What was your starting total for the big 3?

[dointhangs]

Hello all, I've been a lurker on the misc for quite some time and just got around to making an account. I was wondering what is a decent starting total for powerlifting/ what was your starting total?

[Smolovicus]

There's no such thing as a "decent starting total." Some of the strongest guys in the world are able to reflect back on the days when they couldn't bench 100lbs.

Just keep lifting more and more weight. That's what matters.

To answer your question:

Starting numbers:

Bench: 75lbs
Squat: Maybe 135lbs to parallel, probably less
Deadlift: 205-225lbs

[jdude94]

squat was 135lbs, bench was 135, and dead was 205.

[darren.dugan]

Started lifting 10 years ago and was on and off until last year. So, who knows where it was back then. I guess you could consider 1360 my starting total since that is when I officially started powerlifting.

[ISuckAtBenching]

There's no such thing as a "decent starting total." Some of the strongest guys in the world are able to reflect back on the days when they couldn't bench 100lbs.

Just keep lifting more and more weight. That's what matters.

To answer your question:

Starting numbers:

Bench: 75lbs
Squat: Maybe 135lbs to parallel, probably less
Deadlift: 205-225lbs

there are definitely those with serious genetics. Kirk Karwoski instantly comes to mind, I could be off by 50-80 lbs either direction, but I believe he squatted 450ish when he first started.


at a bw of around 140-145 I think I benched 120-135, squatted 185ish to depth, and what is most clear out of the three is I remember I pulled 325 my first time. That was of course with absolute sh-t form. And sh-t doesn't begin to really describe it.

[themg3]

there are definitely those with serious genetics. Kirk Karwoski instantly comes to mind, I could be off by 50-80 lbs either direction, but I believe he squatted 450ish when he first started.

No one, no matter who you are, can squat 450 the very first time without prior experience/training. No matter how strong your legs are, theres too much going on with the squat.

[ISuckAtBenching]

No one, no matter who you are, can squat 450 the very first time without prior experience/training. No matter how strong your legs are, theres too much going on with the squat.

I'm not sure the guy who squatted 1000 x 2 to depth with sh-tty suit and a walkout has much to gain by lying about something so trivial. I also didn't mention, nor know, if he was lifting prior to when he started squatting, or that he wasn't on gear at that time

[d-benjamin]

Hello all, I've been a lurker on the misc for quite some time and just got around to making an account. I was wondering what is a decent starting total for powerlifting/ what was your starting total?

First meet ever I totaled 1,054 @ 189lbs.

[rbelsito427]

First competition total is 1080. But when I first started lifting I could barely bench 95 and weighed about 125. Everyone can total elite. Some just have to work harder than others.

[Scraties]

It actually is pretty funny to think about now but I remember squatting for the first time with 135 for 3 sets of 8 or something when I was maybe 14. I was so sore afterwards I thought I injured myself. Didn't stop me from trying again once the soreness wore off though lol.

I don't really remember my first DL but it was probably around 200-ish, bench 135 for 3-4.

My first official result was just last year (10 years after starting lifting) in an IPF Classic meet and was 682.5kg@105kg (1505lbs@231lbs)

Now that I've competed I know it was dumb of me to wait so long, there's never a "set" starting point. Just go and compete and have fun.

[Heavy_Beats]

Interesting topic.

Waiting until you have a "decent" total is a wussy excuse. What ever you total with good technique in 6 months of proper training is a decent total.

First competition was in 2009 and my last competition was 34 months later/a month ago.

Bodyweight: 87 -> 104.5 + 17.5
S:120 -------------> 180 + 60
B: 92.5 ------------> 112.5 + 20
D: 157.5 ----------> 200 + 42.5
Total: 370 --------> 492.5 + 122.5

So that is 3.6kg/month increase on my total.

Since I could have gotten more on my squat and deadlift at my last competition I'll go for 505kg total at my next competition which gets me to a 3.75kg+/month average increase on my total.

edit: First time in the gym I was 70-72kg and did 50kg high squat and 30kg bench for 5x5 as well as a mighty 60kg deadlift for 5 reps.

[rubik_3x3x3]

Mine was inflated due to bodybuilding...

squat 215
bench 225
dead 350

Strong ratios, right?

If I had to guess my intro stats when starting BBing

S 135-155?
B 135 (I know I did this in high school and it was hard, no lifting experience then)
D 225-245?

[goosefrabbas]

First day in the gym I was on SS and I did 135x3x5 to depth / dumbbells for bench cause I was too scared to really bench / 225x5.

edit: this was after taking a year-long break from a groin injury after lifting for a year before that.

And my first meet was almost exactly a year later, I went 325/215/413 at 143 or 145.

[klaery]

First time in the gym was almost two years ago now and I benched 150, squatted 220 and deadlifted 400. This where maxes though with absolutely horrid form.

[corozco]

For bench I remember the first time ever benching and just BARELY getting 135, it's funny looking back.

Squats don't know since I started at 14 with smith machine squats and didn't know any better, would do sets with 2 plates on each side, whatever that may be in smith weight.

Deadlifts no clue. Never did straight bar deadlift until senior year of high school, pulled 405 with horrendous form my first time, mind you my squat was over 400 and I trained it consistently in weights class, we just weren't instructed to deadlift.

Also, starting total doesn't mean jack. Whether your start benching the bar or 225, all that matters is that you make progress and get stronger over time. We all start at different levels, in the end all that matters is how much you want it and how hard your are willing to work.

[stenzinator]

No one, no matter who you are, can squat 450 the very first time without prior experience/training. No matter how strong your legs are, theres too much going on with the squat.

This. bull**** that anyone squats 450 the first time.

Started at 90kg squat, 70 kg bench, and 120kg deadlift.

[untranslatedZA]

This. bull**** that anyone squats 450 the first time.

Started at 90kg squat, 70 kg bench, and 120kg deadlift.

guessing there is a missunderstanding going on here, i also find it unlikely that someone will be able to squat 450 first time up, too much technique going on. So i agree with themg3

First numbers
Bench 70kg @62kg
Deadlift 130kg @68kg only started deadlifting when i started powerlifting.
Squat 100kg @68kg it was probably high, i remember 3 months after starting squats on a smith machine i could lift 170kg in the machine but it was probably not even a half squat.

[Jordybeast]

used to struggle benching 30kg, squatting 40kg to parallel, deadlifting 60kg for 5 and this was when i weighed 105kg lol...

i can now bench 102.5kgx2, squat 135kgx1, and dl 180kgx1, at 80kg bodyweight.

[Iceman1800]

My first ever meet I totaled 750#. 225/225/300 at a bwt of 204#. My best total ended up being 1802. There is no minimum to get on the platform, just give 100% on all your attempts and enjoy the experience.

[Iceman1800]

No one, no matter who you are, can squat 450 the very first time without prior experience/training. No matter how strong your legs are, theres too much going on with the squat.

I don't know about that. Kirk K. was in a very unique class of man. It's very possible he did that but 99.9% of other humans most likely can't.

[i_hate_my_job]

Im pretty new to p/l but lifted casually before.. couldnt tell you what my early number were but im certain they were pretty low. Decent starting numbers are whatever you can lift with good form then just push yourself from there.

cheers

[jmt92]

starting total when I started focusing on powerlifting was 855 i think, but that was with about 2-3 years of bull****ting around in the weight room 3-6 days a week.

[BombDonald]

457/325/501 @184, 1282 Total.

To this day I am still puzzled as to how I benched 325. Just happened lol.

[IronAbrams]

Bench: 135x1, started with 65x5
Squat: No idea, started with 65x5 and was crippled for about a week
Deadlift: No idea, 95x5

[arian11]

First time I ever touched a barbell:
Squat: 45lbs
Bench: 45lbs
Deadlift: 135lbs

First competition (181):
Squat: 259
Bench: 204
Deadlift: 390

[bigman78]

Started lifting at 13. Can't remember how weak I was... But I was weak lol. First meet was when I was 19 575/450/600. Raw. So I've only been powerlifting for a year and a half now. The rest of the lifting up till then was for football.

[jgreystoke]

Sixty kilos(132lb).

Empty bar for everything.

[Iceman1800]

I love this thread. No bs e-stating claims of 2000# totals the first time you stepped onto the platform. It shows we all start somewhere and can reach certain goals with the right drive to succeed

[Doollas]

I can't be sure but it was pretty close to 345.

[brentwillisbgw]

My first meet total was 1693@308

Edit- that was beltless/wrapless lol