PL'ing is seeing a new popularity?

[x11]

Is it just me or are you seeing more new guys taking up the sport/training??

My gym invested money to set up for x-fit classes and it was huge. I was the only guy on the power cage, now there be like 3 groups of guys working in on it and the cross fit is empty.

I never competed but me and these new guys are considering our first meet in April. None of us have a clue what to do at a meet or how it's organised and there are no other meets nearby to watch what to do.

Can you just enter and do it?

I was alone with this shit now I got a training crew and social scene. We gonna have our own unofficial comp next Friday to log our max lifts.

 

[theprodgicalson]

Is it just me or are you seeing more new guys taking up the sport/training??

My gym invested money to set up for x-fit classes and it was huge. I was the only guy on the power cage, now there be like 3 groups of guys working in on it and the cross fit is empty.

I never competed but me and these new guys are considering our first meet in April. None of us have a clue what to do at a meet or how it's organised and there are no other meets nearby to watch what to do.

Can you just enter and do it?

I was alone with this shit now I got a training crew and social scene. We gonna have our own unofficial comp next Friday to log our max lifts.

Yeah man just sign up for the meet and show up! You have to register with the federation that is hosting the meet. So do that first then sign up for the meet. USPA fees for the year is $60 and meets around around $50-$80. Ever other federation is about he same price wise.

If you look at the top of this forum there is a sticky Your First Meet

read that, lots of good info in there.

I would recommend finding a program to run into the meet so that you peak properly. A proper peak, for me personally, leaves me a lot stronger than just going in on an average day and maxing out. if you need help finding a program, let us know how many weeks how have until the meet and there are quite a few guys here that would be willing to help out.

 

[x11]

Thanks for link and info. Downloaded the 5x5 app. It's simple to follow so I will go with it for a program.

 

[theSilence]

I really liked the 5x5 program but I didn’t feel like it prepared me well enough for a meet. I felt like the every other day heavy squats took a lot out of me. I preferred squat twice a week, one day heavy and the other for more hypertrophy training.
It’s a great program to help get you to the start of a meet prep program though. Just my opinion though.

 

[x11]

What did you switch to for meet prep?

I just like the simplicity of 5x5, it does change after 12 weeks to other programs...even lower reps tho lol.

Just wanna prove I can stick to something.

 

[theSilence]

To be honest, I don’t follow a normal PL meet prep program. I don’t have the drive to follow programs that closely. What has worked for me is something like, 60%x7-8 reps for 3-4 sets, 80%x3-5 reps for 3-4 sets, 70%-6-7 reps for 3-5 sets, 90%x as many as you can for 3 sets. Each percent is a week of the main three with support work on non main lift days. So week 1, on my swuat day work up to 60% for a full set (7-8 reps for 3-4 sets). Basically a light day to get started. Then support work on that day. Then on next main lift do bench, and so on.

I found that for me, it helps. Before this I usually do spit workouts throughout the week with one day really heavy low rep, then one day light high rep for each main lift. That way I never max out and am recovered enough by the next week to lift heavy again.

 

[x11]

Interesting, your own program or do you have link to a source?

 

[theSilence]

Just something I came up with that worked for me. I have seen programs similar but I don’t have links to them, sorry. I’ll look and send over if i find them though

 

[x11]

K, the T-nation article in another thread mentioned how BB'ers that go to the gym with zero program and just train whatever feels good on the day, biofeedback etc.

 

[theSilence]

Ya I’m not that minimal. I do have at least an idea what I want to train. The goal at the end of the day isn’t what you look like, but that the muscles your training are stronger than they were the week before. Lol. I do a B.B. workout routine when not in any type of prep. Just so I don’t look like complete crap.

 

[theSilence]

As for the popularity, I would agree over the last year I have seen a surge of people at the meets as well as quite a few people in and out of the PL gyms I go to. Not many stick around for long but I would definitely say there is more ‘interest’ than a few years ago.
Maybe people are starting to realize how much fun it is?

 

[x11]

I think people been spooked by the deaths of their BB idols, crossfit lost it's novelty factor, physique has become too competitive and drug related for the shred.

PL is IMO more social and supportive crowd, it's all about simple achievable goals ie adding an extra 5 lbs to a lift and overcoming physical and mental barriers in a objective way that does not require a judges subjective opinion of you and you can do an excellent workout in 45 minutes, real simple programming for beginners, eat whatever the fuck you want whenever you want and the health benefits cross over to every sport and general health.

PL has taught me so much about good posture (pelvic tilt etc), and just how to sit, walk, eat, move etc and generally how to look after your joints and ligaments for long term health....why wouldn't it get popular.

 

[theSilence]

Agreed. I wouldn’t say it’s easier by any means, just a lot less strict. Plus it’s nice to be strong.
Meets are really great regarding the social aspect. I have never been to a meet where everyone isn’t socializing. Doesn’t matter if someone is stronger, or is still trying to fill out a singlet, everyone is there to have fun and maybe learn something new. Every once in a while I run into a dick head trying to prove something to everyone else, but it’s all good. Training and competition are always a good time to catch up with people. Plus the more meets you go to, the more people you will start to see over and over again, which is pretty cool.

 

[x11]

I don't mix well socially but now I got a social scene of people all tryna support each other, never had that in 50 years on the planet. Now I got hot PL women in their 20's with thick, tight butts talking to me in the store about their totals and shit, hell yeah.

 

[johntt44]

Lifting heavier and heavier is how I challenge myself from week to week. One more rep here, 5 more lbs there. I absolutely love it!

 

[theSilence]

The sexy PL women with thick tight butts make up about 75% of the reason I love PL. haha

But meets definitely make you more social, that’s for sure. It’s just a natural conversation with people doing a common activity like you said. And it really is great. I’m not going to ask you where you live, but you can go to the USAPL or other fed sites and get a list of all the meets. I’m not sure if powerliftingwatch.com is being updated regularly but that could be a good resource as well.

 

[Ironlyfe80]

I'm definitely not the strongest guy ever, but Im definitely the strongest guy at my gym. All the girls start staring when I start throwing around heavy weights.

 

[RodgerThat]

I'm definitely not the strongest guy ever, but Im definitely the strongest guy at my gym. All the girls start staring when I start throwing around heavy weights.

Really? Cause never once have he girls even known how much weight I’m lifting but I do have a possy of guys that get giddy when I lift weights with them. Lifting heavy does not get girls IMO

 

[Ironlyfe80]

Really? Cause never once have he girls even known how much weight I’m lifting but I do have a possy of guys that get giddy when I lift weights with them. Lifting heavy does not get girls IMO

Oh the guys point and stare too, lol. It could just be that I look like Shrek and they see a bar full of weights and are bewildered by what they see.

 

[Johnny442]

Hell, there’s no women in my gym, unless their husbands are there training with them!