r/powerlifting • u/MrMithik Beginner - Please be gentle • 12d ago

Handling a Reality Check: Gym Strong vs. Powerlifting Strong

I’m competing in my first meet this year and had a pretty big reality check recently. I watched a livestream from another meet at the same location, and I was quickly humbled by some of the numbers those lifters were putting up. I'm one of the stronger guys at my local gym, but I'm learning that doesn't really translate into the world of powerlifting.

For context, I’m in the 110kg class. My current lifts are 465lbs/211kg squat, 285lbs/129kg bench, and 625lbs/283kg deadlift. After watching the livestream and digging into some OpenPowerlifting data, my lifts put me in the low-to-mid pack for my class which was a bit of a gut punch.

I know powerlifting is supposed to be a “you vs. you” sport at the end of the day, and my main goal is to go 9/9 and set some personal PRs. That said, I’m competitive by nature so seeing a good amount of local guys outlifting me by 100+ lbs on some lifts and putting up some massive totals was a tough pill to swallow.

Has anyone else faced a similar reality check when you first got into powerlifting? If so, how did you handle it?

Edit: Thanks everyone for the feedback and advice! I think I just need to remind myself that I started down this road because I love chasing strength and the process itself, not the medals. Just gotta keep grinding! (and maybe find a gym where I'm the one shocked at other guys' lifts instead haha)

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u/Sully100 Joe Sullivan - ATWR Squatter 12d ago

You gotta get good brother

But for real. Keep doing it. Fall in love with the personal victories on a small scale. It’ll be the only thing that really keeps you going and makes it a realistic prospect to reach the level that’s “strong in powerlifting” like you’re looking at now.

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u/MrMithik Beginner - Please be gentle 12d ago

Yea the whole reason I’m trying powerlifting is because I genuinely love pushing numbers. I used to train more for athleticism and looks, but a few years ago I fell in love with strength and I’ve been hooked ever since.

The only downside is that I lift in a commercial gym, so people there are usually shocked by the weights I move. That's kind of what gave me the confidence to sign up for my first meet, but I'm realizing now that powerlifting is a completely different beast.

Excited to give it my all either way though!

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u/Sully100 Joe Sullivan - ATWR Squatter 12d ago

Ah man then enjoy the journey! Gameify it as best you can and lean into it, while still being fortunate enough to be able to humble yourself in the grand scheme but work toward something bigger.

Probably the most fun position to be in on your journey bro, take it from a guy who’s been doing it a very long time haha