Reply
Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    Registered User Bruteranger's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Age: 31
    Posts: 87
    Rep Power: 153
    Bruteranger has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    Bruteranger is offline

    Difference between strength and mass.

    I often read on these forums when people compare workout programs they often use the terms strength and mass, but I am confused as to what the difference between the two is?

    How can you get stronger and stay the same size? It was my understanding that lifting weight is directly correlated to the amount of muscle mass. If on week 1 I'm able to lift 100 lbs and two weeks later I can lift 150 lbs, havent I gained muscle mass and strength?

    How can you gain mass and not strength? Also how can you gain strength and not mass?

    May be a silly question but I find it very confusing.
    Reply With Quote

  2. #2
    Objective optimist Xuaxace's Avatar
    Join Date: Mar 2009
    Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    Age: 32
    Posts: 13,371
    Rep Power: 12583
    Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000) Xuaxace is a splendid one to behold. (+10000)
    Xuaxace is offline
    Strength is a neurological process, in which the body learns to recruit more muscle fibers. More muscle fibers being recruit = more strength.

    Adding mass and training for strength = even more strength.
    "Do not subordinate fundamental principles to minor details."

    Physiotherapy instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/dayyan.physio/
    Reply With Quote

  3. #3
    Registered User Bruteranger's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Age: 31
    Posts: 87
    Rep Power: 153
    Bruteranger has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    Bruteranger is offline
    Okay so let me get this straight:

    more mass = more strength
    but more strength doesn't necessarily require more mass?
    Reply With Quote

  4. #4
    Registered User shaneee's Avatar
    Join Date: Apr 2009
    Location: United States
    Age: 31
    Posts: 5,301
    Rep Power: 2043
    shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000) shaneee is just really nice. (+1000)
    shaneee is offline
    i'd say that you can get stronger without getting much bigger at all/even limiting it to stay in weight classes and things like that
    but you can't get much bigger at all without getting stronger
    Reply With Quote

  5. #5
    Banned whizkyy's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
    Age: 28
    Posts: 1,512
    Rep Power: 0
    whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10)
    whizkyy is offline
    It's like this

    More Mass: More Potential Strength
    More Strength: Easier to gain muscle (depending on your level of training)
    Strength training: Little mass, lots strength
    Mass Training: Lots Mass, Little Strength
    Reply With Quote

  6. #6
    {GOON SQUAD} Strength.Honor's Avatar
    Join Date: Jan 2010
    Posts: 3,037
    Rep Power: 8915
    Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000) Strength.Honor is a name known to all. (+5000)
    Strength.Honor is offline
    Originally Posted by Bruteranger View Post
    Okay so let me get this straight:

    more mass = more strength
    but more strength doesn't necessarily require more mass?
    Basically, yes.

    Originally Posted by whizkyy View Post
    It's like this

    More Mass: More Potential Strength
    More Strength: Easier to gain muscle (depending on your level of training)
    Strength training: Little mass, lots strength
    Mass Training: Lots Mass, Little Strength
    And kind of this.


    Increasing mass increases the ability to get stronger. But getting stronger does not necessarily mean you will be putting on mass. However, mass alone is not an accurate indicator of strength.
    www.bodyology.me

    "Be Audacious."
    Reply With Quote

  7. #7
    Banned blkbelt42's Avatar
    Join Date: Jun 2007
    Posts: 32,537
    Rep Power: 0
    blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000) blkbelt42 has a reputation beyond repute. Second best rank possible! (+100000)
    blkbelt42 is offline
    diet
    Reply With Quote

  8. #8
    Registered User Bruteranger's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Age: 31
    Posts: 87
    Rep Power: 153
    Bruteranger has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    Bruteranger is offline
    Originally Posted by whizkyy View Post
    It's like this

    More Strength: Easier to gain muscle (depending on your level of training)
    According to this, it makes more sense to start training strength THEN progress to mass training. Correct?
    Reply With Quote

  9. #9
    Registered User mormonpickett's Avatar
    Join Date: Apr 2008
    Location: Provo, Utah, United States
    Posts: 13,161
    Rep Power: 22252
    mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000) mormonpickett has much to be proud of. One of the best! (+20000)
    mormonpickett is offline
    to me it makes sense to train for both at once....

    like

    10, 8, 6, 4 for your sets. That's what I did like my whole first 3 years of training
    The 2 most important things to me when training are 1. The Muscle Mind Connection. and 2. Intensity


    NSCA Certified Trainer
    NPC Competitor
    Utah State Firefighter
    Reply With Quote

  10. #10
    Banned whizkyy's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
    Age: 28
    Posts: 1,512
    Rep Power: 0
    whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10) whizkyy has a little shameless behaviour in the past. (-10)
    whizkyy is offline
    Originally Posted by Bruteranger View Post
    According to this, it makes more sense to start training strength THEN progress to mass training. Correct?
    Not really, unless you want to be strong first. Because it works out longer if you take how long you train strength. I would suggest train for both...like 8-10 reps, that's what i've been doing
    Reply With Quote

  11. #11
    Registered User Bruteranger's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Age: 31
    Posts: 87
    Rep Power: 153
    Bruteranger has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    Bruteranger is offline
    The reason I ask is that I am flip flopping between All pro's beginner routine (the rep progression one) and what i'm currently doing (stronglifts 5x5).
    Reply With Quote

  12. #12
    Registered User ocarinanoob's Avatar
    Join Date: Jul 2011
    Age: 28
    Posts: 1,948
    Rep Power: 526
    ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250) ocarinanoob has a spectacular aura about. (+250)
    ocarinanoob is offline
    I'm doing stronglifts too...

    What I did was add some accessory work from the old stronglifts 5x5. These are:

    1. Pull ups
    2. Chin ups
    3. Reverse Crunches
    4. Planks
    5. Dips

    That way I might actually start looking like I lift with a strength routine!
    Goals D/S/B = 405/315/225
    Strength training only crew
    Currently cutting
    Reply With Quote

  13. #13
    Registered User Bruteranger's Avatar
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Age: 31
    Posts: 87
    Rep Power: 153
    Bruteranger has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    Bruteranger is offline
    @Ocarinanoob

    We actually started stronglifts on the same exact day
    Few questions for you:

    1. Do you add the supplementary excercises to both Workout A and B or do you split them up?
    2. How many sets/reps of each?
    3. What was your starting weight for your compound lifts? Since we started at the same time I think it'd be interesting to track and compare your progress to mine, but I started at incredibly low weight (just the barbell on most lifts) so you may be well beyond me.
    Reply With Quote

  14. #14
    Registered User XxDuramaxX's Avatar
    Join Date: Oct 2011
    Age: 33
    Posts: 24
    Rep Power: 0
    XxDuramaxX has no reputation, good or bad yet. (0)
    XxDuramaxX is offline
    Originally Posted by whizkyy View Post
    Not really, unless you want to be strong first. Because it works out longer if you take how long you train strength. I would suggest train for both...like 8-10 reps, that's what i've been doing
    Mass and strength 8-10 reps? no. 3-5 reps
    Reply With Quote

  15. #15
    Registered User SamTek's Avatar
    Join Date: Apr 2011
    Age: 28
    Posts: 752
    Rep Power: 224
    SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50) SamTek will become famous soon enough. (+50)
    SamTek is offline
    More mass = more POTENTIAL for strength, but not necessarily more strength.

    The two are unrelated. There are so many people with 18 inch arms out there with 20kg BB curls its rediculous.
    Reply With Quote

Similar Threads

  1. Difference between Strength and Muscle?
    By SephirothXR in forum Exercises
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 08-02-2010, 05:31 PM
  2. What is the difference between strength and muscle mass?
    By Michael65907 in forum Teen Bodybuilding
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-14-2010, 03:30 PM
  3. Routine for Strength AND Mass?
    By PowerTricks in forum Workout Programs
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-14-2010, 11:02 PM
  4. The Difference between Strength and Mass
    By MegaHold in forum Teen Bodybuilding
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-30-2008, 11:25 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts