When to compete?

[overhead]

I just started training WSB style and at some point would like to start competing, not on a real serious level or anything, but local power lifting meets. Curious as to how long you think I should train, and or what type of numbers I should have before I get serious about my first contest. Little background, started training with weights to lose weight, lost 50 pounds, then changed to a BB type program, DC style. Put on muscle, but I am just not into BB. I prefer the challenge of pushing myself to lift more and not so much how my forearms look as compared to my calves . I have been trying wsb for about two weeks and love it. Weight is currently about 205, but I have plenty of fat to lose, so I figure if I bust my ass I could get to 181 pre-contest. My current numbers are very sad and embarassing, but I will post them so you will have an idea of where I am.

Bench 275
Dead 395 ( thirty pounds greater than it was a month ago thanks to a little advice from Hanibal and others in another post)
Squat 335 (squat could be much better, but my form is not real good at the moment)

 

[revexrevex]

Bro, thos enumbers are not sad nor are they embarassing, considering you have been training like a bodybuilder. How long have you been training? I think you should compete as soon as possible, you have nothing to lose by gaining experience and thriving to get stronger because of a specific goal such as the meet.

 

[TheProject]

Compete as soon as you can...the experience alone is valuable.

At my first meet, my numbers were:

Squat: 285
Bench: Bombed at 225
Deadlift: 375

There's not a person there that'll mock you.

 

[revexrevex]

haha project's bench sucks , haha

 

[overhead]

Thanks guys. I have been training for a little short of two years. Most of it was higher rep compound movements to burn calories, did not put on much mass, but even while losing weight my numbers went up. Could be becuase I was new to weight lifting. Toward the end I started training heavier and eating more, and like I said followed DC style training. I have to say I put on a great deal of mass in a short period of time. I never even attempted a one rep max until last month. I had no clue how intense training up to a one rep max could be. That was all it took. No more body building stuff for me. I read about wsb on the boards here, ordered a tape or two from elitefts and started. I am getting ready to switch to a more power lifting type gym,the gym I currently use is fine, but if one more person tells me I should not be doing GM's with more than 135 I may snap. They mean well, but they just do not get it. So you think even if I have to go in at 198 I should give it a shot?

 

[overhead]

One more thing since I am typing so much already. Do you think being that I do not have much experience with taking the three main lifts to a one rep max that I should include them more in my training? I was thinking about doing full squats, deads and bench on ME day once every four weeks or so?

 

[revexrevex]

Bro I was also into that whole bodybuilding thing, until I saw a bar loaded with 225 lbs on it lying on the floor. I never had so mcuh weight in my arms ever, in any lift, so I decided to deadlift it. Ever since that day I've became in love in powerlifting, low reps and high weight.

It is upto you when you want to test your rep maxes. YOu may want to work at lighter weight to get the form down through speed benchpresses, box squats etc. My routine is not westside, but I do a lot of powerlifting, and I max out once in a while just to ge tthe feel for the lift. If I was you, I'd put squat, deadlift, and full benchpress as your ME move for a while, until you become accustomed to it, and then you can introduce partials and etc to increase the lifts

 

[TheProject]

If you've just started WSB, stick with the program as written. Don't start throwing in 1RM full ROM moves.

You probably have a rough idea of what your maxes are. Pick a comp that's still a ways out, and train for that comp. Don't worry about weight class; just get a meet under your belt.

What about equipment? Do you already have squat gear, a bench shirt, a belt, etc? Don't wait until the last minute to get that stuff, if you plan to use it in the meet.


And revex, did you have a point?

 

[overhead]

So far I have been following the program as written. I read most of the articles and tried to look over peoples training journals to get an idea of what others were doing. I will continue that I guess.
I do not have ANY equipment yet, but luckily I do have the resources set aside to buy it. I was going to wait until I switch to the other gym so I could talk to some people that actually use the stuff. Right now I would have no clue what to buy, where to buy, what size to buy or even how to get the stuff on, from what I understand that can be an experience. I guess I better start looking into it. Just getting the form down on all these exercises is enough right now.

 

[phatman42]

I tend to throw in box squats (no need to do regular squats except maybe jsut before competition) or deadlifts as my ME lift from time to time.

Equipment:
I'm loving the band, esp for my benching. I've been suffering from a dodgy shoulder. Using bands for my benching days has helped me keep from putting too much pressure on my shoulder while still working on the movements.

 

[DBCooper]

Compete as soon as you can, don't take it as serious as it sounds and have fun. It's about improving YOUR numbers not how you compare to others.

 

[pwr_machine]

Don't worry about weight class; just get a meet under your belt.

That was going to be my advice. When you're first starting out, don't worry about weight class. It's always evident with me that when I have something to train for, I train harder. Training harder = more muscle growth = more body weight.

I recall my first year lifting and trying to qualify for collegiate nationals. I qualified in the 181's no problem. One half year later, I weight over 200 and was wondering how the heck I was going to get back down to 181's for the big meet. It was a struggle to say the least! And it hampered my lifts completely that first year!

Again, get some good training and a few meets under your belt and see which weight class you fall into. Who knows, with some solid training your lifts will go up and you might settle off around 220 in bodyweight. That wouldn't be so bad, would it? I was a light 242 the following year. Best of luck to you.



And what's WSB mean? j/k