What do you guys train for size? or strength? or both?

[JP1994]

I'm curious what you guys train for. I train for both, mainly size, but strength is what I want to.

I just want to know what you guys train for most, and how successful you have been.

[David]

In my case, both.

I need strength for my job since at any given time I might find myself in a physical altercation with a violent felon (and have hundreds of times).

I want size because most of my life I've been on the thin side and only since I've been lifting the last 3 1/2 years have I been in the 'looks good' side of things.

Fortunately both can be trained for simultaneously. How successful have I been? Well, I've not arrived yet where I'd like to be, but that is the fun of it i.e putting in the sweat equity. But over the last 3 1/2 years I've gained 30+ pounds, lift heavier than when I was half my age and get compliments on my looks.

So far so good

[Shoke]

i train mainly for overall health and a bit of strength/aesthetics. Don't need to be overly strong for my job, nor do I need or want to be massive.

[Anomander]

err yeh a bit of both for me but mainly the size thing. my lifts have improved substantially on 5 x 5 other than my bench which is up a few kilos but i weigh around 200 pounds atm which is more than ive ever weighed. Im going to cut soon so i think its mainly aesthetics

[Wellhairedbeast]

Strength, Performance, Health

And to be an adult male. Which incidentally i am... in terms of bodyweight
...Image wise you could say 70sbig

[thefinalsql]

Already have the size, just trying to get rid of the fat so I can see it

I pick strength. I have learned through this experience that being big does not mean you are strong.

[bigandstrong]

My goal is both BIG and STRONG.

I've met many a man who were strong but didn't look it. I've also met a few muscle Mary's. IMPO when you shake a man's hand you get a good sense if he really is strong or the muscles are just for show.

And this is honestly just my opinion which for the record rates for very little but BIG garners more respect in society. But on the flip side you'd want the strength to back it up if you're called on to demonstrate that strength.

[kilo1]

I train for strength, size is something that comes along as a fortunate, but not really intended side effect

[wsuwarrior]

I train for strength but obviously size is going to come with it. I am going to be a police officer so obviously I need the strength to be able to manipulate another humans body, and size wouldnt hurt to make people think twice about trying anything in the first place. Im only at 175 lbs now, bumping that up to 190-200 wouldnt hurt matters.

[Sam277]

I'd like to say strength, because i like lifting heavier weights than other people, and genuinely care about my numbers.

However, i'm a vain bastard, and i only want to get a medical degree, hardly a physical career path... so yeah. [Edit]: Actually, my love for lifting more is probably just ego and vanity anyway.

I just wanna be jacked.

[jakemcmillan]

I'm a powerlifter, but I also like to look good. I'm not going to become one of those fat-asses just for the sake of strength.... plus I care about health. Pretty much every man wants bigger muscles.

[rafaerusan]

Strength and muscle definition. I don't want to be big at all.

[WhiteGorilla]

I think that if you train for strength, then you're going to get bigger than if you train bodybuilding style (if you're a beginner or intermediate). I mean all your lifts go up by 100lbs then you'll be bigger unless you actually try to maintain weight or cut. I think that most people who train for strength are training for size as well, unless of course you make an effort to maintain.

I train for both

[Portillo]

I want to be muscly and big like a pro bodybuilder.

[mpetry]

train for strength, eat for size. in my opinion, this is the best plan for a beginner/intermediate. check out http://www.70sbig.com to see some of the guys who train at rip's gym. these guys train for strength but most of them are pretty big as well (not body builder type big just big and solid).