Bodybuilding, CrossFit Or Powerlifting: Which Method Is Best For You?

Bodybuilding vs. Crossfit vs. Powerlifting

Sculpting the exact body type you’re looking for will ultimately come down to the training methods you desire. Are you looking for better conditioning and functional mobility? Or are you looking to add on muscle mass?

These are important questions to ask as you begin your fitness journey. Let’s break down which training types are best for you!

Bodybuilding

For those looking to just get swole, Bodybuilding is for you. This training method focuses on building muscle mass and is a time-tested sport that has spawned a crossover superstar like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bodybuilding means eating a lot and piling on protein in order to gain muscle mass. Certain workouts are done to achieve muscle growth. Bodybuilding is literally sculpting of the body, and there are a handful of respected bodybuilding competitions that adhere to very strict rules.

Bodybuilding is perfect for those looking to gain muscle mass, perhaps limiting functional movement and cardio but gaining strength and physique in return.

CrossFit

CrossFit is a training that focuses on functional movement in a high-intensity training program that eschews traditional exercise machines and equipment in favor of more organic forms of fitness.

CrossFit determines a person’s fitness level by their proficiency in each of the ten general physical skills, which they say are cardiovascular/respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, agility, balance, coordination, and accuracy.

CrossFit athletes will rarely have the physique of a bodybuilder, as excess muscle for the sake of it’s look doesn’t have any real functional purpose.

So, if you’re interested in better conditioning and leaner muscle mass, CrossFit is the training method for you. Often times, athletes from other sports will do CrossFit to supplement their own sports’ training.

However, if you’re instead looking for bigger muscles, you have others fitness options to consider!

Powerlifting

Powerlifting share some similarities with bodybuilding in that part of the goal is to gain muscle mass, but where bodybuilders focus on the physique, powerlifters aren’t concerned about how their body looks.

For powerlifters, the goal is to constantly be lifting heavier and heavier weights. A competitive powerlifter will not look like a bodybuilder in any way, as powerlifting will pack on muscle in a less aesthetically pleasing way.

Powerlifting is an Olympic sport, unlike bodybuilding and CrossFit.

Final Words:

So depending on your personal fitness goals, these three training methods differ greatly and offer wildly different results. If you care about how your body looks, go with bodybuilding. If you want to lift ridiculous amounts of weight, go with powerlifting. For those who seek better conditioning and more functional mobility, CrossFit is for you.