Your first meet.

[Kratos89]

If you weight 197, you'd be in the 198 class.

The weights are maximums. To be in the 181 class, you'd have to be 181 or under. If you're 182, you lift in the 198 class.

Also, thanks for this thread. It's a gold mine of information.

[omfgapolarbear]

If your weight is close, the carbs are a no no the day before the meet.

They won't help your performance, and they will make you hold water and keep your weight up.

What do you recommend for sustained energy during a meet? I'm really not to concerned about making weight for any specific weight class, though I'd rather come in just under 181, I just want to be able to do the absolute best I can do personally.

[user94984100999]

well i competed in my first meet this saturday and i really enjoyed it,i won my 1st place in my weight class in the bench press comp....i was so glad i went,had the time of my life

[UHCougar05]

What do you recommend for sustained energy during a meet? I'm really not to concerned about making weight for any specific weight class, though I'd rather come in just under 181, I just want to be able to do the absolute best I can do personally.

I eat PB&Js at my meets. They taste good and have easily digestable carbs. Don't introduce any new foods or drinks on meet day, that isn't the time to be trying new stuff. I also drink Pedialyte mixed with water and have some bananas on hand as well.

[markyg]

Great thread

[sword_]

Soo scared tomorrow but good luck I know a lot of the PLers/Strongman here have an April 10th meet.

[3rd pull]

Not sure if this has been said yet but I think you should definitely bring clothes or blankets that will keep you warm during the wait between your attempts.

[SophieM]

Some more newb questions:

1) What increments are the weights in? I know they're in kgs, but what increments?

2) Do you have to know how high to set the bench and squat pins? Inches or centimeters?

I'm sure I'll have more as the meet date approaches.

[koyongi]

Some more newb questions:

1) What increments are the weights in? I know they're in kgs, but what increments?

2) Do you have to know how high to set the bench and squat pins? Inches or centimeters?

I'm sure I'll have more as the meet date approaches.

You can go in 2.5kg increments, unless you're setting records. When you weigh in, they'll let you get your rack heights for squat and bench.

[SophieM]

What do you weigh in wearing?

[Jason2459]

Depends on the federation and/or meet director and how close you are to making weight. I've weighed in fully clothed before and have been told I haveto go down to underwear. Some people that are barely making weight may take everything off.

[Liftamulti]

Depends on the federation and/or meet director and how close you are to making weight. I've weighed in fully clothed before and have been told I haveto go down to underwear. Some people that are barely making weight may take everything off.

Wow. They made you get down to your underwear? I wouldn't do that unless I had too lol.

[SophieM]

If the meet is two days longs, females and lighter males on the first day, heavier males and pros on the second day, will there be awards each night or just on the second day? Usually, I know it will depend on the fed.

[koyongi]

If the meet is two days longs, females and lighter males on the first day, heavier males and pros on the second day, will there be awards each night or just on the second day? Usually, I know it will depend on the fed.

Any meet that splits into two days will normally do the awards either after each session, or at least at the end of each day.

[Liftamulti]

Wow. They made you get down to your underwear? I wouldn't do that unless I had too lol.

Lol I remember this post. They made me go to underwear to weigh in at nationals. I probably would have anyway I was cutting it close.

[Wilsonator]

Myr first meet i weighed in 7lbs below cut off and i ate like a behemoth the night before but my seccond meet i had to get down to the boxers to make it

[SophieM]

Thanks everyone!

[mochi]

Have your attempts in mind beyond your opener. I decided to just 'see how I felt' on my bench, which resulted in not having an idea of what I wanted my second attempt to be. The result was that I requested a second attempt that was a LARGER jump than the jump I put into my squat attempts. Of course, I ended up missing my second and third bench attempts.

And also, for a full meet, specifying percentages to dictate what your first, second, and third attempts will be can be troublesome considering you will be tired, and probably not feeling a hundred percent by the time you hit your deadlifts. My opener felt significantly heavier than I thought it would cause I had already squatted. It wasn't something I thought about prior, but I'm glad my DL opener was at (only) about 86% of my gym max.

And finally, don't put too many sets and reps into your deadlift warm-up, your back should be plenty warm from the squatting, and excessive warm-ups will just make you more tired.

Oh yeah, bring your foam roller and some icyhot/tiger balm if that's stuff you normally use. It helps a lot.

[SophieM]

Even though I know I shoudn't have, I went through my opener and subsequent lifts on Thursday back to back. Considering this is my first meet, and how much strength I've lost since I got my wisdom teeth out, I figured I wasn't going to taper or anything.

I have yet to invest in a foam roller but did see someone bringing one in. What exactly is is meant to do?

[gbg]

This never made it as a sticky? why is that moderators?

[Boridi]

This never made it as a sticky? why is that moderators?

[Jtrott]

Bump... This thread is the reason I just created an account. I was only able to read 2 of the 4 pages as a non member and the knowledge/tips were too good to just read half of the info. I'm going to get my feet wet in my first meet this Friday. I'm lifting raw in all 3 lifts, just hoping to not make a fool out of myself. If it goes well, I'll look into some gear and try to seriously compete. Thanks to everyone for the shared knowledge, keep it flooding in.

[TheBateman]

bump

[gbg]

Bump... This thread is the reason I just created an account. I was only able to read 2 of the 4 pages as a non member and the knowledge/tips were too good to just read half of the info. I'm going to get my feet wet in my first meet this Friday. I'm lifting raw in all 3 lifts, just hoping to not make a fool out of myself. If it goes well, I'll look into some gear and try to seriously compete. Thanks to everyone for the shared knowledge, keep it flooding in.

Check here for more articles

http://www.sweatpit.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

[the next arnold]

Should have read this thread before my first meet

Went too hard on my squat opener and had a bit of an adrenaline dump, didn't realize that the meet would go on for so long!

Ended up going 4/9 and posting what would have been at least 70lbs off my 'true strength' total if I had planned the day better. These things can only really come with experience, you can tell people what it feels like the first time you walk up to the monolift/rack and look out to the crowd and wait for the judge to give the squat command but to actually FEEL it for yourself is so different.

I also really feel like doing a meet really put a spotlight on your weak points, you are lifting at or near your max and they will show through. To me it changed the focus of my training instantly, to be able to talk to the judges, trainers and other competitors about what they could see in my lifts was a little difficult at the time but come that next meet it will make a big difference.

My tips

- Bring somebody for support
- be conservative on your first 2 attempts
- listen to the judges
- be humble, there is always going to be somebody stronger than you - Andrey Malanichev was guest lifting at the meet and was probably the most humble, friendly and appreciative lifter in attendance - just be friendly, make sure you aren't being a dick with the warmup equipment

[Incensed]

This is my check list incase it helps anyone (I lift raw, no knee wraps allowed):

Squat Shoes
Bench Shoes
Deadlift Shoes
Deadlift Socks
Bench/Squat Socks
Singlet + spare
Briefs
Wrist Wraps
T-Shirt + spare

Ammonia
Chalk
Deodorant

Food + Protein bars
Water

Notepad
Pens/Pencils
Money coins/notes
LB/KG converter

Tracksuit, Hoodies etc to stay warm

Other tips:
-Open on something you can triple. This is something you could get on a completely off day or even when carrying minor injuries. 2nd attempt is usually matching your gym max or just under. 3rd attempt is a PR attempt (assuming you make the first 2)
-Find out your rack heights for squat/bench as soon as you can.
-It is always good to have a training partner help you during the warm up sets. If you train alone then ask people politely if they can help you, AND MAKE SURE you offer to help them with theirs.
- MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE COMMANDS! Don't fail an attempt that you made due to not listening to the commands by the judges!

[aperfectmatrix]

Hello everyone, I've been lurking around this forum for a while and have read enough to decided that I would love to try out my first powerlifting meet. I have just started lifting again after a 5 month hiatus and would love to challenge myself to reach some personal goals at the meet. Right now I'm in my third week of 5/3/1 and have seen great gains so far, but still have a long way to go to get to where I want to be.

One of my main questions has to do with cost. The meet I'm thinking about is the NORCAL Open in Modesto, CA on December 10th. I see that I'll have to register as a member of the USPA which will be $30 and on top of that will have to pay the fee to enter the meet (entry form will be posted this week so I'll know how much it is then). Right now I can probably afford to register for the association and the meet, but it is the cost of the singlet that is really starting to put my pockets in a bind I think. I do not own one, so are there sites available that someone can lead me to that have really cheap ones? Any advice on what to be looking for? Right now I'm only working part time (on the verge of possibly getting a second job) so this does start to add up for me.

Also, I'm assuming spotters will be available at the meet? No one else I know is really into lifting enough to know how to properly spot for squat and bench so I'm just curious about that. I'm mostly worried about my form on the bench, I've never benched in the powerlifting style where the back is off of the bench so I'm guessing I should start practicing now.

If I do go through with this, which I'm hoping I can afford to, I will be going for somewhere in the 900-1000 range, will probably have a better idea after this week of 5/3/1. So far my lifts have been 205 X 7 bench, 290 X 7 squat, and 275 X 6 deadlift. I'm at 240 right now, but trying to get down to 220 by the end of the year so I am losing weight and will be lighter by meet time. Those are pretty big gains from where I was three weeks ago so I'm expecting those numbers to raise even higher at a decently fast rate as I prepare for the meet. Also, am I going to have to convert my lifts to kg's for the meet to tell them what I'm going to attempt? Not a big deal, just wondering so I can do so in advance.

Thanks for any advice! And thread should be stickied!

[CHRIS925]

Awesome thread. Bodybuilder here going to try to do my first meet when I'm not completely useless in terms of strength thx

[SophieM]

I bought my singlet here http://www.houseofpain.com/products/...-gear-clothes/

There will be people able to spot at the meet. IF nothing else, just grab someone else who is lifting. They're usually willing to spot.

[koyongi]

Hello everyone, I've been lurking around this forum for a while and have read enough to decided that I would love to try out my first powerlifting meet. I have just started lifting again after a 5 month hiatus and would love to challenge myself to reach some personal goals at the meet. Right now I'm in my third week of 5/3/1 and have seen great gains so far, but still have a long way to go to get to where I want to be.

One of my main questions has to do with cost. The meet I'm thinking about is the NORCAL Open in Modesto, CA on December 10th. I see that I'll have to register as a member of the USPA which will be $30 and on top of that will have to pay the fee to enter the meet (entry form will be posted this week so I'll know how much it is then). Right now I can probably afford to register for the association and the meet, but it is the cost of the singlet that is really starting to put my pockets in a bind I think. I do not own one, so are there sites available that someone can lead me to that have really cheap ones? Any advice on what to be looking for? Right now I'm only working part time (on the verge of possibly getting a second job) so this does start to add up for me.

Also, I'm assuming spotters will be available at the meet? No one else I know is really into lifting enough to know how to properly spot for squat and bench so I'm just curious about that. I'm mostly worried about my form on the bench, I've never benched in the powerlifting style where the back is off of the bench so I'm guessing I should start practicing now.

If I do go through with this, which I'm hoping I can afford to, I will be going for somewhere in the 900-1000 range, will probably have a better idea after this week of 5/3/1. So far my lifts have been 205 X 7 bench, 290 X 7 squat, and 275 X 6 deadlift. I'm at 240 right now, but trying to get down to 220 by the end of the year so I am losing weight and will be lighter by meet time. Those are pretty big gains from where I was three weeks ago so I'm expecting those numbers to raise even higher at a decently fast rate as I prepare for the meet. Also, am I going to have to convert my lifts to kg's for the meet to tell them what I'm going to attempt? Not a big deal, just wondering so I can do so in advance.

Thanks for any advice! And thread should be stickied!

You can find cheap singlets secondhand somewhere like eBay, or Crain's often has some really atrocious old ones for like $5...

Spotters will be provided.

You don't need to worry about changing your bench style, unless you usually bench with your butt up or your feet move. In the USPA, you just have to have your shoulders, butt, and feet down (and you can bench on your toes). At your first meet, the things to watch for are waiting for the commands (start, press, rack), practicing benching with a pause, and making sure that your butt stays on the bench and your feet stay put.

They'll have kilo charts for you when you pick your attempts. Just have a general idea where you want to open when you go to weigh in. The kilos will be 2-3 pounds one way or the other, but you should be opening low enough that it's not a big deal.