Muscle Gain Forum

Short Getting those commands down is a big step. Keep grinding!

Long Your first meet is about learning, not winning. Train consistently, know the commands, and pick realistic attempts. You'll walk away with experience you can build on.

Short I'd compete just to see what my total looks like under meet conditions.

Medium Deadlift is my strongest lift, but squat depth is where I need to tighten things up. I'd rather fix that now than get three red lights on meet day.

Long That's a smart approach. Competition prep isn't just about getting stronger; it's about making your strength repeatable when it counts. Practicing the commands, filming your lifts, and getting feedback before the meet can make a real difference. I'm curious how many people here would actually sign up for a local meet if they knew they didn't need to hit some crazy total first.

Medium I'd say go for it once your technique is consistent. You don't need to be the strongest person in the room to get something out of competing.

Short Nothing hits like that first successful third attempt.

Long I think the biggest thing is changing the mindset from “I'm not strong enough yet” to “I'm here to see where I'm at.” Train hard, learn the rules, respect your recovery, and give yourself enough time to prepare. You might surprise yourself, and even if your total isn't what you hoped for, you'll leave with real experience instead of another six months of guessing. That's a win in my book.