any powerlifters about?

[Julesni77]

I am due to compete in a rookie meet in 4 weeks time. I am working with my trainer and have had the worst time getting IPF approved knee sleeve to go over my massive calves finally suceeded with 5xl SBD ones😳

Have any of you lovely lifters any tips for a first time competitor?

My lifting history is I did one meet back in 2015 then stopped lifting. I came back to training at the start of 2023 with a plan to compete by the end of 2024.

Squats: opener was great, I had lifted it easy in the gym last week; I got red lighted on my second and my coach could not find out why from the referees, so we rewatched the video and we thought maybe I was so rushed and bouncy I didn’t hit depth (usually not a problem for me) so we retook it with a lot more confidence and slower and got it 👍🏼 on my third. This was +5kg PB in this new training era and 7.5kg below my lifetime PB from 2015.

Bench I got my opener but my coach said it was very rushed; I missed my second and retook and failed my third. This is where I got cross and upset because I knew my work stress had impacted my nutrition in recent weeks and that tends to hit bench first. I was not able to bench something that usually I can do confidently.

Deadlift: I was feeling battered by this point but warmups were OK so we stuck with my opener. Everything went smooth for my second and third; my third was an equal to my lifetime PB from 2015; +10kg PB on this training round and a double bodyweight deadlift. The video of my victory gesture is cute 😁

Overall a mixed day with some emotional highs and lows but lots of fun being with my team and coach. I think I came fourth out of five in my weight class. It is funny because at the end of the comp prep / peaking cycle I was thinking I’m not doing this again until the end of 2025, but I had so much fun now I am thinking I might do a spring or summer meet if my teammates are as it was a great day. I need to learn to make my nutrition and rest plans more resilient to life stresses as those are not going to go away, and to trust my setup and groove when the weights get heavy.

I also want to encourage others to go to a meet as the day out is special and you learn a lot.

@erinaceus amazing!! Well done. Sounds like overall a very successful day, and the blips are easily ironed out and you knew about in advance! Were you at Nottingham?

It is amazing how nutrition affects bench, but you know this and can thrash it next time out. Despite the challenges you did some good numbers by the sounds of it so a huge well done x

@2andadog Not Nottingham, no. London.

I am cross about the bench but we will learn for next time; maybe a nutrition plan with more accountability would help me. I think with squat I got a lot of confidence from missing a lift then returning to it and getting it, which is not a situation I do often in the gym. And deadlift was a surprising success; I’m glad I ended on a high.

Thanks mn for your support 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Double your body weight? Wow!!!! Congratulations!

How's everyone doing? How's training in the 18months of January been? 😁

January was alright for me. Returning to the gym was creaky as I took a whole month off after the comp. Might take two weeks another time.

I will not plan to complete until the second half of the year at the earliest, and probably autumn or winter. I’m in Masters 1 now so have my eyes on the QTs though it’ll take a few years.

We have added incline bench to my program since the start of the year to try to help with my bench and this makes me feel badass as you usually see gym bros doing it

How is everyone else doing? 💪🏼

ah it’s always a bit of an effort after a break! Did you feel better for it? It’s my last year before masters this year, so I’m aiming for the games in November as my first championship comp, then Europeans as a masters next year is the plan… we will see whether life agrees!

Love the incline press addition! How you finding it?

I’m a few weeks out of my next comp, pushed a few PBs this last week and did 120kg for reps squatting tonight which was new, so that’s nice! Big cut post competition though 😫😏😂😂

I felt I needed the break physically and mentally and was itching to get back by the end of the break which I feel is a good sign. It was really only the first time I did each of my workouts that everything felt effortful.

With the incline bench I find whenever I learn a new movement I wobble all over the place at first (didn’t look badass although I felt it using this new-to-me bit of kit) but after a few workouts I am more stable so ready to add some weight 💪🏼

Thats cool to hear your plan for this year and great to be squatting heavy for a new weight for reps. Hopefully we will get some good Mumsnet gainz in 2025

I have had a bumpy January I have started weight loss injections and the upshot is I have lost 10kg from my bench! My squat and deadlifts have not suffered as badly but I have not had the confidence to go super heavy. I am morbidly obese and the plan is to rectify that whilst trying to keep my protein and training up to ensure I lose mostly fat and not too much muscle - I am hoping to compete again in the autumn though! if I could match my previous total at a lower weight I would be so happy but not sure if its possible!

Ah good luck @Julesni77 with the weight loss! How have you found them? Have you got a target weight? I’ve heard it’s achievable to maintain strength, but it’s ALL the protein and keep lifting heavy as much as possible. Do you take Creatine?

Bench is a fickle little beggar, so not surprises that’s been affected. Hope all goes well and you keep your strength gains!

@erinaceus definitely a good sign when you want to get back to it!

I’m sure you weren’t as wobbly as it felt, but I know exactly what you mean 😂😂 I’ve got a lot of accessories for the rest of the week, though some reasonably heavy deads and bench tomorrow before sports massage later in the week then start a bit of a deload…

@2andadog I want to end somewhere maintainable so still 84+ I am currently 112kg I was 121kg at my last meet

I am taking creatine but could probably be more consistent with it

I suffered dreadfully with sleep apnea - am on a waiting list to be assessed for a CPAP machine but that has gone now

I also have suspected ADHD and I think lifting was my hyperfocus and now I have to rely on good old fashioned discipline as ADHD symptoms are much relived (both in a good and bad way lol)

All in all I am happier on the jabs they have given me so much freedom from obsessing over food and enable me to consistently make better choices and for ths first time in my life at the grand old age of 47 I feel that weightloss can be achievable for me

@Julesni77 sounds like a great move for you, pleased it’s working out to be a super positive experience for you 😁

I only mention Creatine as it can help massively preserve muscle mass, so good one to keep on top of too ☺️

How is everyone doing?

First comp for me for 2025 done and done. Added 12.5kg to my total which was nice, with all time PBs for Squat and Deadlift. Very happy and qualified for everything I wanted to which is a relief so early in the year.

How's everyone's training going?

@2andadog excellent - what was your total? Awesome progress!

Total was 345kg. 125 (nice to get to 2 red plates!) /60/160.

Well done. You should be able to get your bench up from 60. That's quite low given your decent squat and deadlift numbers.

Yeah my bench is hugely my weakest in all ways. My squat has another 15kg in it as it stands, i've had a few niggles so been playing it safe for a while, but ready to push on too but can rep 120kg outside of a comp.

Bench has just been a mare, so a big focus on that now (sadly! haha!)

We all have one lift that's our weakest but your squat and deadlift numbers are great!

That's brilliant work @2andadog congratulations!