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(Context: I also lift weights regularly, and got way more into it a few months into the pandemic) Wouldn't you have to lift at a pretty high level to be even a
by edanm 5y ago
(Context: I also lift weights regularly, and got way more into it a few months into the pandemic)
Wouldn't you have to lift at a pretty high level to be even a bit competitive? My mental picture is that you probably won't reach anywhere near competitive levels until you are at least a few years in. I personally am still fairly weak by powerlifting standards.
But this could just be in my head... I actually have no idea if there are options for beginners, despite somewhat following the sport.
- lelandfe 5y agoThere's a minimum to be sure - but you can join a competition-focused gym and start going as a spectator to meets even if you're not at a level to qualify yet! Those folks are more than happy to help you develop along that road :) But if you're competing as a male and can do a 1 rep max of either >300lb squat, >250lb bench, or >450lb deadlift, you'll likely be able to find an amateur competition to participate in! As a final note, if you've never worked towards a 1 rep max, you likely have no idea what your upper limit is. I certainly didn't – my deadlift max wound up being nearly twice the weight I was expecting when I started.
- edanm 5y agoA 225lb bench is often considered a kind of minimum goal to work towards, usually achievable in ~2-3 years, I believe (depending on a lot of factors obviously). So that's somewhat in line with my expectation that you need a few years under your belt before you are really competitive. (FWIW, I've ben lifting somewhat seriously for a year and a half, far less seriously for a few years before that, and I bench ~155lbs 1RM, at least according to a 1RM calculator.)