Guys, who here works out? I have questions about actual strength?

[DanHart]

So, I've been observing this phenomenon when it comes to strength :

I've seen weak-looking guys who can do more push ups than guys from whom I can tell they work out.
I have heard that this hsa something to do with one's muscle fibers.
You probably all know Shao Lin monks who can push their body weight using just there middle fingers for example- they look weak but seem pretty strong.

About me : people often think I'm strong because of my mesomorph build and height (6'3) even though I'm lean.
I do archery and have to draw back 80 lbs for each shot. - I've seen guys who are visibly stronger than me but who can't do this , they're only able to pull back 60 lbs most of the time. ( I can do this all day long, they can only do this for a few hours )

What's going on here?

Updates

+1 y

Plus, you probably all know those hollister models who are ripped and look very fit - do you think they are physically strong? I don't think so because their muscles are only meant to make them look good.

[AdamThomas]

There are fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibres. Fast twitch fibres are much more powerful but for a short amount of time, with a limited potential for growth. Slow twitch fibres on the other hand are not as powerful but they can work for a lot longer, and they have a lot of potential for growth.

The way you train affects your body differently. A powerlifter trains for strength, a bodybuilder trains for size. Two different styles of training. Powerlifters lift heavy weights for low reps (1-5), bodybuilders lift moderate weight for (10-12). The difference is that powerlifters mainly train fast twitch - these fibres are only activated with heavy loads - and they lift as fast as they can. Bodybuilders mainly train slow twitch, they don't need heavier loads, especially when muscle growth depends on time under tension - 10 slow reps means more time under tension than a powerlifter's heavy but fast 3 reps.

Also, the average man only uses around 30% of his muscle fibres, which is the same in a lot of bodybuilders too - they're only stronger than the average man because they have more muscle fibres thus their 30% is bigger. A powerlifter uses around 90% of their muscle fibres - the way they train teaches their muscles to recruit more fibres to produce more force as opposed to just building bigger muscles. So a powerlifter can be 3x smaller than a bodybuilder but just as strong.

So basically you can't judge it by looks, it depends on how they train. Most bodybuilder have a low power to weight ratio in comparison to powerlifters, Olympic lifters and probably even gymnasts.

[JakeyPanda]

Well said. You know your stuff.

[AdamThomas]

Thanks for MH :)

[MyNameIsJonas]

There is a big difference. Amount of muscle does not have as much to do with it as

#1 Strong movement patterns. THIS IS BUILT BY THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. You body is building the pattern of movement into your brain. Just like the pattern you have built with the bow.

#2 Balanced strength. Are whole bodys are counter to another. Push and pulling for example. You need a strong and balanced back to build a good foundation to push (push up, Over head press, Bench press) Others have weakness in certain areas of the hips or leg muscles that inhibit mobility and function. Over strength of a certain group with neglect to another can create imbalance. Look up Kyphosis or Hyper Lower doses.

What I'm going to suggest to you (and what i do) Don't worry about muscle at all... Build strong patterns of movement! Only do compound movements.

Do Clean and jerks. Do pull ups, do sprints, Do weighted hikes, do deadlifts, do hand stand push ups... You will build muscle as its needed to maintain these functional movements.

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

They are hypertrophy training and using a limited range of motion while they are doing it--they aren't building functional strength. Too many isolation exercises and body building parameters, not enough compound movements with strength training parameters or enough training in functional movement patterns. There are breaks and weaknesses in their kinetic chains.

[DanHart]

Who are you referring to? The models or the Shao Lin monks?

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

I was referring to guys who look like they are strong but actually aren't.

[DanHart]

Thanks ! I honestly see no point in just looking strong but being weak in reality xD

Is the opposite actually possible too? A regular-looking guy who is as strong as a bear?

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

Yes it is possible. Of course, having more muscle gives you a higher cap of strength too, so you ideally want to train for both size and strength.

Really, you can train your body to look and function however you want. Learn the science of exercise, learn about your biology and anatomy, nutrition, etc, and then you can apply the art of shaping your body to your unique vision of who you want to be.

[DanHart]

Aweseom, thank you very much. I'll probably give it a shot !

[muspelhem_5]

Generally, I just imagine the body adapts to what you use it for, as far as possible.

Then there is also something about people having different amounts of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers depending on their genes.

Have you looked into calisthenics, because those guys are really strong too.

[DanHart]

thanks man, no i have not. i will though ! I've talked to a guy who' into body building recently ( he's not overly muscular like most body builders , but he says anyone could beat the hell out of those Hollister models. Their muscles are fake according to him. They just hunger so they'll show.

[muspelhem_5]

I see, that is the same thing I read on a calisthenics page. Cool that you're open to new stuff. Maybe check this out:

https://pccblog.dragondoor.com/

Something else: I recently went on the slow carb diet, and my muscles feel completely different, basically I just feel full of power a lot of the time:

fourhourworkweek.com/.../

[kheserthorpe]

Note that push-ups are a body weight exercise hence power vs weight comes into play. Also once you can do more than say 20 it's more about endurance than maximum strength.

The motion to draw a bow uses very specific muscles that most people don't develop (not just body builders - most athletes don't develop that muscle all that much)

I imagine the hollister guys use a bunch of steroids then do whatever exercise wise.

[BleachedBurgundy]

Bigger guys can pull more. What you say makes no sense unless the pulling muscle in particular is weaker than yours.

Skinny guys have the endurance muscle. Also, they're lighter.

[DanHart]

oh, I hadn't known that. I'm a total newbie when it comes to this matter.

[BleachedBurgundy]

you need the MISC

[AestheticsFtw]

all fitness models are on steroids like i am, and your strong because your muscles are use to it

[DanHart]

Your arms look pretty strong. How tall are you? They make you look somewhat short in my opinion.

[AestheticsFtw]

thanks, i am 5'9, the pic does make me look small though

[DanHart]

Steroids will stunt your growth ! I am 6'3 at 19 and still growing and developing, I'm not a grown man yet. I have long arms and I'm not certain whether having arms like you will look good on me. I also have a mesomorph body type. It would be too much for me... :/

[AestheticsFtw]

lol i was only joking about steroids, although i will consider them in a few years, your tall as fuck which means you will have to put on a lot of size to look good... which isn't a bad thing since you will then look better than 90% of short guys that workout

[DanHart]

I'm German, so being tall is nothing out of the ordinary on me. I have a long torso and wear 34 inch jeans ( 34 width) and L or XL shirts. ( depends on the brand). I can eat as much as I want and still won't gain weight. I eat normally though. I'd need to find a diet that is suitable for me maybe. I am a total newbie to all this and don't know where to begin and do not want generic advice from the internet...

[DanHart]

I'd have to go a long long way to achieve something reasonable in this field I think...

[Tokana]

It all depends on what you're training for.

Bodybuilder training for beauty and want to maximize muscle size
Powerlifters train for strength and want to be stronger

Whatever you train your muscles to do it will become better at it.