OK fellas, my first meet is officially in the books! It was Saturday AM for those asking.
Bit of a walk through before the good stuff (#s):
Weigh ins were called for 8:30, so I was up at 7 and had packed all of my bag and food the night before. Honestly because of my nervous energy, I was up at 6:30.
Had half a cup of coffee and a banana on the way there, checked in and took a look around. The gym the event was held at was FIRE. It was a huge Powerhouse Gym. Endless machines, saw some Panattas, huge supplement shop, fridges with energy drinks and meals, and of course the whole powerlifting section where the event was. This was pro level.
After weigh ins (156#) I ate my Dave's bagel + PB. Began my warm up routine and a little bit later we had the athlete meeting. We had a good bit of downtime before the start of lifting at 10 AM. Met a few competitors, started my pre-WO and got dressed. I was coincidentally only 1 of 2 in a singlet - so I had a little feeling of being out of place a bit in the beginning, but I didn't have shorts with me anyways, so onwards.
We had to give our starting squat and bench heights, and our openers. I've never even thought about height! I had no idea!
Short?! Put down my conservative openers across all 3, but had a real debate on DL. And immediately was self conscious about my #s compared to some of the others listed. Someone opened with a 425# squat, while I was doing 185#. I was by far the weakest male competitor.
But ended up talking to a few other first time lifters and honestly it calmed my nerves.
Started promptly at 10 and I was 2nd lifter up on squats. My family came out to support me and literally walked in as they were setting up the bar for me on my first attempt!
Now the good stuff:
Let's start with numbers.
Squat:
185
185
225
I got a no lift on my first attempt. Apparently I didn't hit depth. This frazzled me a bit and obviously made me nervous about jumping weights, so I stuck with the same weight for attempt #2 (easy). But I talked to one of the judges and he told me I had the power, it was just going further down. My jump to 225 was a stretch - but I felt I wanted to make a real go for it to make up for lift attempt one. Went up smooth!
Bench:
165
185
200
As planned, except I was between 195-205 range in my head for attempt #3. Split the difference and nailed it for an easy single! I was locked in by this point of the meet. Felt really good on bench, which I was expecting to be my weakest.
Deadlift:
185
205
235
This was actually my best performance of the day and where I felt strongest, which I was nervous for due to my prior back issues. I had warmed up to 185x1 since I originally called for only 165 as my opener. But I felt solid on it and upped my open, which was the right move. Deads flew today! Probably the adrenaline of the meet, but I called for 235 on attempt #3 (10# above my target goal in my head). If I had been given a 4th attempt I know I could've done even more that day.
The judge and meet organizer basically told me that they were surprised how much I limited myself. Given how fast everything moved they told me I definitely have a lot of strength left that I could put on the platform. The judge thought I had wanted 255 on my last deadlift, but I corrected him.
All in all, a really great first experience! I took two of my top attempts over (bench & DL) over my incoming targets and hit them. Adrenaline was pumping, judges and competitors were friendly and helpful, great facility, and it was a charity event for addiction - so great cause - and having my family there to witness was icing on the cake!
I went 8/9 for the day and just had a great time.
Total for the meet: 660
I'll post up some videos and photos soon.
He is dead sexy! 
Short?! Put down my conservative openers across all 3, but had a real debate on DL. And immediately was self conscious about my #s compared to some of the others listed. Someone opened with a 425# squat, while I was doing 185#. I was by far the weakest male competitor. 
