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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 lifter den. I'm your host, Cam Smith, and today I wanted to bring on a female pile lifter who, although hasn't been competing for that many years, has one of the highest totals in all of women's multiply. Taylor, why don't you introduce yourself?
Hi. I'm Taylor Schaefer. All right. So to get started, I love getting a background on kind of where everyone came from, from how they they started into how they got into the platform. So I know for you, you had a sports background as well as kind of grew up in that farm life. So maybe tell us about how that kind of got you from basically starting out in a pile of thing to where you are now? Yeah, so I grew, I played sports, you know, from I could barely walk. I was always active.
And then growing up on my family farm too, like just doing tours and whatnot. I developed musculature really early in life, especially for a female high primary sports where soccer, softball and volleyball. Dabbled in that throughout high school and whatnot. Started strength training training in 8th grade and then throughout high school went and played at the collegiate level, played volleyball for four
years. And then when I was actually freshman in college, but my strength and conditioning coach was like, oh, I've never, I only know what person that has bigger cats than me. Her name's Laura Phillips. I'm like, who's this lady? Like there's no way. And then I looked Laura up. So when I was a freshman, I'm like, you're right. Her cats are bigger than mine. And so, like, you know, graduate college started, you need something to do. Really kind of lost my identity
of like, who am I? What am I doing here? And then I started just training again at a small gym in Sharonville, met my husband, who had been competing in powerlifting for two or three years and started training with him more consistently. And I was actually like, oh, he's like, you're pretty strong. And then he did our program from there. And I just did my first meet in 2020. That's how I kind of got got hooked into the powerlifting realm.
Yeah, so I know a lot of people kind of either find powerlifting just randomly or a lot of people come from a a sports background and a lot of collegiate athletes. So I think everyone gets a different perspective of powerlifting kind of coming into it. So for me, I learned a lot of discipline and regiment through football and things. So what are some of the things that you took from your sports life into powerlifting?
Yeah, in that regard, I would say like the routine and regimen, you know, getting up early, making sure I have doing the things that are priority, whether I'm nutrition wise, recovering, doing what I need to do in out of the gym, whether it's sports specific or even like training wise, strength and conditioning or even like in injury prevention stuff. Those were those were big, especially on my rest days, like doing the things that I needed to do so I could be able to
perform at that level. Yeah, and then as far as competing itself too, I know that you kind of stumbled onto into Laura's world and now you're kind of looking into trying to be her total. So what's it been like working with Laura? Obviously many people have been on the podcast that have been coached by her. She's obviously a very influential person in the sport so I like to get everyone's kind of perspective of their relationship with her. Yeah, I am.
So when I was, because my husband for the first year, I reached out to Alice McDonald, who she and I actually went to college together. She had recently transitioned to training with Laura. I was like, is she like, how is she? Like she's in the area I'm thinking I'm wanting to take this to the next level. Like, you know, I know you're start with her, but how do you feel about her? And Alice was like, she's pretty cool. She's not that scary. And I was like, all right, I'll message her.
And her husband was actually connered in the same meet that I was doing. So I was able to just, she was there, she helped supported me, helped me like warm up my jump selection. She just kind of jumped head on into helping me and which was absolutely awesome. And then I was kind of, you know, history from there. I did start out with raw with her. So Alistair and I were both primarily her individual, like raw, raw individuals at that time.
But you know, Laura's great. She's a great coach, remote, let alone having your having the opportunity to transcend a person is just like a whole new level. Yeah. And as far as kind of your transition in the gear, was that something you you found just generally easier just because of obviously having an athletic background or is this something that you think would have been more difficult if you didn't have Laura with you? I think it absolutely would have been significantly more
difficult. When I I remember the first day even like went to sweatshop, I was she's like, hey, come out, let's train one day. You can train with Jenny and Whitaker and Alex Donald, which if you're in the powerlifting realm, you're like Jenny and Whitaker. OK, like I guess I'll go have later embarrassed myself. It was a reverse band deadlift with a reverse minis and I remember like I was like, oh, I'm here, this is this is happening. And I was able to hang right
with them. At the time I was competing at 165 and it was it was kind of crazy and I was able to stick with them and basically I think I even petition uphold them that day, which was even sillier. And I was like, oh, I can hang here. This is this is good. Accessories were great. And then Laura's like, hey, come back like on Wednesday, like if you want to come like one or two days a week, you know, we'll see if we'll see how things go.
I can kind of help you with like box wash your Max efforts, stuff like that. And from there, I was kind of taken under the wing by Sarah Buckley and Katie Brandt, like, hey, you're kind of strong. You want to stay with us, which they were multiplied at the time. And so I was doing my raw stuff and then they were in their multiplies gear and whatnot. And then my next two preps, I was still raw. And then I was like, well, I think I'm going to get a pair of fruits just to do speed lower.
Does it kind of help save my hips? I was like, I'm only going to box squat in them. I'm not going to deadlift in them just solely for box squats. And then, you know, I did one meet like that and meet prep like that. And there's like kind of history from there. I got my shirt. I got a shirt for the first time, touched 365 to A1 board. I was like, oh this is cool. This is neat.
Yeah, it's it's something that like basically once you put on your first pair of briefs, it's it's there's no going back. Like you might still compete raw but you you get bit by that bog if like I could stay to this day out of anything and geared lifting just squatting and briefs and wraps has to be my favorite thing. I would agree, but my favorite, my favorite variation. I love a bench shirt. Anything benching, I just love like I'm just like this is this
is sick. I like the like going to that dark place and just like hang on tight because you just got to be super patient. Like the same with briefs and rats where it's just kind of kind of lean into the darkness a little bit and just like be extra patient because there's no other rush like it. Yeah, and I think that's something that why I try to push like even raw people, even if they just want to stay competing raw to like got to get into the
things. And you learn a lot about yourself how much you can kind of handle. And obviously the the stimulus you get from the overload is going to translate back to raw because a prime example is my raw bench went up like 50 lbs just from one training cycle in the gear. Absolutely. Yeah. And then as far as competing in the gear, when was your first multiply meet? It was in I believe 2003. I did north of border, so I didn't travel for I didn't travel for that one.
That was my first one. I went. I think I weighed in like 170 lbs. Like it was fun. I was like, my only goal going to that meet was just not to bomb. Yep, that should be everyone's first goal like. That was just, it was literally to only get a total. That was it. We did have like no numbers in mind. We're just going to kind of see baseline kind of where we're at and just to get a total.
You know, I think I was really set up for success in that realm where we didn't rush too much too fast. It wasn't so much like a strength issue as it was like learning the gear, learning how to use the gear, and really being comfortable in the gear. Yeah. And I think this kind of segues into the being caught up in numbers talk that you mentioned in your questionnaire.
It's kind of something that if you could almost go into a meet with the beginners mindset of like, I'm just here to get a total. I'm just going to do the lift instead of kind of worrying about what kind of adjustments you have to make to hit these certain numbers and stuff. Like you take away so much pressure on yourself. That's why what if like I had the same goal my first meet and
I went very well. So I think trying to get that mindset of not necessarily chasing the numbers or being like, OK, maybe you're 1m away from this gold number, so. Because right, it's, I mean, it's a slippery slope. And I know especially training of kind of like pushing the envelope. I learned especially probably within the last year, like, you know, things I'm getting pretty close to some numbers. And it's like, I'm like, let's let's see what I got today. Like I feel good.
Everything's even good. And I'm like, can I do one more? She's like, yeah, I'm like, OK. But then sometimes she's like, no, feel like save it. It's so early. But it's kind of learning when to push and when to kind of hold back a little bit, you know, to get, it's a give and take. Like it's early on a prep. I'm going to save a jump or sometimes I can be more aggressive early on and then, you know, I'll save a jump or two towards the end of prep.
So I'm just like, I either need to smoke it or if I make it harder than need be, I'm going to, it's going to take longer for me to recover and then everything else is going to suffer. Yeah. Then when it kind of like comes to meet day, like I would say in general, I'm way less of a head case than I used to be. But in terms of like all the numbers and all like the math and like, what do I need to do on this bench if I miss this squad and like getting all wrapped up in that?
It's like putting extra stress on yourself when you don't need to do that, especially if you have a coach that you're literally paying to do that. Yeah, I know. The biggest thing for her, she just wants to have a good day. Whether we have numbers in mind, like, you know, this is fun. We get to do this. Like in the end, the day like this is this is supposed to be fun. It's a big thing that she kind of reiterates.
Yeah. And then as far as like kind of the mindset of meet day, obviously everyone has their own rituals, their own things like that. But something that you notice among the professionals is there a lot more calm, cool and collected? They're hanging out, they're having fun and warmups. They're not necessarily like headphones on, super serious. So I think being able to like kind of turn it on when it's time to go to the platform is something that you learn along
the way. So as far as your meat day, what are some of the things that you do to kind of stay focused? So I know. So even pre meat like the night prior, my last meal is always a filet. Yellow potatoes and asparagus. Yeah, every, every single time. It doesn't matter if we're traveling, we kind of make it happen. So at least some type of red meat, potatoes and a vegetable, like that's every single time. And then we end the night with ice cream. That's just kind of what I do Meat day.
I always shower the morning of. I'm kind of crazy in the realm of even if I'm the last fight, I'm going to be one of the first people at the video. I just, I just need to go. I need to settle in just kind of Mosey around and then I'm in between attempts. My husband, he it would make him so mad in between attempts. I would actually be yawning in between attempts. He's like, are you going to wake up? I'm like, I'm all right, I'm OK.
I'm like, I'm just hanging out. So it's funny in that realm that I'm able to just kind of like shut it off and completely. I just try to relax and kind of just in between. Yeah. And I think that's something that in terms of like, I guess like the the science behind it is like when you when you got to get raise your heart rate to go out for an attempt. Like after that attempt, you want to bring it right back down. You want to kind of reset like each attempt at its own thing.
You don't want to like build up your heart rate, build up your tension, build up your stress for each attempt because by the time you get the deadlift, half the time we don't want to even be there anyways because we're exhausted. So if you just compound that, you're going to miss your second, third, even your opener. Yeah, I know, like I can kind of tell especially, you know, the first squat is like it's the
most nerve wracking thing. Like I'm just like once you get the first squat in, you're like, oh, I can, I can breathe. We're good. Like it's going to be a good day. And I know after the first squat, if I'm still pretty antsy and kind of flighty, I'm like, I'm going to have to really, really like try to down regulate myself actively, you know? And it's just kind of like learning that and practicing that even like in the meat prior
to the meat day. Yeah. And. That's one of the quirks of multiply, like for raw, if you're opener move slow, like you're kind of you're kind of fucked for the day for the most part. But if you're you're opener and multiply move slow, like it could straight up just be from all the nerves. You change your technique just a little bit and then you get it and you're like all right, time to reset. Then you smoke your second.
I think that's what early on, you know, I heard someone say like multiply is what you can do raw. Think once you put multiply like a magnifying glass, like every little imbalance that you have or weakness, it's going to be magnified intensely. And you know, even if it's like you set up like your foot, your foot angle is off by 1/2 an inch. It's going to kind of make a break whether your pick's good or not.
If you're able to sit back and actually hinge and load the gear, like something that small can make or break a lift, yeah. And for, and that's why I like one of the biggest things for for multiply in general, single ply, any sort of equipped lifting is the best way to get better at is time. So for for you to have such a high total only been in it for a few years. What are some of the maybe the current struggles you have with the gear, some of the things
that you need to improve upon? I know for myself is that I was really fortunate like I was, I started off and like especially like deadlifts was probably the hardest transition for me. It's because solely because of the straps I could pull raw. I mean, I was a strong raw deadlifter. I pulled low. I pulled 515 like low fives raw. So you know, we you don't get a ton out of your deadlift suits.
So, you know, we didn't really know what to expect and we just kind of winging it. But the straps are like they still will give me, still give you the most kind of struggle of like, am I pulling my chest through too soon or I'm not pulling it? My chest through enough is like the timing of everything because it's like, you know, you got to shoot for the bar. But you're like, look, my hands are the right spot. I guess it's too late. I guess we're going to figure it out.
It's a, it's a, it's a trial on error. But it's like once you shoot like you got to go. Yeah. And for me, that's something that this prep like my deadlift has gone through the roof. And because one day I was training, I was I was lifting, I had the straps that I wasn't using, using the straps that tight. Same with squat. And then ski boat was like, all right, we're cranking the straps now. So it happened. And then I was going to deadlift. I was like, I'm getting to the bar so easily.
Why aren't I tightening the straps? As soon as I started tightening, I was like, all right, I can still get to the bar relatively easy, but now the weights way easier to pull. So that obviously helped with getting stronger and stuff. But I went from pulling bra conventional to sumo and I wasn't really using the gear. I was basically just learning sumo, so when I went back to raw, I really figured out the sumo pull itself. And now that I'm in gear, I'm actually learning to use the
gear itself. And it's kind of exciting to see like where my deadlifts going to be in the next year or so, yeah. That's, that's like the exciting part. I know I think the most challenging for me to was going from like getting stronger, being OK with like, you know, growing into a weight class where my leverage has changed. And then so like my squats feeling so good. My bench is feeling awesome. My dad feels like crap. I'm like that. I can't get in position with
shit. Just like, you know, figuring that out and figuring out my new leverage is a little bit that has primarily been my biggest, I would say my one of my biggest struggles, yeah. That's something that I'm trying to fill out 275. I'm like 257 right now. So obviously I got plenty of room to go and I'm hoping it doesn't take a hit on my deadlift. I think I might be able to get away with it just because of how
long my legs are. But I'm just really hoping I can get some better leverages on bench because I got long. Arms. Yeah, dude. It's not. It's not good. It's I know. Have you ever measured your like arms fan like you're? Yeah. It's like, I think it's like 6/5 or 6/4. How tall are you? 6262? Yeah, by but my hands, I'm 57, but I'm only 5 two. And I know it's I don't look like they don't. My arms don't look that long, which is kind of crazy, but I
just it's it's weird. It's, it's so weird how it works out, yeah. So obviously you just compete at the wins pro am Obviously we've had several people on about that and it's still to this day one of my favorite meets a pile of thing for multitude of reasons. I know you've done it a couple times. So the times you've done it may be your first time, your first experience with it with and then kind of like the future of it. How What have been some of your favorite moments in it? I started.
I'm trying to think we're my first 2021 was my first women's pro am I was still doing it raw. It was I mean, you know, it was it was wild. It was wild to see. I've never been exposed to really multiply before, but seeing how everyone support each other and the people from amateur day came to pro day and just how everyone supported everyone and it was like just awesome being under the same roof and to see that kind of has grown over the past couple
years. It's even cooler like in the setup, like Laura Hood like does an unreal job. You know, she she puts her part and soul into the woman's program. Like all the hard work and the the background stuff like that. No one even knows about. Like, like, it's, it's truly amazing and one-of-a-kind and it's. And if you've ever been to a women's program, like, it's, it's magical. Like magical things happen at the women's program just because
the atmosphere itself. Yeah. And I think I went last year and I went this year, and I think my favorite moment, even though it was 3 misses, I think my favorite part of the whole meet was you, Alex and Deanna's third pole attempts. Because they were just, they were like perfect attempts and they were just, they were all so close and it was just insane to watch. Yeah. That was It was similar this year too, between last year and this year. I think it was us three the last also.
And I think they were still for like all time world records and we're all above 600 lbs. Like we're right on, you know, especially Alice's the role after she's around the cusp of that 600. It's it's crazy. I think Laura in the next like a year or so is going to have a handful of women that are pulling over six. Like it was 500 was crazy before.
Like 600 is like the new norm. Yeah, it's crazy just how much the totem pole shifts in the sport as a whole, but especially in women's now because it's it's getting so much more traction. It's bringing a lot more women to the sport that have these great genetics and have these great drives and work ethics that wouldn't know about the sport without people like you. Which is even crazy even think about like I just, you know, I, I put a lot of pressure on myself like that.
We're just having fun. But I think I was even showing Jordan, she just posted like the women's like top five total and whatnot. And I showed my husband look at these names. Like look, I was like to think like my name is kind of even the list of the top ten of the the wrong with these women that have been competing in the past 20 years and they're safe. Like, you know, their numbers still stand. It's it's mind blowing.
It really is. It's it's crazy to think about of where, you know, we they were 20 years ago, even 10 years ago and where it's going to be the next 10 to 20 years.
Yeah. And as far as like the top five and top 10s of like different weight classes or even just all the time, you talk to these people and I feel like almost everyone in this, this top 10% has such an like an imposter syndrome of like they look around and like, whoa, I'm in the same area as this person and they say the same thing about the other person. So it's just it's just fun to see people's perspective from that top five.
Yeah, yeah. And it's even even, you know, reflecting after the women spray on too. Like not the day I wanted, but you know it. Sometimes that's the way they called cars fall and that's OK. But like still still say like looking back, I'm like, I was being absolutely ridiculous. Like, Taylor, you had a bad day and you still you still totaled like top like top three in your weight class all time. And like, you know, simply stuff like that. Like that's you're being
ridiculous, yeah. And as far as like the judging and stuff goes, like obviously at a pro level meet like that, it's it's strict, but and obviously people have complaints and stuff, but we're not going to get into that because I don't even like bothering to talk about it because I think if you're a professional, you just have to make the adjustments and people that kind of sit around and complain about maybe calls that were questionable or honestly right and they just
don't want to admit it. I think that's something that it's kind of a separator for between like a a professional and a rookie, even if they have a professional total. I, I would agree. It's really kind of like establishing that standard. You hold yourself to that standard. If you are holding yourself to that standard, it really should be, no doubt. And I think that's where we're lucky to have Laura because she's she's she's she's rough on us, man.
She has no problem burying us, you know? And she'll she'll be the first to tell you. She's like, I'm like, I was there. She's like, no, OK. But that's where we're also really lucky and fortunate, too. Yeah. And I. Think that's why I think when you have training crews that hold each other accountable in that aspect when it comes to meet day. And maybe you, you guys were training to like at depth and then at the meet it has to be a little bit lower.
But you've been training to that strictness for a while that you can make the adjustments and not let it completely ruin your day. Yeah. Absolutely. And be able to make that transition, like, OK, you went one to three on squats, but that's what you still have to bench. Yeah. Like regardless, you're still in the meet. You still have to put a total together. Yeah, and. Like for squats example, I just
pick an arbitrary number. Say you want say your goal with 1000 for the day, but you have to bury it. Like, OK, just get in the mindset right away. Like all right, maybe only 960 is going to be there today and just adjust from there. Make the adjustments. Still try to put together either PR total or when the meet if there's money and things like that. There's so many different variables that you have to consider that you can't have your perfect day.
Yeah, and. That's the thing like where it kind of came down, I think for me at the program too, like got my opener, missed my second and I was like, OK, let's just fucking send this. Let's just see. And we're like, we'll we'll go, we'll go for that, we'll go for it. And you know, still missed it. But I'm like I took a chance. Like I was like I wanted to see what like I wanted to know like even as a confidence, I'm like, you know, I didn't get buried by it.
I didn't fold me. I just have to be more confident and more patient, you know, like I think that does a lot also of taking those chances, but you have to be OK with taking those chances at the end of the day also. Yeah, I. Totally agree if you like especially multiply. Like no one goes 9 for 9 in a multiply meet. Even if you are sandbagging all your lifts like there's something going to go wrong at least one of the lifts, it's almost a guarantee.
Which I can't say much. This is the first time I've gone less than 8 for 9 in a meet. What do you? What's that? Go ahead. What's the missed? Attempt usually. They this is the first time I've missed a squad when I missed 2 at WPOI, missed a bench for my butt coming up and then and on my opener and I was like we're going to go up anyway.
Yeah, I think the. Yeah. As far as like the the whole discussion of like if someone misses an opener, whether to go up or not, I always find that something very funny and it's very coach dependent because I'm in the mindset of like depending on what you missed it on. If it's like obviously if you get buried by it, like take it again. But if it's like you missed on depth and you still smoked it or you got some stupid red light for something like I'm in the mindset of just always go to
your next attempt. Like at that point you got to get in the meat. And if it's not something that is due to you being weak that day, then why not send it? I think it does come to the level of the athlete though, like if he's a beginner, like, you know, and we're just trying to get a total like, hey, we take your opener. Like we take your opener. If you miss, if it's technical, even learning, like even if it's within your first year of multiply, I think it's still going to be important.
Take the opener. Don't don't make the silly job. Just get more confident with that weight and then and then you can be more aggressive than your second if you want, but you just you got to do it right. And that's not the biggest thing. I think even making the decision from missing my second slot, like, you know, Sarah Buckley looked at me. She's like, we going to what do we do? What are we going to do in the gym? She's like, you're going to if you get it right, you're going to get it.
She's like, but what we would we take we take it in the gym, Like, what are we doing here? I'm like, all right, it's fine. We'll we'll we'll take it. Get you out of your ass, Taylor. Like we'll just do it right. Yeah. And. That's I think it. Comes with maturity of the lifter also, yeah. And that's. Another thing with multiply 2 is when it's when it's raw, you can just retake it and or you can kind of open way lighter than you really need to to kind of
get yourself in the meat. But when it's multiply, like if you go to light, then you can't get to depth. You can't touch like it's it's such a you have such a smaller window. They're right. In that that Gray area, almost of like, OK, I know my bench, this is the lightest I can touch. But then it's like, can I hit depth with my squat? I don't think, you know, it's a gamble.
Yeah, that's. One of the things with time in the gear to like obviously a prime example is a shirt like if you can't touch, obviously you're not getting a press. So and some people their window of what they can touch to what they can press is a lot shorter than some people who've been
doing it for years. I can bench 700 but can touch with like 315. Like obviously the shirts tight and whatever different variables like that, but and you can set the shirt and stuff, but that that window is something that you need to be able to adjust to because if you can only touch 485 and your Max is 550, like if you're having a bad day, you're you're fucked. Yeah, there's, there's not a lot of wiggle room for you, that's for sure.
Yeah. And obviously, I know you train conjugate and that's something that I think isn't one of the best methods to use. I'm a big conjugate fan. Everyone in Multiply who's pretty much in that upper echelon pretty much trains that in some sort of fashion. So for you, when was your first experience of conjugate? It was actually in college I changed the conditioning coach.
She actually helped Laura teach seminars specifically like the conjugate side with CrossFit. So Christina Webb, she, you know, I learned how to box squat and used AR when I was a freshman in college. So I had four years of experience of it was great. You know, we did box jumps on our speed lowers days. I can jump out of the roof like it was, I was just a super explosive athlete by nature and I just even got even more explosive from it. So that was kind of my first realm of conjugates.
I still really didn't know what it was until probably my junior year of College of like, you know, what conjugate actually was like the verbiage of it until, you know, my exercise science classes and whatnot, and I was able to, like, learn and deep dive more into it. Yeah. As far as the explosiveness goes, I think that's something that if you are an explosive athlete and then you kind of transition into multiply and you have to really learn that slowing things down and that patience.
And you see, like, as you gain more experience in it, like people like Christela 5 and Rupo and stuff where they're very explosive athletes, but they're so good in the gear now that they can still be explosive. But someone like me who's only been doing it for a little bit, I have to be more patient out of the whole life to be more patient with the touch. And it's, it's something that kind of annoys me, to be honest, because I'd like to use my explosiveness.
But obviously in the future, I'd like to get to that level to where I can kind of bring that back. Yeah. I. Think that's mine. One of my biggest things is like they're like make it move fast and I'm like making it move fast for Taylor. I get out of control smooth. Smooth is fast for Taylor. Like if I can say patience they and make it smooth, it's going to be really pretty. When I start to get kind of like, oh, I just going to move
it fast. Like that's when things like uncontrollable variables come out and I'm like, what? I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I think when I really simplify, just keeping things smooth, things normally go, they go a lot better. They go in my favor, yeah. And once again, back to the bed shirt. That's one thing. Like if you go too fast, you blast off your chest, you lose all your tricep in your shirt and the next thing you know you're just sitting there 3
inches from walk out struggling. You're just like. You're just like, you got death. Exactly. You. Have nowhere to go, yeah. And that's. One of the things that once you you can adjust to and something that I'm not looking forward to figuring out over the next few years. But like I said before, it's something that takes time and so I know you're hopping in a meet in the next few weeks as well. Obviously it's kind of a quick turn around.
So for you, what are some of the goals kind of going into this meet? This me, I'm the plan. I'm just going like a three 181. I will. I don't know, I'm just going to have fun. I'm really not putting any expectation on myself. Of course, in the back of my mind I do have some numbers, but you know, that is kind of it is what it is. I'm just going to go have fun. Try to put a put a day together,
put a good day together. Ultimately, I would like to, you know, maybe press the steel a little bit on submit 181 records, But you just you honestly never know till meet day. Yeah, you you haven't you really generally don't know till meet day. You got the most perfect prep and then meet day it just crumbles, Yeah. Or the complete opposite. Yeah. Or yeah. Or you can have an absolute awful meat prep and your things
are just like you're like, wow. And that's how it normally has been for me. I've yet to have a phenomenal meat prep. But, you know, sometimes that's just the way way it works out. Yeah. And I'm kind of in that same boat. I wouldn't say necessarily had a bad prep, but I think it kind of depends on it's very athlete dependent too. Like generally speaking, I'm I'm someone that performs better like a game day scenario than a practice scenario. Obviously a training session practice.
So definitely. A gamer? I am definitely a gamer, yeah. And I think that comes down to obviously how you recover and stuff during AD load, but it comes down to the mindset of the person. That's kind of what we were talking about before, about not being taking yourself too seriously, not focusing on too much of the day, like take the day you have. And it's it's, I know it's significantly easier said than it's done. Like I really need to practice
what I preach. I know there's sometimes that like Laura and my husband might can shake me, but I'm almost like it's. And then they this is fun. It's fun. It's a hobby. Like, you know, this, we got to do something, do something really cool. Yeah. Besides competing, what are some of your other involvements in powerlifting, whether it's coaching, spotting and loading,
judging, anything like that? Then I also want to help with north of border, like behind the scenes and stuff like that, just wherever they're needed, like spotted and loaning. And then I help with one of my training partners, Zach Prefitt. He, he and I coach a Special Olympics for like Hamilton County or I guess it's Butler County. But we have a team about 8 athletes that, you know, we practice once a week and then about once, sometimes twice a month. We do, we travel and do
powerlifting meetings with them. It's a special only, but I mean, it's it's a ton of fun. Why is there? No squat. I actually don't know why there isn't. I think it's more so for like risk of injury and whatnot. There are meats that some of them do that are sanctioned. They'll do. They'll do all three lifts, but primarily the Special Olympics is just a question press a venture deadlift. Yeah. So I'm sure working with these athletes, obviously you're going to get a different perspective
of powerlifting. So maybe tell us about some of your experiences kind of working with that and kind of maybe some of the things that you learned that you'd like to see more in the in our powerlifting culture, I think. The amount of support that they have for each other is unreal. They can walk in a room and they make friends automatically, no matter what their differences is and whatnot, but they the amount of support and yelling and cheering they have for one each
other. They miss a lift like, you know, they're there's like at least five people want them. Like, so you did a good job. You'll get it next time. Like it's it's kind of surreal and they're absolutely like there's the athletes are so funny. They're absolutely. They're so funny and like, and I think I had there's an athlete like last week at practice, he he pulled like 335 and it was a grinder. And he's like, that was easy. And I'm like, we're going to be
done for the day. Yeah, he's like, I think I have one more. I'm like, we don't. We're going to move on. Yeah. And I think like you said, obviously the support you kind of have from that group is is awesome. And it's something that I think it's gotten better in powerlifting, at least in my time, even just a few years I've been here, I've seen obviously there's so many nice people and so many great people in the sport. And there's, there's a few bad apples here and there,
obviously. But generally speaking, I think one of the best parts of powerlifting is the community behind it. And everyone can tell you they've made a friend in powerlifting and they've made, whether it's on the Internet or at a meet or their training partners, like there's so much more to it. Yeah. And I think one of the biggest takeaways also, besides the community aspect, is the mentality that they, you know, they come in with an open mind. Yeah, they're going to be nervous.
But having the ability like, oh, I can't do this. Like I can, I can do way more than I thought I've been able to do half the time, though, Like, so assholes on the bar, I'm like, I'll tell you after, like, because if they get stuck on a number, like they're like they try, they make it harder. And I'm like, you have no idea. Like, you know how much that was? Like it was 285. And he's like, excuse me? Like it's like it's fun. It's like, it's like it's a little gang to get to play with
them. Like you're like, we're going to go up. But then sometimes like, it's, it's just, it's so interesting and having the interaction between them, but especially from a mentality standpoint, like them being able to do more than they think they're able to do. Yeah. And I think that's kind of something we could talk a little bit about too. I like to do that sometimes where I'm like, hey, just put the weight on the bar.
I don't care what it is. Tell me after, especially when it's like one of those like a circum act or something, when it's like you don't know what the AR is like, you don't get caught up in what you're picking. Just keep loading weight, figure it out after.
Be happy or be disappointed. But either way, like when you kind of don't care about what you're lifting, you're just going to execute how you need to execute, and then you're going to perform way better than if, oh, all right, this is 1000. This is really heavy. Then you get in your head and
then you do something wrong. Yeah, it's like just you just got to pick it up. That's what my husband does, is just stop thinking about it. You just got to pick it up, Taylor. And I'm like, all right, fine. Yeah. One of my, one of my favorite stories from that. Something that I like to do sometimes too is like if if we're training, say someone's going for a Max out while they're not looking, I'll throw like a 2.5 on on each end and stuff and be like, hey, guess
what? I added some weight and they're like, oh, I didn't even notice. And it's like your mind is your one of your biggest limiters. Absolutely. I know because it, you know, sometimes you're, you're chasing those numbers, a certain numbers like or variations, you're like, OK, this is a good tell to kind of see, see where I'm at to project actually like early on in meat prep or right before me prep starts, you're like, this is this is kind of where we
should be at in the ballpark. But then it's also learning like sometimes like you just don't go in with a number. You just have to. That's what I have today and move on. I think that was the one of the biggest learning lessons this past year. Laura kind of been great with me. She's like, you do your Max for what effort you have that day and you live and for another day and just hit your accessories super hard because then, you know, the Max variation is just
a very minute aspect. You're just trying to get the stimulus to get out. Yeah. And that's one, one of the things I really like about conjugate is you're changing variation so much and that even something as small as if it's 10° colder in the gym, the bands are going to be tighter that day. Like it's something that you can't, you can obviously go for like a 5 LB PR the last time he did it and things like that. But the variables are always different.
So you don't need to worry about a gym lift like worry about what you're going to hit on the platform and. That's what's interesting too. I think it's just like taking that, if you can take that 5 LB PR be done, like move on, you've got the stimulus, just move on. You know, there's sometimes you want to get greedy. And if it's, if the time's right, the environment's there, the people are there, like sounds like, Nah, we're going to, we're going to jump 30 lbs
again. We'll see what we'll find out. And like, that's, that's what makes it fun, especially with the crew especially you'd have like one or two people kind of going back and forth. Yeah. And that's one of the things with like the, the Max effort days with the crew, it's as more of like a competition aspect than anything. You're just trying to have fun,
you're trying to beat yourself. But the real work is the boring shit, the the accessories, the recovery, the the sleep, the hydration, all that shit that quite frankly no one really wants to do. But that's what what it takes, yeah. Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Like obviously it would be nice if we could just walk into the gym, hit a Max effort squat and go home and add 50 lbs where I squat, but that's just not how it is. Where's the fun on?
That it's, it's interesting because like I, I of course always love doing the Max effort variations, but I was going to have a good pump, which is love a good pump, you know, just nice and full. There's something better than like a nice and full triceps. A tricep pump is just sick. Like, you know, like who doesn't want jacked arms? Yeah. And that's that's another thing with some of the powers and culture, it's like they care just obviously we care about our totals and our numbers.
But I mean, most of us started this to get big to look jacked and like have fun and like you say, get a good pump. So when there's there's some people out there that just they'll come in, they'll do three sets of squats and three sets of bench and no accessories and go home. Like where the where's the fun in that? Like, what are you doing? Like go get a pump look jacked. Yeah. Exactly like that's.
That's also the fun part. Yeah, I think one of my favorite things that Kevin Oakes said, he's like, I don't care about being the £150 world champion if I don't look jacked. Especially, I think that's the big aspect now that we're starting to transition, is the athletes that also in better shape. They're performing at a whole another level, which is really things starting to come to light. I know like Jenna or Denza, she's really big in conditioning.
Sarah Buckley and I like and Laura, we started doing this like certain bike conditioning from a fellow out in California, like it's it really takes it up a notch. It really does recovery wise. You're able to down regulate yourself like you're just it's a completely new level unlocked. Yeah. It takes a step up from just GPP. It's, it's so much more than that. Like you look at some of the top people in the sport right now and they actually look healthy.
They look strong. They they have ABS. You look at someone like, like Phil Herndon, for example, like, that man's a monster, and he's not a yeah, and he's not a 400 LB piece of shit that's like struggling to breathe after squats. Like, yeah, it has so much more performance. Like cardio is not bad for a power lifter, No? Absolutely not if you're not, I mean, if you're not doing some type of conditioning, like you're kind of doing yourself harm, especially like you got to
be able to deadlift. Yeah. I don't think people realize is like you still. Yeah, it's only 9 lifts, but it's it's going to tell. It's going to tell at the end of the day, yeah. And that's kind of the difference maker too. Obviously you have like the deadlift specialist that'll come in at the end of me and blow someone out of the water after their subtotal was £300 less. But they come down to two.
Like say you have two equally strong people at the the the meat comes down to conditioning at that point. Yeah. And that's like, you know, like why wouldn't you want that extra, especially if you could get like the extra like 1 to 2%, like from a conditioning standpoint to be able to translate that into strength, like, you know, that's that's a make or break, like if you're going to get that last lift or not.
Yeah. And. Especially at the like these pro meats and stuff that it comes to a point where people are fighting for that 1%, that 2% boost and they often overlook something as simple as just being in shape. And there's some people that aren't even willing to commit to even grow. They even started doing it like substantially it would increase by an even larger percent. But it's just taking the responsibility and I think and the opportunity to grow in that
aspect. Yeah. And. Then I guess kind of on the flip side, not necessarily obviously keep your your conditioning, your health up, but as far as kind of like the idea of like growing into your weight class. Like something like me, for example, where I was at 2:42 and there was a little point where I was kind of teetering that line of starting to cut. But I'm still a young athlete and I wanted to grow into my total. I wanted to grow into my frame.
And if I was stubborn and stuck at that 242, who knows like how much I'd be suffering right now from it? Yeah, absolutely. I'm kind of, you know, I and, and we prep and like and and prep and offseason like I fluctuate quite a bit because I do compete between 165 and 181. I'll do one big cut a year. I try to only do one big cut a year and then I'll go to 181. But I mean, you know, I walk around mid of high 180's especially like deep in meat prep. Like do I love it?
No, but that's why I feel the strongest and but I know I make that sacrifice like the custom be harder later in prep, yeah. And I think the difference is too is like you said, you train in the offseason at a heavier weight and when your body adjusts to that, your your strengths goes through the roof. So when you go to a cut, you're still going to be stronger than you were if you were to just maintain your weight and not
make a big cut. Yeah, and I think it leads also going back to the condition standpoint, if you're in better shape, the cut and recomp is easier. Yeah, you're able to just recomp a better. And it is interesting to see different people cut at different weight classes too, because you you have some people that are like 320 trying to cut to three O 8 and they're struggling. Meanwhile you have some people that are 18185 cutting to 165 and have no issues and. I have been blessed. Yeah.
And I haven't. I don't know. I'm. I'm kind of crazy for the test that I've done. My biggest one was 1 from 193 to 165. Oh, wow, that was last program. You know, I tried to do again this year and I wasn't able to get quite those last 4 lbs off. But sometimes that's I just rolled that way, you know, But it's kind of, it is kind of crazy. There are some freaks out there that can do it, but there are people that can cut 8 lbs and they just can't Recon from it too.
Yeah. So for you, what is kind of like your your window of like pounds being able to cut before you start seeing a hit in your performance? Normally, I mean, I'm going to get, I've been able to get away with about 22 lbs. Anything over 22 to 23. I think it starts to get a little sketchy for me. But I mean, that's still like a 13% weight cut, which is pretty,
pretty abnormal for sure. But even like this past meet, I wouldn't say like, I'm not sure I could say, you know, because I wasn't able to make the 165. But shrink was there. It would just didn't want to call curse netball. But you know, it it sometimes it is what it is. Yeah. So I guess kind of before we wrap things up here as far as like the world of powerlifting, what are some of the things that maybe you'd like to see change or some of the issues you have with the current state of the
sport? I honestly like, you know, I just I don't really pay attention to the noise. I'm just there to compete to be honest. That's that's really I'm just there to have fun, put a total together. That's impressed the envelope a little bit. I kind of really don't care about the outside, outside noise. It's just that's not really my realm. To be honest. I really couldn't tell you what was going on, not going on because doesn't affect me.
I don't like, you know, at a sight out of minds, I just kind of stay in my own lane. Yeah. Yeah. And. I think that's honestly, I wish that's something I could do. I think doing something like this podcast is where it becomes a blessing and curse because you learn so much about the world of pile lifting to when you get to see someone that's like, hey, I'm just here to compete. I'm here to have fun with my friends. Like it's such a breath of fresh air. Yeah, it's.
It's it's really unique, I would say, yeah. So I think we can kind of wrap things up here. So I'll ask you my final question. If you could give a new power lifter or someone going into their first meet a word of advice, what would you say? Biggest things just be patient and have fun. You know things don't happen overnight but just keep showing up is the biggest thing. Yep. I think you got to play the long game in the sport.
This is not a sport where you're only in it for, well, some people are only in the first few years, but I think the people that are patient, take their time with it instead of blowing their load too early are the ones that rise to the top. Absolutely. Yeah, Well. I want to thank you again for taking the time to come on. It was my pleasure. Yeah. Thanks for having me.