Age? Is 30 too old to start powerlifting?
OK some background, I lifted through HS and off and on in college. I was the fat kid in HS, but I was relatively strong for a small private school with no strength coaches and baseball was the choice sport for everyone. I lifted with a guy who I'm not really sure if you'd call him a powerlifter or bodybuilder. Program wise, it seemed like a combo, but he competed bench only. I went from 225 fat and sloppy to 190 solid but still maintaining about 17-18%bf. I get to college, cut down to about 174, lifts were for looks only. Quit lifting and working out, eat like ****, job, wife, a kid, and 8 years later I'm a blowed up mess. I screwed around with PL some last year, but didn't stick with it. Well last month, I'm Fat and sloppy again just before 29 and weighing 272. I saw a picture from my kid's bday party and it was sickening. Anyhow I've recently gotten back in the gym, cleaned up my eating, and starting lifting. Weight is down to 252 and dropping.
I feel like I've got the health part starting to get under control. My question to you guys is am I too old to start lifting seriously and thinking about competing? I'm talking long term, not next month. I know you see a lot of guys peak in their 30's but that's also with 10+ years of experience. Is it too late for me to catch up and put up respectable numbers at meets. I'm shooting to get down into the 198's, then possibly build up from there. If I do compete it'd be in the 100% raw fed, because they have several meets a year that are close by me in NC.
Working SS right now and I'm 6 weeks in. current lifts are as follows
bench 205x5x3
squat 225 x 5 x3
DL 315 x 5 x 1
Bench lift has reached a point of becoming a challenges. DL are tough, but I still feel like I've more in the tank afterward. I'm blowing through the reps of squats like they're warm ups.