Plenty of gym-goers are only interested in losing weight and staying fit. But there are some who take this pursuit more seriously. They carry a passion for fitness. Wanting to push their bodies to the limit.
Generally, serious gym junkies can be split into two groups. They are either bodybuilders or weightlifters. No group is inherently superior to the other. They just have different goals.
But this raises a few important questions. What’s the difference between bodybuilding and weightlifting and which approach is right for you?
Weightlifting places a greater emphasis on building physical strength. Success is measured by how much you can lift. Bodybuilding places more emphasis on aesthetics. Success is measured by how much muscle mass you have and how well-defined it is.
Both bodybuilding and weightlifting will produce astonishing results. You can pack on the muscle mass and create an amazing body. Ultimately, though, the discipline you choose to pursue will depend on your personality and what you want to achieve from your time in the gym. To help you make this decision, let’s delve deeper into this topic and cover everything you need to know.
What Is The Aim Of Weight Lifting?
Weightlifting has one goal. To increase your strength and grow your muscle mass. Success is simple to measure. You just need to track the amount of weight that you can lift. More time in the gym equals the ability to lift heavier weights. Simple.
What Are The Benefits Of Weight Lifting?
There are plenty of reasons why you might want to start weightlifting. First, you will be able to improve your functional strength. Put more simply, it will become easier to lift heavy objects.
This is a discipline that can benefit people of all ages. It can help you improve your bone density, making you less likely to injure yourself. This is especially important as you get older, slashing the chances of getting hurt after a fall.
Another big benefit is that it’s easy to keep track of your progress. Many weightlifters keep a journal, recording the amount of weight they can lift. Seeing those deadlift numbers climb should keep you motivated.
Risks Of Weight Lifting
However, like all sports, weightlifting can come with some risks. If you push too hard, you might experience ligament tears or muscle strains. These can be painful. Expect to spend the next few weeks on the couch, waiting for the muscles to heal.
Good news. As long as you take a few precautions the risks of becoming injured are relatively low. The best way to overcome these risks is by learning the right technique. If you are new to lifting, visit your local gym. Coaches can talk you through the correct form. It’s also important to make sure that you are giving your body plenty of time to recover after an intense workout.
What Is the Aim of Bodybuilding?
Compare this with the aim of bodybuilding. Yes, you will still need to lift weights and build muscle. But the aim is to make your body aesthetically pleasing. Building powerful muscles isn’t enough. Sculpt them. Getting the defined shape that shows off your hard work. Consider the amount of fat you carry. Less fat means more chances to show off your lean muscle.
What Are the Benefits of Bodybuilding?
There are plenty of reasons why people take up bodybuilding. Let’s start with the most obvious. Having a ripped body is a huge confidence boost. Plus, bodybuilders work out a wider range of muscle groups. As a result, they are able to grow more muscle mass than weight lifters. This can bring a range of health benefits. Expect to see more blood flow, increased bone density, and more functional strength. Plus, there are mental health benefits. Regular workouts are one of the best ways to lower your risk of depression and anxiety.
However, unlike weightlifting, bodybuilding isn’t just focused on increasing strength. Lifestyle changes will be required. Find a diet that gives you the nutrients for muscle growth while limiting fat. It also includes more cardio, so you’ll have a more well-rounded whole-body workout.
Risks of Bodybuilding
Like weight lifting, there is a chance that you will end up with muscle strains or ligament tears. Usually, these result from you overstraining your body or using the incorrect technique. With a good coach and the right workout procedure, you should be able to avoid these injuries.
Though there are a few other problems that you might encounter. Bodybuilding places a lot
of emphasis on your appearance. That’s a lot of pressure to look your best. This has led to some people turning to illegal drugs, like steroids, to help them get ahead. The appeal is clear. Steroids help you add muscle mass quickly or improve the density of your muscles. But they carry a huge risk, often leading to a bevy of unwanted side effects.
The good news is that there is a legal alternative. Use a trusted supplier like Crazy Mass. We sell a range of safe supplements. They replicate the effects of dangerous steroids without the hurtful side effects. Plus, they use natural ingredients and are illegal, so you don’t have to worry about being banned from competition after failing a drug test. Everything is FDA-approved. No shady black-market labs here.
What Are The Key Differences Between Weight Lifting And Bodybuilding?
Weightlifting requires fewer reps while using heavier weights. When compared to bodybuilding, there are more rest days and there is less exercise variety. Bodybuilding necessitates several lifestyle changes like requiring you to closely monitor your diet.
Now that we have a better idea of what each discipline involves, let’s dig deeper into what separates them.
Training Hours
Weightlifting often requires exercises that will push you to your limits. This is the only way for you to strain the muscles to get them to grow. Because of this, you might find yourself continually pushing the maximum amount of weight that you lift. On an easier day, you might do the same type of workout, but using lighter weights, to reduce the strain you experience.
This approach will require you to give yourself a longer recovery time. Two to three days of intense workouts per week. Five to seven days of rest or lighter workout sessions. Remember, pushing yourself too hard will result in injury. This is a bigger risk for weightlifters than bodybuilders. Heavier weights mean more muscle strain.
By comparison, bodybuilders spend a lot more time in the gym. They focus on a wider collection of muscles. By isolating each muscle group, there is less chance of overstraining. Each muscle group can be targeted twice a week. Fewer rest days are needed.
Types Of Exercises Performed
Weightlifters tend to have less variety in their workouts. They focus on the same handful of exercises. These tend to be performed repeatedly, allowing you to increase the amount of weight you can comfortably lift. I know it sounds a bit boring. But you can spice your routine. For example, some weightlifters also prefer to do cardio instead of having a rest day.
Bodybuilders isolate the muscle groups they target. As a result, they tend to have a wider array of exercises that they can perform. There’s also more scope for using the machines as part of
the workout, rather than relying solely on weights.
Ease of Learning
It is easier to pick up the basics of weightlifting. Just master a handful of exercises. Check your technique so you don’t hurt yourself. Follow the same routine, continually increasing the amount of weight that you can lift. Rinse and repeat, keeping track of your progress. Easy. You can learn the basics in a few hours.
On the other hand, there’s more for bodybuilders to learn. You need to get the right mix of exercises. But that’s not all. Consider your diet. You need to give yourself the right amount of protein to build muscle while cutting down on fat to show off your muscle. Getting close to a competition? Be prepared to switch your routine to go from building muscle to burning fat to best show off your gains.
Intensity In the Gym
To succeed in both of these disciplines, you will need to be willing to push yourself hard. What this looks like will vary.
Bodybuilding will need you to spend more time in the gym. Expect to do a wider array of exercises. Use lower weights. Perform more reps to compensate. As a result, you can lower the recovery period needed. Because of this, bodybuilders can hit the gym every day. Each day you’ll target another muscle group.
On the other hand, weight lifters are expected to put their most into every session. They’ll do fewer reps. But the weights will be much higher, to increase the strain placed on the muscle and supercharge growth. They go to the gym once every few days.
Lifestyle Commitments Required
The amount of time you spend in the gym is only part of the overall lifestyle commitment you will be making. When you commit to bodybuilding, you are also committing to a larger regime. You’ll have
to be careful about your nutrition, so you keep your body in ideal shape. This is especially important as you prepare for a competition. Known as the cutting period, you’ll have to spend 12 weeks trying to lose weight while maintaining muscle mass. Each meal is carefully calibrated to help you achieve this goal. Big commitment. But, if done right, jaw-dropping results.
Weightlifters also have to watch what they eat but to a lesser extent. To gain muscle you need to make sure that you have enough protein. Nutritional shakes or protein bars can help with this. Sometimes, weightlifters can also use steroids. Increasing muscle mass and boosting gym performance can be too appealing to resist. But, before you go down this dangerous route, consider using a safe alternative from Crazy Mass instead. Our supplements are both safe and effective.
Is It Easier For A Beginner To Learn Bodybuilding Or Weightlifting?
Weightlifting is considered more accessible than bodybuilding. There are fewer exercises to learn and there is less emphasis placed on diet and nutrition. Though both require some guidance, so beginners can ensure they are using the correct form.
In this area, weightlifting gains a huge advantage. Beginners can easily pick up the basics. There is a limited range of exercises, all of which are fairly simple to grasp. As we just learned, you don’t need to make as much of a lifestyle commitment.
Both of these disciplines have strong fanbases, both online and at the gym. If you run into any problems or have any questions, they can help you. And there’s a ton of reference material, from books and forum posts to YouTube videos. Just make sure to stick to knowledge sources. Listen to the BS ‘gurus’; you’ll usually get injured.
Which Approach Is Best For You?
This is a personal question. As we mentioned, it depends on what you want to get out of it. But there are a few things you should think about when making this decision. First, how much time do you have to dedicate to the gym? If you only want to go a few days a week, weightlifting is best. Want to have a daily workout? Bodybuilding might be better.
Secondly, how much of a lifestyle change do you want? Some people might not be ready to commit to the dietary control that successful bodybuilding requires. Most importantly, think about what you want to gain from the experience. Both will grow your confidence. But they go about it in different ways. Weightlifting will give you strength. Bodybuilding will give you a toned beach body.
Conclusion
Both bodybuilding and weightlifting can produce incredible results. Both can bring a lot of happiness and cause your confidence to blossom. The only question is what approach you want to
focus on. There’s no pressure. You don’t have to decide on the spot. If you’re still unsure, have a go at both. See which one resonates the most. Or you might want to incorporate principles from both approaches into your workout routine. It’s your body, you get to decide how to sculpt it.
Gary David is the founder and CEO of CrazyMass, one of the nation’s leading supplement companies. Before starting CrazyMass in 2006, Gary was a bodybuilder and personal trainer for several gyms throughout Northwest Michigan, helping clients meet their fitness goals. Gary happily worked in this profession for over 15 years. He saw that most weight gaining products to increase muscle were made with ingredients that were dangerous or of poor quality. He knew there was a safer and healthier way to do this, so he created a special blend of herbs, amino acids, and nutrients to help bodybuilders slim down and gain muscle.
Although Gary no longer participates in bodybuilding competitions, he continues to be involved in the community, helping others prep for shows and attending events where he can advertise CrazyMass products. When Gary isn’t working long hours, he likes to spend his time working out at the gym, boating on Lake Michigan, traveling the trails around Northern Michigan by four-wheeler, and spending time with his family. He also loves to take a yearly trip to Europe with his wife and children.