gaining strength while maintaining weight

[maccaz]

Always wondered about this and its kind of relevant for me now.

 

How related are strength increases to muscle size increases? Obviously there is some connection but to what extent?

 

take myself for example, iv been floating between 105-110 for most of this year, and over this time i've put a lot of weight onto my main lifts which i think are a good measure of strength, and form hasn't changed much over that time, 

 

can i assume if staying the same weight, that i am gaining some muscle and losing some fat? or can the strength be increasing without any change to muscle mass?

 

i notice a little difference by mirror but not as much as i would expect given the strength increase

 

thoughts?

[BeastBuilder]

So many factors influence strength that it is entirely plausible to get stronger while staying same weight, even same muscle cross sectional area.

Obviously you have probably recomped a bit over that time so you've added muscle which has led to more strength, but you've also gotten better technique, better tightness so you lose less force through unnecessary movement, better neural efficiency, better muscle coordination just to name a few factors.

[reddog]

5 years powerlifting iv always maintained within 5kgs apart from the odd water cut, strength gains slow + steady

[Wookie]

Increased muscle size increases strength potential.

Increased technique is another.

Increased neural efficiency is probably where most of your gains come from.

[GyzzBrah]

Something else I need to ask because relevant to me.

 

How much do I need to eat to get where I need to be? Like by looking at my progress in my journal etc, that is based on poor diet average 2000 cals. So how far do I need to take the calories to make suitable progress, considering my height (short) and that I am not a hard gainer so I put on fat quite easily, which I dont want.

 

Increased muscle size increases strength potential.
Increased technique is another.
Increased neural efficiency is probably where most of your gains come from.

[maccaz]

Something else I need to ask because relevant to me.

 

How much do I need to eat to get where I need to be? Like by looking at my progress in my journal etc, that is based on poor diet average 2000 cals. So how far do I need to take the calories to make suitable progress, considering my height (short) and that I am not a hard gainer so I put on fat quite easily, which I dont want.

 

told u already sir

eat more if you're not getting stronger

if you are getting fat quickly eat a little less, but make sure you keep getting stronger

 

simple as this lol:

• if you are getting leaner and stronger that is good
• if you are staying the same weight and getting stronger that is good
• if you are getting heavier but not lots of fat that is good
• if you are getting a lot fatter or weaker that is bad

[soundsgood]

Well you can't really argue with that logic Maccaz lol

[maccaz]

Well you can't really argue with that logic Maccaz lol

gotta spell it out real simple so he doesnt get confused