Powerlifting and Other Related Questions...

[Ascendant]

First off, let me just say I am new here, which is pretty obvious from my post count. Being a long time member of other forums, I know all about the new guys and the mistakes they usually make/get chastised for, so hopefully I'm keeping those to a minimum. Anyway, onto the subject.

Is anyone else here into powerlifting? I'm not necessarily talking about competing, but just being into deadlifting, pressing and squatting heavy. If so, how has being in the Forces changed the manner in which you lift and/or affected your strength gains/training? I know doing 1-5 reps (for the main lifts, anyway) isn't really conducive to military minded training (ie. conditioning), so I was wondering if some of you guys have had experience with balancing/making improvements in both strength and conditioning in order to meet the military requirements.

Clearly when a balance must exist, there has to be compromise. You have to fall in the spectrum, with strength at one end and conditioning/cardio at the other. Huge gains can't be made in both at the same time. I'd consider myself fairly strong compared to the average guy, but my cardio and conditioning have definitely taken a hit. I neither like nor agree with Cross Fit's methods, either. I've seen the name thrown around reading the forums.

I was also wondering about BMQ. What kind of caloric intake can you expect to get? I think I've heard or read that it's buffet style eating, allowing you to eat as much as you want/possibly can in the time frame, but can anyone confirm? Also, would I still be allowed to take my fish oil, multi and vitamin D?

Obviously, at BMQ, you have to do things the way they want you to do them, but when it comes time to lift weights, do they give you any freedom as to what you can do? I'm not into curls, tricep extensions, half or quarter squats and all that stuff. Do you have any spare time to go to the gym and do your own thing? (From what I've heard about BMQ, you never have time to "do your own thing", correct?) Not deadlifting or squatting for 13 weeks would kind of suck. Not only due to the strength losses, but also just because I love them.

Are there powerlifting clubs or meets within the military?

Anyway, if someone could shed some light, has their own, similar experiences or anything to add in general I'd appreciate hearing everything.

Thanks.

 

[gcclarke]

First off, let me just say I am new here, which is pretty obvious from my post count. Being a long time member of other forums, I know all about the new guys and the mistakes they usually make/get chastised for, so hopefully I'm keeping those to a minimum. Anyway, onto the subject.

Is anyone else here into powerlifting? I'm not necessarily talking about competing, but just being into deadlifting, pressing and squatting heavy. If so, how has being in the Forces changed the manner in which you lift and/or affected your strength gains/training? I know doing 1-5 reps (for the main lifts, anyway) isn't really conducive to military minded training (ie. conditioning), so I was wondering if some of you guys have had experience with balancing/making improvements in both strength and conditioning in order to meet the military requirements.

Hoo boy. Well, let's see. Yes, many people in the forces are into power lifting. I only really started up about a few months ago (And unfortunately the gym at work doesn't have a Squat rack, but that's another issue), but there are certainly others. No, while this type of training isn't the best thing to be doing to meet the requirements that life in the armed forces typically places upon your body, neither is it completely inconsistent with them either. As long as you keep in mind that you cannot ignore the other aspects of physical fitness, you'll probably be all right. Just don't start going all "bear mode" on us.

Clearly when a balance must exist, there has to be compromise. You have to fall in the spectrum, with strength at one end and conditioning/cardio at the other. Huge gains can't be made in both at the same time. I'd consider myself fairly strong compared to the average guy, but my cardio and conditioning have definitely taken a hit. I neither like nor agree with Cross Fit's methods, either. I've seen the name thrown around reading the forums.

You are quite correct, in that huge gains can't be made in both at the same time. But we're not looking for huge gains in either. We're looking for moderate gains all around. So yes, you do need to work on your cardio. And I presume by "conditioning" you're referring to something along the lines of muscular endurance as opposed to max strength? Anyways, yes, you need to be able to keep your body moving for long periods at a time, often carrying semi-heavy stuff.

You may not line nor agree with Crossfit's methods, and that's fine. But their stated goal of balancing an all-around mix of Strength, Stamina, Cardiovascular Endurance, Flexibility, Balance, Speed, etc, is pretty much spot on for what is needed to fulfill the job requirements. Specialization in any one component of fitness, to the detriment of the others, will in the end make you less useful to the CF.

So, no one's asking you to join a Crossfit gym. But if you could find another method to get the same results, that would be just great.

I was also wondering about BMQ. What kind of caloric intake can you expect to get? I think I've heard or read that it's buffet style eating, allowing you to eat as much as you want/possibly can in the time frame, but can anyone confirm? Also, would I still be allowed to take my fish oil, multi and vitamin D?

You can get pretty much as much food as you'd like. The main restriction here would be the actual time required to wolf it all down. Fortunately, if you start choking while you're inhaling your food, you'll also be surrounded by a few hundred people who took a first aid course a week or two ago.

As for the fish oil and vitamins, bringing "Food stuff" is prohibited. Based upon the discussion here, you may or may not be allowed to keep / use them.

Obviously, at BMQ, you have to do things the way they want you to do them, but when it comes time to lift weights, do they give you any freedom as to what you can do? I'm not into curls, tricep extensions, half or quarter squats and all that stuff. Do you have any spare time to go to the gym and do your own thing? (From what I've heard about BMQ, you never have time to "do your own thing", correct?) Not deadlifting or squatting for 13 weeks would kind of suck. Not only due to the strength losses, but also just because I love them.

During the PT periods at CFLRS, the closest thing to "lifting weights" that you'll typically get is a medicine ball. Other than that, it's almost all body weight exercises and cardio.

You might be allowed to hit the gym for some squats and such on the weekend. I suppose you could even try for weeknights later on in the course when your nights generally become somewhat freer. I don't know. I can certainly tell you that the last thing that was on anyone in my platoon's mind when we got the weekend off was doing any more exercise.

Are there powerlifting clubs or meets within the military?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Ascendant]

Sorry to hear you don't have a squat rack...Haha.

As for the supps, stopping for BMQ wouldn't be any problem, I just wasn't sure if they were allowed.

I guess I'll have to start throwing some higher rep stuff in for my assistance work.

Thanks for all that.

 

[Fusaki]

Are there powerlifting clubs or meets within the military?

PSP Petawawa runs an annual bench press competition.  It might not be the kind of powerlifting competition you're thinking of, but it's something.  In any case, I'm sure you'd find people with similar interests as yourself in any base.  If you wanted, you could start a club yourself.

I'm a Crossfit advocate, and really only know about powerlifting to the extent of techniques that have been absorbed into the Crossfit program.  That said, I think powerlifting clubs would be pretty good for the army.  As long as the "military-type" fitness standard is reached through the BFT or CF Express Test, I don't see why a powerlifter should be considered any differently then a guy who runs marathons, or a guy who practices martial arts in his spare time.