The appearance of larger bellies in powerlifters, as opposed to a more muscular appearance, can be attributed to high carbohydrate and calorie intake. This diet strategy is essential to give you the energy needed to lift heavy weights throughout your training routine.

It’s about Calorie Consumption

I think it’s pretty obvious that getting “big” for the body is usually through calorie consumption.

you need eat a calorie surplus if you want to get bigger and stronger.

So if you’re wondering why you’re not packing on muscle even though you train like a fiend, it’s because of your diet and nutrition.

Powerlifters are all about muscle and strength, so it makes sense that they need to eat a large amount of calories.

In reality, they are in an almost constant state of bulking.

The heavyweight divisions of Olympic powerlifting and weightlifting, as well as World’s Strongest Man competitors, will typically feature very large bellies.

The difference between Powerlifters and Bodybuilders

When you consider a bodybuilder, they will also go through a bulking phase in the beginning.

This involves high-intensity training and eating a lot.

Basically, doing everything they can to grow as much muscle as possible.

Unfortunately, fat is part of the deal with all the extra calories.

However, a bodybuilder will usually go through a cutting phase.

This means going on a very strict diet to get rid of fat.

In fact, you’ve probably heard a lot of them bodybuilders live on chicken, broccoli and rice.

However, even an ingredient like rice is likely to take a backseat to a bodybuilder’s cutting phase.

They will also cut back on their workouts, but still do enough to maintain as much muscle mass as possible.

That’s right, the cutting phase will also deplete a lot of strength from the athlete.

Basically, they are much weaker.

Now, if we look at things from a powerlifter’s point of view, the last thing they want is to lose strength and become weaker.

Powerlifting is all about building as much raw power as possible.

This allows you to lift the heaviest loads within your capabilities.

So a powerlifter will not go through the cutting phase, especially when training for a competition.

The truth is that shifting a lot of weight will burn a lot of calories.

The solution, once again, is to consume even more calories.

You have to remember that you can eat as “clean” as you want.

But excess calories are just that. If they are not burned during your daily activities, they will be stored as fat.

However, this is of little concern to a powerlifter.

More body mass means more bar mass can be moved.

Powerlifters train with a lower volume

Another thing to consider is the overall volume of work a powerlifter does in a session.

Okay, I already mentioned that moving a lot of weight will burn a lot of calories.

However, this does not work in the same way as high volume training.

Also, let’s not forget that it’s impossible to detect body fat reduction.

But, the same cannot be said when it comes to adding body fat.

For most of us, excess calories will usually make it to our stomach.

If you’ve ever changed your training protocols, you’ve probably noticed the same thing.

Let’s say you’ve had a real concentration on hypertrophy and conditioning for a few months.

Then you decide to shift your focus to pure brute strength training.

Even if you’re lifting at a high intensity, if not more, you’ll usually notice that you’re gaining weight.

You’ll probably end up taking in more calories because your energy levels feel so depleted from your workout.

Also, even though you’re moving much heavier loads, your overall volume will drop significantly.

The type of workout can create a big belly

Now, when I talk about the “type of training” a powerlifter does, it’s not so much about the lack of cardio and ab work.

In fact, powerlifters will definitely train their abs and core.

All the movements we do originate from the core, so it is essential for a powerlifter to have a very strong core.

In fact, heavy bench presses are part of a powerlifter’s training regimen.

Yes, even when powerlifters are in a constant state of bulking, they still train their abs.

But, these are no ordinary weighted seats.

Depending on the athlete, you could be talking about doing sets of 15 reps with 300-500 lbs.

Yes, this will work your abs, but it will also build big slabs of stomach muscle.

You will also need to consider how these athletes use their weight belt.

Most of us will use a belt to stabilize the core and protect the back, a powerlifter also uses it to focus on breathing.

In very heavy squatsdeadlifts and bench presses will literally make the athlete push their stomach out as hard as possible.

The goal here is to press your stomach as hard as possible against the belt to provide extra support.

If you do it several times a day, over weeks, months and years, you will get a bigger belly.

Former powerlifter and current strength coach, Louie Simmonsonce said, “If you want a small waist, powerlifting is not your sport.”

The role of steroids

Steroids produce a big belly.

In fact, there is a term known as “good roid”although this is more for bodybuilders than powerlifters.

It is actually known as palumboism.

This is when the oblique muscle thickens and forces the rectus abdominis muscles outward.

Actually, it is not the steroids that cause this “big belly”, but other performance enhancing drugs.

These include insulin, human growth hormone, and various anabolic peptide hormones.

Having said that, the opposite can also be said about some steroids.

In fact, there are some steroids that will increase your metabolism and increase your daily energy expenditure.

This will burn calories and body fat while improving recovery so you can train harder and longer.

So, from a powerlifter’s point of view, the obvious solution to combat this “calorie burn” is to eat more.

And then we’re back to where we started: consuming more calories means more body fat.

Key learning points

• Powerlifters need to consume a large amount of calories to support their training.
• It is not common for powerlifters to eat during training sessions.
• Powerlifting training involves a lot of stomach strain. The stomach is usually “squeezed” into a weightlifting belt to help the lifter focus on breathing.
• Ab training for powerlifters involves huge weights which will build huge slabs of ab muscle, thus making the stomach bigger.
• Steroids may play a role, whether this is due to palumboism or the requirement to consume more calories.

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