OK. Ask that question to a "bodybuilder" or a "weightlifter" and you might get a load of an answer. While it is accurate that bodybuilders and weightlifters will train with weights - they are two very unlike activities, with two varying and distinct goals to achieve, particularly when we are discussing them on the professional or semi-professional competitive level.

A professional or competitive bodybuilder is mostly concerned with appearance. They are striving for an complete body images that displays off a hard and lean and defined muscle mass to its greatest visual looks. A weightlifter on the other hand is chiefly with lifting weights to develop muscle and increase strength. Now each of these athletic endeavors use weight and strength training and that is where these is crossover, and very likely the cause for much of the discussion. No matter which way a person works out, and by working out we mean lifestyle, and most especially as this relates to diet and nutrition, will be the most definite departure point between "weightlifters" and "bodybuilders."

Lose Weight

The uttermost goal in a bodybuilding competition is definition, and definition as defined in the bodybuilding world of competition means the most muscle and least amount of fat. Bodybuilders strive for zero body fat, and while this may not be attainable, hordes of competitive bodybuilders have amounts of body fat in the two-four percent range. However this is of a far less of a worry to a weightlifter. A weightlifter especially a highly competitive weightlifter wins his competition by lifting the greatest weight - end of discussion. So he will workout each specific muscle group to maximizeincrease the strength in the specific areas of their competition. Putting it in other words, the muscles that are most important during a Snatch or Deadlift competition. For the competitive bodybuilder, participating a competition has little to do with or how much you can lift, but your overall looks. All the muscles on a competitive bodybuilder should appear symmetrical, and proportional, therefore they must work out all muscle parts of the body evenly.

Now if you are not planning on competing in either sport the distinction may not really be that important to you. However, the discussion outlines how big it is to clearly pinpointyour goals as to the purpose you are lifting weights. Are you looking to improve physique? Maximize your strength and stamina? Or maybe a little of both? If you don't plan on being a competitor, it matters less what you call yourself, then what you hope to ascertain with weightlifting. When you determine what you hope to get out of a weightlifting program you can then design a series of routines, exercises and lifestyle changes to achieve these goals. Bodybuilding

Dan Farrell is the webmaster of Weight Loss And Fitness. You can read more articles and information here: http://www.healthcarerelief.info