New to competition

[mspuzz]

Hello, I am a 43 year old male that has never competed in power lifting, even though I've been lifting weights since I was 14. I'm a little hesitant about entering my first meet, as I am worried that being a rookie at 43 will be difficult to overcome. Any words of encouragement, or deterrence for that matter?

[stinee67]

Just go out and have fun. All the lifters I've been around will always give you advise and help you if they see a problem. I'm 60 and I have been lifting for 5 years and have met some good people at the meets. Go and have fun and see what you can lift.

[dbunch]

Ditto to what stinee67 said – I’m 45 and have only been competing for the last 3 years. It been nothing but fun and I’ve got to meet some really good people.

[RichHutchison]

You're 13 years younger than I was when I did my first Squat and Deadlift.
(Worked only upper body most of my life and ruined my shoulders.)
Managed 375# Squats and 450# Deadlifts in my 60s at 165#.
Go for it, kid.

[mspuzz]

Thank you for your encouragement, I'm still a little apprehensive, but I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks again!

[chancey]

Certainly do it. My only advice is to start training your lifts like comp lifts. Not so much the amount of weight but adherence to form. This will make meet day a piece of cake.

[vermontmaster]

I entered my first powerlifting competition at age 47. One piece of advice is to choose the starting weight conservatively. Go with something that you can do quite easily, and use it to build up your confidence. Wait to go up to a weight that will challenge you in the second or third attempt. Another piece of advice is to make sure to know what the rules about beginning and finishing an attempt are. I jumped the rack command in the bench once and almost jumped the rack command in the squat twice at my first competition. This is something one should train for, even though it appears to be very simple.

[johnolexa]

Welcome to the sport! Go for it! You may want to find a meet close by and just go watch to see how it all works. Also if it makes you feel better, maybe find a small type meet to lift in first. My first meet back in '89 everybody helped you out, including the judges! You still had to lift correctly of course, but they offered help and advise.

If your worried about your numbers, don't be. Don't concern yourself with what other lifters are doing either. Get your self a total and a meet under your belt and train from there.

I don't care how much, or how little a lifter lifted for that matter, he /she has my respect, just for stepping on the platform!!!

Most important................. HAVE FUN!!!!