My Beginning
By Dan Wowak
for EliteFTS.com

It was not until senior year in high school that I realized I needed to get bigger and stronger. Little did I realize what lay ahead of me with that statement. I began to train as a bodybuilder and had no focus or goal in mind, except getting big and strong. I soon realized I had no idea what I was doing yet I loved being in the gym. I began to watch the stronger guys in the gym and I saw them squatting onto boxes and bench pressing on the floor and I quickly became interested. Although I wanted to learn I did not want to ask. I did not want to bother these guys so I just started to copy what they did. Little did I know I was a 2 month old lifter using Westside methods. 

It all started to come together in the summer of 2000 when one of the strongest guys in the gym gave me a shot. I took that opportunity and ran with it. At first he ran me into the ground, almost as if I had to work to be his partner and this I did. We trained each day until finally I got the OK to lift full time with him. This consisted of two a day workouts, max squats and benches, not to mention sled dragging in the mid- afternoons with the temperature reaching 90 degrees. This did not stop me and from that summer on I was hooked. 

Why do you need to know that? Well that's how I started and I think that many of you started in a similar way. We are the beginners of powerlifting, the next generation that is going to take over when you are done. Many times beginners cannot find a place to start. It seems like they are thrown into training and that training is modeled for an 850 pound squatter to reach the 900 mark. So I am going to share my experience with everyone, and hopefully help out all those new lifters to getting on the right track in this sport. 

Before actual training information is swapped (which I will discuss with the help of the EFS staff in later articles) I need to lay down the basic groundwork that will build a good foundation for the beginners. The following things are heard many times but often overlooked by the beginner. I wish now that I would have listened.

Build a strong level of fitness and raw power

So many times I look back and even now I realize I do not have the raw power it takes to lift big weights. When I started I was lucky if I could do 30 pushups in a row. How the hell was I going to bench 300 pounds when I can't even do something that simple? I needed to get strong. I should have just stayed with the four main workouts a week and the other days perform some sled dragging. I also think if you're still a young guy, get a summer job that consists of manual labor. This will really get you in shape. 

Read and learn

Don't limit yourself to what people tell you, read and read and read more. Learn about the body and weight training. Everyone should keep learning, and at times I find myself thinking I know everything, only to find some new training method with aspects I believe are strong. I always thought what I was doing was the best and nothing was better than it. Don't be like this read and learn all you can.

Understand all the Westside Principles and know that they are not set in stone

A beginner totaling less than 1000, cannot do what Louie, Dave, Jim, etc. are doing. You have to apply the principles to yourself and work from there. Use their advice when you get stuck. I still find myself at times doing all these crazy things the guys at WSB are doing but I was really bad with this when I started. Relax, you have your entire lifting career in front of you, so don't use all your resources now. I was doing everything from GPP, to timed dumbbell presses, to band pushdowns. It did nothing but hurt my progress. Finally this past year I stopped and got back to the basics and everything came together. I am lifting better then ever now. 

Gain weight

I know its hard give up cottage cheese and salad but all beginners need to get thick. No powerlifter is skinny like a rail. There are always ways to gain weight and even though it's hard to get over the mental image society set for us, your lifting will get better. And you can kick those 6 pack having, biceps popping guy's asses and lay the girl anyway. In all honesty, I was one of the skinniest guys going when I started (6'2" 180lbs). I never wanted to gain weight, as I was afraid I was going to look fat. This past year I ate and ate some more and now weight 235. My total went up 200lbs. So why hold back on all that good food in the world? Go eat what you want and push more weight around.

Get good partners

You can not see yourself lifting so how are you going to see your flaws? Get partners that are looking in the same direction as you and if at all possible are stronger than you. This for me has been my biggest drive. I'm so sick of walking into the gym with all the guys and being the first one to hit my max on ME days. I want to hang with all of them. I still lift with the guy that brought me into this sport and we are both helping each other as well as other new lifters. Partners will also tell you the truth. Normally these are the things you do not want to hear about your lifting and this can be a great thing to get you back on track. 

Lift for you and not to beat everyone

When you are beginning you need to lift to beat your own records and not worry what others are doing. Be the best you can be. When you go to powerlifting meet there are going to be guys that kick your ass but a true powerlifter will accept your accomplishment of a 300lbs squat just as much as their 900. I went to my first meet in October of 2002 and I wish I had done it sooner. I thought it was going to be totally different. Everyone cheered me on, and even helped me out with my lifting. They gave me tips and advice. There are some of the nicest guys in this sport. Sure they are big and scary looking but they will help anyone out that needs it. 

I think that these few things would have really helped me if I realized them from the beginning. I cannot say that what I did was totally wrong. I would have just approached it a different way and I think I would have been on my way to strength much more quickly. Beginning and advanced powerlifting means always having your focus on what you're doing and what you're trying to do. Learn from other's mistakes and do not make them. That's why we are here to help you so you do not have to go through what we did. I took me 3 years to realize this; therefore I'm saving you 3 years of agony. So from one beginner to another, keep these things in mind for the next few years and work from there. It will not only help you in the future but it will make your experience a better one. GET LIFTING!