Most people are completely intimidated at the thought of competing in a powerlifting meet, for a lot of reasons.
These are the 2 biggest reasons:
Singlets
Or onesies, or whatever cute name you've assigned the required "costume". The thought of wearing one is enough to keep most people off the platform! Here’s the reality: no one wants to wear one, and about .1% of the population looks good one. Once you’re at a meet and you’re surrounded by a sea of singlet-wearers, it really doesn’t feel like a big deal anymore. I promise.
The thought of not “measuring up”.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked, “How much will everyone else in my weight class be lifting?”. I don’t know, and who cares?! There will always be someone stronger, no matter how strong you are.
A good coach will tell you not to worry about what everyone else is doing, especially if you’re new to the sport. One of my favorite quotes? Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus on you. Focus on what you can do and forget everyone else.
So why lift in a meet, even if you’re not a competitive lifter?
1. It gives you a goal with a deadline. Putting a realistic end date on your goal gives you a clear target and creates a sense of urgency. No matter how much you love training, we all need a little help with motivation from time to time. Exercising simply for the sake of exercise can get, well, old. Signing up for a meet gives you a focus and forces you to be consistent in your training.
2. Competition forces you to get outside your comfort zone. Getting up on the platform in front of judges and spectators is intimidating! Everyone’s nervous and scared, especially new lifters. Very few things are as exhilarating as standing toe-to-toe with fear and emerging victorious! And simply competing makes you a winner.
3. It teaches you how to roll with the punches. The warmup area is always chaotic, and things rarely go as planned. Learning how to adapt quickly and keep plugging away is a necessity, and a meet is a perfect place to practice this skill. Life is always throwing curve balls. You’ve got to be able to adapt.
