“The common denominator between people who are ridiculously strong but might not look it is that they know how to create tension throughout their entire body when they lift,” says Davidson, Ph. D. training director at Peak Performance in New York City. Getting tense “works” due to a phenomenon called irradiation.
By combining data from 24 separate studies, the study concludes that genetic differences are responsible for 72% of the variation in outcomes for people using an identical strength training regimen. Genetic variants are linked to 44% of the differences seen following cardiovascular fitness exercises.
There are other factors that go into the strength of a person. Other factors include: efficiency of the muscle fibers, limb length, technique and body weight. By taking all these into account, it's easy for a person who doesn't look strong to be stronger than someone who is much more built.
“People that have a higher percentage of fast twitch muscle fibers have a greater capacity to produce more force,” Buresh says. Fast twitch fibers also have a greater potential to get big. THE BOTTOM LINE: Yes, it is possible to be strong—and to get stronger—without having enormous muscles.
Genetics- Some people have the genetics to be slim and still be very strong. Muscle to fat ratio- A lean muscular person will be stronger than a skinny fat person. Training techniques- There are certain ways to train by which you can get stronger without getting bigger.
With specific diets and workouts, one can gain strength without significant mass, maintaining a slim but strong physique.
Natural selection suggests that women are often more attracted to men who increase the likelihood of their offspring's survival. And skinny guys may fit that bill.
Heavier people not only have more fat mass but also more fat-free mass, likely making them stronger (in absolute sense) compared to normal-weight people. Heavier people are more positive about strength exercises compared to (1) normal-weight people and (2) aerobic exercises.
It is well-known that body size and strength go hand in hand. The larger the body size, the greater the strength. Larger people can produce more force. A better way to answer this question is to compare people of different sizes by comparing muscle mass.
Muscle Belly to Tendon Ratio
Of course, it makes sense that someone who is taller can potentially pack more muscle on their frame before they run out of 'space'. Thus it's true that many tall people are naturally stronger and especially when it comes to pushing challenges that allow them to involve their size.
The final reason you're seeing strength gains vs hypertrophy gains is VERY common. But is, thankfully, the easiest to fix. And it's none other than: you're simply not eating enough. I was guilty of this when I first started training - and struggled to see noticeable growth.
Strength Outweighs Appearance
Being jacked doesn't mean you're strong, and being strong doesn't necessarily make you jacked. When put side by side, being strong will ALWAYS be more favorable in terms of function, performance, and ability.
There are certain things that are clear indicators of a high level of physical strength—like being able to run a six-minute mile, bench press 275 lbs, or do 30 pull-ups without breaking a sweat.
The best-studied genes associated with athletic performance are ACTN3 and ACE. These genes influence the fiber type that makes up muscles, and they have been linked to strength and endurance.
People with a variant in both copies of the MSTN gene in each cell (homozygotes) have significantly increased muscle mass and strength. People with a variant in one copy of the MSTN gene in each cell (heterozygotes) also have increased muscle bulk, but to a lesser degree.
Calves. Calf muscles are also considered as one of the most difficult to grow in the gym, to the point where many people give up trying.
Several factors, like hormones and genes, control muscle mass and strength, and in several instances, these favor females. In absolute terms, men do build more muscle mass.
More fat = more muscle
Bigger people tend to be stronger than thin people, according to research, making them better at strength exercises such as weight lifting. That's because, in addition to having more fat tissue, they have more muscle mass, too. This is true for fat people of all ages, from youth to old age.
People who are overweight do not only have more fat mass but also more fat-free mass [7]. With that, people who are overweight or obese are likely to have more muscle mass and to be stronger compared to people who are not overweight.
US men aged between 20–34 can grip 98 pounds of force. Self-reported beginners to lifting weights said they could: Bench press: 85kg (187 pounds) Squat: 102kg (225 pounds)
Researchers at Griffith University in Queensland examined what factors most influenced female attraction to males and found that physical strength reigned supreme.
After the yearlong study, findings showed that heavier men with obvious bellies were able to last for an average of 7.3 minutes in bed, while thinner men barely lasted for two minutes, being more likely to suffer from premature ejaculation.
Looking up to someone literally may translate in the unconscious brain to looking up person figuratively. Also, tall men may give women a sense of being protected by a more powerful person. Studies show that tall men are seen as leaders and are elected to office more often than shorter men who run against them.