Need a reality check

[u/Natural_Accountant80]

I’m 6’3, 228lbs and recently hit a bench max of 315lbs. It took me two years to achieve (used to play football so my max two years ago was 215, I was 175lbs but really skinny because I’m tall.) I want to continue to improve to a 405lb bench max. If I can get a 405lb bench, a 500lb squat, and a 550lb deadlift, and I get down to 220lbs bodyweight, what are my chances of winning a local IPF meet or even getting 2nd or 3rd?

[u/No_Faithlessness7411]

The more important question is, how much more weight do you need to put on to fill your frame out and smash your goals? You e told us you put 100lbs on your bench by gaining 50lbs, which means your body weight is limiting your potential. 6’3 and 228 is skinny. Your frame can handle 300+lbs.

This did not answer your question because what you want to do will end up limiting your potential. There are strong guys in the 100 and 110 class that are tall like you, but not very many.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/No_Faithlessness7411]

The plan eventually is to get around 260 with 11-12% body fat. I was 235 at 18-19% body fat and I started cutting down to be as strong as possible with minimal weight. But since I am pretty tall, the replies have helped me realize that I am at a disadvantage trying to fit in a smaller weight class, which puts things into perspective. To hit those numbers I listed, I believe if I was 240-260 at 11%, I could hit those.

[u/reddevildomination]

maybe i lift/compete in a hot area but those numbers wouldnt even win at 183 (83kg) at a local meet here. i cant imagine theyd even podium at 105. but it really just depends on who shows up.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/reddevildomination]

A 405lb bench and a 550lb deadlift wouldn’t PODIUM at 83kg?? Are you competing against Bruce Wayne??

[u/cilantno → u/Natural_Accountant80]

A 405 bench and a 500 squat is not as good as a 365 bench and 555 squat. Which good 83s put up often. Then add in that deadlift specialist will throw at least mid 600s on the bar for their thirds and you are getting out-totalled by someone 45lbs lighter than you. And you aren't scored by total overall.

Your squat and deadlift are very low compared to your bench, and all 3 are not that competitive in a decent meet at your weight.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/cilantno]

My bench isn’t 405 yet it’s only 315. Also if they’re 45lbs lighter than me wouldn’t they be in a different weight class? And they only weigh less bc they’re way shorter, they can carry more muscle at a lower weight.

[u/cilantno → u/Natural_Accountant80]

Ah you and I define “winning a meet” differently.

What you can do if you only care about getting a medal with a 1 on it: find localish meets in your area. Check the rosters. Find one with the least amount of competitors in your weight class.
If they have none in your class, you will automatically win assuming you don’t bomb out.
If they have some competitors, look them up on openpowerlifting and find the one with the weakest lifters. Then you have the best chance at getting your medal.

And if you want to use height as an excuse, be my guest!

[u/Aspiring_Hobo → u/Natural_Accountant80]

Like they said it depends on who shows up. At my last local meet I did 1638 and only won my division lol.

[u/grovemau5 → u/Natural_Accountant80]

I was just browsing out of curiosity and at the most recent PA meet a 1450 total would not podium in 93 or 105, and would come in second in 83

checked like 10 other meets in PA and USAPL though and with the exception of regionals you'd probably win, most of them didn't even have 3 lifters in your weight class. like everyone has been saying, it really depends who shows up, and you should probably just focus on putting up your best total for your first meet anyways

[u/Harlastan → u/grovemau5]

HATS is a comp between the US and UK military, it's gonna be a way higher standard than your average PA comp

[u/grovemau5 → u/Harlastan]

Makes sense, was not aware

[u/Shadowphoenix9511 → u/Natural_Accountant80]

Lol my local gym has a 56 kg lifter who pulls 550

[u/reddevildomination → u/Natural_Accountant80]

well thats why i said maybe i just compete in a hot area. the bench is def impressive but a 500 squat and 550 deadlift by an 83 from isnt raising eyebrows even in my gym let alone other gyms in the city/state.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/reddevildomination]

Gotcha, so overall all my lifts need to be higher in general. I might go ahead and try to put on another 20lbs in the next few months and see where my numbers are at.

[u/Metcarfre]

Looking forward to winning my meet Saturday (I'm the only -120kg lifter) 💪

[u/keborb → u/Metcarfre]

I got a bunch of free XLs, 2XL, and 3XL meet shirts from previous meets just by asking the merch table if they were for sale. Round these parts most lifters cap out at 93kg

[u/Metcarfre → u/keborb]

That’s funny we consistently run out of XL+ but most competitors are 93 or lighter. It’s the big boys that spot and load I guess

[u/hamburgertrained]

You actually pose a really interesting question here on a topic that I wrote an article on for EliteFTS.

The internet has done a weird and good job of convincing lifters that there is almost no point in trying to move up to higher levels of competition. It's like, what's the point? Those people are stronger, and I can just post training videos and receive validation from a growing following instead. The inherent reason competition exists is almost lost in modern powerlifting. It exists because fucking anyone can win. I always use the example of myself. in 2012, I went to USAPL nationals and somehow finished second in a stacked 275lb class. A few people declined or dropped out of worlds. I got an invite and then proceeded to strain a quad and break a few bones in one of my feet a month out. I almost didn't go, but I still went and lifted. I got dead last in the squat and bench, and then finished 8th overall with a gold medal in the deadlift. All of this only happened because the chaos of competition is unlike anything else. Training doesn't matter. What matters is what is lifted agains the competition on meet day.

My point here is train, continue to improve, and compete as often as you can at the highest level that's availible because you never know, dude.

[u/rpefml → u/hamburgertrained]

well said. that is the whole point of competing. i have beat many lifters much stronger than me because they couldn't hack it day of. shooting hoops in your driveway isn't the same as playing a real basketball game, and lifting in the gym is nothing like competing.

[u/Miserable_Jacket_129 → u/hamburgertrained]

I’m in a meet Saturday, and the dude everyone pegged to get best lifter has pancreatitis. You’re absolutely right, shit happens.

[u/BlueLightBandit → u/hamburgertrained]

This is so true. While we “do what we do in the gym” on the platform, nerves, nutrition, sleep, and a foreign environment all compound on each other. You have no clue wtf is going to happen at a meet.

OP, just worry about yourself. Don’t focus on anyone else’s numbers but your own.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/hamburgertrained]

I can appreciate this. Thank you for the insight

[u/lel4rel]

Look up meets in your area on open PL for the last couple years and plug in your numbers.  That said you have zero control over who walks in the door to compete it's not that unusual for second place best lifter to be a run of the mill 400 wilks guy and lose to the best lifter by 200kg

[u/jakeisalwaysright]

I've done 15 meets and only in three of those was there anyone in my class directly competing against me. By the time you separate age, weight, sex, and equipment class you've probably sorted everyone into their own bucket. Most local meets, 90% of entrants get first/last/only-th place.

My question is why are you worried about what place you'd take if you (I assume) haven't done a meet before? If you're interested in competing, do a meet and just focus on getting experience and having fun.

[u/option-13]

You’ll do it if nobody shows up in 105. Most top 105s are in the 5’8-6’0 range

[u/Gaindolf]

Depends on who shows up. ~1450 total would definitely be enough to win some local comps. But sometimes you can win a local comp by being the only 1 in your weight class.

1450@220 generally wouldn't win best lifter.

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[u/k_martinussen]

Almost all competitive people are at least 260lb or above at 6 foot. At your height you'll only be competitive in the 105kg class if no one shows up.

But you could still win, if the only people showing up are weaker than you.

[u/Arteam90]

A famous philosopher once said: "sometimes no one shows up and you automatically win".

It's a bit above my pay grade to understand what they could have meant, but I think it's along the lines of "compete and see what happens", maybe.

Jokes aside, the 17 year old phenom on his way to becoming World Champion could show up at your meet, or nobody of note. Who knows.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/Arteam90]

This reminds me of a YouTube video I saw of Will Tennyson randomly joining his first ever powerlifting meet lmao. Those people stood no chance. I get what you’re saying though.

[u/carlsaischa]

I've won two meets in the -120kg and I've never broken an 1100# total. In short, you could come last or first depending on who else (if anyone) is in it.

[u/cloudstryfe → u/carlsaischa]

Lol same here

[u/Frontal_Commando_89]

I’m ngl bro 100 kgs are full of shorter and jacked/overweight 5’6-5’10 people. Just compete for fun, but competitive lifters at your height are 120+ kg.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/Frontal_Commando_89]

Gotcha, thanks for the advice, I was wondering how that would play out with my height.

[u/Why_Shouldnt_I]

You won't know until you sign up and compete. You can look back at previous comps and see where you'll fit in. Open powerlifting.org is the dataset of recorded competitions globally.

[u/Natural_Accountant80 → u/Why_Shouldnt_I]

Thank you 🙌