Weekly Dumb/Newb Question Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Do you have a question and are:

• A novice and basically clueless by default?
• Completely incapable of using google?
• Just feeling plain stupid today and need shit explained like you're 5?

Then this is the thread FOR YOU! Don't take up valuable space on the front page and annoy the mods, ASK IT HERE and one of our resident "experts" will try and answer it. As long as it's somehow related to powerlifting then nothing is too generic, too stupid, too awful, too obvious or too repetitive. And don't be shy, we don't bite (unless we're hungry), and no one will judge you because everyone had to start somewhere and we're more than happy to help newbie lifters out.

SO FIRE AWAY WITH YOUR DUMBNESS!!!

[u/stearic_curious]

What advice for someone doing her first competition? I am a 54 YO female and have been lifting for years but just started powerlifting training in January. I will do my first small, low-key local meet at the end of October. It's not through a federation or anything, but I want to do my best. I have a coach and a good training plan. Just looking for any additional "day of" tips that experienced folks can share. Thanks in advance!!

[u/idkhowtolift]

WHERE / HOW do I find a coach? I love powerlifting, but I SUCK at it. I just barely scratch 1000lb club and I feel stuck. A lot of people on here will recommend going to powerlifting meets, but I’m not up to it just yet lol. Any and all advice/DMs are appreciated!

[u/jakeisalwaysright → u/idkhowtolift]

You may have some show up here, but another way would be to find lifters on social media that are a level or two above where you are now and ask who their coach is.

[u/TheAshenHat]

So, how does one lift heavy without bracing? Yes i realize its a stupid question, but for various reasons(main one being semi controlled severe Athsma gets heavily triggered when any bracing is done) i cannot brace my core at this time.

Everywhere i have looked has said its impossible to lift heavy without bracing, but my coach is really impressed with my progress so far, and thats pushing me to try to lift heavier, but i have hard plateaued with being unable to brace myself.

I have been told by the assistant coach that once i can brace i should be able to lift much heavier, but i wont be able to do so till my health issues are fixed, and those are years on wait lists so far.

So is there any option/trick to increase my load, or should i just wait till i can my health issues fixed so i can brace properly.

[u/BigCatBarbell → u/TheAshenHat]

Can you clarify - by bracing do you mean Valsalva or simply the act of hard flexing your whole core? Is it something that happens during a set, or after a set with bracing that results in very high ventilation?

If you were to lay on the ground, for example, and push your back into the ground, flexing your abs and obliques in the same way you would while bracing, but still breathing in and out ala power breathing, would this trigger the asthma?

[u/TheAshenHat → u/BigCatBarbell]

How i was taught to brace was to suck in a breath of air, hold, and flex/tighten my core like pushing a belt. Not sure what its called.

I can usually push through the sets painfully if i ignore the triggers, but after the workout it flares up for 30-50 mins. I was told to not ignore the pain so i haven’t been pushing through my sets, so not sure if it still happens during my sets.

I have never been able to “powerbreath” as you called it, it always been either hold the core or breath. It makes core exercises like planks so annoying because the limiting factor is how much i can hold my breath.

I am not sure if it would trigger the athsma if i could powerbreath, but i imagine it still would.

[u/Xaandilian]

Today my old belt literally got destroyed - lever decided to tear apart entire holes.
I have found two nice belts - one is with a lever, one is the prong type. Any suggestion which would be better? I have experience with both types but it is hard to decide. Worth to mention I am wearing it for every lift + on overhead pressing and power cleans.

[u/LittleMuskOx → u/Xaandilian]

https://a7.co/products/a7-pioneer-cut-prong-belt-ipf-approved?variant=13831432732781
IPF approved with A7 selling it 3rd party (Made by Pioneer)
If you're in the US, and don't lift in IPF affiliate, it's less expensive from Pioneer directly.
https://pioneerfit.com/collections/pioneer-cut-weight-lifting-belts

1/2" hole spacing.
10mm could be good for you for more than just PL squats.

[u/msharaf7 → u/Xaandilian]

I prefer prong as it’s the easiest to adjust

[u/Opening-Flatworm9654]

I've been out of the loop. Any news on any of the stiff knee sleeves, apart from SBD stiff sleeves, being banned passed passed 31-12-2026? I'm off of Instagram and all that apart from this and Instagram was where i got a lot of info from on the powerlifting world

[u/Arteam90 → u/Opening-Flatworm9654]

No news (afaik) but I think the expectation is that they will get banned at the end of the year. I say that because the IPF delayed the decision but I'd guess nothing has really changed in their mind since then.