Been actively training with a coach for 6 months. 46 y/o desk jockey, 25 years removed from the gym and only now starting to feel strong in the context of the general population, and looking forward to my first meet. In 6 months I went from
squat 185 to 365
Bench 155 to 250
deads 265 to 425
Starting weight 175 lbs now 195 lbs, 17% bodyfat (electronic scale) 20% bodyfat (bod pod), 6’1" wingspan, light to med bone structure. I think I’ll hit close to 400 on squat (raw, below parallel) before the year is out, and 475 on deads (I missed a 450 pull; couldn’t lock it out, but it’s coming along). Anyway, I kinda feel like being in a structured program and having another mountain to climb have given me a second wind.
Love this shit, really enjoy smashing some iron. I know you guys are super accomplished but just wanted to say how much of a blast all this is from the perspective of an average guy.
Gotta question. At 5’9", long arms, what’s an ideal weight class? I was thinking I could lean out and compete at 181 but my trainer says no way. I’d be a weak 181 b/c of how I’m built and I’m clearly a 198 lifter.
Most likely you would perform better at 198 over the long term. I have yet to see a 181 lb powerlifter that is 5’9" competing at the national/international level. If you find one then let me know because I would love to see his lifts. If you want to break a record in the 181 weight class and aren’t too far off then go for it. It seems doable for a 24 hour weigh-in. Otherwise what is the point in possibly slowly down your strength gains to make that cut? If you want to lean out and somehow end up close to 181, that’s fine too. For a first meet you should just compete at whatever you’re at unless you really have a shot at a record or you made bets with someone.
Edit: I take back what I said about the 5’9" 181 lb powerlifter. Josh Hancott is the 2014 IPF Raw 74 kg Jr World Champion, posting a 681.5 kg (1502.7 lb) total and standing 5’9" tall. He’s definitely the exception to the rule. Regardless it’s still uncommon to see someone that tall in the 181 weight class so take that into consideration if you’re really thinking about getting to a high level. It depends on your progress once you get close to the records and while recomping.
[quote]knobby22 wrote:
At 5’9", long arms, what’s an ideal weight class? I was thinking I could lean out and compete at 181 but my trainer says no way. I’d be a weak 181 b/c of how I’m built and I’m clearly a 198 lifter.
What do y’all think?[/quote]
when your trainer said no way did he mean “never” or “not now”?
For now just keep gaining weight slowly over time. You can become “pretty strong” at 198 lbs or 220 lbs, but if you want to be truly strong at 5"9’, then go 242 lbs+ over a number of years.
Thanks. Getting into this I never realized how much height played into all of this. Then attending my first meet a few weeks ago, the 181 guys were all like 5’ to 5’6" and the 198 guys were 5’6" to 5’7" B/c of their height they look freaking jacked as hell while look a lot smaller.
My trainer said this based on my current size and how my strength has been coming along. 198 for now and maybe one day moving to 220 is what he and the other trainers talk about for me.
An 1167 raw total in the USPA gets me to Worlds as a Class 1 lifter. My short and midterm goals are to get my first meet under my belt in December, and try to nail a Class 1 total after that. I really want to get the experience of traveling with the entire powerlifting team to worlds even if I barely make the cutoff.
I missed a 450 pull three weeks ago but know I have it in me today, and I believe that my squats are just now taking off. Looking for 405/275/475 at end of year, getting me closer.
[quote]knobby22 wrote:
Thanks. Getting into this I never realized how much height played into all of this. Then attending my first meet a few weeks ago, the 181 guys were all like 5’ to 5’6" and the 198 guys were 5’6" to 5’7" B/c of their height they look freaking jacked as hell while look a lot smaller.
My trainer said this based on my current size and how my strength has been coming along. 198 for now and maybe one day moving to 220 is what he and the other trainers talk about for me.
An 1167 raw total in the USPA gets me to Worlds as a Class 1 lifter. My short and midterm goals are to get my first meet under my belt in December, and try to nail a Class 1 total after that. I really want to get the experience of traveling with the entire powerlifting team to worlds even if I barely make the cutoff.
I missed a 450 pull three weeks ago but know I have it in me today, and I believe that my squats are just now taking off. Looking for 475/405/275 at end of year, getting me closer.[/quote]
I’m 5"10 and an old fart. I have competed in the 220 class and as a fat 242. It takes a lot of work for me to get to where I can cut into the 198s and I’m pretty lean at this weight. USAPL is going to a 205 class to stay in line with the IPF weight classes. 205 is pretty much my dream weight class because I can hit it easily without to much diet work and I’m about as strong as when I lift in 220s. If I were younger and had an easier time staying lean I’d compete more regularly in the 198s.
P.S: Lifts are usually listed in this order: Squat / Bench / Deads (to coincide with order they are performed at meets).
Well it seems like your trainer has done a great job so far and knows what he’s doing so you should trust his judgment. A good trainer can remove years of learning experience that you would otherwise have to go through on your own. If you were really close to the 181 record then he would probably suggest you go for it but my guess is that it isn’t worth cutting and slowing down progress. At this rate you’re well on your way to hitting your goals so best of luck.
[quote]knobby22 wrote:
24 hour[/quote]
I normally compete at 181 and weigh about 195 so for me personally it’s definitely possible but different people react differently to water cutting. I’m not really sure as to what people are saying about slowing down progress as when I cut it only takes a week and you shouldn’t really be making much if any progress the week before a meet. Could someone correct me if I’m wrong?
At your level, there is absolutely no reason to cut weight for a powerlifting meet. Just weigh in at whatever you walk around at, unless we’re talking about dropping 1 or 2 pounds to make a class. That would be acceptable. You’re not setting world records, so don’t worry about it.
[quote]tylerkeen42 wrote:
I normally compete at 181 and weigh about 195 so for me personally it’s definitely possible but different people react differently to water cutting. I’m not really sure as to what people are saying about slowing down progress as when I cut it only takes a week and you shouldn’t really be making much if any progress the week before a meet. Could someone correct me if I’m wrong?[/quote]
Yeah you’re right, I was thinking of a 2 hour weigh-in where his best bet would be to lose fat to get closer to 181. If he decides to compete at 181 then he’ll still have to remain close to his current weight so it’s not too big of a water cut. If he decides to compete at 198 then he can eat as much as he needs to recover so the gains may be slightly faster if everything else is in order. If the USPA Worlds has a 24 hour weigh-in then he could do the cut this time for practice but I still suggest not to do it for a first meet and to do it for a meet in between.
Thanks guys. Fixed the poundage numbers above. 198 makes sense. Just wanted input on the topic since I’m new to all this.
I feel my trainer has done a great job w me and there’s no reason not to trust him on these topics. I guess I never really envisioned me at a lean 198 which is now my goal.
I would definitely say stick with the 198’s if you are already 195. Cutting weight even with a 24 hour weigh in is hard on the body. Obviously with the 24 hour weigh in you have time to get it all back, but I have found in the past that my weight cuts take away from my strength on meet day.
Unless cutting to break a record, I would avoid cutting weight as a rule, just keep working on getting those lifts up, and smash something heavy at the competition!!
Unless cutting to break a record, I would avoid cutting weight as a rule, just keep working on getting those lifts up, and smash something heavy at the competition!![/quote]
Here’s what I’d do if I were you. Fuck the scale. Show up weighing whatever you weigh. Then own that motherfucker. Summon the meteors and set some PR’s. Maybe you go 9 for 9. whatever. Have a blast. Then after it’s over, sip on Whiskey while your woman creams herself thinking about how much of a baddass her man is. You’ll probably need to shave 3 times that day from all the Test thats gonna come out. It’s just part of it man. Speaking of Whiskey, I’ve had a few myself lol, which in no way is affecting my ability to reply to this now
Seriously, it’s great to want to be the best you can be but don’t sweat this shit. You’ll have enough to worry about. Don’t add the weigh in to the list.
[quote]StrengthDawg wrote:
Here’s what I’d do if I were you. Fuck the scale. Show up weighing whatever you weigh. Then own that motherfucker. Summon the meteors and set some PR’s. Maybe you go 9 for 9. whatever. Have a blast. Then after it’s over, sip on Whiskey while your woman creams herself thinking about how much of a baddass her man is. You’ll probably need to shave 3 times that day from all the Test thats gonna come out. It’s just part of it man. Speaking of Whiskey, I’ve had a few myself lol, which in no way is affecting my ability to reply to this now
Seriously, it’s great to want to be the best you can be but don’t sweat this shit. You’ll have enough to worry about. Don’t add the weigh in to the list.
Good luck and God bless man. [/quote]
LOL!
Fuck, I don’t know what’s better your post or your avatar.
