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So whether you're hitting a heavy squat session or just lounging in style, we've got you covered. Head to PL. den dot company dot site and grab your merch today. Hello everybody, welcome back to another episode of the pile lifters den. I'm your host, Cam Smith, and today I want to bring on bring on Priyanka. We're going to talk about her journey from raw into an injury, into her best total today and everything in between. So Priyanka, why don't you introduce yourself?
Hi, I'm Priyanka Santiago. I started powerlifting in 2014. I was raw. I stopped for a couple years because I had a baby, came back and now I'm going to quit powerlifting. Is that? Yeah. So just to get started, I like to get the background on everyone. So before you kind of stepped out of the platform in 2014, maybe tell us about what got you there in the first place?
OK so I was in the army in 2012 that's when I joined and believe it or not like I couldn't pass APT test when I first joined and like I worked real hard on it. It was only push ups, sit ups and running. And I remember at the time there was like a group of kids or dudes in my platoon that would like always bitch about the standards between females and males and like how women had to do less push ups than men.
And I remember it was just like really grind my gears and they worked out at the gym like a lot. So I would see them and they were strong. And then I like I heard about powerlifting like through the Grapevine and like I made it. It just made me so mad to hear them talk shit about like women not being strong.
And then like on the flip side, when you would see them at the gym and they would see a strong woman, they would be like, Oh my God, I can't believe she's like trying to get stronger. So I made it my, my life's mission to be stronger than them. And I think that I've accomplished that at this point. I don't even know where they are at this point that. Exactly. Yeah, but yeah, so like, I was married before this, before my my husband, currently my first husband passed away on a
motorcycle accident. But he was really into like weightlifting. So I started going to the gym with him and I started getting stronger and stronger and stronger. And I was like, I'm actually OK at this. And I like, Googled, like parallel federations. And there was an RPS meet nearby to us in North Carolina. So I like walked up their records. At the time, I was like, oh, I could totally beat them. So then I went to that meet and I broke them. And all the time I had no idea.
Like I thought I was like, wow, I'm the best in the world. I think I squatted like 240I benched 135, and I think I pulled like 300. And yeah, I thought I was a shit. Yeah, I think it's funny kind of watching like the evolution over the years. If you look back on like your own career or just like maybe a friend that's been doing it for a few years. And kind of like when you first start, you're like, oh, I want to go for this regional record or the state record.
And now every now once you're like involved and you're hanging out with like these top dogs, you're like, fuck a regional record. I want a world record. Like I want to be top ten all time. Like I don't care about this random feds local record. But at the same time, it's still something to be proud of. Yeah, I think I actually, I still hold RPS military records. But anyway, the like, so the like I eventually started
looking at the rankings, right. And at the time it was called like powerliftingrankings.com or something like that. But you had to pay to look at the rankings. They didn't have open powerlifting at the time. So I did that and I remember I was in one the £123 weight class at the time, and I went to the that page and I found whoever the top person was at the time and it was Susan Salazar. And I hired her coach because I was like, I want to be the best
in the world. And yeah, that's kind of how that went. Yeah. So from going into obviously you started raw and most multiply does from there kind of once you decided to hop into a multiply meet, maybe tell us about what inspired that? Oh, man. So I did my first two needs raw, and that was like back 2014, two, 1015. And my coach at the time was Gracie V and she was an equipped power lifter. And like, to me, powerlifting was all about lifting the most weighted humanly possible.
Like, it didn't matter what I was wearing. So I was like, hell yeah, let's do this. I ordered my friends, I had, I think I had an SDP and whatever suit at the time. I'm like, I ordered all brand new from anger because I didn't have anybody to, you know, switch with or to like, you know, borrow their gear. And that was like the first, my first like, OK, I'm going to do this. But then so my husband passed away in August of that year and it was actually before my year
ever got there. So like it had always been like a thing in my head, like I want to do this. So then when I came back, it was like 2022 and I hired Laura and I didn't. My first mate was her was raw at the pro AM. And then after that I was like, actually I was on lifting large and they sell like a single pie kit with everything in it. So it's like I I got that kit and then I talked to Laura and she was like, OK, yeah, like
this is a good idea. And then once I was in single ply, I was learning it. I actually went to go see because I didn't have anybody to train with. I went with Amber and Jimmy Cole. Like I went to go see them and they kind of taught me everything. And then I saw Andy Pope in Florida. Like I was just because I went to go visit my in laws, but I was like, this is like not enough. I wanted to do more. Like there could be another layer. I wanted it. So that's how I got into
multiply. I never ended up doing my single ply meet. I just went straight into multiply and I my first goal, like I don't know, I don't know why I'm like this. I know there's a lot of people like this, but my first goal was like, OK, I'm going to get my pro total and multiply on my first meet. And I did, and it was really hard. I like, hit it on the number. Yeah, on the fucking number. And I didn't have anything left in the tank.
Nothing. Yeah, for for me it was that was my mate like that and squatting 800 was my main goal and I could not get the second bench in for the life of me. I was having the yips on bench. So that's the one that strengthened here as I went for that ridiculous pull on the third attempt, just got folded by it. And just because I was like I the difference between 1935 and like 1955 meant nothing to me. It was either 1935 or 2K like go
for. It yeah, that's kind of what Chris did at this last meet for me, but yeah, so and then I don't know, I'm trying to think what else like. Talking about going from Laura, working with her. Oh, yeah, Laura was great. So like, that was like another thing where it's like you kind of have to set your goals super high because like all of Laura's clients are like the best in the fucking world. And then you have Laura, you know, like, like, what am I living up to here?
Like there I just wanted to be like, I didn't want to be another person on there. Like I wanted to be one of the people that was like higher up, like harasser, you know, but like knowing that I could never like truly because I could like
there's no fucking. Life. But like, you know, I would ever, you know, there's Dina and then there's Leah, there's Taylor and there's Jordan and you know, it's like all of these people, but those are the people that I had to look up to. And like, you know, as as long as I could keep chipping away, that was good enough for me. And it still is. You know, I like, I have no aspirations of the like being a world record holder.
Of course, like if that were to happen it'd be cool, but like, I don't, I don't try not to go into meets anymore like thinking about what numbers I'm going to hit. Yeah, and I kind of feel the same way as you. Like I just obviously I'm starting with Skiba now, so everyone in that crew is fucking animals. So and I mean being in 275, that's like one of the toughest weight classes. So like I'm trying to be realistic, but yeah, I'll probably never hit an all time
world record. But the same time I'm still gunning for every single person. And I think, but I also think I like your mindset of if you're worrying less going into a meet, you're probably going to perform a lot better. Oh yeah, yeah. And like, I think also to like this last meet, I was definitely like, all right, I'm just going to go in. Anything that I squat was going to be APR, Anything that I bench was going to be APR, the deadlift, whatever. Like if I got a 5 LB PR, got a 5
LB PR and I did. But like when I went like the WPO for the the Pro AM before that, I remember going in and I wanted like for the Pro AM of 2023, I wanted to squat 600 lbs. Like that was the goal, but it just wasn't there. Like, it might have been there, but like, my mentality was not there. And like, you know, you set yourself up for disappointment that way. Yeah. And then for the WPO and like every like people probably think I'm fucking crazy.
So it's like I never even squatted 600 lbs. I was like, I want, I'm going to squat 7 like it's MPO like that's the goal. And then when I got on the stage, like I, I took my opener at six O 6, I missed it. I got my second, but it was terrible. It was absolutely horrendous. So I scratched my fur it just and like, that's not even close, you know what I mean? But like during that prep, I wasn't even stuck.
I didn't even my old like what I had hit at the WPO wasn't even what I like close to the numbers that I was hitting during the prep. But it just like goes to show that like whatever is there, I mean like that's just what's there on me day. I didn't even cut weight. Like I have no excuse for it. And I think that's something that with multiplied kind of they always say, like they always told me, like, let's just get a total first because you
never know it can go wrong. Like you, your squats could be money that day and then you can't touch or you forget how to press or you you're gassed because you hit two massive PRS in your squat and bench and then you can't even pull your opener or just just so much can go wrong or like your gear doesn't fit right or your bloat. Like there's so many more things that can go wrong. Multiply.
I mean, Speaking of things that went wrong, I think we can kind of talk about your injury and kind of the the road to recovery on that. So tell us about how that happened. Oh man, so this is also at the WPO. There's like no videos out there of this and I think that they cut it out of the street. But anyway, the WPOI, you know, I didn't get. I scratched my third. It didn't hit anything close to what I wanted to for my squat. So I was like, all right, I'm
going to send bench. When I took my opener and training, I think I wanted to open at like 375, which is also stupid because like I my bench before that, the most I ever did was 350. I ended up opening at like 345 or 335 something like that and it was smoke. So we went up to 37. It would have been like 360. I think it was 370, whatever, it doesn't matter. I like I did it and I got it off my chest, but like I don't know if I was like into my lap, but I just kept going like this at the
top. Like it just kept like I just couldn't get it like this. And I think I was under the weight for so long while I was doing this fucking weird thing, but it just snapped so I broke my radius. I actually didn't break. Ulna. Yeah, so I didn't break my ulna, which I guess like for everybody that I know, all the other women that I know that got this
injury, they broke both. I don't know how that happened, but I was lucky because Kelly was there and you know, she is a nurse and she splinted up my arm with like this box. It was like a, it was like a garbage, like a makeshift garbage. She splinted up my arm. Chanel was there who had also gone through the same injury and she like at the same place at the WPO and she like told me what hospital to go to. So it was me Mags in Dakota and we all, you know, went to the hospital.
It was terrible, but it was like being at the hospital was kind of funny because I was like kind of fucked up. But like, I remember like I don't do well with painkillers. So like on the way home I was like, we, I remember we like pulled over until we were trying to get my meds. We pulled over until like a Ruby Tuesdays and there was like, you know, families going out to like, dinner and I'm on the like in the parking lot puking on the floor with my broken arm. Oh my God. It was terrible.
So yeah, that that happened. And then I remember. So like, I didn't get surgery at the hospital because I had to come back to New Jersey and I get my health insurance through the VA. So it took five weeks between the time I broke my arm to the time I got my surgery. Oh my God, it was yeah. So they, I remember I asked the surgeon afterwards, I was like, was it really bad? And he was like, it wasn't easy. You know, the bones were like
going back together long. So around that time, well before that I have was going to see Chris. So like for the WPOI was under Laura, Laura was doing my program, she was coaching me, but I needed help. And like for all the preps prior to that, like I was going to Hellbent to train like or at least a squat. And then like eventually Chris like reached out to me. He's like, hey, when are you going to come train? I was like, thank you for asking because I would love to.
So he helped me through the entire prep. So after I broke my arm, I was kind of just like I wasn't lifting. And it was like a natural transition because like, he had already be helping me through everything and he had eyes on me like during this recovery, like he was able to see if something hurt, you know what I mean? Like there was a lot of things that didn't feel right so he could modify things on the fly. And that's when I started with
Chris for real. So from when you broke or I guess when you got the surgery toll? So when did you have the surgery? December. Of 2023. So yeah. It was like a year before the meet. Yeah, it was like exactly a year before. Yeah. So I guess over that course of the year, I obviously getting back to it has obviously physical barriers, but as far as like the mental of trying to get back under some heavyweight obviously, what was that like for you? Oh. God, it was hard and it's still
hard. My grip strength isn't there anymore. Like there's this weird thing like now when I like grasp onto something like really hard, like if you're holding a bench it and you let go, it hurts really bad. It's not as bad as it used to be. And then like when you would go back into the bench and you would hit like, you know, the safety like that reverberations that goes down the metal in my arm.
So that was like awful. It still is kind of and like my grip strength isn't at all like there was for a long time. I couldn't hold anything over 365 for a deadlift. Once I got back into benching and it's still like not cool. I remember like and Chris like he God bless him because he has to deal with me complaining all the time. I was convinced that my like my other arm was going to break through this prep. We switched into a banter.
So I was in Poly when I broke my arm and then I went into the banter because I thought that at least mentally like and still that like that groove is just slightly. It's different enough that I didn't have that fear, but it was still so like a banter is still so hard. It's not like Polly's hard, but I was used to it. My shirt isn't like super aggressive, my SDP or whatever, so I was super duper fina. It's it, it wasn't super tight. It was just easier for me to touch with that shirt.
With the bad shirt. It's not. And like I didn't want to, you know, you don't want to put so much weight on the bar that like you can't hold it. You know, it's like maybe you could press it, but your arms aren't used to it. And that was like a big fear of mine as well. So getting that the bar down to the touch was like almost impossible. Like it always felt impossible. Bellying up was like the biggest
thing. And then I remember at the meet in December, my second attempt, so I took a token for my first attempt and then my second attempt was four, 19418, something like that. And I don't even know what have, I don't even have my bench videos, but I remember having to hold it at the top, you know, because you have to. But like it felt like a fucking eternity and I started to freak
out. Like there could have been a million other reasons why I was red light and I really, you know, like you don't really know what happened because you're under, you know what I mean? Like you, you're just like trying not to die. But I. Remember, I was like, take it, take it, take it like at the top because I was like, I don't want to hold it anymore. I was so scared. And then I ended up getting it on the third, but I was like so relieved that it was over.
Yes, there's breaking my arm like. It's not just like my arm so much anymore. It's like now I'm afraid of like, breaking everything. Yeah. And I think that's something that a lot of people in this sport go through when they not just breaking something, but any sort of setbacks like that, when you kind of come back to it, it's always going to be in the back of your mind. And I think it's the the not the drive, but the the continuation to keep pushing through it is
what sets people apart. Yeah. Yeah, but like, I still feel like I'm a giant pussy, you know what I mean? Like, I like, I, I want to be able to like, yeah, I gave my, like, give myself so much credit for it. Like, I am proud of myself for coming back. But like, I like, there is no doubt that I was a big baby. And like, even if like you, you know, you could ask Brian. It's definitely like Chrissy, Chrissy and Chris. But so like, there.
I remember one point, My other arm, you know, you have your wrist wraps, right? And they're made out of Velcro. And like they, they it doesn't just stay the way that it is. So I was benching and then I hear like the Velcro pop and I was like, oh, there goes my other arm. Yeah. So those are things that I'm still trying to get over. Yeah.
So. I guess since that meet obviously that went well, you're kind of as the we like to say on the Internet are back maybe for Next up kind of what do you have lined up for the for the rest of the year?
So I'm doing AI, don't know why I did this, but I'm doing a strongman competition in April. It's at the gym that I work at which is like local to me and it's like 3 of the five events are all group events, which whatever, but I'm signed up as novice because I've never touched any of those implements before. I did like a yolk walk the other day at Chris's and then it's not easy.
It's like weird. It like it's like running with a camper bar, you know, like, and then the other events like a farmer's carry car deadlift, like I don't know if I'm going to be good at it, but whatever I feel like I need. You know how there's like dips and valleys in powerlifting where you're like, I don't know if I want to do this anymore. I'm coming up off of the the bottom, so I need something
that's like a change of pace. You know what I need that will keep me strong and in like, and you know what I mean? Like I don't want it to be like I'm hammering, powerlifting, powerlifting, powerlifting. I'm the kind of person that gets bored with everything. Yeah, and. I think on a deeper level, I think that's something that personally me, that's kind of why I did multiply, I guess, quote UN quote earlier than I would have expected myself to because I want to be changing things up.
That's why I went from multiply back to Rob going back to multiply. Maybe I was thinking about maybe doing a 10K at some point. Like I want to keep it interesting from not burning out because I love it so much that I want to stay in it for the next 30 years. And if you just go raw, raw, raw, raw, you're going to be done in 10 years. Or you just stick with one
thing. If you don't change it up, especially with someone like me who's like OCDADHD as fuck it you have that hyperfixation, Once you burn out of that hyperfixation, it, you never go back to it. Exactly. Yeah, I'm the same exact like you could I have got like 1000 hobbies and I don't do any of them anymore. You know, like I used to be like big on Rudix cubes and like I used to be do art and I used to sell art and it, you know, once it fades, it fades.
We're trying to get back into art though. But yeah, I don't want that to happen to powerless thing. Like I love the people too much where I'm like, I don't want to leave. And then like, I know if I, if I were to just be like one of those people that shows up to the gym just to help, like Chris would never let me do that anyway. So like I have to find like, I have to not just like find the love again, but I have to keep the love that I have for it. Literally the drive to keep
getting better. Exactly. Especially if when you're investing so much into it, if you're not necessarily hitting the numbers or the, the goals you're wanting to hit on the time frames you're setting yourself, that's when you're kind of setting yourself up for failure. So feel like, all right, well, maybe I'm not going to be ready to do this this year. So let's, let's do something else to keep, keep me occupied, yeah. Yeah, so strong, man.
Is that my other? So I, I know that you had mentioned this on the podcast that you had with Amber where you're like, remind me never to like trade through the holidays again. That is me right now. I'm like, I can't do it because like I have my mom, like my like, and it goes like October is my son's birthday and then it's Halloween and then it's Thanksgiving and then it's Christmas. But it's like it's just nonstop,
like I can't do that again. So I was like thinking like, what kind of meats are right before that all starts and Shawna's meat is in September, which would be perfect. And that gives me enough time to like, I personally think I need to like relearn how to squat out of bench. You know, like there's a lot of bad habits that I have accrued over the years from like having like I started out in multi. This is like a big tangent, but started out multiplied by myself
in my basement. Like I bought monohooks for like the rogue rack that I had downstairs. Like I couldn't even stand wide enough in that rack. So like my feet are up against the thing. I have no slaughters obviously. And then once I started going to the gym and doing it, I had like nothing like nobody to tell me what to do. So all, like, I watched Laura's lips and I was so wide, like super wide because that's how
Laura lifted. And then I remember I would send the videos to Laura and she was like, you know, you could bring your feet in a little bit. And I was like, no, not now. This is working for me. And like, eventually I did do it. But yeah, so I have a lot of those habits to I'm like picking the bar, like you just have to stand up, right? But you don't like who knew? It could be. So it was so hard.
It's it's. So funny that you say that because like that's one of those things that in multiply it's like a lot of the time if you can pick the weight, you can squat it. So some people literally just can't get the weight. Like prime example I could think of is Charlie, like phenomenal squatter, but he was had a point where he was struggling to pick some weights that he was definitely able to do. And it's there's so many small nuances that you can learn from other people.
And that's why I guess I will go into a little rant here on a deeper level. That's why you go to other gyms. That's why you train with other people. That's why you talk to other people. You don't stay in your bubble, and staying in your bubble makes pile lifting not fun, no. No, definitely that. And I'm like, I have traveled. I'm well traveled when it comes because like I didn't have a crew for so long. Yeah, yeah, I so we got to meet in December.
I couldn't, I didn't even know what my my last attempt was for squat, but I remember like I couldn't get the bar out of the rack. Like I tried to pick it and it got stuck and then John was behind me and he's like, drop the rack, drop the rack and they're like, it's as low as it goes. And I'm like, OK, well, I kind of like move my feet in a little bit. And I was like, well, let's just give it a go. And I came out of it came out of the rack.
But it was like, so obviously I did something different. Like I must have done it better. Like besides just moving my feet in a little bit because whatever. But I'm just not consistent enough. And that's something that the goal of mine is to be more consistent because like, imagine, like, like Chris always says that I do, like, everything is like brute strength with me. Like there's no technique. And he's right. So like, I just like, imagine what it would be like if I were
to have some technique. You know what I mean? Yeah. And I. Think that's why, kind of touching on what you said earlier of like you shouldn't really model what you do off of other lifters because everyone is different and like some are way wider, some are more narrow. Like when I think of super wide, it's like, yeah, like Laura squat is super wide. And then like Danny Tonejero squats pretty narrow and multiply compared to like most of the other people.
But that's what works for him. He's one of the best lifters of all time. Like, if you model what you're doing after other people, it's probably not going to work out for you. You know, you got to find the sweet spot. Yeah. And. Then I guess the raw comparative is like, I actually literally said this at the gym last night.
I was like, if you obviously John Hack's one of the greatest raw lifters of all time, if you were to try to model his technique, you are probably going to be out of the sport in less than three years. Yeah. I know I like watching squat like it's all the way up on his tracks. Yeah, like that. Looks crazy. But. On a back to the kind of community aspect of it, obviously we have a lot of similar friends and we're a bunch of goofballs who like to lift crazy weights.
So over the years, obviously Laura and Chris and and Kriti are big influences in you. But who are some of the other people that have inspired you? Oh my. God, so like my so the first program that I did RAW was one main event came out right and I was the that was the girl that they sponsored that year. Like they sent me to the pro am or whatever, which was fucking awesome and like I owe like Amber, Leah, Tara Allison a lot for that, because like that really got me back into the sport.
So Susan Salazar is the reason why I lift conjugate why I would ever gotten like she's a raw lifter, but that's why I got him. Like, if you, you know, do all those points, this makes no sense. So Susan Salazar was raw, but she was doing conjugate with Gracie, who was equipped, who trained with Laura. And then when I came back, I came to Laura and I, you know what I mean? Like all of these things like, like Susan led me here somehow. Yeah. It's like the. The six degrees of separation,
but in powerlifting. Thank you. That was what I couldn't think of. And then like my second meeting I saw Janine Whitaker. Like I'll never people have heard the story probably 1000 times. Maybe. No, like I'm sure whatever. But anyway, I like I saw her squat. It's like well into the five hundreds. I'd never seen anybody squat
that much late in my life. And like, I think on her first attempt, she broke a world record and then she took her second and she missed it, but she still went up on her third and got it. I was like, you're incredible. Just like I like, I could not fathom that somebody could have that much weight on their back. Like besides like Chris, Laura and Ryan. I don't know. I like, I mean, I like I the whole, the community as a whole
is what makes it special, right? It makes it it's very different from raw, even though there's like raw people in this circle exactly actually to touch. On that I think that's why with the whole like raw versus equipped like segregation, I think it's so stupid because I'm still a raw lifter. I train with equip people I know people that are in equip cruise that are raw like just because you're a raw lifter doesn't mean you can't be part of a community.
It doesn't mean you have to wear your singlet and your headphones and sit in a combo rack for four hours. You can go lift with your friends. Yeah, I. Think I think it like it's at the gym that I work at now. It's like it's a power looking straw man type of thing. And like when I'm like hey, do you need help? Or like, you know, did you want me to go grab sides for people who are, like, taking big weight or weight that they're not sure of?
Like, a lot of times they say no. Yeah. Like that? Which I think is crazy. Like I could, we know we I could just make sure you don't get hurt. But. Yeah, I, I agree. And I, I think like this like circle the equip community and the raw lifters within the equip community and like, I feel like
they're very special. Like I, I don't know, like when I like look on Instagram or social media and you see like, there's so much drama going on. I don't want to just say like, well, I guess it is mostly the raw community, but it's just they're like always talking shit about each other. And I guess there, there's a fair amount of that here, right? I feel like there's a lot of competitiveness, especially
among men. Yeah. Honestly, it's yeah, I think seeing both sides of it, it's definitely different and multiply versus raw, like multiply. Like, yeah, it's like, I'm going to beat you. I'm going to chip you on the squad or the stupid, crazy come like AR variation. I'm going to throw an extra chip on there just because like fuck you, but and and raw, it's like, no, I want to see you miss this lift. I think that's what the separation is. And like prime example, like
let's think about this. The first the the best raw total of all time. Dan Bell, guess who he trains with? Danny Denaehero. A quick lifters like it's If you're going to model the community after anything, look at that one. Look at other people who have the best totals in raw. They're still training with equip. Shane Haller, one of the strongest guys. He's friends with Dan. He's friends with both of them. He has been in cruise with raw people and equip people like it.
You learn a lot of things back and forth. Yeah. I agree and I think that like so like what I can under this is so random, but like an underrated aspect of like lifting and multiply and then going back to raw like your total goes. Up a lot, I'll tell you that right now. Yeah, that's what I was saying.
Like there's, there's it's people don't realize like that being able to prime your CMS for like lifting heavy things, like when you're doing it, you know, multiply, single ply, whatever it is. And then you go back to doing raw, like you're not really afraid. Oh yeah. No, you go to pick a squat, you're like, oh, this is fucking easy and like. What I I. Can think of like I just hit like a 30 LB bench PR and for me that is a massive PR. Like I was stuck at like 3:45 for three years.
So going from slowly chipping up to 360, then 363 to hitting 390 with maybe 400 in the tank like that. Obviously I trained and got stronger, but I did six months of equipped lifting. Like there's no way I didn't get carry over. So that's why I hate when people like the gear does all the work. No way, no way. And like, I think so the you did the two years ago, you were in strength of heroes me, right. You did the the raw day.
Yeah. So. I I was supposed to do that to me raw as a full power meet, but then I was like fuck that because Ryan is was doing full power the next day and he would be the one handling me and I was like that's not cool. So I ended up doing bench only, but I into like going into that meat prep, like my best squat before that raw was 3 05. I don't know, whatever it was, it was like low 300 and then I was going to open at like 425.
And it wasn't like it was scary because like it's you don't have the same support. Like, you know, you stand up and you're like, Oh my God, like it's my hips feel a little bit funny. But like that was going to be my opener and that was huge. I don't know, that's like the the stuff that people don't realize. So you just like you have to push yourself. And I think. Yeah. And something that I think people need to learn too is finding that balance of pushing yourself but not being stupid.
This came up the other day. The line between bravery and stupidity is a very fine line. And I think the prime example of people who teeter that is multiply lifters. Oh yeah. Yeah, that's me. Or that was me. It's not me anymore. I'm, I'm very changed this cat, like breaking my arm definitely changed me. I'm a lot more cautious when it comes to these kind of things. And I'm like very happy to take the small wins, even if like there are bigger numbers there.
That's just like, I'll save it for another day. But yeah, before that, like for the W, the WPO was like, I was just so dumb. I think I was dumb. And I can't believe that, like, Margaret, for instance, like didn't tell me to shut the fuck up. Like, imagine like telling your friend like, I squatted 580 at the program a couple months before. And then I go, hey, so I want to squat 700. That's the goal. And she was like, yeah, sure. Like, yeah, it's good idea. Great.
But I mean, that goes to show Margaret has like, like, more faith in me than anybody that I know. Yeah. And I. Think I think people like that are what makes having a crew and like friends in the sport so good because some people are people that won't attempt things that other people think you're capable of and vice versa. Sometimes you need to be reeled back. I'm definitely someone who used
to be reeled back. I have, I set goals probably a little too high and then then I get delusional and then we set myself up for disappointment. And then, but at the same time, there's people on the other end of the spectrum. And I think that's why having a coach is very important because they can kind of bring you back to reality. And I always say that everyone needs a coach. It's just whether that coaches your gas pedal or your brakes.
Yes, yes. And Chris is really in tune with like, not only is he like in tune with what you can and can't do, but he's also like I'm diff, you know, like I'm different in the sense like where I'm like, I, I could, I'll stop. Like you're like, oh, I hit 540 on my Max effort squat. Like that's enough for me. And he's like, what do you mean?
You have like six other jumps? I was like, hey, but he's like, he's like finesse it in a way that it's like, oh, you know, like, like he doesn't do it. So I get nervous, if that makes sense. Like he won't be. And he's not like, like interface like, yeah, you can fucking do this. No, no, no, no. Because like, I'm not the kind of person that, you know, is motivated by that. Like he's just, I don't know, he's very in touch with how to handle me versus the rest of his
lifters. Yeah. And I know you said that kind of the winter mute was like one of the first meets where you had that full, I guess, crew handling experience. So maybe tell somebody, if somebody was this and that has never had that, tell them why it's important. My God, it's like life changing really. Like I can't believe that this is how people live. You know, like I went to all
these meets before. Not that I didn't have help, I did have help, but I was getting help from people that I didn't normally train with. My first, the the pro am meet, the first multi play program. I had one of my friends come out to specifically just to wrap my knees and then Margaret and then
there was the hellbent crew. But like so Andrew was handling Jordan and Bobby was handling Denise and like they helped me when they could, But it's one of those things where it's like you know, you're there to handle another person and it's like it's I've handled before and it's really fucking hard. It's. More stressful than competing, I agree. 100% it's very fucking high.
So like I completely get that. And then like going into the WPI had Dakota, who I don't normally train with, and I had Mags who I don't normally train with come with me and it was super helpful. But it's not the same like, you know, they don't see you all the time. And then having it was Chris, Chrissy and John and then me, Tom and Jeff were competing and they like ran that thing, you know, like a well oiled machine. Like they had everything and
like changing things on the fly. It was just like incredible to have. I didn't have to pick my attempts like I did, but I didn't. I remember I was like, I took my second squat and I was like, I could cut it here, right? And he's like, you can if you want, but I think you have another jump. And I was like, all right, well, you do whatever you want. And I wouldn't have picked 700 or 705. I would have like maybe taken like a 10 LB jump.
But, you know, he saw that that day and it happened and that, you know, I'm, I'm grateful for that because that was always like a huge call. Yeah. It's like it really. You don't even have to ask for help, you know, like, you just have everything, like having straps tightened, whatever. Yeah.
And like. The prime, like this past weekend when I was competing, like I was down by, you know, the platform just sitting and waiting and like Brittany was wrapping my knees and I didn't have to go looking for them. I was just sitting there. And then all of a sudden I'd be 4th out and John and Brittany would come over and I didn't have my headphones and didn't have to say a word.
Didn't even know was I had an idea was on the bar because I had a game plan, but I didn't care if he moved it up or down because I trust in my hand handlers. And I think that's a huge thing is trusting your handlers because if you're there on your own, you maybe think you can go for a lift that you're not going to get or maybe you think, oh, I'm tired, I'm not going to get this. I'm going to scratch it. So I guess like, for example, I
hit my 670 on the squat. I smoked that we went for seven, got a depth call that not going to go into that much. But so we had to readjust the game plan and I'd hit, I smoked my open arm bench, hit the 375 on my second like nice. And then it was kind of like a coin toss whether we were going to go like 390 or go go for the 400 because that was another one
of my goals. But the main goal is 1700, so we went for the 390 and I think if we went 400 I might have missed it. But if I was there alone, I would have absolutely put in 400, yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's how that works. And like, I feel like before this I was an overestimator of myself. And then after I broke my arm, I'm like a perpetual underestimated. I'm like, it's good enough. Yeah.
So it's good. To have somebody there that pushes you and definitely good to have somebody there that could pull the brakes if you need it. Yeah, and. Then as far as actual like meet day mechanics, when you have that crew with you, like I always say, if you were to rank like what parts of the meet are the most stressful? Spotting, loading, obviously that shit's exhausting, very important, but very exhausting
handling is second. That's you have to worry about all the numbers and all if they're wrapped and all that, especially equipped. And then I say judging because you can make a bad call or you slip up or something like that. The easiest part of powerlifting is actually competing. I. Know and it like that's like another. It doesn't drive me crazy.
Like I know people like get into their zones and shit like when they're they're lifting, but I just wish people were like, I don't want to say took it less seriously because like, you know, you have to respect the hustle. Like people like obvious, like if you. I just wish people would smile more sometimes.
I know, yeah. But. You know, and I usually I like haven't had this issue in like forever where I felt like, oh, that person hates me, you know, but like it hasn't been like that for a while. But I do get those vibes. Yeah, and I think that's why something that I learned in football was don't be too serious. Like, yeah, focus, get hyped up, don't go crazy. It's the same thing a pile
lifting. If you get too focused or too worried or start thinking about everything and or get super hyped up and take like 20 hits of smelling salts and have someone slap you across the face like you're going to miss the lift. But if you're focused and you you're confident, I think confidence comes into play.
If I think, OK, let me back up. I think the more aggression and hyped up and like focus that whole like locked in, the more you try to do that, the less confident you are you're going to hit the lift. When you're standing around joking with people up next or sitting there getting your knees wrapped, cracking jokes and stuff. That's just pure confidence. That's like, I'm going to go out there. I'm going to do the damn thing. Yeah. Exactly.
I totally agree with that. Like, and I do think like, you know, whatever works for people, honestly, because like, I also just don't have it in my personality to be the kind of person that's like, you know, like I'm like, do this and I'm the best in the fucking world. I don't know. But I do admire it. I just say it could never be me. Yeah. And I. Totally. Like I said, I totally get sometimes you do need to hype yourself up.
You might not be confident going into a lift and that's OK, but do whatever it takes it Don't don't leave anything out there on the platform. Don't go out there and be like, oh, I missed it because I wasn't focused or but it definitely don't go out there and say I missed it because I hyped myself up way too much and I couldn't see because someone slapped me across the face. Yeah, I don't know, I feel like it's always like, what's it called Anti climactic when that
stuff happens, you know? Yeah, but like there's something that I wanted to say about Chris in that regard. Oh, so Chris like is this is so he's like amazing because he is a world record holder. Whatever. He's super fucking strong, one of the best in the world. But like, if you train with him, he's the most unserious fucking
person ever, ever. Like you, well, like get under the bar and then he'll say something so fucking dumb and like, you know, you're, you're I'm trying real hard to get into position and pick a star. And then he'll like, sit there and say something really stupid. And then you can see it in Chrissy's video. She just like, kind of, you know, like she's laughing. You like completely let go of
that. But like, even Chris, like the whole time he just do like they're being an idiot, you know, And I think that's what makes it super fun. Yeah. I. Think yeah, on a the least the less serious you can do and still get the The caveat here is if everyone's still getting the work done, everyone's still focused and keeping people safe. If you can have a crew that does that, can be safe, efficient and strong but can joke around, you can't beat that. Yeah, I. Agree.
I agree it makes me miss lifting with Ryan and Brian to be honest. Yeah dude, it's like a whole nother beast. They. Those two combined, there's fucking like rodeo clowns. It's awesome for real. Like it's and it's one of those things that you can't even properly articulate. You just have to experience it because it's like the most awe like outlandish off color shit. Yeah, they're just fucking crazy. Well, I think so. The first time I met them was at strength. The heroes. What was that?
Three? And they're like, yeah, this is gritty and this is Whopper. And I was like, OK, these dudes look funny already. Oh my God, I didn't even like. I don't like. I look back in those times. I'm like, how did we ever get anything done? Yeah, I like we would. Exactly. But I think before we wrap things up, as far as like I know you're looking forward to Frank the heroes, but as far as maybe just some some personal goals or some final words to say, what
what do you have? I know over here it says if Chris was answering you want to squat 800, but Oh yeah. It's like the first time I see him after that, he's like, OK, so you know, you got to squat 800, right? And I'm just like, do I have to, you know? I mean, sure, yes, that'll be a goal, right, Eventually to do that. How soon that's going to happen,
nobody knows. And that would definitely be something really cool to do because I think there's only four women who have done it. Four or five, right? There's Leah, Amber, Crystal, Tate, Becca. Becca and. That's it, right? I believe. So Jordan will definitely. Do it? Did DNA do it yet? I don't know. I want to look it up, but I don't know. Yeah, no. We'll just yeah. But either way, 800 LB squat for
anyone is really impressive. So. But yeah, I think I'll ask you my final question for wrap things up. If you could give a new lifter or someone going into their first meet a word of advice, what would you say? Don't take it so seriously. Like, go in, have fun. Like, yeah, you know, especially don't cut weight. Yes. Agreed. That's like. That would be #1 besides, even before having fun because you're not going to have fun if you're like worried about cutting
weight. I like, I did that for my first. It was terrible. I don't know why I did like. Why would I do that? Yeah, anyway, it's. Like unless you're like already super like you came from like a wrestling background, anime background where you're like you're, you know what you're doing, then whatever. But like I wouldn't recommend it. It takes away from the experience. Go in, have fun, smile at people, make new friends because like really like besides just being fucking strong and cool,
whatever. And like the best part about powerlifting is the community. So like for more people that you meet, go to different gyms, you know, I guess that's not really going into a different like, you know, this is your first competition, but after that, you know, go around train with different crews. Everybody has something to teach you, you know, like even people you know, like they, you might think are not as strong as you, but there's always something to
learn from everybody. I fully agree. Well, I want to thank you again for taking the time to come on. It was my pleasure. Thank you so much for everything.