Why do many powerlifters not care about low body fat?

[PrettyLongNick]

Hi! This is my first post and while I was an on-and-off gym-goer for the last few years with focus on BB, I'm fairly new to powerlifting.
I always had the impression that powerlifters - and olympic lifters as well - often don't seem to care about their high body fat. At first glance that seems reasonable - caloric deficit hinders your gains after all.

But then I stumbled across this article and it struck me like lightning: powerliftingtowin.com/rapid-fatloss-handbook-before-and-after-results-review/
While the guy isn't world class league, he sure does know about his stuff... and while he crash-dieted while doing 2 light workouts a week, he managed to increase his total by 24 pounds!
After thinking about it, it totally makes sense: Every pound of bodyfat that you squat with is a pound you could put on your barbell instead.
Considering that he lost 31lbs fat while only gaining 24 total, technically speaking he lost strength overall. But from an ego, an aesthetic and a competitive (and that's what counts after all) viewpoint, this is a huge success, isn't it?

So, what am I missing? Why are competitive lifters not lean a.f.?

[melDorado]

Rather lift more at this weight than the same in lower class.

Brb could care less about abs
Brb eating cake

[Trolltongue]

It's not that black and white.

Most people find that as they gain weight their leverages for the squat and the bench press will improve. Also consider that, yes, you're technically moving more weight as a bigger person, but not all of that weight will be distributed in such a manner that it will place stress on your primary movers(i.e. you don't press your belly) or affect your weak points(i.e. a fat butt probably won't make your deadlift lockout harder).

I think the most important facet, though, is that being in a caloric surplus for long enough, along with smart training, can get you incredibly strong, which is what most people in strength sports want.

That said, take a look at most of the world class non-SHW lifters, the vast majority of them have a fairly low bodyfat%, and have to, to be competitive.

[NZninja101]

It's not that black and white.

Most people find that as they gain weight their leverages for the squat and the bench press will improve. Also consider that, yes, you're technically moving more weight as a bigger person, but not all of that weight will be distributed in such a manner that it will place stress on your primary movers(i.e. you don't press your belly) or affect your weak points(i.e. a fat butt probably won't make your deadlift lockout harder).

I think the most important facet, though, is that being in a caloric surplus for long enough, along with smart training, can get you incredibly strong, which is what most people in strength sports want.

That said, take a look at most of the world class non-SHW lifters, the vast majority of them have a fairly low bodyfat%, and have to, to be competitive.

This hits it on the head.


Also, the powerlifters you're more likely to have heard of are often the heaviest ones moving the most weight, and are in the heaviest weight class with no upper limit, which creates less incentive for leanness.

[retiredrunner]

Being ~10% BF while trying to hit weekly PRs sucks. Everything feels... exhausting

[KyleAaron]

Why are competitive lifters not lean a.f.?

Because it is hard to be big, and it is hard to be lean, but it is really, really hard to be big and lean.

[EasternHammer]

Hi! This is my first post and while I was an on-and-off gym-goer for the last few years with focus on BB, I'm fairly new to powerlifting.
I always had the impression that powerlifters - and olympic lifters as well - often don't seem to care about their high body fat. At first glance that seems reasonable - caloric deficit hinders your gains after all.

But then I stumbled across this article and it struck me like lightning: powerliftingtowin.com/rapid-fatloss-handbook-before-and-after-results-review/
While the guy isn't world class league, he sure does know about his stuff... and while he crash-dieted while doing 2 light workouts a week, he managed to increase his total by 24 pounds!
After thinking about it, it totally makes sense: Every pound of bodyfat that you squat with is a pound you could put on your barbell instead.
Considering that he lost 31lbs fat while only gaining 24 total, technically speaking he lost strength overall. But from an ego, an aesthetic and a competitive (and that's what counts after all) viewpoint, this is a huge success, isn't it?

So, what am I missing? Why are competitive lifters not lean a.f.?

The key in your post is the phrase "world-class league." At the very top level, the lifters are lean, excepting the supers. Pointing the finger at average gym rats and asking them "why aren't you lean+have an elite total" is like going down to the YMCA and asking the guys playing basketball "how come none of you are seven feet tall." Everything is different in the top division of every sport.

[dutchie1]

It's really what works for the athlete ... there's powerlifters out there that are jacked out of their mind (Dan Greene, Stan Efferding, Jesse Norris, Eric Lillebridge come to mind). If your looking at athletes that aren't limited by a max weight for they're weight class (SHW's) it might be in their best interest to bulk up to a heavier weight.

If you look at Bennedict Magnusson's instagram he has a post where he shows he bulked up to nearly 400lbs gaining almost 50 pounds in 12 weeks in preperation for the world deadlift challenge.

[JRMoore82]

Cause you don't get bonus points for abs.

[MonkeySlayer]

swede burns said it best, "Abs arent impressive unless your in the 250lb range. crackheads have abs. homeless people have abs"

100% agree with this. Just move some heavy weight.