Questioning my powerlifting coach?

[thebatcave]

So I have always been pretty strong and decided to enter a PL Meet.

small time stuff but should be fun!

anyhow - I have a friend that trained ppl at a commercial gym ....BUT she competes in powerlifting - i always enjoyed their company and they seem knowledgable.
so i hired them for some programming and technique coaching

we did a lot of heavy work and it felt optimal at the time... then she went on vacation for a 1.5 months. So i adapted a lot of my training to Westside methods (which i love)

She returns from vacation.

i update her with some of my numbers and she gives me my feb 1 programming start.... and all of a sudden im down to 50-60% of loads - my meet is in june and she claims we're building to that...

she claims i was "going too hard" - which i don't understand? as she hasn't seen me at all - just knows some of my numbers and updates on my PRs (small ones like 505 for 3)
my RPE was often 7-8 maybe 1 or 2 lifts in the 2 month window were really earned - but other than that - i felt optimal...


Am i dealing with someone who truly understands the science AND my ability/potential? or am I letting my ego get in the way when i see her numbers?
I want to be optimal - but i don't want to question this woman and get a kick to the nuts lol

ive attached my programming and below are my current main lift numbers.

S-455 DL-515 BP-310

appreciate some advice!

thanks

[AFC96]

Why are you doing back squats at the end of the week?

Its the first lift and should be somewhere at the start of the week.

Just doesn't make sense to me that you'd do everything else, then squat.

[utfootball4]

Dump westside.....

[JiP]

Starting out at higher volumes with more variation seems pretty reasonable. She's probably thinking about your longevity, which is definitely important.

I've recently taken on a coach myself for the first time and he's basically got me doing circuit training with light loads at the moment. Sounded like a ludicrous idea at first, but for increasing work capacity for later training cycles (and general long term health of connective tissue etc) it makes sense.

You should ask her to explain her reasoning to you.

[thebatcave]

Thing is I’m not starting out

I’ve been on a specific program for 3 months
Mid way coach went on vacation and didn’t program for me.


So I’m bascually starting from scratch which is why I’m quesitoning.

also... I don’t know why I’m doing back squats at the end of the week?

[thebatcave]

She said because it’s good to back off and I have been “going too heavy”

Yet I’ve shared none of my working loads while she was away.
Just some small prs (like 3 or 4 Rep max prs)

[thebatcave]

It was only a couple weeks of band work really but thank you.

[Get-n-fit]

You originally went to her because you thought she knew what she was doing and now you don't trust here? and she's a competitive power lifter? I don't know who you're coach is or anything about her, but I will say, your meet is in June....You are 5 months out, in terms of powerlifting, that's a long ways from now. Most peaking programs are only 10-12 weeks long. If you trust her and have questions, then ask her. Sounds like she is trying to slow down your peak because there is such a long time period between now and your meet.

[thebatcave]

Great! Helpful man thank you! I’m most regretting paying for things I could program on my own. We are friends and I’m helping her out in her new business by being a client.... but as a parent and small business owner myself I guess I’m questioning the economics of hiring her this early? She seemed keen on the timing (more $ for her is my worry)

[JiP]

Thing is I’m not starting out

I’ve been on a specific program for 3 months
Mid way coach went on vacation and didn’t program for me.


So I’m bascually starting from scratch which is why I’m quesitoning.

also... I don’t know why I’m doing back squats at the end of the week?

I meant starting out a training cycle.

[melDorado]

5 months out I would be running a 3 months volume block then a 2 month peak

[Get-n-fit]

Great! Helpful man thank you! I’m most regretting paying for things I could program on my own. We are friends and I’m helping her out in her new business by being a client.... but as a parent and small business owner myself I guess I’m questioning the economics of hiring her this early? She seemed keen on the timing (more $ for her is my worry)

Sometimes being a nice guy can be painful on the wallet.....no doubt it was about getting more money from you, that's just how it is sometimes. You definitely could have waited a few months, then hired her for a peak program 10-12 weeks out. Best of luck

5 months out I would be running a 3 months volume block then a 2 month peak

From the looks of the program, I think that's what she's planning for him

[utfootball4]

You originally went to her because you thought she knew what she was doing and now you don't trust here? and she's a competitive power lifter? I don't know who you're coach is or anything about her, but I will say, your meet is in June....You are 5 months out, in terms of powerlifting, that's a long ways from now. Most peaking programs are only 10-12 weeks long. If you trust her and have questions, then ask her. Sounds like she is trying to slow down your peak because there is such a long time period between now and your meet.

10-12 weeks of peaking is stupid unless you are a elite lifter - 900-1000lb squat.

[KyleAaron]

Am i dealing with someone who truly understands the science AND my ability/potential? or am I letting my ego get in the way when i see her numbers?

Yes, probably.

Guys like you are the reason I don't take males to powerlifting meets any more. You train them for months and they always argue, and then on the day however well they do most will just do 1-2 meets and never be seen again, their ego can't take watching some other guy open with 660lbs, and they give up.

[JamesA1990]

Yes, probably.

Guys like you are the reason I don't take males to powerlifting meets any more. You train them for months and they always argue, and then on the day however well they do most will just do 1-2 meets and never be seen again, their ego can't take watching some other guy open with 660lbs, and they give up.

Are you going to get involved with APU competitions Kyle?

[Jason2459]

10-12 weeks of peaking is stupid unless you are a elite lifter - 900-1000lb squat.

Why? No template or method was even mentioned to base any objection on.

A better response would be asking for examples to what's being referenced as a 10-12 weeks long peaking program. Some of which could actually be an accumulation phase.

[KyleAaron]

Are you going to get involved with APU competitions Kyle?

If they run some in Victoria, yes - and I've offered my help to Sean. At the moment all of Victoria seems to belong to Wilks, every other state but Tasmania has meets planned.

It's my hope that we can have tested competitions as well-run and popular as the untested ones.

[JamesA1990]

If they run some in Victoria, yes - and I've offered my help to Sean. At the moment all of Victoria seems to belong to Wilks, every other state but Tasmania has meets planned.

It's my hope that we can have tested competitions as well-run and popular as the untested ones.

hmm im flying to Melb to compete with PA, then will forfeit my membership to join the APU after

APU has allowed PTC to host the first comp in Perth, will be awesome. Cant wait

[KyleAaron]

Wilks will have Words with you. Either that or stop you entering his meet at all. Make sure you're not wearing the wrong t-shirt!

If a PTC is doing it, it will be well-run. Dan Rucci has his sht together, plus he has a sweet, sweet commentator's box.

[Get-n-fit]

10-12 weeks of peaking is stupid unless you are a elite lifter - 900-1000lb squat.

says red, lol

[utfootball4]

says red, lol

Oh - I'm sorry if i hurt your feelings.

[JamesA1990]

Wilks will have Words with you. Either that or stop you entering his meet at all. Make sure you're not wearing the wrong t-shirt!

If a PTC is doing it, it will be well-run. Dan Rucci has his sht together, plus he has a sweet, sweet commentator's box.

Im signed up for the APU comp, but not a member (yet). As far as Wilks is concerned im a normal PA member, but once i get my APU membership im fully aware it will result in a PA ban

Paul will be running it but yes they both are good. Its going to be live streamed and commentated by a very well known commentator. They have requested no spoilers till they announce but it will be awesome

Only thing missing is flying Geno out to MC it

[thebatcave]

Was legit question... if this wasn’t the place to pose it... lesson learned.
Looks like YOUR ego is the issue here.

I didn’t realize it was possible to be an expert from day one.

[KyleAaron]

And to other readers: now you see why I don't take males to meets. Too many delicate snowflakes.

[VeritasFides]

I’ll try to balance out the insults/ whining about males - answering your question ratio a little bit. Personally, I don’t like the program she has you running. At all. I’d never do it and it wouldn’t keep me interested in training. However, if you plan on powerlifting for several more years (which I hope you do) what’s 5 months in the grand scheme of things? I never lift super heavy, probably never over 85% or so, during most of my training. Last cycle I hit a bench PR 40lbs higher than anyhing I lifted in that whole training cycle. If she’s a friend, has more experience than you, and has done programming for a while I’d trust her. Worst case scenario is you don’t get as strong as fast as you wanted. Even if the weights are light. Focus on form and technique. There are plenty of things you could focus on improving while lifting lighter weights. I’d give it a month. See how it goes.

[dang111]

Personally I think it looks too light. Even in a volume/hypertrophy phase you can still mix in a few doubles or triples in the 75-85% range to handle some modest weights at around RPE 7. But it looks like you're not going over 60% on anything...ehhh. Looks to me like it's not enough intensity to be a PL program but not enough volume to be a BB program. Looks like each workout would take an hour tops.

That said, I'd say in general if you're hiring someone as a coach you should either follow their programming or just not be coached by them rather than fighting them every step of the way. It couldn't hurt to ask what the long term plan looks like.

[Jason2459]

Or just go on Reddit and steal someone else's programming.

[PhantomMaxx]

Am i dealing with someone who truly understands the science AND my ability/potential? or am I letting my ego get in the way when i see her numbers?
I want to be optimal - but i don't want to question this woman and get a kick to the nuts lol

ive attached my programming and below are my current main lift numbers.

S-455 DL-515 BP-310

appreciate some advice!

thanks

Your meet is so far out, that program is not bad for now. I would suspect the variation would change a bit in the next few weeks with slightly higher weight and less volume, but if not then that can happen during peaking program. A good coach often knows the athlete better then they know themselves as far as numbers go in powerlifting. You hired her, you should trust her if she has been doing it for a while. If this is your first meet, I'd trust her.

BTW when you state your lift (S-455 DL-515 BP-310) you should always state your body weight, because if you are 148lbs you'd be awesome but if you're 250lbs ...hmm.

[screamingjesus]

So I have always been pretty strong and decided to enter a PL Meet.

small time stuff but should be fun!

anyhow - I have a friend that trained ppl at a commercial gym ....BUT she competes in powerlifting - i always enjoyed their company and they seem knowledgable.
so i hired them for some programming and technique coaching

we did a lot of heavy work and it felt optimal at the time... then she went on vacation for a 1.5 months. So i adapted a lot of my training to Westside methods (which i love)

She returns from vacation.

i update her with some of my numbers and she gives me my feb 1 programming start.... and all of a sudden im down to 50-60% of loads - my meet is in june and she claims we're building to that...

she claims i was "going too hard" - which i don't understand? as she hasn't seen me at all - just knows some of my numbers and updates on my PRs (small ones like 505 for 3)
my RPE was often 7-8 maybe 1 or 2 lifts in the 2 month window were really earned - but other than that - i felt optimal...


Am i dealing with someone who truly understands the science AND my ability/potential? or am I letting my ego get in the way when i see her numbers?
I want to be optimal - but i don't want to question this woman and get a kick to the nuts lol

ive attached my programming and below are my current main lift numbers.

S-455 DL-515 BP-310

appreciate some advice!

thanks

Why are you doing back squats at the end of the week?

Its the first lift and should be somewhere at the start of the week.

Just doesn't make sense to me that you'd do everything else, then squat.

don't see why it matters whether you squat at the beginning of the week or the end. Weird complaint. How long since you last squatted or deadlifted seems a lot more relevant, regardless of what day of the week it was.

Thebatcave: The program seems fine starting slow and building is a good approach with 5 months. I would be more concerned with how close she is following your progress. Are you getting the kind of personal attention that you'd expect for what you're paying? All coaches start with a cookie cutter program, and most programs start light with high reps... it's how they modify it and cater it to you that is important. See how it goes. If the program really is too easy for you and you're leaving reps on the table every week, she should make adjustments. If she sticks to her cookie cutter, then it probably isn't going to work out.