1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,920 Grab your pre workout and turn up that volume. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,040 It is time for a new episode of the Power Lifters Den with your 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:09,520 host Cam Smith. So Power Lifters Den family want 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,440 to wrap the podcast and look good while doing it? 5 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:15,640 Check out my official merch store at PL. den dot company dot 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,000 site. We've got Tees, hoodies, 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,200 beanies, hats and more and gear that'll keep you motivated in 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,680 and out of the gym. Every purchase help support me 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,120 and the podcast and keeps the den growing strong. 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,640 So whether you're hitting a heavy squat session or just 11 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,400 lounging in style, we've got you covered. 12 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,600 Head to PL. den dot company dot site and grab your merch today. 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,120 Hello everybody. Welcome back to another episode 14 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,480 of the power lifters. Then I'm your host, Cam Smith. 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,040 And to start off the new year, I wanted to have Amber Hansen. 16 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,560 We first connected a while back, time got in the way and this 17 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:56,920 past weekend we met up down at F8 and Clarion PA and now we are 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:58,720 here to do an episode. So, Amber, why don't you 19 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,680 introduce yourself? What is up? 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,720 Happy to be here. Happy to be the first episode of 21 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,520 2025. It's pretty cool. 22 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,320 But yeah, I'm Amber Hanson. I'm an equipped and raw power 23 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:17,120 lifter, been competing since about 2016 and training before 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:22,320 that with different sports and whatnot and I'm just a meathead 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,920 Air Force roller skating dork. Yeah. 26 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,640 So I guess before we kind of dive into what got you to where 27 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,600 you are today, maybe let everybody know but your best raw 28 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:34,960 lifts and your best equipped lifts. 29 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:43,960 So best raw is a 560 I think, yeah, 560 squat, 341 bench and 30 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,640 540 something deadlift. I don't ever remember the 31 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,800 deadlifts because and then equipped is 810. 32 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:59,800 This is multiply and then my best multiply bench is 475. 33 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,640 My best unlimited bench is 6/15 and then my best equipped 34 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,639 deadlift is like 556. So weird those the raw, the 35 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,280 equipped ones aren't too far off. 36 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,600 Yeah. So something I kind of noticed 37 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:18,320 about what I do notice is that strong raw athletes tend to make 38 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,520 good equipped lifters. And that's something that before 39 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,720 I got into equipped, I wanted to make sure I had a decent base. 40 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,800 I'm still working on my base and doing a raw meet in January, 41 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,600 which the closer we get, the less I want to do it. 42 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,120 I just want to get, I just want to get back in the gear, to be 43 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,840 honest. But yeah, so I guess kind of 44 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,600 what got you into lifting itself. 45 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,480 You said you started in the early 2000s, kind of just 46 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,720 training, but didn't compete until 2016. 47 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:46,120 So maybe tell us about what kind of got you from just being in 48 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:49,760 the gym to onto the platform? Yeah, So I've always loved 49 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,360 lifting. My dad competed in powerlifting 50 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,640 when I was growing up in like high school, middle school and 51 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:57,680 whatnot. He used to drag me to meet like 52 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,720 hole in the wall meets and I was so bored. 53 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,640 I'm like, this is stupid. But I was also a kid. 54 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,560 So he, he drugged me into the weight room quite a bit. 55 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:10,960 And I, I was a multi sport athlete in school and whatnot. 56 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,720 And then I, you know, did track and skating. 57 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:17,760 So I wanted to to, you know, continue to be strong for those 58 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,600 things. And then I got stationed out in 59 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,000 New Mexico. That's when I joined the roller 60 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,000 Derby team out there, which was freaking awesome. 61 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,480 So much fun. I miss it a lot. 62 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,840 And then my friend Jennifer and I got together and we were like, 63 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,440 you know, it would make pushing people around a lot easier if we 64 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,520 were stronger. So we started doing, you know, 65 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,400 squats, benches, deadlifts, you know, overhead press, all that 66 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:44,440 stuff. And then I got stationed in 67 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,840 Dayton, OH, walked into The Dirty gym one day and was like, 68 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,400 oh, yeah, this is where I want to be. 69 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,760 This is this is cool. And then kind of got integrated 70 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:59,080 with the crew that was there and was in my first contest in like 71 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,200 a few months of starting powerlifting training. 72 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:03,960 And it was, I just went with it so. 73 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Yeah, so I want to know a little bit more about the the roller 74 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:09,000 Derby because that's something that I feel like it's something 75 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,680 you only see in like on TV or in movies, but I've never actually 76 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,640 driven past like an actual roller Derby rink. 77 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,600 It definitely seems like something where a bunch of bad 78 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,279 ass women just get to body each other. 79 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:19,680 So I kind of want to hear more about that. 80 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,760 That is pretty accurate of a description. 81 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,880 It's so much fun. So the the televised version, 82 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,360 the one that people are probably most familiar with is like the 83 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:33,960 bank track stuff, which was really big in the 70s. 84 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,520 And then you had the one movie Whip it that came out that was 85 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,160 really popular. And I I played in West TX. 86 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:45,280 So those type of competitions were pretty prevalent out there. 87 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:51,040 But that was a lot more like WWE style, like scripted, OK, you 88 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,760 and you are going to get in a fight at this time marker. 89 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:58,080 When I joined, it was more so it was the flat track Derby 90 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,640 association. So if you go to any pretty much 91 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:05,800 lots of local roller roller rinks, there's probably a team 92 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,680 there and there's like a rink set up and a track and 93 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,720 everything that they'll they'll practice at. 94 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,320 So that was the type of Derby that I did. 95 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,560 And yeah, it's it's a really cool that that was one of the 96 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:23,320 things that kind of inspired my like girl power powerlifting 97 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,440 type of camaraderie things with like main event project and 98 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:31,680 whatever, because Derby is like that and it is all non profit. 99 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:35,760 The the team takes care of everything they do all of the 100 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,880 work they do, the recruiting, they do the training and 101 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,680 everything like that. So it's like a pretty close knit 102 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,560 type of group. Yeah. 103 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,320 So I guess with the aggressive nature of that sport, did you 104 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,360 find that a lot of other women were very involved in lifting or 105 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:52,320 competing in some sort of strength sports as well? 106 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:54,720 Yes, some of them were a lot of them. 107 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,520 There was a lot of CrossFit athletes that also played Derby, 108 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,640 which was pretty cool. And then there was another, you 109 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:05,200 know, crossover with like jujitsu and like combat sports 110 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:09,440 with those those women as well. But primarily a lot of like 111 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,600 because Derby takes up a lot of freaking time. 112 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,640 So most of us just did that primarily. 113 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:18,680 But there were there were other backgrounds as well. 114 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:20,960 Yeah. So I guess kind of this will be 115 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,560 a good little segue. I know you have a pretty big 116 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,280 passion and kind of like the performance or yeah, the hybrid 117 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:30,080 training CrossFit and the importance of that in 118 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,160 powerlifting. I think that's something that is 119 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:36,720 often overlooked and can really help a lifter be able to use 120 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:40,480 their own body, especially in equipped where proprioception 121 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,000 and like technique and things like that are very important. 122 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,960 So maybe tell us about your experience with that? 123 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:50,080 Yeah, absolutely. Wholeheartedly agree with that 124 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,760 sentiment, especially going into equipped lifting. 125 00:06:54,760 --> 00:07:00,400 Like I learned how to root from skating and how to to balance 126 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:03,160 from skating and that background. 127 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:05,400 And understand, I'm not saying that, you know, lifters should 128 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:09,760 go put on a pair of roller skates, but understanding your 129 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,160 body and like dabbling in things that you wouldn't normally 130 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:17,640 choose right off the bat. Maybe taking a break from 131 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,520 powerlifting and going to do some CrossFit or some Highland 132 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,920 Games. Throwing's amazing for that too. 133 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:31,440 Bodybuilding, just anything to help you acquaint yourself with 134 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:35,360 your own leverages, your own, like weight distribution is 135 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,560 going to be beneficial. And I think a lot of people will 136 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:41,720 just jump into powerlifting and then they won't do anything 137 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,040 else. And then they'll just be like, I 138 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:45,840 got to do my powerlifting probably, I got to do SBDI, got 139 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,440 to get in my equipment. And yes, you do need a lot of 140 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,840 technique work, but when you start to feel beat up, a really 141 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,280 great thing to do is to go play around in something else that 142 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:57,800 still kind of scratches that edge. 143 00:07:57,880 --> 00:07:59,920 And then you come back and you're even better for it. 144 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,560 Yeah. And for me, I think I got a lot 145 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,400 of the learning my leverages and just kind of how my body works 146 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,160 when I was doing wrestling because obviously the the better 147 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,080 leverages you can create as a wrestler, the better off you're 148 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:10,760 going to be. And I think that's what really 149 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,480 kind of fared well for me transitioning into Multiply. 150 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,840 Like I picked it up rather quickly actually. 151 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,160 I have like really good influences and really strong 152 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,480 training partners like like Robo and basically anyone that knows 153 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:25,000 him and all those people involved can help with anything. 154 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,400 But like you said, learning your body is definitely the probably 155 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,440 the number one reason that it made it easier to learn the new 156 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:34,360 things. Absolutely, yeah. 157 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,039 Some of the best equipped lifters that I've seen have come 158 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:43,320 from wrestling and gymnastics. And like, you really got to know 159 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:47,400 how you move and like what advantages you have in those two 160 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,840 things. And then it translates and it's 161 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,880 cool. I love seeing the light bulb 162 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:56,320 moment where someone's just like picking it up or what was it? 163 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:01,040 We had Brady Diamond out to elite last weekend. 164 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,160 She'd never had a pair of briefs on, never done anything like 165 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:08,880 that and convinced her to put a pair of briefs on and squat in 166 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:10,640 the crew. And it was so cool because 167 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,040 she's, you know, a lifetime athlete, multi sport. 168 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,360 She's predominant and strong, man. 169 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,320 She's a bodybuilder. Just did a show and everything, 170 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,480 but watching her figure it out so quickly because she just 171 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,200 knows herself and it, it was cool. 172 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,200 And then she was like, this is freaking awesome. 173 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,640 And I was so excited. I was so geeked out that whole 174 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,680 day watching those folks get in briefs for the first time. 175 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:35,280 So it was cool. Yeah, I mean, total side note, I 176 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,040 think squatting and briefs, like not full kit, not raw, just 177 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,040 squatting and briefs has to be my favorite thing to do of all 178 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,040 time. It's the most satisfying, the 179 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:44,840 most it takes. Like you don't have to worry 180 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,480 about the straps passing you out. 181 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:49,760 You get to squat more weight. It's honestly just complete side 182 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:50,880 note, it's one of my favorite things. 183 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,080 I totally agree. It's a blast. 184 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,960 And like that's, I mean, what's the spud briefs? 185 00:09:57,960 --> 00:10:00,120 They call them gateway briefs for a reason. 186 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:03,400 And I really do think like people put it on, they're like, 187 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:06,080 oh, this is nice. This is like a little 188 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,440 compression on the hips and they don't have to be gangster tight. 189 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,880 It goes a long way, especially if you're doing like box squats 190 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,960 or something and you can overload and repeat that 191 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:20,360 overload time and time again. Like your back's going to blow 192 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,200 up, your ass is going to blow up, hamstrings going to blow up. 193 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,720 Like there's no downside. Yeah. 194 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,320 And then in regards to the cross functional training, how do you 195 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:33,000 incorporate that into maybe the offseason or even during a prep? 196 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:38,360 Yeah, so, so during a prep not so much probably beginning of a 197 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:42,400 prep like I'll still be doing like GPP work. 198 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,160 So it it'll be some sort of like low impact type of thing. 199 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,560 I do love CrossFit in the offseason. 200 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:51,960 I also really like Olympic weightlifting, even though I'm 201 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:57,240 shit at it, I'm a big fan of it. So I'll do that in the 202 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,680 offseason. Usually right after a meet, I'll 203 00:11:00,680 --> 00:11:02,880 just do some Olympic weightlifting to feel good and 204 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:09,240 to open up and to like mobilize. And then right now I'm doing a 205 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:16,000 longer bodybuilding type of programming just to gain size 206 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:20,000 and also like give my spine a break because that shit adds up 207 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,360 over time, like, you know. Yeah, for sure. 208 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,080 And I think that something that I've started to seen a few 209 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:31,080 people need recently is an actual break from the heavy 210 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:32,680 lifts and powerlifting in general. 211 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,400 And I think it's important to use that break to kind of keep 212 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:40,800 your love for the sport rather than lose it. 100%, yeah. 213 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,120 That's something like, the longer you stay in the sport, 214 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,640 the more it's going to just punch you in the face and you're 215 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:52,760 going to have your moments of like, God, all this is stupid, 216 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,920 this stupid federation drama, this kabuki bar crap, like 217 00:11:56,920 --> 00:12:00,560 whatever, like, who cares? Why are we caring about this? 218 00:12:00,560 --> 00:12:03,040 And then you're like, OK, I need to take a step back. 219 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,200 Maybe I need to pause, go do something else, maybe get out of 220 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:10,160 the thick of it for a little bit and then come back feeling good 221 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,640 and feeling excited to train. Yeah. 222 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:16,440 And I think it kind of helps you be able to get through different 223 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,240 obstacles, whether it's injury and I mean to be honest, life 224 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,680 gets in the way a lot too. But I think we can kind of talk 225 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:26,640 about some of the obstacles used overcome with the the stress 226 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,560 fractures in your forearm may walk us through that because I I 227 00:12:30,560 --> 00:12:33,560 know stress fractures and they are just an absolute nightmare. 228 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,600 So. Yeah, they suck so bad. 229 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:40,240 And like, I didn't even know I had them for the longest time. 230 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,040 And I was like, man, my forearms, they just hurt. 231 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,320 My hands just hurt. And like, I just thought it was 232 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,640 part of it. And this was, you know, had a 233 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:51,560 lot to do with the equipped benching, especially the 234 00:12:51,560 --> 00:12:54,680 unlimited benching, because when you get that thing down to your 235 00:12:54,680 --> 00:13:00,400 chest, like, it will fling you up and then you are left to 236 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,560 catch it. And that part like that shearing 237 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:07,520 sort of issue at the top was just cracking the shit out of 238 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,800 the forearms. And I didn't even realize it 239 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,480 until I was like, OK, I think this is becoming a problem. 240 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:14,760 Let's go get some X-rays and see what's going on. 241 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,800 And then talking with people, talking to Jimmy, talking to my 242 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,640 doctors, and then a few chiropractors that are really 243 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:25,960 smart with strength athletes. They were like, OK, you need to 244 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,560 take some time off, let's rehab this shit and then make sure 245 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:34,280 that it doesn't come back. So really the big thing was 246 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,200 like, all right, I got to take a step back, which sucks because I 247 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:43,440 love benching and quit Like it's so much fun And I kind of you 248 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,040 kind of just have to like, I don't want to say trick you 249 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,240 gaslight yourself into thinking that Oh no, this will be fun. 250 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,760 Do this for a little while. Do raw for a little while. 251 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,720 Maybe don't get under a bench bar for a little bit or like pin 252 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:03,000 presses or floor presses or something that isn't as jarring 253 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:05,720 to those things. And then over time, like 254 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:12,800 supplementing with calcium, boron, getting those not only 255 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:18,320 X-rays done, but DEXA scans are really big for me because it 256 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:22,480 measures your bone density. So you can see like each section 257 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:25,280 of your body, how your density of your bones is. 258 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,880 And you know, it's just good information to have. 259 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,120 And then also not rushing back into it because that's a thing 260 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:39,360 that I like to do because I rushed back into it and what do 261 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:42,520 you know, they came back. Yep, that'll happen. 262 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,160 Yeah. And I, I think this kind of 263 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:49,400 brings up a a bigger topic with the the band Ben Church is kind 264 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,800 of, there needs to be some sort of protocol or some sort of 265 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:57,240 studies or something to be able to know how much load you can 266 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:00,240 increase like over a month's period or two months or 267 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:04,160 whatever. Because that's where the biggest 268 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,040 problem I think most people have with the band shirts is the risk 269 00:15:07,040 --> 00:15:10,240 for injury. Obviously it's kind of easier to 270 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:14,600 use in terms of learning, but in terms of putting on an extra 271 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,560 three 400 lbs here raw bench or even doubling your Poly bench 272 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,680 for some people, you have to be able to take it slow. 273 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,600 And I mean, if you look at Jimmy, he gets X-rays done 274 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,600 pretty much all the time because you'd never know when 275 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,960 something's going to pop. So that's definitely something I 276 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,960 think needs more kind of information on. 277 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:38,440 No, I absolutely agree. I wish there was more like it's 278 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,560 already such a small pool of people that mess around with 279 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,720 that. And Jimmy's actually one of the 280 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,800 big reasons why I pay such close attention to it because I've 281 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,720 seen what has happened to his stuff and he he's a, he's a 282 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:55,400 great example, but also he's not a great example because he's the 283 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:00,600 only one that does what he does. And then trying to be like, 284 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,160 well, if that happened to Jimmy, could that happen to me? 285 00:16:03,160 --> 00:16:05,640 I don't know. Probably not like weight 286 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:11,840 difference. Yeah, it's yeah, definitely more 287 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:19,680 info needed, but his I guess influence on yeah, get your shit 288 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,760 looked at, pay attention to it. Don't ignore things. 289 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,280 A lot of people ignore things and they're just like, I got to 290 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,520 suck it up. It'll be fine. 291 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:29,680 Pain is weakness leaving the body. 292 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,960 Who's going to carry the boats? Like shut up. 293 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,000 Go get your shit checked. Like don't be dumb. 294 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,680 Yeah, and that's the one of the things with the band shirts too, 295 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,080 is it's not the you could be strong as you. 296 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,480 You're never going to be stronger than what your bones 297 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:45,120 can handle in that shirt. That 100% that. 298 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:49,080 Yeah. So I guess from going into like 299 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,120 the Poly into band shirts, what are some of the things that 300 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:56,400 you've noticed, not necessarily like how you feel, but kind of 301 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,400 some of the things that you've noticed when you have such 302 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:05,000 heavier weights in your hand? Just the shock factor of it 303 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,480 because in order to get used to it, you have to handle those 304 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:15,119 heavy weights often. And one of the things because 305 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,839 Jimmy has done some of my programming, getting used to 306 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:23,280 full range Rep work that is going to be heavier than 307 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,000 anything but in like a less gangster piece of equipment. 308 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:31,800 So maybe not in my full shirt, but in A2 ply widow maker, maybe 309 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:33,480 an insert or something like that. 310 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:38,320 And and getting used to that time under tension in your 311 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:43,760 hands, in that tension. It becomes less shocking over 312 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:46,680 time. Like last weekend, I think I've 313 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,880 had 700 in my hands. That was the second time I've 314 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:53,400 ever had it in my hands. And just taking it out, even 315 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,200 with the band and the board, I was just like, Oh my God, my 316 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,800 hands just want to explode. That bar did help. 317 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:01,960 I was going to say. And then you have the the tree 318 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,400 trunk of a bar. That thing is absurd. 319 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:06,600 Yeah, it's like benching with a caber. 320 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,560 So I guess we can talk about that weekend a little bit. 321 00:18:10,560 --> 00:18:14,160 That was very fun weekend. I mean, we had we had John, we 322 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,920 had Jimmy, we had you. We had a bunch of people and I 323 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,960 had to do my my raw opener my second attempt. 324 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:21,560 And I was like, this is boring as hell. 325 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:22,960 I don't want to be doing this shit. 326 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:28,280 So Rob and Tiff, and then they actually just altered my shirt 327 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:29,840 there. So he threw that on and took 328 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,760 that to a tube board and just made me want to drop out of the 329 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:36,520 raw meat, to be honest. Oh no, you've come so far. 330 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,000 You've done so much work. Just RIP it off, RIP off the 331 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,640 Band-Aid, and then you can be done. 332 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,400 Yeah. But I think we can talk about 333 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,200 the importance of raw training even while you're in equipped 334 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,200 outside of like you doing the cross functional training. 335 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:53,120 Obviously raw training is important because there's some 336 00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:56,040 people out there that will just stay in their gear year round 337 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,760 and they won't do any sort of raw benching or even like 338 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:02,240 modalities like a slingshot or anything like that. 339 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,960 And I think it's something that is only going to make you a 340 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,960 better lifter. I absolutely agree with that, 341 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,080 something that I tend to pay attention to and I don't know if 342 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,720 this is just because my own training at like I don't talk 343 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,880 about it cuz it doesn't matter to anyone but me. 344 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:23,960 But if you see the people who incorporate raw training and 345 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,800 then look at their equipped lifts and their raw lifts like 346 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:31,280 you, you just look at someone and you can tell the people who 347 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,560 stay in their gear all year round, like the, the muscle mass 348 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:39,040 just isn't quite there. Or if they're not doing, you 349 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,520 know, their accessories or if they're just throwing on the 350 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:44,200 equipment doing their squats. I mean like it's dynamic day and 351 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,960 then they just cruise out of there or not doing their core 352 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,560 work or their ABS and you can it's it's evident. 353 00:19:50,560 --> 00:19:55,480 Like I can tell whenever someone picks a bar out of a mono if 354 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:01,240 their ABS suck. Like it's just like there's a 355 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:06,920 calling card for it And and I. I don't think it's as prevalent 356 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,000 as it used to be. I think there's a lot more 357 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,120 people that do lift equipped and then they go back to raw and 358 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:16,960 they they use the raw lifting as supplemental movements and I 359 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,080 think that's really good. I'm glad that's on the up and 360 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:19,800 up. Yeah. 361 00:20:19,800 --> 00:20:22,960 So as far as like a week of training goes, maybe tell us 362 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:25,120 about like what your split kind of looks like, what your setup 363 00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:28,560 is and kind of maybe how you kind of peek. 364 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,120 Yeah. So like for if I was in an 365 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:35,040 equipped peak or prep? Yeah, either or is fine. 366 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:38,320 Because like right now my shit's boring as hell. 367 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,560 So typically like it. It is a conjugate style 368 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:45,400 training. If you want to put a label on it 369 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:48,920 I will have. It would be four days a week 370 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:51,680 equipped. There would be a dynamic lower 371 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,520 day where I would typically be doing some sort of box squat and 372 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,200 briefs against accommodating resistance with really short 373 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:03,200 rest times and then maybe a pull after that. 374 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,440 Dead lifting just it takes a lot out of me. 375 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,960 So we have kind of pulled back on that. 376 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,760 We've done some blocks of just dead lifting, which has been 377 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,640 really beneficial. But when I put all three 378 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:19,080 together and some sort of prep, it's it's gnarly. 379 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:22,960 So usually dead deadlift, unfortunately, it's kind of like 380 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:26,640 an afterthought like, OK, let's not bomb out of the meat and get 381 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:32,240 a total. And then so I dynamic lower, a 382 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:36,600 dynamic upper. Typically that'll either be raw 383 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,280 or with some lighter piece of equipment and that will be the 384 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:44,520 same thing. Rep work working in double S 385 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:46,200 triples. If we're at the beginning of 386 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:51,240 prep, it might be fives eights again, short rest times and then 387 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,240 the Max lower and Max upper, which is where we're going to 388 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,360 pick a variation and go ham on it. 389 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:04,560 And I think Max like Max effort gets kind of bastardized and has 390 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:08,400 been over time because it's not just about doing a heavy single. 391 00:22:08,400 --> 00:22:13,920 Like I can have a Max effort day and I could do a set of five if 392 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,320 that was literally the Max effort that I could do. 393 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,920 So it it's a it's an effort, not necessarily like a number. 394 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:24,320 Yeah, And something with the Max effort that that I run kind of a 395 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:28,440 conjugate style to I, but my dynamic upper is more of like a 396 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,880 volume accessory kind of day. I found that just works better 397 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,840 for me I've for a bunch of different reasons. 398 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:38,320 But the point being I think with the Max effort days, something 399 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,040 that I've started to incorporate is leaving a jump in the tank 400 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,120 instead of making it a truly Max effort day. 401 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,720 And I think that's something that obviously is going to 402 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:50,400 increase longevity, but can also help with your mindset because 403 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,280 if you have these numbers in your head and you're missing 404 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,200 them, swinging at them every week, it's just going to fuck 405 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:58,000 you up in the head the whole time. 100% yeah. 406 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,440 That's something that I think I overlooked for a long time 407 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:04,480 because I would just go in and fail that shit all the time. 408 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,160 And then I'm like, God, what? What's wrong with me? 409 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,360 Like I just suck. And then once you started again, 410 00:23:10,360 --> 00:23:13,840 like leaving a Rep in the tank or even on our dynamic days, we 411 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:18,600 would do something because like, I don't know what my box squat 412 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:23,240 is with straps down against this band or whatever chains on this 413 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:24,640 bar. I just don't know what it is at 414 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,200 that time. We would work up to a heavy 415 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,600 single and it's just something where the bar starts to slow 416 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:33,440 down a little bit and then base our percentages off that. 417 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:36,880 And that was super useful, super good on the brain. 418 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:39,520 Yeah, and that's one of the things I do like about conjugate 419 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,920 too, is that you're changing up the variations so much, 420 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:43,920 especially at equipped, because there's so many different ways 421 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,880 you can set up your gear, that the next time you go to do that 422 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:49,800 variation, you could be hitting 100 LB PR anyways. 423 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,560 So it's not something that in your head you're like, oh, last 424 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,440 time I missed this weight because by this time you should 425 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,800 be way stronger than the last time you did that exact same 426 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,760 variation. Yeah, I love. 427 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,360 I love that about conjugate and I love that about about equipped 428 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:06,080 lifting too. Like you said, there's so many 429 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:09,240 different variations you could do straps up, straps down, just 430 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:16,560 briefs, like anything, just slingshot or you know, maybe I 431 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:19,080 didn't tighten my laces as much as I would. 432 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:22,760 It's just it's cool to kind of tinker around with that as added 433 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:27,080 extra layer of annoyance. Yeah. 434 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,760 And so as far as your gear setup, kind of tell us what you 435 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,840 are wear for briefs, your shirt and all that good stuff. 436 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:37,040 So my briefs I use man, I go all over the place. 437 00:24:37,120 --> 00:24:41,640 I it's been a while since I've had like a full set kit. 438 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,840 I really love my F8 multiply briefs. 439 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:50,200 I just got those. And then I also just got a 440 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:55,280 5050F8 like custom canvas. So canvas in the back suit and 441 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,640 then Polly in the front. I think I want to put laces on 442 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:03,680 it cuz I really, really liked my LUP a while back. 443 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:07,440 So I'm gonna reach out to Denise and see if we can do that. 444 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,640 That's my ideal squat setup. Yeah, Rupo has the the hybrid 445 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:13,880 suit and obviously it's just one of 1200 in it. 446 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:18,840 So it clearly works. And and then Phil, Phil Harden 447 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:20,240 was trying it on the other day too. 448 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,240 So I'm like, well, there goes 1300 so. 449 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,040 Yeah, my phone. Just chalk that up. 450 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,080 But yeah, their their briefs are something that I'm definitely 451 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:31,320 trying to get. I'm currently using metal jacks 452 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:34,480 and the the pumpkin ones and honestly those are such great 453 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:35,280 briefs. I love them. 454 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,200 These are my first pair. I love those. 455 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,080 They have such a special place in my heart. 456 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,000 Yeah. Rodney Woodward actually sent me 457 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:46,720 those right before I started my prep for the cuz I was using, I 458 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:48,840 think I was using like old Titan. 459 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:51,040 They weren't even like super boss, they were just Titan boss 460 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,520 briefs that were like 2 sizes too small for me to be starting 461 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,960 in and I couldn't even break at the hips until I had like 4 462 00:25:56,960 --> 00:25:59,880 plates on my back and it was a it was a nightmare honestly. 463 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,520 He came in very clutch. That's awesome, I love her. 464 00:26:02,520 --> 00:26:04,560 I just got to spend a little bit of time with him. 465 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:07,360 Like I've met him a few times but haven't gotten a chance to 466 00:26:07,360 --> 00:26:09,160 talk to him. He was out for the crew retreat 467 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:11,320 and I was like, he's just a cool dude. 468 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:11,800 Yeah. So. 469 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:13,600 Cool. So actually that's a good little 470 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:15,680 segue into talking about elite FDS. 471 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:18,960 Obviously Dave Pays very influential in the powerlifting 472 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,880 world, actually coming from West Side and having a podcast as 473 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,680 well. Tell us about what it's like 474 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:27,200 kind of being in that environment, being around him, 475 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:28,840 and just some of the things you've learned. 476 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,880 Jeez, that's a loaded one. Yeah, take take your time as you 477 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:37,840 can go off as much as you want. Yeah, like, I just, I have just 478 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:41,520 such an overwhelming freaking sense of gratitude for that 479 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:45,360 place and Dave and the entire crew there. 480 00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:50,080 Like it's it's really, I'll walk in there. 481 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:53,280 And every time we do, like, even though I've been in there so 482 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:55,360 many times, it's like, holy shit. 483 00:26:55,360 --> 00:26:58,440 Like this is Elite FTS. I used to sit there when the 484 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:01,480 table was in the middle of the gym and like, watch those 485 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,480 podcast and like, that was my crack. 486 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,480 Like I consumed all of it. I'm like, Oh yeah, there's a new 487 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,520 Elite FTS article. Like let's go watch, let's go 488 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:14,760 look at it, read it, ask questions and getting to go 489 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:20,520 there and just like have them talk shit to you but in a loving 490 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:24,000 way is amazing. And like Todd Brock, Amy 491 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:29,760 Weisberger is out there now too. Tom and Naomi Shepherd, Like the 492 00:27:29,760 --> 00:27:33,280 amount of knowledge in that place every weekend just blows 493 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,840 my mind. And it's cool too because 494 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:38,080 there's like people from every level. 495 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:41,480 So we have folks who are just starting off in powerlifting, 496 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:44,360 like young kids that are in there on the weekends. 497 00:27:44,360 --> 00:27:49,600 And then you got the like old crusty assholes, you know, on 498 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,320 the mono lift and then like the mid levels and then like the 499 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:59,120 upper level raws and equipped. And it's like, it's surreal to 500 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:04,640 see all of that knowledge from every single level get explained 501 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:10,600 and then also like understood, if that makes sense to like see 502 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:15,640 the light bulb moments or if Dave says something that doesn't 503 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,120 make sense to me and I need a different cue toddle habit. 504 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:21,800 Or Tom will be like, hey, think of it like this. 505 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:24,320 Or Matt Smith will be like, maybe try this. 506 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,400 And like it's a little overwhelming because it's a lot 507 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:29,320 of information at one point in time. 508 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:31,960 But if you're able to sift through it and one of those 509 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,280 things works for you, it's freaking cool because you're 510 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:39,440 like, I just got eight different ways from 8 different experts 511 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:43,520 that basically just saying to do the same thing, but one clicked. 512 00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:45,640 Yeah, and that's what I think one of the cool things with like 513 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,760 the retreats and kind of the podcast episodes is when you're 514 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:51,440 bringing in like these guests are also bringing some of their 515 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:53,360 friends. And it's a learning experience 516 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,120 for not only the people coming to visit, but also the people 517 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,560 that are at the gym. And I think that's one of the 518 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:01,120 really cool things about the podcast is it's more than just 519 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,840 the episode itself. There's a lot behind the scenes, 520 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,440 there's a lot of training sessions and so much more 521 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:09,200 experience to it than just sitting out at a table and 522 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,440 talking. Yeah, absolutely. 523 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:14,680 And I'm, I'm, I'm the worst. My boyfriend Jason will mess 524 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:20,360 with me about it because I'm in person, pretty awkward socially 525 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,520 and he is not like that. And he's like, hey, what's up? 526 00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:25,960 What's going on? And very, you know, like I can 527 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:28,440 start a conversation with anyone and I'll just sit there and be 528 00:29:28,440 --> 00:29:34,200 like, hi, fart joke, what's up? But then like getting out of 529 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:38,440 that shell and like, you know, interacting with those folks as 530 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,360 as part of the like the magic of that place. 531 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,320 And when you're right that when they do come and visit for the 532 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,080 podcast, they'll they'll usually like sit there or bring their 533 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,640 friends and then they get to come train with us on the 534 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:52,360 weekends and you're like, Oh, I've never seen that before. 535 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:56,200 Like I, I knew about weight relacer training. 536 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,920 Like I knew what it was, but then I got to watch Naomi and 537 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,520 Jacob go through it. I've never really seen it in 538 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,960 person, but that was super cool to kind of like see their 539 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,360 expertise come through and like, oh, that's what that's good for. 540 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,320 And keep it in your back pocket for maybe someone that I coach 541 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:16,600 later might need it or I could use it later. 542 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:17,960 Yeah. And that's why I just saw. 543 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:20,720 Dave posted today like looking to get new guests for the next 544 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,320 year and I tagged Rupo because I obviously I would love to see 545 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,600 him on there. Exactly so. 546 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,320 Let him know if you see this, but I'll go find it and. 547 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:33,200 I'll go smash it and then I'll go tell him and be like, hey, 548 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,600 this is this one. Absolutely, because. 549 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:38,680 I, I want to get out there myself because like I said, one 550 00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:40,440 of the goals I have for this year is to learn more. 551 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:42,840 And I think that's a perfect environment to learn, 552 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,520 absolutely. Yeah, there's so much going on 553 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:48,840 depending on the weekend because some weekends are pretty quiet, 554 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,840 but like so much going on and then so much weird shit. 555 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:55,520 Just like it's like, I don't know, Do you remember the old 556 00:30:55,520 --> 00:31:00,120 cartoons with like, Igor in the laboratory with the hunch on his 557 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:01,480 bags? Like, what are we doing today, 558 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,640 Master? And that's like, what it is 559 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:05,840 like, I don't know, we put liquid paper on a bee and it 560 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:09,560 died like, whatever. And it's cool because sometimes 561 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,360 it hits, but most of the time it hits, but sometimes it doesn't. 562 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:13,560 Yeah. So. 563 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:18,120 Obviously pile lifting and this has plenty of stories and tons 564 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,920 of memories. So I want to hear about your 565 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,240 favorite pile of fixed story. The the sauna story in Vegas. 566 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:29,560 The sauna it's not. Even that, like it's a totally 567 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:34,520 normal story, but the, the impact that it had on me as a 568 00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:37,960 young female lifter, like I'll never forget it. 569 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:40,520 And I've told her this a few times, actually. 570 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:49,080 Yeah, she she knows it. But this was my first Nationals 571 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,240 and I was cutting weight because I don't know why. 572 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:55,400 That's another rant we can get into. 573 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,920 But I was cutting weight and I was in Vegas for USPA Nationals 574 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,840 and Susan Salazar was competing there and she was one of the 575 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:06,920 women that I looked up to for a very long time. 576 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:11,280 I just thought she was badass and she was just so nice and 577 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:13,080 act. And at that meet she got, I 578 00:32:13,080 --> 00:32:16,160 think it was like the first 600 dots or not dots. 579 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:20,240 It was Wilkes at the time that a woman got and she she snagged 580 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:22,640 that. But we were up in the sauna of 581 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:26,040 the Golden Nugget and I could not get this last freaking pound 582 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:29,400 off to save my life. My training partner, Chrissy, 583 00:32:29,680 --> 00:32:36,680 she was smuggling up vodka to me because like, we were like, 584 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:38,280 yeah, alcohol dries. Yep. 585 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:41,560 This is to be perfect. Nothing could go wrong here. 586 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:43,040 And we were just, you know, it was just stupid. 587 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:46,080 Didn't know anything. It did work, but that's besides 588 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:49,240 the point. But I was sitting in the sauna 589 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:51,880 with her and, like, two other girls just dying. 590 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,600 And I was like, oh, my God, I'm sitting in the sauna next to 591 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:58,160 Susan Salazar, like wanting to just die. 592 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:03,480 And I thought it was so cool because I, you know, this isn't 593 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:07,040 like me. But I started talking and she 594 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:10,960 was just so sweet, so kind. And she was like, oh, it's OK. 595 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:13,680 Like, this is just what happens. And she was like, giving me tips 596 00:33:13,680 --> 00:33:17,800 about it and talking about what she wants to do the next day and 597 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:19,800 all that stuff. And I just thought that was the 598 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:24,240 coolest thing in the world, that Susan Salazar, like my Queen of 599 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:29,000 Queens, was sitting next to me dying in a sauna in Vegas, just 600 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:31,840 talking to me and, you know, having a good time, joking 601 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:35,040 around and whatever. And then I made way and thank 602 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:37,240 God. But it was cool because that was 603 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,640 my first interaction with her. And we're still friends today. 604 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:42,920 And yeah. And that was it. 605 00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:46,200 And that's, I met Stevie, her Chihuahua there. 606 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:50,720 And yeah, that. I mean, that really wasn't that 607 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:54,240 great of a story, but it was one that I'll never forget because 608 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:59,360 it kind of goes to show like, no matter who you are, what level 609 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:03,000 you're at, you can have an impact on someone if like it in 610 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,400 the right circumstances. And like just don't be an 611 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,520 asshole because it could have been really easy for her to be 612 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,400 like shut the fuck up New Girl, like stop. 613 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:14,440 And that's. That's something that every time 614 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:16,639 I have a woman on this episode, that's something I commend you 615 00:34:16,639 --> 00:34:19,560 guys on, is how supportive you guys are of each other. 616 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:22,239 That's something that it's funny. 617 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:25,199 And in powerlifting, men are more the feisty ones with each 618 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:28,120 other than women are. So it's kind of like backwards 619 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:30,600 from society. But it's something that 620 00:34:30,600 --> 00:34:33,600 definitely, I think needs to change within the culture for 621 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,360 men. Yeah, I, I. 622 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:38,639 Definitely, yeah. The dudes like beef all the 623 00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:42,440 time, random beef, beef that doesn't make sense, beef that is 624 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,840 like made-up. Yeah, it's. 625 00:34:45,840 --> 00:34:49,360 Honestly, and knowing about a lot of it and getting involved 626 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:51,040 in some of it, like not necessarily there's like the 627 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,840 main guy but just with the people I'm friends with it it it 628 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:57,360 gets so tiring and boring and it just makes pilotry not fun 629 00:34:57,360 --> 00:34:58,800 sometimes. Yep. 630 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:00,960 And I've, I've been in those situations too. 631 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:04,520 And I'm not saying women are not perfect, by all means, there's 632 00:35:04,520 --> 00:35:07,760 some shit like that on the ladies side, but for the 633 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:11,680 majority of it, especially in equipped, like we're so small to 634 00:35:11,680 --> 00:35:15,840 begin with, like we can't be being Dicks to each other. 635 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,840 Like it ain't going to work. We're not going to grow if we're 636 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:19,840 assholes. Yeah. 637 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:23,440 Exactly. So while we're on this topic 638 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,520 too, I kind of want to hear about the main event project, 639 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:27,640 maybe tell us about that and kind of your involvement in it. 640 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:29,600 Yeah, for sure. So. 641 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:32,880 Unfortunately, we haven't been super active because, you know, 642 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:39,720 you said life gets a vote, But it was me, Leah Reichman, Tara 643 00:35:39,720 --> 00:35:45,200 Duncan and then Allison behind. And basically we got together 644 00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:50,400 and said this is stupid because we were participating in meets 645 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:53,440 where, you know, prize payouts weren't equal for women. 646 00:35:53,840 --> 00:36:00,200 And there were issues with, you know, predatory coaches and gyms 647 00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:04,080 that did not treat women well. And it wasn't like a safe space 648 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:07,720 for things and predatory federations and predatory meats 649 00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:13,040 And that that shit exists. It's a lot less now and 650 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:15,960 basically we just wanted to start raising money, raising 651 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:20,040 awareness, raising education levels so that we can tell women 652 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:22,840 like, hey, these are really good places to go. 653 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:25,560 If you're a woman and you want to start powerlifting, these are 654 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:30,280 good meats to look at. And then advocating and putting 655 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:36,200 money towards prize pots, putting money towards like the 656 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:39,800 pro AM and things like that, that really lift the ladies up 657 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:44,120 and and showcase the bad ass stuff that they do 'cause like 658 00:36:44,640 --> 00:36:49,760 women power lifters are amazing. I am just in awe by them. 659 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,920 Like I go on open powerlifting and don't filter a damn thing 660 00:36:54,320 --> 00:37:00,640 women. And then one of the like biggest 661 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:02,880 things that we did, well, the biggest thing that we did is we 662 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:07,160 were like, it's kind of bullshit that women's weight classes end 663 00:37:07,160 --> 00:37:11,000 at 198 and anything above that is just super heavyweight. 664 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:17,200 So like me right now, someone at, you know, 2/10, 2:15 is 665 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:20,440 competing with someone who's 300 plus. 666 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,240 And you're just like, how does that make sense? 667 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:29,160 And also like, what's the, I guess what's the, the image or 668 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:30,560 the message that we're sending here? 669 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,800 Because there's there were women that we talked to and got 670 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,000 testimonials from and they're like, I want a power lift and I 671 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:38,120 want to get my name on the gym board. 672 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:43,040 But I feel bad about being labeled a super heavyweight. 673 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:46,400 And there's a whole lot of like body dysmorphia shit that comes 674 00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:49,840 with that and eating disorders and whatever. 675 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:54,080 So we were like, screw this. It's time, it's time to expand. 676 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:59,160 So we put together the petition, got a crapload of signatures, 677 00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:02,080 and we're able to expand weight classes in every single one of 678 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,400 the major power machine federations, and we're super 679 00:38:04,480 --> 00:38:06,200 proud of that. Yeah, that's awesome, I think. 680 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:09,560 That's something that definitely makes it more inviting into the 681 00:38:09,560 --> 00:38:12,520 sport as well, because like you said, the the name super 682 00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,680 heavyweight can obviously have some like negative connotations 683 00:38:15,680 --> 00:38:22,080 and, and like expanding it like that to also kind of expands the 684 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:24,880 the options or the competitiveness too. 685 00:38:24,880 --> 00:38:27,320 Because like you said, if you're competing with people that are 686 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:29,200 100 lbs, like I don't want to compete against the Super 687 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:31,880 heavyweights out of 275, let alone at 200. 688 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:35,520 So for real? Right and like the barrier to 689 00:38:35,520 --> 00:38:40,520 entry the and we're we're seeing it now a few years after it has 690 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:45,800 expanded like the 220 class and women is getting nasty like. 691 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,320 Gnarly. Nasty 242 same thing like and 692 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:53,840 we're we're seeing those 190 eights who cut down cut down cut 693 00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:58,640 down and now they have a place where they can really throw 694 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:03,040 around what they have and it's it's cool to see that yeah so as 695 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:05,360 far. As you for the for the new year, 696 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:08,720 what are some of the goals you have, maybe just in life in 697 00:39:08,720 --> 00:39:16,760 general or with lifting? Life in general just, I guess 698 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:19,360 just being chill. I don't know if that that's not 699 00:39:19,360 --> 00:39:22,360 really a smart goal. It's not measurable, but like, 700 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:28,440 just be, be chill, man. I'm a, I'm a stability girl. 701 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:32,720 I like my routine. I'm very boring. 702 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:37,400 I'm like if an old man was a girl, I go to bed early. 703 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:40,240 I eat, eat my things when I'm supposed to eat them. 704 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:45,360 But yeah, that and right now I actually just started with 705 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:49,080 Olivia O'need and bodybuilding coaching. 706 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:51,760 So I'm, I'm not competing in bodybuilding. 707 00:39:51,760 --> 00:39:55,680 That ain't me. But I do want to put on good 708 00:39:55,680 --> 00:39:59,120 muscle mass and I, I want to get up to 242 and see what I can do 709 00:39:59,120 --> 00:40:01,720 there. And I'll probably spend the next 710 00:40:02,040 --> 00:40:04,840 6 to 8 months doing that type of stuff. 711 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:07,680 I'm still training equipped bench. 712 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,880 I'm still pushing that heavy, but I'm not squatting heavy or 713 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:14,840 dead lifting heavy. And my bones are very grateful 714 00:40:15,120 --> 00:40:17,840 for that. Yeah, so are you. 715 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:21,480 Planning to just kind of train and build muscle this year. 716 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:23,800 Do you think you'll be stepping on the platform sometime this 717 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:25,400 year? I'll probably. 718 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:29,680 Compete, I'll probably do a bench only maybe and like the 719 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:33,120 spring or summer and then I might be looking to compete in 720 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:36,760 the winter of 2025 or early 2026. 721 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:39,040 There we go, and. Doing an equipped. 722 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:43,440 Meet in the summer sucks, yeah. When we were in Florida at the 723 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:49,240 storm, even in May, that meat was the hottest meat in gym I've 724 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:53,040 ever been in as making me start. To sweat just thinking about it, 725 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,880 Yeah, I think. I'm kind of on the opposite side 726 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:58,080 of this. I will never prep during the 727 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:00,400 holidays ever again. It is an absolute nightmare. 728 00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:03,800 That's. Fair, totally understandable. 729 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:05,160 Yeah. You got all this stuff like, 730 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:10,440 well, I got family time and like gym, I guess, opening, closing, 731 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:12,120 whatever. And then are you going to have a 732 00:41:12,120 --> 00:41:13,280 crew? Are you going to have people 733 00:41:13,280 --> 00:41:15,320 there? That's probably a big one, Yeah. 734 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:17,040 Oh, I think. This is a good time to talk 735 00:41:17,040 --> 00:41:19,960 about having a crew because that's one of the most important 736 00:41:19,960 --> 00:41:24,200 things I think in powerlifting outside of all the basics 737 00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:26,880 training, sleeping with all the all the stupid bullshit no one 738 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:30,920 wants to talk about or do. The having a crew is definitely 739 00:41:30,920 --> 00:41:34,400 especially multiply because you need one, but even raw and it's 740 00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:37,320 something that in the raw world isn't nearly as prevalent. 741 00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:41,640 I think the environment you're in and the crew you have is 742 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:43,200 what's going to make you an elite lifter. 743 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,120 Not all the training and the sleeping. 744 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:47,720 Yep. Preach preach. 745 00:41:48,240 --> 00:41:51,240 I absolutely agree because if you're in there by yourself, 746 00:41:51,240 --> 00:41:54,640 headphones on and I've had these days I like to lift by myself 747 00:41:54,640 --> 00:41:58,520 depending on what it is. But if I need to send something, 748 00:41:59,000 --> 00:42:02,200 I need people to make sure that I'm not going to snap my shit 749 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:04,080 up. I need a hand off on these 750 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:06,040 benches. You need someone. 751 00:42:06,400 --> 00:42:08,440 You need multiple sets of eyes too. 752 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:10,640 Because people are going to see different things and they're 753 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:12,480 going to be able to give you different feedback. 754 00:42:12,920 --> 00:42:16,200 And especially if it's a crew that you've spent time with and 755 00:42:16,200 --> 00:42:18,720 who knows you, they'll call you on your shit. 756 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:25,000 And I have been humbled so many times just by people who, you 757 00:42:25,000 --> 00:42:27,480 know, know how I left or know what? 758 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:29,960 Like you just sandbag the shit out of that. 759 00:42:29,960 --> 00:42:33,760 Like, come on. Or hey, maybe you need to stop 760 00:42:33,760 --> 00:42:37,800 because that was like ass. And then also to. 761 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:40,520 Like pump you up to like they're going to be there, they're going 762 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:42,920 to be screaming at you. They know what cues you need to 763 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:48,960 hear and just the Peace of Mind, having good spotters, getting 764 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:51,680 under a weight that is terrifying. 765 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:54,280 It'll it gives you the confidence to try things that 766 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:56,600 you wouldn't try by yourself. Yeah. 767 00:42:56,600 --> 00:42:58,840 And I think. Even on top of having a crew, I 768 00:42:58,840 --> 00:43:02,080 think having someone that you're either right on their tail or 769 00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:05,880 they're right on your tail is such a chase. 770 00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:09,640 And like, that's going to push you so far, maybe a little too 771 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:12,120 far sometimes when your ego is fighting you as well. 772 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:16,440 But having someone that's like right on your ass on something 773 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:19,000 or like, like I said, right behind you, like don't let him 774 00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:20,600 catch up. And that's going to push you to, 775 00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:23,520 who knows, Yeah. Exactly. 776 00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,280 There's been so many training sessions. 777 00:43:25,280 --> 00:43:28,440 So one of my buddies, he's been a training partner of mine for 778 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:31,120 years now. James Blair, he was there this 779 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:32,960 past weekend. He was mentioned with you guys 780 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:37,240 and we are constantly like back and forth, back and forth on 781 00:43:37,240 --> 00:43:39,240 things. And I love him to death and he 782 00:43:39,240 --> 00:43:41,840 loves me. And but it is so good for both 783 00:43:41,840 --> 00:43:45,400 of us because if we're training together, I'm an asshole. 784 00:43:45,400 --> 00:43:47,880 I'll put a chip on there and I won't say anything. 785 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:49,840 I'll put a chip on there and be like, Oh yeah, I'm done. 786 00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:51,000 And then he's like, what the fuck? 787 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:53,920 Or he'll do the same thing to me. 788 00:43:53,920 --> 00:43:56,120 And I'm like, God damn it. That's why I'm always like, I 789 00:43:56,120 --> 00:43:58,160 want to go first. Yeah, The the. 790 00:43:58,160 --> 00:44:01,160 Satisfaction of being able to throw a chip on and hitting it 791 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:05,600 is the best. It's or the the absolute utter 792 00:44:05,600 --> 00:44:08,920 ego crushingness of when you see someone put the chip on and you 793 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:12,440 know they're going to hit it is also the complete opposite of 794 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:16,240 fuck, do I have to make another 20 LB jump now or I probably 795 00:44:16,240 --> 00:44:18,880 should call that one, but he got me and I can't let that happen. 796 00:44:18,880 --> 00:44:20,920 And that's what I love about having a crew. 797 00:44:20,920 --> 00:44:25,960 Well, it's so good, but it's. So underrated too, as I do think 798 00:44:25,960 --> 00:44:29,320 that it maybe not underrated, but it's hard to come by, 799 00:44:30,280 --> 00:44:32,880 especially as a woman in this sport, depending on where you're 800 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:36,000 at like here, you know, have the whole sweatshot or not 801 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:38,680 sweatshot, but Tiger fitness down there with like the best 802 00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:42,520 equipped females in the world. But that concentration of women 803 00:44:42,520 --> 00:44:44,960 is not everywhere. And I. 804 00:44:44,960 --> 00:44:47,400 Think that's something that like Someone Like You where you're 805 00:44:47,400 --> 00:44:53,000 pretty much like and a 1%, like one of 1% where, like you said, 806 00:44:53,000 --> 00:44:55,680 you're competing with James. Like that's that's something 807 00:44:55,680 --> 00:44:59,240 that in our gym, it's kind of like something that it's there's 808 00:44:59,240 --> 00:45:00,840 not that much. It's pretty spread out because I 809 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:03,520 mean, you have Frupo who's just fucking light years above 810 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,280 everybody there. And then you have some of the 811 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:07,440 younger guys that are still doing raw, but they're starting 812 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:09,720 to think about equipped. And then there's me and a couple 813 00:45:09,720 --> 00:45:12,680 other kids that I know are going to start going neck at neck at 814 00:45:12,680 --> 00:45:14,000 each other for the next few years. 815 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,480 Oh, that's so exciting. I'm excited for you guys. 816 00:45:17,200 --> 00:45:21,520 I can't wait. But I think for you, I know you 817 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:23,920 said you just restarted your Patreon as well. 818 00:45:24,240 --> 00:45:28,680 Maybe tell us about that and kind of what you your your 819 00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:31,320 purpose for it is. Yeah, so. 820 00:45:31,360 --> 00:45:35,040 That was Jimmy years ago, inspired me to start mine 821 00:45:35,040 --> 00:45:38,040 because his his is really cool. And if you don't subscribe to 822 00:45:38,040 --> 00:45:40,880 him, like he's got so much good information. 823 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:44,040 He'll post on, you know, free socials and everything, but 824 00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:47,080 he'll go in depth on his stuff with voiceovers and everything 825 00:45:47,080 --> 00:45:49,960 like reverse grip, how to do it. A lot of what he does in his 826 00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:52,560 seminars he posts on there that's available. 827 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:57,440 And I kind of wanted to do something like that, go a little 828 00:45:57,440 --> 00:46:01,480 more in depth, put a little more like care and thought into 829 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:07,880 different types of movements, training programs, like the 830 00:46:07,880 --> 00:46:12,240 methodology and philosophy behind programming and that type 831 00:46:12,240 --> 00:46:14,440 of stuff. And I can't, can't really do 832 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:16,440 that. Like I'm not a YouTube whiz 833 00:46:16,520 --> 00:46:20,120 either. So that was a good Ave. and also 834 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:22,920 like, shit, if I can make some money on it, that'd be great. 835 00:46:23,160 --> 00:46:25,280 Yeah. That's one of the things with 836 00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:28,560 powerlifting, it's like you don't make money competing, but 837 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:32,200 there's definitely some money to be made with other things for 838 00:46:32,200 --> 00:46:33,080 sure, actually. Know what? 839 00:46:33,080 --> 00:46:34,640 I'll plug my. Merch store while I'm here to 840 00:46:34,640 --> 00:46:40,160 make sure that's how you get support me in the podcast and 841 00:46:40,680 --> 00:46:43,280 it's something that it does take a lot of time and effort to put 842 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:47,520 into, but it's so rewarding, even if it obviously the money 843 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:49,280 is cool, but like that's not why we do this. 844 00:46:49,280 --> 00:46:53,240 So it's to build relationships, build friends and build the 845 00:46:53,240 --> 00:46:57,320 community 100%. Yes, I think we can. 846 00:46:57,600 --> 00:46:59,560 Wrap things up here. So I'll ask you my final 847 00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:01,520 question. If you could give a new lifter 848 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:04,120 or someone going into their first meet a word of advice, 849 00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:09,560 what would that be? I can't say don't be nervous 850 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:15,800 because that is not realistic. I would say this is what I've 851 00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:18,880 told other folks. You only get one first meet. 852 00:47:19,640 --> 00:47:21,000 That's it. It's never going to happen 853 00:47:21,000 --> 00:47:23,320 again. So carve out a time. 854 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:26,760 Set a reminder on your phone or some shit in between squat and 855 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:30,760 bench or bench and deadlift. Carve out a piece of time, 60 856 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:35,080 seconds, 5 minutes that you just look around and take it in and 857 00:47:35,200 --> 00:47:38,000 feel grateful for the people that are there that are helping 858 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:40,520 you, the people that put on the meet, the announcer, the 859 00:47:40,520 --> 00:47:43,560 spotters, the loaders. Like look at all this shit that 860 00:47:43,560 --> 00:47:47,200 has to happen for you to do the thing that you want to do. 861 00:47:47,520 --> 00:47:51,520 And just also all the work that you put in to get to that point. 862 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:54,520 And just give yourself a little moment of reflection, a little 863 00:47:54,520 --> 00:47:57,520 moment of gratitude and say, hell yeah, like I just did my 864 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:00,320 first powerlifting meet. Like, I'm here, I'm doing this 865 00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:05,120 thing that I said I was going to do and kind of, kind of hang on 866 00:48:05,120 --> 00:48:08,400 to that because I've lost it a few times and it sucks and it's 867 00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:11,280 hard to get back. And that's a way that has helped 868 00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:13,680 me maintain it. Yeah, I'm a, I'm a. 869 00:48:13,840 --> 00:48:15,240 Huge fan of that piece of advice. 870 00:48:15,240 --> 00:48:18,000 That's definitely something that no one said before yet. 871 00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:22,720 So definitely a big fan of. I like to say be a sponge, 872 00:48:23,080 --> 00:48:26,080 taking, taking everything. You can learn a lot by just 873 00:48:26,080 --> 00:48:28,960 looking around the room. So also. 874 00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:32,920 Bring Imodium and a roll of toilet paper to your meet, 875 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:35,920 especially if you're equipped. Yep, Imodium. 876 00:48:35,920 --> 00:48:39,160 And a roll of toilet paper if you have go to a meet with a 877 00:48:39,160 --> 00:48:42,200 bathroom that's not so great. You will be everyone's BFF if 878 00:48:42,200 --> 00:48:46,560 you have a roll of TP. Well, I want to do thank you 879 00:48:46,560 --> 00:48:48,040 again for taking the time to come on. 880 00:48:48,040 --> 00:48:50,760 It was my pleasure, attention lifters. 881 00:48:50,760 --> 00:48:52,840 Are you ready to crush your next training session? 882 00:48:53,040 --> 00:48:56,120 Then you need reach pre workout in your corner with clean 883 00:48:56,120 --> 00:48:59,880 energy, laser, sharp focus and no crash reaches your ticket to 884 00:48:59,880 --> 00:49:01,760 smashing PRS and hitting new goals. 885 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:04,920 And because you're a part of the pile lifters den community, you 886 00:49:04,920 --> 00:49:08,200 get an exclusive 10% off. Just use the code PL. 887 00:49:08,200 --> 00:49:12,320 DEN at checkout. That's PLDEN for 10% off your 888 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:14,720 order. Don't settle for average reach 889 00:49:14,720 --> 00:49:16,440 for greatness with reach pre workout. 890 00:49:16,720 --> 00:49:19,280 Your goals are waiting for you. Are you ready to grab them?