Being a competitive powerlifter, and training like a powerlifter are vastly different things. IMO, “training like a powerlifter”, is a poorly defined statement. I know I’m just talking semantics here but follow me:     You can strength train to increase the number of your squat, bench and deadlift, or for that matter work on increasing your spider bar squat and reverse band bench, like I do. I use conjugate and/or block methods of periodisation in my training, but I’m not training like a powerlifter, not close. Keep reading.     I don’t have to deal with, if my strength is ahead or behind schedule. I don’t have to deal with if an injury needs to be trained through or around, or the mental stress of a strain that hits 8 weeks before a meet. I don’t have to deal with my body weight on a weekly basis, how to complete my training when nobody else shows up. I don’t have to deal with any of the mental BS that comes with training for a meet, albeit internal or external. If I mind- fuck myself now, who cares, if I do it training for a meet - one bad decision and I’m out due to injury. I don’t have to be overly concerned with recovery because I can pivot my training without worry.  

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I don’t have to deal with family or loved ones who don’t get how big of a deal the meet is. You miss dinner and you're considered an asshole! Yet, if you were playing D1 football, and missed Thanksgiving or Christmas due to a game they have a toast for you. Hell, if you're a Jr. High Wrestler and practice was in the way of anything - the anything in question will be rescheduled quite happily. BUT, when you're a competitive powerlifter .... fuck you, you’re considered selfish! Meet expenses are just that - expenses. Any other sport - investment.     Thus the sport that you are giving your all to, risking life and limb is seen as not a sport to those who you care for the most, but is seen as being a selfish inconvenience.     Nope, I no longer have to deal with that because I just train to get strong.     I don’t train like a powerlifter. Not even close! I’ve been on both sides of this track and they are two entirely different worlds.       [caption id="attachment_131799" align="aligncenter" width="474"]

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Dave Tate

EliteFTS Table Talk— Where strength meets truth. Hosted byDave Tate, Table Talk cuts through the noise to bring raw, unfiltered conversations about training, coaching, business, and life under the bar. No fluff. No hype. Just decades of experience — shared to make you stronger in and out of the gym.

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