Powerlifting Mentality: Removing Yourself From The Numbers
Since I can remember I have been chasing a 315lb bench press (Still am at the time of writing this but very close). With this said one of the most detrimental things I have done in my powerlifting career has been chasing numbers.
Myself and my coach “Gavin Adin” share one fundamental difference between us (besides the obvious of him being much stronger and more handsome than me). He powerlifts as a vehicle to something else not cause he loves powerlifting; I powerlift cause I love powerlifting.
If you’re like me you love the numbers. You get to feel like a video game character boosting your strength stats and hitting new achievements (PRs and Landmarks). Your first 500lb squat, 300lb bench and 600lb deadlift are monumental achievements in your life.
It’s easy for this to be taken too far. You can become obsessed with the numbers. This is the heart of the issue. The biggest thing I have learned from Gavin in my three years of working with Gavin… remove yourself from the numbers.
How to remove yourself from the numbers (Practically)
Step 1: Emotional attachment
Hitting cool numbers is something you do, it’s not who you are. Sure maybe it’s part of who you are and that’s okay but it does not define you.
It should not define you in your own eyes. Like some people have body dysmorphia, people can have strength dysmorphia.
Their personal worth is defined by the numbers they hit and as a result they're always chasing the next PR. Usually not in the most structured ways.
These people in the most extreme form are your “max out every week guys”
They have to remind themselves they’re strong instead of truly believing without a doubt and trusting they are strong.
So how do you avoid falling into this category?
Remove your emotional attachment from the numbers, enjoy hitting PRs but don’t let them define you.
Remind yourself no matter how good or bad a day you had at the gym it doesn’t define you (do this often).
Be patient and have faith in the work you are putting in will create results.
Step 2: Focus on execution instead of the numbers
Practically what we are looking to achieve by removing ourselves from the numbers is to free up more brain power to focus on execution.
As lifters we should all know what cues and things we need to do for a lift to feel good.
If you do not; start there.
Going into the lift numbers should not be taking up space in your mind cause you should be thinking through all the things you need to do for your lifts to feel good. (Or trying to figure out what those things are)
For example before I am squatting I am not thinking:
“Oh fuck this is a lot of weight I hope I can do it.”
If I want the lift to go well I am thinking:
“Okay, get my hands evenly placed on the bar, brace my core, get my back as tight as possible and wedge into the bar, get my feet under the bar, stand up, let the bar settle, clean three step walkout, brace and breath, get tight and control the bar, push up hard”
When these things go well my lifts go well.
So what happens when I don't focus on execution?
Well if the weight is light and I'm just being complacent it doesn't move as well as I would like it to. If the weight is something heavy for me…. I fail at that weight.
Now there’s no guarantee if I focused better I would have successfully lifted the weight instead of failing…. However I have never successfully made a successful max effort attempt where I wasn't focused and I have made plenty when I was focused.
This is why you can’t let the weight take up room in your mind and distract you from focusing.
Thank you for reading. If you are looking for coaching please reach out and DM me on Instagram or follow me to be updated on future articles and educational content.
