Strength Loves Muscle <3

Walk into any commercial gym and you'll inevitably hear someone say, "I don't want to get bigger, I just want to get stronger." Here's the problem... Strength and muscle aren't the same thing, but they're very closely related. If you're trying to build the biggest squat, bench, and deadlift possible, adding quality muscle mass is one of the best investments you can make.

Bigger Muscles Produce More Force

At its core, muscle creates force. The larger the muscle's cross sectional area (essentially how thick the muscle is), the greater its potential to produce force. Think of it like this… Imagine two identical engines. One is a 4 cylinder, the other is a V8. Which one has the greater potential? The V8 of course, now that doesn't automatically make it faster. The transmission, tires, driver, gearing, and countless other variables still matter. Strength works the same way. Technique, coordination, skill, and nervous system efficiency determine how much of your available strength you can actually use, but if two lifters have equal technique and skill, the one carrying more functional muscle almost always has the higher ceiling. Muscle gives you a bigger engine.

Why Beginners Get Strong So Fast

This is where a lot of people get confused… A beginner can add 100 pounds to their squat in a few months without looking much different. That's because early strength gains are mostly neurological. Your brain gets better at recruiting muscle fibers, your technique improves, your timing becomes more efficient. You didn't build a much bigger engine, you just learned how to use the one you already had and eventually those easy gains disappear. Once your nervous system becomes efficient, the only way to keep raising your ceiling is to build more muscle.

The Ceiling Gets Higher

Imagine your current muscle mass allows you to squat 500 pounds. You spend the next year adding ten pounds of lean muscle while keeping your technique sharp, now maybe your body is capable of producing enough force for a 550 pound squat. Your nervous system still has to learn to use it, your technique still has to improve, but now your ceiling is higher. You can't expect to squat 600 pounds forever with the same amount of muscle you had when you squatted 400.

Stop Being Afraid of Weight Classes!

This is where a lot of powerlifters hold themselves back and I see it all the time. It frustrates the hell out of me. They spend years trying to stay in an arbitrary weight class. They avoid eating, they skip hypertrophy work, they panic every time the scale goes up. Meanwhile they're wondering why their total hasn't moved. Unless you're already competing at an elite level where every pound of bodyweight matters, your goal should be simple… build muscle. A stronger 220 usually comes from becoming a muscular 220, not from starving yourself to remain a small 198 forever. Most lifters would total more after spending time building muscle than constantly trying to stay light. I’ve done it myself, and coached countless others who have had success doing the same.

The Muscles Everyone Ignores

Powerlifting isn't just quads, pecs, and glutes. The small muscle groups matter too...

Biceps

Yes... Powerlifters should do curls. Your biceps help stabilize the elbow and shoulder during the descent of the bench press. A stronger bicep tendon and surrounding musculature can create a more stable platform as the bar lowers, allowing you to stay tighter and control heavier weights. They also contribute to upper back stability during squats and play an important role in deadlift durability. They're not just beach muscles believe it or not.

Rear Delts

A bigger rear delt helps build a stronger upper back. That means a more stable bench press, better squat positioning, and improved posture under heavy loads.

Triceps

Everyone knows they lock out the bench, but bigger triceps also help stabilize the elbow throughout the entire press, not just the last few inches.

Lats

Your lats act like brakes on the bench press. They control the descent, keep the bar path consistent, and create a stronger base to press from. They're equally important for keeping the bar close during the deadlift.

Calves

Often overlooked but they contribute to ankle stability during squats and provide a more solid foundation for force transfer from the ground. Will calf raises add 50 pounds to your squat? No, but every stable joint contributes to moving heavier weight.

Train Like an Athlete, Not Just a Competitor

Powerlifting is a sport. The squat, bench, and deadlift are the competition lifts, but training shouldn't only consist of the competition lifts. In this era of super high specificity programming strategies, lifters tend to fall short on the bigger picture of building quality muscle. Bodybuilders have understood something for decades, and I’m not just saying this because I’m stepping on stage in a few weeks… Build muscle first!

Powerlifters sometimes forget that lesson. If your goal is to maximize your total over the next five or ten years, spend time getting bigger. Train your arms, train your shoulders, train your upper back, train your calves, train everything.

The stronger athlete is usually the one who built the stronger body first.

Bottom Line

Muscle doesn't automatically make you strong. Skill still matters, technique still matters, practice still matters, but muscle raises your potential.

Strength is your ability to use the muscle you have. Hypertrophy increases how much muscle you have available to use. If you want the biggest total possible... Stop fearing muscle. Get jacked. Then teach that muscle how to lift heavy.

If you need help getting jacked, shoot me a message.

Are you looking for a coach? Get started today by applying for coaching here>> Contact — THE CREW (sheridanstrengthcrew.com)