If you follow my blog-you know I did a fitness bucket list a while back. I have every intention of following through on each and every one of the things on my list (okay maybe not the marathon-I DESPISE running). If you wanna read it just click here.
The things on my list were in no particular order-a powerlifting meet just happened to be this month so I just threw caution to the wind and entered-that’s just how I roll!
It was an awesome experience and I plan on doing more, but hind sight is 20/20 and there are some things I would’ve done differently had I known. So read on and learn from my mistakes!!!
BRING FOOD
I honestly don’t know what I was thinking, but I really didn’t anticipate the meet taking ALL DAY. I needed to make weight which was 114lbs (I ended up weighing 113). I fluctuate between 114 and 119 but typically stay around 117. So, a week before the meet I cut all sugars and added in some HIIT cardio sessions just to make sure I would make weight. The night before weigh-ins (which was the day of the meet at 8:30 am) I didn’t eat anything heavy and ate nothing that morning. Right after weigh-ins there was an athlete rules briefing and then the meet started-since this was my first time I was scared to leave the venue for fear of missing something. I didn’t actually start competing until 11:30 am and my flight (my lifting group) ended at around 4:30 p.m. The only thing I had was a drink called superpump (Gaspari product-which is amazing-but also has a stimulant effect) I thought I was going to DIE of hunger. I think this totally hurt me on my lifts-I had no carbs, no fuel-I was effin HUNGRY-RAWRRRR (the noises an empty stomach can make are hysterical and embarrassing) LOL.
EQUIPMENT CHECK
There is required lifting gear that each federation requires. So read the rules and make sure your stuff is up to snuff. My lifting belt did not pass the gear check because it was a ½ inch to wide in the back. Thankfully, we had a razor blade-my husband had to go and shave my belt down for it to pass inspection (one lifting belt ruined). Yes, they do check your clothes and shoes as well, so piece of advice-pack more than one shirt, wrestling singlet, shoes etc. If they all pass inspection you are golden and have options! Which brings me to the wrestling singlet-order in ADVANCE online-I did not do this and I was frantically calling everywhere to find one and had to drive an hour into the ghetto to pick one up (thank God for the hood). Who knew that no sporting good company carries these things and that August is not wrestling season (hand in the air-I didn’t know).
LEAVE YOUR KIDS AT HOME
These meets last a long time-maybe older kids would enjoy it, but younger ones would’ve probably died of boredom. I left mine with Grandma-they had fun and that equaled less stress for me and 2 additional people that didn’t need to starve to death (or potentially be eaten by mom-yay for cannabalism being avoided).
LIFT ATTEMPTS
Before you are allowed to weigh in you have to have your first lift attempt written on your lift card. You are allowed to change this first lift attempt 3 minutes before your flight (lifting) group. During the rules briefing they tell you to go conservative on your first attempt-it’s a confidence booster and you are nervous. I agree, go conservative and do a lift you know you can knock out any day in the gym. The mistake I made was on the 2nd attempt. Once you finish your opening lift, you walk to the announcer table and tell them what your next lift attempt will be (you cannot change this once its down) I thought what the hell and went for a 50lb weight jump on my squat-Eddie told me not to go that extreme-but as I had to hear on the ride home-HE WAS RIGHT! I couldn’t do it and I red lighted (failed) on the lift. This brings you to your 3rd attempt-if you red light your 2nd attempt you have to stick with that weight (you can go higher if you want-but you can’t decrease the weight). For me, once I failed the lift, nerves and confidence killed me-so there goes failure on 3rd attempt. But as long as you make one-you are still in the game!
TIDBITS
1. Psyche yourself up-Eddie thinks I should’ve been more aggressive-instead he thought I sashayed to the platform-I thought my catwalk to the platform was cute ;)!
2. If you’re a girl-look like one-I think it’s totally okay to fix your hair and apply some make-up and lip gloss, hell I wanted to eat my lip-gloss I was so hungry.
3. Take your i-Pod-music just helps me get in the mood.
4. HAVE FUN!-at the end of the day you compete against yourself and your own personal records.
Check out the video below….not my personal best-but still good enough to break and set new State Records in the 114lb Raw Open Divison.
