As the sport of powerlifting continues to grow and grow, I am seeing more and more people ask questions regarding their first powerlifting meet.    Often they will describe how they intend to approach it.  Often the ideas, approach or goals that they list are far from ideal, almost guaranteeing a bad experience.

Thats not meant to be as critical as it sounds.  You cant know what you cant know and I imagine most readers of my site know how I feel about the whole do your own research thing.

Mind you, powerlifting arguably has more good information on the web available than many other activities.  It certainly does compared to things like bodybuilding/physique sports or general fat loss.

I think the reason is that powerlifting is an objective thing.  What you did either worked or it didnt.  You either improved or your didnt and there isnt any of this Well I think this worked nonsense to it.  The lift went or it didnt go and thats all there is to it.

And there is quite a bit of information for beginners in terms of doing their first powerlifting meet.  A lot of it deals with the endless details.  Lifters can find checklists of everything they need to take, what to eat, etc.

Honestly, I recommend taking a book especially as a spectator.  As much as I love the sport of powerlifting, I think its dull as dirt to watch.  Even when Im handling my lifter, its a lot of sitting around doing nothing for only a little bit of action.

Dont get me wrong, I love watching big lifts, watching lifters grind through something they should have missed.  Its doing it for 8 hours that exhausts me.  Anyhow.  Take a book is what Im saying.

Continue reading A 6 and a Half Tip Guide to a Great First Powerlifting Meet