Train for strength or for mass for this goal?

CF-OC_gal · 12-Oct-04, 11:24 AM

If someone decides that their ultimate goal in working out is to maximize the metabolic (calorie burning) effect of having more muscle, does that mean that muscle mass building is more important than training for strength ?

Anyone have opinions or facts about this?

I know that training for strength is going to result in some muscle hypertrophy and I know that muscle size is not a direct relationship to breaking records with strength. Genetics aside, what fires up the metabolism more, being strong or being muscular?

**Firehawk** · 12-Oct-04, 01:02 PM

Well, the more muscle you have on your body, the more calories are going to be required to maintain the muscle right?

CF-OC_gal · 12-Oct-04, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehawk

Well, the more muscle you have on your body, the more calories are going to be required to maintain the muscle right?

So you conclude it's muscle mass.

Would the different workout intensity required in training to keep you strong as opposed to those aimed at building size be significantly different with respect to calories required and effect on resting metabolism?

Lift2Live · 12-Oct-04, 03:31 PM

I'd have to say that muscle mass is going to be the way to go. Building mass is also going to increase your strength over time anyhow. Yes, you will require more calories to maintain the added muscle mass but it's not like it's going to be an exponential amount and it doesn't cancel out fat burning affects. You just have to find what your caloric maintenance level is once you are the weight you want to stay at. I don't know about the differences between strength lifters and mass lifters as far as caloric needs go though. Building mass is going to look more 'attractive' than if you were to be strength based due to the cuts added muscle creates. Strength lifters aren't always the most fit "looking" people even though they may be.

**Firehawk** · 12-Oct-04, 05:16 PM

Well, no matter if you are training for size or strenght, your intensity needs to be as high as you can get it, and higher every session if possible. As far as calories required, I think generally eating to gain muscle or eating to gain strength is probably close to the same (although I'm not sure, but it would make sense). In both cases, you want your body to be supplied with just the right calories , optimally, this would be whatever your body burned for the day, plus maybe 100-200 more.

This is why it's not very efficient to put muscle on and get rid of fat. I think some people try to cut their calories on cardio days and on weightlifting days, eat so you do'nt have a deficit, but aren't adding much fat...excess of about 200 calories.