Throughout my lifting career, I’ve heard many reasons as to why people don’t do certain things. I’ve heard reasons for why people didn’t come to Big Iron, why they didn’t want to lift with the team, why they didn’t want to get into gear, and why they didn’t want to compete. When I heard their reasons, I thought to myself, “That is stupid.” I pleaded my case as to why they were wrong. More often than not though, it didn’t work and they kept making excuses. I'll address each of the most common reasons why people don’t do certain things and explain why that reasoning is stupid.
The most common excuse I've heard is, “I don’t want to train at Big Iron or Omaha Barbell because people will make fun of me for being weak.” This is quite possibly the most absurd thing that I've ever heard in my life. Almost every lifter who isn’t a complete asshole loves helping people get stronger. Rick’s favorite thing to do was to take a nobody and get him elite totals. Those values were taught to his lifters as well. Take me, for example.
When I first joined, I squatted a whopping 480 pounds, benched 220 pounds, and pulled 551 pounds (yea, my pulls have always been pretty sick). Was Rick discouraged at my dismal numbers when I asked him if I could become part of the team? No, he saw a person who wanted to get stronger and began teaching me all he knew. If your biggest concern is being made fun of, get your ass into the gym and start training with people better than you. This will help you get bigger, stronger, and faster at an exponential rate. One of your greatest assets is training with people who know more and lift more than you.
The second most common excuse is “I’m not strong enough to do a powerlifting meet.” There isn't any such thing as not being strong enough to do a meet. If you want to do a meet, send in your entry and start training. Once you've made the commitment that you're going to do a meet, you'll see how much you can do if you actually set your mind to it. The mind is a very powerful tool, and if you know you have to do something, your body will make sure that it gets done. If you’re constantly making excuses as to why you don’t have time or why you should keep putting it off, it’s never going to happen and you’re going to be missing out on something special.
I can honestly say that I’ve met a good majority of my best friends from powerlifting. Imagine if I hadn’t sent in my entry form for the Big Iron meet. I never would’ve met Rick Hussey, who instilled values and a drive in me that has helped me do things not just in lifting, but in life. I met my girlfriend and soul mate because of powerlifting. I met Al Caslow, a guy who I look to for advice in lifting and in life in general. He's also a person I can call one of my best friends. I met Matt Gottsch, Cam Richeler, Bret Carter, Brian Mull, Brian Carroll, and Zane Geeting, just to name a few. These are all people who I talk to on a regular basis and wouldn't be talking to had I not sent in that entry. I guess what I’m trying to say is if you want to do a meet, pick one as close as possible to where you live and send in your check. You won’t regret it.
The next most common excuse is, “I’m not strong enough to train with the team and I'll just be in their way.” Wrong. There is so much time in between sets, and we have girls who have working sets hundreds of pounds under what some of the heavier lifters do. Most powerlifters are very accommodating to new lifters as long as you're willing to help out just as much as them. Any time I see a person watching us in the gym, I try to speak with him. I let him know that if he ever wants to work in or has questions that he should feel free to come over and we will help him out.
I also see people who are lifting the same movements that we are struggling to get reps. They look a little unsafe overall as well. I try to let those people know that if they need a spot or need help with anything, we are there. These people are willing to at least come to the gym, but won’t take the next step and start training with the team.
The last excuse I hear people say is, “I’m not strong enough to get into gear, so there isn't any reason to come to Big Iron or Omaha Barbell.” I may not be in the majority here, but I don’t think there is any such thing as "too weak to get into gear." Rick Hussey proved this time and time again. My girlfriend, Mandy Bennett, was in gear from day one. She has been lifting for almost six years and has never once done a training cycle without gear. Her raw squat is only about 150 pounds, but she just hit 402 pounds in full gear at her last meet.
If gear interests you and you want to get in it, find a local powerlifting spot. Lifting in gear is definitely fun. There isn't anything like being able to do weights that you can’t without the help of the gear! On my first day at Big Iron, one week after completing a meet, Rick put me into a canvas suit with the straps up. These straps were the most cast-like wraps they make. I hit a 50-pound PR. You can only imagine my excitement.
If there is a reason why you aren't going to a certain gym, training with a team if one's available, or doing a meet, you’re really doing yourself a disservice. It's astounding how much can be learned from training with others who have similar goals. Even if you aren't interested in powerlifting, most of these people have spent years lifting and have done a lot of things wrong to get better. More than likely, they can help you get better no matter what style of lifting you’re doing.
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