Last updated on August 20, 2020
Question:
Lately, I’ve been wanting to take up weight-lifting. But a certain way of lifting. I don’t want to get massive like a bodybuilder, but I definitely want to put on some muscle in my arms and shoulders. Is there a certain name for this kind of training? I think I’ve heard it before, though I can’t remember what it was called.
Answer:
I’ve generally heard it called strength training. Sometimes people talk about sports-specific weight training where you do routines that focus on muscles you use in your particular sport.
The difference between bodybuilding and strength training is a matter of degree. You will bulk up with most weightlifting, but if you aren’t doing a huge number of repetitions on a wide variety of muscles, you won’t be looking like a bodybuilder. In addition, a bodybuilder has to keep his weight down to keep his body at the minimum percent body fat in order to make his muscle definition stand out. You probably won’t want to be that fanatical about your weight.