400 pounds and look the way I do now than bench 250 pounds and have another 15 pounds of muscle on me. It's really not of any concern to you why I feel that way. Just let me train however I want, and you can train however you want.
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

02-16-2004, 01:32 PM	#5
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,981 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 320	From a bodybuilding standpoint strength is irrelevant, but it's inevitable that you will get stronger, you have to lift more weights as your strength increases (which it will) to continue over loading muscle for continued growth. So, strength and size pretty much go hand in hand, although strength training is very different than bodybuilding. And someone that trains for pure strength will not look like a bodybuilder, and will typically be much stronger.
	SBMuscle.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEM Products - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclePharm - Complete Nutritional Arsenal BigBackGrips - If you lift weights you've got to try these grips! HumaneVoLabs - Foaming Transdermal Delivery System. Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL (CEE) On Sale $17.49 per bottle!

02-16-2004, 01:35 PM	#6
derekisdman RAWR! Elite Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,294	I'm with Vieope, but I probably only say that cause i'm weak ;p Sure, i'd like to be strong too, but given the choice of strength over mass, I pick mass. Though, as previously stated, they really go hand and hand. *edit Beat me to it Prince ;p
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02-16-2004, 01:37 PM	#7
Prince the one & only Administrator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Colorado Posts: 33,981 Blog Entries: 25 Photos: 320	I enjoy strength and getting stronger, but is has never been my focus. I never do a lift where I cannot get at least 4 reps, my typical rep range is 4-8, but on some weeks I go as high as 12. Lifting heavy, doing singles, even doubles, is risking injury in my book, so I avoid it.
	SBMuscle.com - Discount Supplement Superstore AlltheWhey.com - Bulk Protein Powders CEM Products - Research Chemicals & Supplements MusclePharm - Complete Nutritional Arsenal BigBackGrips - If you lift weights you've got to try these grips! HumaneVoLabs - Foaming Transdermal Delivery System. Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL (CEE) On Sale $17.49 per bottle!

02-16-2004, 01:50 PM	#8
sYkboY Bangin' Plates! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 67	I can't get out of the strength mentality or at least I am struggling with it. Two Fridays ago I was deadlifting and got a spazm in my back and was down for a couple of days. Now I am not sure what I want to do. I have that heavy weight mentallity(not that I am pushing really heavy weight again, YET) and feel like a pussy when I am not doing as much as I think I should. I have only been back for a month+ and I think I need to slow down. I want to look good but to put it in terms of cars, looking like a Corvette and going like a Chevette just doesn't appeal to me.
	Still losing fat and gaining muscle. Man, feels like it takes for ever to get lean again and the strength doesn't come back over night.

02-16-2004, 04:43 PM	#13
Premo55 Mic Murderer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 1,059	I don't agree that rep schemes less than 4 reps cannot translate into mass gains. I switch my workouts every week, one week I might do 3 sets of 8, the next week I might do 8 sets of 3, or 12 sets of 2, and I gain mass and strength concurrently while switching my routines up. I basically do GoPro's rep range/shock/power plan, but add a bit more volume ( I respond better to more volume) and rep ranges (yes, I have done 12 sets of 2 before). My routine is basically a powerlifting routine with two or three isolation exercises, though. I love the tough exercises. And why strength? It's functional. Muscle is in every sense other than aesthetic absolutely worthless. Peace.
	T DOT O.

02-16-2004, 05:49 PM	#14
BBBoogieWoogie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SD Posts: 8	Strength Rules!

02-16-2004, 06:16 PM	#15
Mr.No Progressing... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the beach Posts: 73	Tell me something, do you have any respect for a juicemonkey who looks like he could carry a building, and yet he cant even come close to what you are lifting? I DONT (no matter how good and big he looks) Some people might not agree but strength WILL get you respect as well as confidence in the gym and anywhere else, just like the nicely built body will.

02-16-2004, 08:25 PM	#17
Mr.No Progressing... Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the beach Posts: 73	People are often ignorant of the things they lack... Once you start lifting heavy, and you will because that is a ticket for gaining muscle mass, then you'r gonna realize the satisfaction and enjoyment it gives you. When you set a goal to lift certain weight and once you accomplish this goal, you WILL be satisfied regardless of what you think now, and then you'll see what I'm talking about. As for anabolic stereoids, I have nothing against it. It just looks odd to see some of those huge guys strugling with 185lb bench press.

02-16-2004, 09:51 PM	#18
gr81 You Lack Intensity!!!! Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Just below our civil disguise Posts: 6,378 Photos: 10	this is ridiculous fellas, first of all, in the context of what is practical in a real world setting, strength is much more relevant in our day to day lives, as well as struggles, then asthetics are. There doesn't have to be such a seperation either man. I started out strictly BB and as tiem went on I realized that you can focus on both and not have such a distinction. You aren't gonna be a pro BB, nor are you gonna be a world class PL, so why worry so much about catagorizing man. Weight training involves both mindsets and countuing one out is silly IMO. To build teh physique you want, you have to engage in pregressive resistance training, which involves building strength. Its that simple for you BBs. why not aim to be a big strong mo fo and not worry about the rest huh?
	Testosterone Site/Elite Fitness-Dave Tate/West Side Barbell/Berardi Nutrition & Sports Performance/Steroid Laws- Rick Collins/John Defendis Intensity or Insanity articles/Save the Supersonics

02-16-2004, 11:31 PM	#19
Sara Valentine Back and ready to go! Elite Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ontario Posts: 40 Photos: 1	"Why do you need strength ? Unless you are a professional fighter or a powerliflter, you rarely use strength. The world out there today is about brain power and how sexy you look. I wonder if one day it was different" Actually I'm a single girl with 2 kids and strength is needed in all that I do. From carrying the 76lbs child up a really long flight of stairs because he fell asleep in the living room, to hauling 2 hockey bags (one on each arm) 4 times a week or what my friends like to say is really important is the fact I love changing the way my furniture in the house is arranged without having to call my male friends or friends husbands or brothers over. Our day to day activities do require some strength and the people who are out of shape and have minimul muscle tone are the ones who get hurt easliy just by trying to bring in a case of dog food or pull their backs because they promised to help their girlfriends move etc... I'm sure you get my point. Some people want to be big and some people just want to be healthy but all of us use our muscles everyday because all movement does require a little strength.
	Those who fail are those who fail to dream

02-16-2004, 11:44 PM	#21
Dale Mabry Moderator Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 13,881 Photos: 10	My goals are more geared towards performance rather than just looking good. I want more than just strength, i want balance, speed, flexibility, etc.
	If sense were common, everyone would have it. 4/2007-Current 75th Ranked most popular image 1 spot behind Prince's bulge...

02-17-2004, 12:20 AM	#25
Prince the one & only Administrator