Does Fat help?

T

Tom16

0
If you want to lift as much weight possible does it help to have fat? Most powerlifters that i see are quite fat but does it really help them to lift more weight?

I ask this because I am currently bulking and think that I have put on quite a bit of fat although I don't want to cut because I have a goal that i would like to meet but i was wondering if i cut and loose no muscle but loads of fat would i still loose strength?
 
Its not because they are fat to why they can power lift a lot of weight, i think they seem to have more fat because their calorie intake will be extremely high for optimal muscle growth, and fat comes along with the calorie surplus.
 
I'm pretty sure that fat helps build muscle to a small extent.

IIRC, there was a discussion here not too long ago, saying that the body likes to have an equlibrium of fat and muscle, so someone whom has for example 20% bf will be able to build muscle a bit easier than someone whom has 10% bf, and I believe 15-20% bf was said to be the best range.


But I can't see how fat could help actually lift.
 
Yeah, starcraft, I agree. Though fat doesn't contract, the body is more "relaxed" if it has some fat on it. Remember, the body will always try to be sort of fat, due to survival reasons. So if you're 20% fat and bulking, your body will be more "in the mood" for gaining muscle than if you were 10%

I also think having some fat offers a bit of extra support. Alot of people I've known who have just eaten their way up, gaining quite a bit of fat, have said that squats and such have become easier.
 
Having a little higher BF % and a higher fat diet also increases hormone production. Meaning that higher fat = Higher test, GH levels. This increases the potential for growth, recovery, and strength.

I think Karky is on to something as well. I know a lot of guys who diet down to make weight for JJ, Wrestling, BB. They all say that once their BF drops past a certain point their joints hurt more and they are much less able to handle a higher training volume.

I also know people who believe that when their BF drops below a certain point they are more susceptible to muscle tears as well. I believe this to be true.

I can say from personal experience that my strength goes up a LOT faster when my BF is higher.
 
Thanks for the replies. It seems to be quite an interesting topic.
I thought that there must be a benefit to having fat on you for lifting although then theres Scott Mendelson (biggest bench in the world) who has a six pack which is kind of strange as most other powerlifters are fat. Marius Pudianovski (spelling?) who is the worlds strongest man looks like he could be a bodybuilder aswell. Maybe its different for different people?
 
I thought rock had the biggest bench at 800 =/

Well anyway, it's not that he doesn't have fat, it's that he has a LOT of muscle, all of which is built to strength and not size.
 
:eek: I never knew that. So people like Marius Pudianovski and the other strongman competitors most probably take steroids?
 
Yeh although he has also won it like 4 years in a row:eek2:
 
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