Strength vs. Size: Difference Between Preparing for Bodybuilding Show vs. Strongman Meet

Although both the strongmen and the bodybuilders train their hardest in the gym, doing a massive range of exercises, their end goals are quite distinct. When asked, Dr. Mike Israetel responded briefly how, unlike the strongmen, bodybuilders might be the weakest when they are doing the shows and are much stronger off-season.

The exercise scientist, Dr. Mike Israetel, was featured in a video with the World’s Strongest Man, Mitchell Hooper. As the worlds of bodybuilders and Strongmen crash with each other, Israetel explains which aspects of each of these sports set them apart from each other even though the training for both roots within the walls of the gyms. Let us look at what Israetel has to say about the topic.

Mike Israetel and Mitchell Hooper discuss when bodybuilders and strongmen are the strongest

Dr. Mike Israetel explained that bodybuilding is a sport that is performative where the training process is curated with the same goal of performance in mind. He stated, “It’s a performance sport the more you can stack up, the more 5 lbs plates at the end of your leg press over the course of a whole cycle the bigger your quads will look.” Israetel also argued that, with what scientists would like to call, limit-performance, he said, “It’s just more performative it’s just a matter of showing people what you got.”

The expert scientist then went on to explain what was different in Strongmen competitions. He suggested Strongmen always go out of their way to train their maximum till the very end. He also reflected how the strongmen are often concerned with their performance as well as their respiration that is stirred with it. Israetel also argued, “You’re playing this crazy balance and you have to be your strongest ever on that day. Peaking for strong men and the amount of Psychology and Physiology that goes into it is just pushes the body really really really far.”

Expert reflects on bodybuilders having more wiggle room

When Israetel discussed bodybuilding, he explained that it’s more of a performative sport and bodybuilders typically aim to achieve the most impressive physique with minimal fatigue. Then he pointed out, “In strongman, that’s a similar thing but the peaking process looks considerably different where you do want to take some load off and be easy, but you’re not just like ah the rest is just me doing this you’re like I had to really perform in 3 days.” Israetel thus added, “Bodybuilders have a lot more wiggle room.”

Although having the same roots of massive training for each of these sports, all the athletes have their own methods of achieving their goals, but the exercising expert explained how both sports are distinctive for their own set of reasons.

READ MORE: Exercise Scientist Dr Mike Israetel Shares the Only 10 Exercises Men Need to Build Muscle