Help me get stronger!

[vdizenzo]

I'm 43 and still making progress. Best of luck. Work hard and have fun.

[luigisacs]

Hello. As a possible adjunct to the 5/3/1 or Westside might I recommend Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe and Practical Programming by him as well. They are not as popular on this site as other options but I've found them to be very good novice to intermediate training.

[Bigboy1968]

Big Ragu,
There is a WNPF meet next month in Rochester (I will be competing in it), it's a pretty nice laid back event and even for an older lifter like myself (45) it's still enough to get the competitive juices flowing. I really do kick myself for waiting 18 years in between meets (1993-2011) but it has been fun to get back into something that makes me train with a purpose.

[big ragu]

Hello. As a possible adjunct to the 5/3/1 or Westside might I recommend Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe and Practical Programming by him as well. They are not as popular on this site as other options but I've found them to be very good novice to intermediate training.

I will take a look at it. Any bit of info will help! As a side note, I'm driving back to ny from Levittown right now, I had to make a run to Evans equipment on Bristol pike.

[chris mason]

Hello. As a possible adjunct to the 5/3/1 or Westside might I recommend Starting Strength by Mark Rippetoe and Practical Programming by him as well. They are not as popular on this site as other options but I've found them to be very good novice to intermediate training.

It isn't popular here because I know enough to know it is crap.

[big ragu]

Big Ragu,
There is a WNPF meet next month in Rochester (I will be competing in it), it's a pretty nice laid back event and even for an older lifter like myself (45) it's still enough to get the competitive juices flowing. I really do kick myself for waiting 18 years in between meets (1993-2011) but it has been fun to get back into something that makes me train with a purpose.

Really? I'm going to look it up, I haven't heard of anything around here. I'll come out and watch, I'm certainly in no position to compete!

[luigisacs]

It isn't popular here because I know enough to know it is crap.

Hi Chris, thank you for your opinion. Would you be able to advise you believe it is crap? I've been on it for a short time and have gotten stronger. I just wanted your thoughts?

[Bigboy1968]

Really? I'm going to look it up, I haven't heard of anything around here. I'll come out and watch, I'm certainly in no position to compete!

Big Ragu,

I was suggesting you actually compete in it. What I learned from my 18 year layoff is that you are never actually "ready" for a meet, you could always wait for the next one, until you add 20 more pounds to this lift, or 70 lbs to your total, there is never a perfect time to do it, you should just go ahead and jump in, because it is fun, because it is a challenge, and most of all because we all look awesome in a singlet.

[Brian Hopper]

Big Ragu,

I was suggesting you actually compete in it. What I learned from my 18 year layoff is that you are never actually "ready" for a meet, you could always wait for the next one, until you add 20 more pounds to this lift, or 70 lbs to your total, there is never a perfect time to do it, you should just go ahead and jump in, because it is fun, because it is a challenge, and most of all because we all look awesome in a singlet.

I agree and disagree. You can be ready to compete at any meet as long as you plan your training right and peak at the right time.

[ScottYard]

Solid choice with 531. You cant go wrong.

[big ragu]

Big Ragu,

I was suggesting you actually compete in it. What I learned from my 18 year layoff is that you are never actually "ready" for a meet, you could always wait for the next one, until you add 20 more pounds to this lift, or 70 lbs to your total, there is never a perfect time to do it, you should just go ahead and jump in, because it is fun, because it is a challenge, and most of all because we all look awesome in a singlet.

I kind of thought that's what you were getting at! I've never trained to be strong, up until now I've trained because its fun. I only recently broke 300 on the bench, I feel like I need to give myself a good 6 months of working at it before I compete. When I did that little bs bench/run comp I only did it because I knew I could complete the allotted reps. I think I'd have a lot more fun knowing I spent a fair amount of time preparing for it. Plus I don't even know how an event works. I have to at least observe one first.

Singlet?? Is that mandatory? I think my wife beater adds 50lbs to my deadlift, I'd be weak without it!

[Bigboy1968]

I agree and disagree. You can be ready to compete at any meet as long as you plan your training right and peak at the right time.

Brian,

What I mean is that there is always a reason to not compete, that's why people never get on the platform. Once you do a meet, put up shitty numbers and realize nobody laughs at you for not being a world record holder it makes it easier to compete again. Getting a baseline is important.

[Brian Hopper]

Brian,

What I mean is that there is always a reason to not compete, that's why people never get on the platform. Once you do a meet, put up shitty numbers and realize nobody laughs at you for not being a world record holder it makes it easier to compete again. Getting a baseline is important.

I totally understand, and that's the part I was agreeing on. I hear too many people saying "I'm not strong enough to compete". It's not about being strong enough. Your lifting against yourself. Yeah, it feels good to win. But it feels even better when you win against yourself and smash PR's! I do agree that getting a baseline is important and once you compete for the first time you get hooked, lol!

[Travis Bell]

I totally understand, and that's the part I was agreeing on. I hear too many people saying "I'm not strong enough to compete". It's not about being strong enough. Your lifting against yourself. Yeah, it feels good to win. But it feels even better when you win against yourself and smash PR's! I do agree that getting a baseline is important and once you compete for the first time you get hooked, lol!

Brian I totally agree. Competing to win in the long run will end up being a meaningless venture that will get you disapointed.

You really have to compete against yourself, finding new levels to push yourself to and constantly setting new goals.

[Travis Bell]

I'll also add a lot of guys think they are pretty strong until they enter their first meet. Everyone finds out it's pretty easy to think performing in front of people and hitting your best technique in an unfamiliar area with different equipment and with judges is going to be a breeze but it aint.

So the best thing is to get out there and get some experience.

[big ragu]

Everyone finds out it's pretty easy to think performing in front of people and hitting your best technique in an unfamiliar area with different equipment and with judges is going to be a breeze but it aint.

This leads me to believe that I need to observe a meet beforehand. Not only am I not as strong as I could be, but I have no idea how it's run. I don't know what to expect, I've never been to a meet. I will freely admit that I don't think I'm strong, yeah, I can out lift my 57 year old dad (who lifts every day, might I add), but I think in the grand scheme of things I need to prepare myself better. As of right now I assumed I could walk in wearing sweat pants and a tank top and lift, now I hear something about a singlet? I don't even know what that is. I never even thought about lifting in a belt until last week. I have used straps on the deadlift, now I read in 531 that you're not supposed to? You guys are blowing my mind, there's no way in a months time I can be even remotely prepared. I will go watch though, get a solid idea of how it goes down. Also I'm not exactly a "get up in front of other people and perform" kinda guy. That's something I'll have to consider.

For the time being, Monday I'll start the program, and see how that goes. I expect more from myself than where I'm currently at.