Shot Put & Obesity

not newton wrote:

Intuitively you'd think it must related to simple mechanics: momentum, the thermodynamic law "for every reaction, there's an equal and opposite reaction."

As in, a hypothetical 140 lb runner who is equally strong as a 280 lb world-class shot putter would still only have about half the kinetic energy rotating before the throw. And if he were nonetheless able to manage a competitive throw, it'd probably knock him 10 meters back onto his ass.

The difference would be less for a 230 lb muscular but lean guy, but same principles apply.

Surely someone who's taken college physics in the last two decades could be more certain and more articulate about this.

Can attest from experience that this is true. Transitioned from HJ/Distance guy to Multi-eventer, and when I was lighter at the beginning (120 lbs or so) I would find myself stumbling or sliding backwards when throwing the shot. Some of that is due to poor form not generating enough forward lean or aggressiveness, but as weight increses I have experienced less and less of this phenomenon.

The throws need to be combined into a multi event. Nobody cares about them on their own but I'd watch the throwathon.

bosseman wrote:

The throws need to be combined into a multi event. Nobody cares about them on their own but I'd watch the throwathon.

I'd watch if they threw handgrenades or horsec0ck.

Or if they threw this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_RUDH9sIdg

Straight up brute power.

Those guys are always "fat" - shot, offensive linemen, strongest man competitions, power lifters, etc.

Brute force, mass, girth, country strong. All of those things I am not.

Brian Oldfield and Randy Matson didn't have extra weight.

bosseman wrote:

The throws need to be combined into a multi event. Nobody cares about them on their own but I'd watch the throwathon.

Enter the Highland games, the event to save athletics!

fdsljkf;ads wrote:

An example I can think of as powerlifters. The strongest men in the world (see, for example, Andy Bolten

http://www.propeptide.com/gif/bolton-shrugs-340kg-8reps.jpg

) have the "fat" look. Whereas their bodybuilding counterparts, who are certainly strong but usually not AS strong, are leaner.

The additional fat and fluids in between the muscle tissue, ligaments, and joints seems to aid in the production of brute power, whether one is deadlifting or thowing the heavy shot or hammer.

Maybe runningart can chime in?

Are you sure the strongest have the "fat look"?

Biggest raw deadlift in the world w/o belt...

Blah Blah Blah. wrote:

"How to recognize someone using anabolic steroids"

"1) The famous ”big gut” or distended stomach"

http://www.pwnfitness.com/how-spot-steroid-user/

That's an HGH gut and that's only obvious on lean individuals. No shotputter has a body fat percentage near a bodybuilder or a runner so a big guy doesn't mean HGH usage.

Ex Jockstrap wrote:

Blah Blah Blah. wrote:

"How to recognize someone using anabolic steroids"

"1) The famous ”big gut” or distended stomach"

http://www.pwnfitness.com/how-spot-steroid-user/

That's an HGH gut and that's only obvious on lean individuals. No shotputter has a body fat percentage near a bodybuilder or a runner so a big guy doesn't mean HGH usage.

Eating a lot helps maximize strength.

BlimeyMate wrote:

Brian Oldfield and Randy Matson didn't have extra weight.

Uhm, ever heard of steroids?

Bif Bradley wrote:

Look at NFL offensive lineman. You still think they would be better or stronger if they all didn't have huge guts. They extra mass helps. I can't explain it.

With NFL lineman its also to do with how hard they are to shift out the way. 300 is harder to move than 265, regardless of strength.

marathondude wrote:

It seems like those that put the shot at the highest level always are overweight (overfat). Why is this? Couldn't you have someone who is strong/powerful enough to be great at this event, but be height-weight proportionate? Any examples of this?

two words: Raven Saunders

Blah Blah Blah. wrote:

"How to recognize someone using anabolic steroids"

"1) The famous ”big gut” or distended stomach"

http://www.pwnfitness.com/how-spot-steroid-user/

Ive seen quite a few female sprinters at the major championships with GH gut. Rampant in Track and Field?

This. I threw a bit of shot dabbling in multi events, and as a lighter guy (145) if my timing wasn't exactly right, the force of the throw would send ME backwards, which, assuming a relative conservation of momentum, means that the shot was probably 2-3 feet shorter than it would have been if my feet had been planted more firmly in the ground, or if I was 50 pounds heavier.

not newton wrote:

Intuitively you'd think it must related to simple mechanics: momentum, the thermodynamic law "for every reaction, there's an equal and opposite reaction."

As in, a hypothetical 140 lb runner who is equally strong as a 280 lb world-class shot putter would still only have about half the kinetic energy rotating before the throw. And if he were nonetheless able to manage a competitive throw, it'd probably knock him 10 meters back onto his ass.

The difference would be less for a 230 lb muscular but lean guy, but same principles apply.

Surely someone who's taken college physics in the last two decades could be more certain and more articulate about this.

marathondude wrote:

Couldn't you have someone who is strong/powerful enough to be great at this event, but be height-weight proportionate? Any examples of this?

Ulf Timmermann, Werner Günthör

Maggie Ewen is a world class hammer and shot putter and she is relatively small compared to her competitors

The way it was described in Born Strong, a strongman documentary, was that when the body is lifting so much weight, it needs the extra fat around the muscles to protect the bones from breaking. This is why Olympic style weightlifters also exhibit a similar body type.