And what about the powerlifting?

It occurred to me that I never updated y’all on how I did at the IPL World Championships last November.

I did very well! I totaled almost 800 pounds across the three lifts (360 kg/794 lb) and hit all my target weights. I set new personal records in bench press and deadlift! and tied my previous competition record in squat.

More importantly, I didn’t panic at the beginning of the meet (which was a real problem previously). Instead I went out calm and focused, and everything came up smooth and sweet. I think I might have been able to lift a few pounds more, in fact – great to know for next time.

Here is a video of my top three lifts. In them, I am:

• squatting 135 kg (297.5 lbs)
• benching 75 kg (165 lb)
• deadlifting 150 kg (330 lb)

for a total of 360 kg (793.6 lb).

This qualifies me at the highest competitor classification, International Elite, for national and world-level events this year. I’m quite proud of that.

Using the McCulloch calculator (which compensates for age/weight/gender when comparing lifters) in the all-time powerlifting stats database , that puts me in the top 10% of all drug-tested female competitors since powerlifting records began. Happy about that as well.

Here’s my favorite photo from the competition:

If you want to see the whole competition, you can watch it here.

It’s funny – I never expected to be this successful at powerlifting. It wasn’t really a consideration when I started six years ago – I just wanted to get into somewhat better physical condition after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

And I have. Since taking up powerlifting, I’ve taken 5+ inches off my waistline, and lost 18 pounds while gaining a ton of muscle. My blood sugar is staying much more stable, too.

I’m also thinking about the long run. Lifting heavy builds both bone and muscle, both of which diminish as you get older. I’m starting to see my similar-age friends say things like “I threw out my back just reaching across a table.” Powerlifting, for me, is good medicine as well as a passionate hobby.

As the “Old Ladies Lift” Facebook group’s motto goes, “Age is inevitable – weakness is not.”

And since Worlds? I haven’t competed at all – I’ve been focused on training for the USPA National Championships in July. I compete Tuesday, July 8 – just under six weeks from now. If all goes well (cross fingers) I’ll be able to squat about 310-315 pounds, bench 170 pounds, and deadlift 340-ish pounds. If I can do that I will achieve two goals: breaking an 800-pound total, and breaking the California state record for squat, for my age/weight class.

(I already hold the California state record in squat for my current age/weight class, but I’m entering a new age class in June, so there’s a whole new set of records to aim for!)

It is also barely possible that I could bench just a teeny bit more – 171 pounds – and deadlift 2 pounds more – 342 pounds, which would break all four California state records (squat, bench, deadlift, and total) in my new age/weight class. That is probably too optimistic, but who knows?

So what does a record-holding powerlifter do between sets when training at the gym? Check out this video.