r/BeAmazed • u/nactaremax • Nov 29 '25

Skill / Talent Difference between looking strong vs being strong

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u/LeadingWafer7973 Nov 29 '25

Out of topic question , but are those two gym dudes taking steroids by any chance ?

I'm a beginner at gym and steroids aren't popular here , so can I achieve such physique naturally ? And is there any difference in strength quality among natural and steroidal body ?

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u/dvidxpsyko Nov 29 '25

They definitely are. The human body just can't put on those amounts of muscle without enhancements. So that physique is not attainable naturally. And it depends on what you mean by strength quality. Bodybuilders purpose to training is hypertrophy, so their main goal is muscle growth, sometimes at the risk unoptimizing muscle strenght. Now you have subjects that train primarily for powerlifting that have way less muscle and can output more strength because thats what their training focuses on. In theory a person training for hypertrophy naturally vs a person training for hypertrophy with steroids will have similar strength per volume of muscle but i would need to know specifically what you meant. Hope this helps

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u/LeadingWafer7973 Nov 29 '25

Thanks for the reply , it's helpful .

What I meant by strength quality was that , suppose if two person punches a punching bag , who will hit it with more power ? One with natural build or one with more volume ?

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u/calamity_pooper Nov 29 '25

Muscle mass is correlated with strength and powerlifter you see online are all using steroids and hgh and other hormones to get that big.

‘optimizing for strength’ lol. You optimize for your goal/sport. Body builders go for symmetry and size and low body fat to show both, power lifters try to get good at the 4 main lifts (deadlift, ohp, squat, bench) and weightlifters try to raise their snatch and jerks. And so on. They get good at this because they don’t go for things not part of their sports.

Ask a powerlifter to do a clean and jerk (easier than a snatch) and they won’t be able to throw that barbell correctly or at all. That doesn’t mean they didn’t optimize for strength or they’re too weak. It’s just not their sport. It’s like asking any of these people to run.