I am a powerlifter

For almost a year now, more than half the time I've been lifting, I've flirted with it in my head. I've drawn right up close to it, examined it, questioned it, doubted it, recanted, and drawn up to it again.

Powerlifting.

I've always been much more interested in strength gains, in being strong, in outlifting the guy next to me, than in looking good or maintaining a low bodyfat %.

I'm shy by nature (hard to believe, right?) My husband and family barely ever see me in a bikini, and truth be told I cannot imagine spending several minutes on stage in one, in front of and being judged by hundreds of people.

I've always had abnormally and disproportionately strong legs; even in high school when I was extremely unathletic, I was pegged and recruited for the shot-put team and my basketball coaches always called me "thunder thighs."

And when I finally started to look into the logistics of training as a powerlifter, I was breathlessly excited. Adrenaline surged; my heart was fluttering.

And that's when I knew.

I am a powerlifter.

I'm not sure exactly when I'll be participating in my first meet. I would like to give myself about 9-12 months to train in a powerlifting format so that I can seriously do some damage and maybe look at placing high in my class, but I'd also like to just experience a meet first so I'm a little familiar with the atmosphere, etc. So there is the possibility that I will compete at the end of my 13-week Sheiko (deadlifting, benching, and squatting very heavy 3x/week) training plan just to 'get a feel.' (And yes I will keep you updated. Florida bloggies, I fully expect you all to show up and cheer me on. I'll even make a t-shirt. KIDDING. But really.......)

Things that will be staying the same?

I will continue to follow a LeanGains approach to eating. Work is super busy during the day and I prefer eating this way now anyway. I'll keep my dietary fat intake high to help lube up those joints. I'll continue eating about 2000-2200 calories a day and maintain my weight about where it's at for now, although I will probably diet down a little bit to get in the 132 weight class when I compete.

What can I say? I like my nice big meals!

Things that are changing?
Instead of lifting relatively heavy (6-8 rep range) five times a week, I'll now be lifting VERY heavy (1-4 rep range) 3x a week with one day of 6-8 rep range lifting to bring up body parts that are neglected by this training split (upper back, medial delts, and biceps). I'll be doing HIIT for about 30 minutes 1-2x a week as cardio conditioning.

And really, that's about it. Bodybuilding and powerlifting, while very different, are what I'd consider cousin-sports: they are not interchangeable, but quite similar. (Would anyone like to see a post on the differences?)

I am really, really, REALLY excited. I feel really positive and enthusiastic about these changes and I am literally chomping the bit, ready and rarin' to go!