EDIT: Actually was a 570kg total!

Background

This was my first meet! I've been training for a while, but have never felt ready to compete. Finally, I just said f*ck it, and entered this one at Titan Barbell in MA as a 90kg lifter. My best lifts were a 211kg squat, 158kg bench, and 230kg deadlift, all set two years ago and at a bodyweight of around 101kg.

Preparation

I entered this meet, started running SBS RTF, and hoping that the excitement would get me through an awesome prep. Prep sucked. Partially, I was dealing with the same issues as always: mental health issues and the resulting executive dysfunction (rapid-cycling bipolar ii) made it really difficult to keep particularly my nutrition in check. It doesn't help that I work at a bakery and get lots of free cupcakes... To make matters worse, I hurt my lower back about 4 months out while deadlifting. I didn't (yet) get it checked out, but it's caused some pretty bad sciatica. As a result, I didn't deadlift at all for 2 months and was then extremely cautious and conservative in the 8 weeks leading up to the meet. Squat also suffered somewhat. To avoid further aggravating my back, I rethought my deadlift technique, and was nervous that it'd be too new.

The week leading up to today, my back/nerve pain was worse than ever. I was truly worried that I might not feel well enough to compete, or at least to deadlift; after a day of extreme relaxation and pampering (bath bombs and facemasks are my new pre-meet ritual), I went into the meet almost pain-free (to my surprise!).

MEET DAY

I was the only competitor in the MX category, regardless of weight class, so I knew that it really didn't matter what I weighed in at. As a result, I didn't try to cut much at all. Weighed in at 91.9kg (which actually surprised me; I thought I was hovering more around 94-95).

I didn't have a coach or handler and didn't know anybody there, so I was really nervous and worried. But some saint (shout-out Mario!) saw me alone and offered to handle me. Truly a lifesaver.

SQUAT

187.5kg: easy opener. Depth was awesome (maybe a little excessive?) and the bar flew up. 3 whites.

197.5kg: felt the way a second attempt should. Depth just as good. 3 whites.

207.5kg: strength just barely wasn't there. I probably should have gone with 205. 3 reds.

BENCH

140kg: again, easy opener. Took me a while to get the start command since my heels weren't *perfectly* flat (I was new to the width of competition benches). Moved very quickly, 3 whites.

150kg: maybe a little harder than I had expected, but not bad at all. Heels were better and my technique was locked in. 3 whites.

157.5kg: as with my third squat, the strength just barely wasn't there. Certain I could have gotten 155kg, as I hit that in training two weeks ago. 3 reds.

DEADLIFT

197.5kg: flew up. I set this opener conservatively because of my injury; it was a good choice, since my confidence was up. 3 whites.

212.5kg: also very easy second. Absolutely no pain, which shocked and delighted me. 3 whites.

222.5kg: felt heavy, but smooth! If I'd actually been practicing deadlifts much in the month leading up to the meet, I probably would have felt confident with 225, but it wasn't worth it in my mind. 3 whites.

Results

Ended the day 7/9 with a 560kg (EDIT: 570kg) total. As the only MX lifter, technically I came first! But I was competing alongside the men, and I came fourth in the 100kgs there.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Holy shit, I had a ton of fun! The atmosphere was amazing, the other lifters were so kind and inspiring, and I did about as well as I could have hoped given my rocky prep. I'm really thrilled with how deadlifts went, all things considered.

I'll probably enter another meet at the tail end of 2024 or early 2025, and have a methodical, consistent prep. Shout-out once again to Mario for handling me on a whim!

Do you have a question and are:

• A novice and basically clueless by default?
• Completely incapable of using google?
• Just feeling plain stupid today and need shit explained like you're 5?

Then this is the thread FOR YOU! Don't take up valuable space on the front page and annoy the mods, ASK IT HERE and one of our resident "experts" will try and answer it. As long as it's somehow related to powerlifting then nothing is too generic, too stupid, too awful, too obvious or too repetitive. And don't be shy, we don't bite (unless we're hungry), and no one will judge you because everyone had to start somewhere and we're more than happy to help newbie lifters out.

SO FIRE AWAY WITH YOUR DUMBNESS!!!

A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

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This is the thread to post your:

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Or really anything you felt good or happy about from the last week (or even further back in time, no one's gonna stop you).

Text, images, videos, any format goes.

Let's get those good vibes flowing.

BACKGROUND

After completing my first ever meet in February https://www.reddit.com/r/powerlifting/comments/1ao1048/meet_report_power_of_love_powerlifting_america/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button I was really excited to jump back in and do another one. Gave myself a little longer than five weeks to prep this time.

MEET PREP

Still running 531. Ran two modified Leader cycles (BBS @ FSL for squat, BBB @ SSL for bench, SSL for deadlift), followed by the bastardized meet prep anchor I ran last time.

Last few weeks kinda snuck by on me. As the weather got really nice my mind wasn't really focused on the meet. Whereas the first time I spent the last couple weeks overthinking and tinkering with the numbers I wanted to hit, this time I really didn't put much thought into it and finally sat down and mapped my attempts on Friday, the day before the meet.

MEET DAY

Some time in the last week they added a bunch of kids from a local high school to the meet; instead of being capped at 24 lifters, there were 37 and a third flight. Not the end of the world but it really stretched out the day. I wasn't nervous like last time, but actually just wasn't thrilled to be there, which went away at my first lift. Meet was livestreamed again, but for some reason it was through YouTube Kids so I can't clip my lifts like last time.

SQUAT

185kg: This was my worst lift of the day. Almost lost it coming out of the hole, but recovered. Made me nervous. White/red/white.

200kg: Buried it. Felt great and brought confidence back. Three whites.

215kg: Stuck with the plan but I think 220 might have been there. New PR, so still happy. Three whites.

BENCH

110kg: Smooth lift. Just wanted to make sure I got on the board. Three whites.

120kg: Moved really well; enough that I bumped up my third attempt by an extra 2.5kg. Three whites.

132.5kg: Had failed 295lbs in my final training session which made me concerned for this lift. A little slow but smooth the whole way. Meet/comp standard PR. Three whites.

DEADLIFT

185kg: Warmups felt heavy, but this moved quickly. Three whites.

200kg: Deadlift training had been rough; this was my heaviest successful lift since my last meet. Three whites.

210kg: This one was odd. On the initial pull I tunnel-visioned and for a super-brief moment I lost hearing in my left ear. Went surprisingly well, though. New PR, Three whites.

RESULTS

Finished second out of two in my division. Had just one red light and went 9/9. Totaled 557.5 which is a 27.5kg improvement from February. New PRs all around.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Goal was to hit 1200lbs for my total and I wound up at 1229. Really happy with that. Last time I was happy with the prep and this time the prep led to similarly good results. Starting to wonder how much of the success comes from the prep and how much comes from the competition highs.

It was neat to watch the kids from the high school, six of which were girls. Several of the girls were sharing a belt and the coach had to take it on and off, lol. Fun atmosphere!

Not sure what my next step is. The thrill just wasn't there leading up to the meet this time. I wanted to experience a meet and I've done so twice. Lifting, for me, is a solo pursuit. A meet is more of a team/social environment though, and doing it by myself is a bit of a lonely endeavor. Going to take a few weeks to mess around in the gym before I make my next plan.

I hope this post is okay here! I'm currently volunteering with a University Powerlifting club in the UK that's been around for less than 2 years. We've seen quite rapid growth in the last 24 months going from just a handful of founders to 60 paying members at this moment, aswell as over a dozen athletes that qualified to represent the club at the University Championships last weekend.

I'm really looking to try and grow the club further across the board with a variety of partnerships throughout the next 12 months and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions! We already have club programmes with SBD and A7, that have generously provided prizes for our affiliated competitions.

Really appreciate any suggestions!

A thread for selling or buying any powerlifting related goods. We're now opening this to commercial interests. Include:

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OR

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or

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A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

• PRs
• Formchecks
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• General conversation with other users
• Memes, funnies, and general bollocks not appropriate to the main board
• If you have suggestions for the subreddit, let us know!
• This thread now defaults to "new" sorting.

For the purpose of fairness across timezones this thread works on a 44hr cycle.

This is the Deadlift Thread.

• Discuss technique and training methods.
• Request form checks.
• Discuss programs.
• Post your favourite lifters deadlifting.
• Talk about how much you love/hate deadlifting.

So let's say the working set for squats was 3x5 75%(295lbs) for the day, how would you warm up?

Ill go first, i warm up with dynamic stretches for hips, Wrist rotations, elbow rotations and shoulder rotations,(i got bad wrists, elbows and shoulders) take the bar and lower it all the way down to load my lower back and hammies then i do leg swings up and down and side to side, then start with Bar x 10 beltless 135lbs x5, beltless 185lbs x3 beltless 225lbs x1 Paused with belt 315lbs x1 Paused with belt Working set 3x5 with belt

Edit: the 3 lifts are always first and priority workout, then accessories after. Also added when i use belt

Asides from cutting down meet times, that is.

For discussion of:

• Eating all the food when you want to get swole
• Eating less of the food when you're too fluffy
• Diet methods and plans
• Favourite foods and recipes
• How awful dieting is

Do you like having 2-3 sweaty men shoe-horn you into polyester, canvas or denim bondage gear.

Do you like having your joints wrapped so tightly they bruise and bleed?

Do you like having your blood pressure turned up to 11 and being compressed so much that you think your head might explode?

Do you get off on enduring pain and suffering, and watching others endure it too?

Do you have a deathwish every time you get under the bar?

Yes?

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THEN WELCOME TO THE FORTNIGHTLY EQUIPPED LIFTING THREAD!!!

A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

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For the purpose of fairness across timezones this thread works on a 44hr cycle.

Discuss all aspects of training for powerlifting:

​

• Periodization
• Nutrition
• Movement selection
• Routine critiques
• etc...

There is probably more back and forth and disagreement on accessories in powerlifting than anything else. Everyone knows you need to train heavy and train the big three, but there are people who are hyper minimalist and leave the gym after squatting, and there are people who are quasi bodybuilders when it comes to accessories.

Personally, I tend to lie somewhere in-between. I typically have my main movement for the day and then have 1-2 heavy supplemental movements and then 1-2 more bodybuilding style accessories.

I'm interested to see where you guys fall on this spectrum of accessories for powerlifting.

A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

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• General conversation with other users
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• This thread now defaults to "new" sorting.

For the purpose of fairness across timezones this thread works on a 44hr cycle.

I have been powerlifting for nearly 10 years now, but ever since I have really gotten back into the swing of things after the pandemic but still have been struggling to feel as confident as I used to feel. I think part of my struggle comes from the fact I primarily lift alone/without a lifting partner, where as I used to almost always with a partner before the pandemic. Any suggestions from the solo lifters would be especially appreciated! Share your experiences and let's brainstorm solutions together!

Here you can:

• Discuss all aspects of powerlifting as it pertains to being a woman.
• Socialize with other ladies.
• If you have discussion provoking bullet points, those are welcome too.

Do you have a question and are:

• A novice and basically clueless by default?
• Completely incapable of using google?
• Just feeling plain stupid today and need shit explained like you're 5?

Then this is the thread FOR YOU! Don't take up valuable space on the front page and annoy the mods, ASK IT HERE and one of our resident "experts" will try and answer it. As long as it's somehow related to powerlifting then nothing is too generic, too stupid, too awful, too obvious or too repetitive. And don't be shy, we don't bite (unless we're hungry), and no one will judge you because everyone had to start somewhere and we're more than happy to help newbie lifters out.

SO FIRE AWAY WITH YOUR DUMBNESS!!!

Hey guys, long time reader, haven't posted much though.

A month ago I tore both quads when competing. Ironically I've coached other people through the rehab of this.

My question to you is, do you know of any powerlifters other than Ken Cooper, who have had this injury and come back to the same squat, or stronger?

Video here of the injury if anyone is interested:https://youtu.be/YLJjNxMzjt4?feature=shared

Right at the end is the video of the injury around 13.30 if you’re so inclined.

I’m 4 weeks post op today.

This is the thread to post your:

• Powerlifting accomplishments
• Training PRs
• Gym or diet related victories
• Best flexing photos
• Sweet new equipment purchases
• Gym dog or gym family photos

Or really anything you felt good or happy about from the last week (or even further back in time, no one's gonna stop you).

Text, images, videos, any format goes.

Let's get those good vibes flowing.

A sorta kinda daily open thread to use as an alternative to posting on the main board. You should post here for:

• PRs
• Formchecks
• Rudimentary discussion or questions
• General conversation with other users
• Memes, funnies, and general bollocks not appropriate to the main board
• If you have suggestions for the subreddit, let us know!
• This thread now defaults to "new" sorting.

For the purpose of fairness across timezones this thread works on a 44hr cycle.

Does anyone here actually know when the infamous Article 14 of the IPF Constitution (the "you can't compete National or above in the IPF, and also compete outside the IPF" bit) was introduced, and what the argument for introducing it was?

The most common reason I hear is "because WADA" but the closest thing to it in the actual WADA Code is Prohibited Association, and that only concerns associating with people actually serving anti-doping bans; there is nothing in the WADA Code I can see that suggests something like Article 14 is necessary.

** Monthly Meet at the Meets thread

* Share your competition schedule or find/offer a meet handler

A thread for selling or buying any powerlifting related goods. We're now opening this to commercial interests. Include:

* Wanted / Offered / Vendor

* Location

* Condition: New/Used/Parts

* Description: Accurate description of the item and elaborate on the condition

* Price: Either set a currency price, or if you're happy to swap, what item you would consider in return

​

* EG: OFFERED / USA / USED / INZER LEVER BELT. BLACK / $50

​

OR

​

* A link to an eBay, craigslist, etc

* A link to your site if a vendor

​

---

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If you can prove that you were blatantly ripped off. We will ban that person.

​

or

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A user is proved to be harassing a seller We will ban that person.

​

Other than that we are not acting as a moderators in any dispute between members and vendors. In other words use due diligence; if that person is a five year redditor that post every day in /r/powerlifting**, that's obviously preferable over a month old account name with half a dozen posts.**

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We advise you use paypal for any transactions as they will act as a third party in any dispute.