Your first meet.

[LadyLore420]

Thanks for your help guys!

Trying to stop myself from freaking out and just gonna enjoy my deload till the meet.

[itsagoodday]

Can any girls tell me what weigh in is like? I'm heading to a comp on the 26th and I'm all nerves right now.

Also a stupid question, what kind of panties/undergarments are allowed?

My last weigh in consisted of a long line of men and women in various states of undress lol. Everybody stripped down as they got closer to the front of the line and dumped their clothes on the floor. I weighed in wearing the lightest weight pair of bicycle shorts I could find and my sports bra, and that was pretty standard for the girls. Nobody had a problem with the weigh in being mixed gender, but I have heard that they will grab a female official and take the scale into the women's bathroom if someone requests it.

I agree with the advice you've been given on choosing weights. I did my first meet a year ago and was very glad to take the advice to go lighter on my openers. Count on nerves and confusion for the first meet, and you'll be glad to start with a weight you could do even if the roof caved in. So I would say start with the heaviest weight that you can do 110% confidently. You'll be able to pick your subsequent lifts based on how each one felt, so you can go heavier if things feel great or more conservatively if they don't. Good luck!

[LadyLore420]

My last weigh in consisted of a long line of men and women in various states of undress lol. Everybody stripped down as they got closer to the front of the line and dumped their clothes on the floor. I weighed in wearing the lightest weight pair of bicycle shorts I could find and my sports bra, and that was pretty standard for the girls. Nobody had a problem with the weigh in being mixed gender, but I have heard that they will grab a female official and take the scale into the women's bathroom if someone requests it.

I agree with the advice you've been given on choosing weights. I did my first meet a year ago and was very glad to take the advice to go lighter on my openers. Count on nerves and confusion for the first meet, and you'll be glad to start with a weight you could do even if the roof caved in. So I would say start with the heaviest weight that you can do 110% confidently. You'll be able to pick your subsequent lifts based on how each one felt, so you can go heavier if things feel great or more conservatively if they don't. Good luck!

Thanks goodday!

Can't wait for this event. It will be nice to finally get on the books for all the hard work put in.

[TylerHartshorn]

Does it matter if you wear a wrestling singlet vs. a powerlifting singlet?
/What are the differences?

[ghjk24]

Does it matter if you wear a wrestling singlet vs. a powerlifting singlet?
/What are the differences?

no, it doesn't matter. They are pretty much the same thing.

[plsm]

Does it matter if you wear a wrestling singlet vs. a powerlifting singlet?
/What are the differences?

The only thing to watch is the leg length. I got a wrestling singlet and I have to pull up the legs a bit to make sure they are within the limits for usapl.

Cheers"

[flexnhard]

this topic helped a lot

[seanathin295]

I've heard a good rule of thumb for an opener is a weight you should be able to double or triple on a training day.

For a newbie going into his first meet, would anyone be worried about going in using a weight I could usually double. Best gym lifts are 525/295/615. I want to open with 485/275/585 which I have all hit for doubles multiple times before. Does this sound right??

[Costa23]

I've heard a good rule of thumb for an opener is a weight you should be able to double or triple on a training day.

For a newbie going into his first meet, would anyone be worried about going in using a weight I could usually double. Best gym lifts are 525/295/615. I want to open with 485/275/585 which I have all hit for doubles multiple times before. Does this sound right??

It makes sense and it sounds like a good rule to keep in mind. Thanks for putting this into perspective, I've been skeptical

[sharpieblet]

Finally doing my first meet on Dec 6. Really pumped for it. SPF Fed. Good tips in this thread for sure.

[UFpwrLifter]

Awesome thread!! Haven't been in a real meet for a long time and reading some of these things brought back some good memories.

[lucademeis98]

Thanks for the info/advice in this forum some very helpful stuff. I am 16 and have been lifting for 3 months and weigh 70 kg (154lb) and have a pl total of 340kg (750lb). Bearing in mind that in UK the T2 class encompasses 16 and 17 yearolds, is my total to low for the time being to compete or should i do a regional meet?

Thanks in advance

[tempehmade]

Awesome thread!

I have one question, how should I train leading up to the meet? The competition is on December 6th and I'm currently on a reset for my program, (GreySkull LP), should I just stick to what I have been doing or should I follow his peak programming about 6 weeks out?

[LardLadDonuts]

cool

[NeverEnough89]

Got my first meet coming up on Saturday. 65 lifters in the meet. Not too nervous, as I know my lifts are not that great, but there is only one other competitor in my weight class (83kg). It's a USAPL meet in Chandler AZ. Main question is, being that there is only 1 other lifter what should I expect for warm ups, and how much time before each lift? I don't know how many platforms there will be either, so I am in the dark completely. Excited for the experience tho.

Also, my current tested maxes are
S 285x2/ B 225x2/ D 365x2 bout a 1.5 weeks ago. Been lifting at 60-70% since doing 3x3 and singles. since Last day I lifted was Wednesday, been stretching and rolling.

Attempts are gonna go something like this I think.
Attempt 1 Attempt 2 Attempt 3 PRs
S 245 270 290-300
B 205 220 230-240
D 315 365 385-400

[Tank1990]

Thanks for this post, i am due to compete on saturday and im not gonna lie, im ****ting bricks!

So much info in this post has calmed my nerves down alot!

Ill keep you posted on the results! (FYI i need to update my pics, ill post some from the comp)

[Sneech]

I'm going to my first meet in February. Not expecting great things as you can see from the lifts in my sig, I'm going along for the experience, I haven't been weight training very long at all let alone training for powerlifting.

Do you think it's worthwhile trying a peaking programme or should I just keep plodding along with 5/3/1 and see what happens at the meet as I'm still a novice?

[Tank1990]

I had my first meet this weekend. Alot of the lifters were trying to smash PB's etc. Alot of them failed lifts or didnt follow the commands for the lifts ... So i wouldn't suggest going to heavy until you've practised with the commands.

The first meet is the hardest as you'll be nervous as **** and scared of failing that lift .... Just get stuck in there and do what you've trained for

[TomShuflebottom]

I just had my first powerlifting meet last Saturday in Eagan, MN. I didn't do very well at all (went 5 for 9) but I had a lot of fun. The video is on my YouTube channel if you want to check it out: Tom Shufflebottom on YouTube

[Bdog189]

Really wanting to try a bench only meet for the first time next month. If I make no weight gains by then I would be in the 149lb-Under Class. Currently my max is exactly 300. I realize double my body weight is great but is it truly competitive? I have been lifting for a little over 2 years now, and am just wanting to try one for the fun of it but at the same time I don't want to get embarrassed. Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated!

[scullin]

Got a meet on Saturday. Not my first, it's like my 6th I think. Only benching though, single lift meet looking to do 330+ raw. I'm pretty confident, I bench 320 easy at a meet last month and I just did Smolov Jr and feel like I'm stronger for sure now.

Really wanting to try a bench only meet for the first time next month. If I make no weight gains by then I would be in the 149lb-Under Class. Currently my max is exactly 300. I realize double my body weight is great but is it truly competitive? I have been lifting for a little over 2 years now, and am just wanting to try one for the fun of it but at the same time I don't want to get embarrassed. Any suggestions/help would be greatly appreciated!

Not sure if srs

[ajc1234]

I'm just getting into powerlifting and have never competed in a meet so I had a question about bombing out.

If you opened with a 275 on bench for example, and lifted your butt but still got the weight up. Even though this would be a red light and not count as a successful lift, since you still got the weight up are u still able to compete or is that the same as missing the lift entirely?

[dang111]

I'm just getting into powerlifting and have never competed in a meet so I had a question about bombing out.

If you opened with a 275 on bench for example, and lifted your butt but still got the weight up. Even though this would be a red light and not count as a successful lift, since you still got the weight up are u still able to compete or is that the same as missing the lift entirely?

It's the same as missing the lift entirely. If you get 2+ red lights for any reason the lift doesn't count.

[ajc1234]

So getting 2 red lights on an opening lift would give u a score of 0 in that category?

[dang111]

So getting 2 red lights on an opening lift would give u a score of 0 in that category?

It would mean your opening lift does not count. But, you have 3 attempts total, so you can try twice more to complete it. You only bomb out (don't get a total) if you fail to complete a single lift after three tries.

[CrystalB2011]

Good info to have! I'm passing this along.

[sup_jason]

I competed at my first meet (APA) last saturday and it was awesome. Everybody was rooting each other on when attempt to break their sticking points. I came in with numbers beyond my 1rm and lifted them up a little easier than the intensity at the gym. (I even attempted 1rms two days before the meet wtf?) i can't wait to train for the next meet on august

[rfahs]

Thinking about entering the NJ USAPL championships in August. I have a few strong friends and was thinking aout entering a team. How would this work? One lifter per weight class?

[anchoredgymla]

I'm trying to convince my girlfriend to compete in what would be our first meet at the end of June. From everything I've read, the top sources advise to just jump in a go for it. Does anyone have any really great selling points I can use to convince her that it doesn't matter if we're not record-setters, that the only records that matter are your own PRs?

Also! Anyone have any really great books/resources on a good training schedule to use from 8-10 weeks out?

Thanks all! Stoked to be a part of this incredible community.

[anchoredgymla]

I competed at my first meet (APA) last saturday and it was awesome. Everybody was rooting each other on when attempt to break their sticking points. I came in with numbers beyond my 1rm and lifted them up a little easier than the intensity at the gym. (I even attempted 1rms two days before the meet wtf?) i can't wait to train for the next meet on august

That's awesome to hear about the camaraderie of the sport!