Blog

by Gage Reid of Nova Strength Training Systems You've just completed 16 weeks of hard training in preparation for your upcoming meet. You've put in the work required, you've done countless sets, reps and hit numerous volume PRs- you have done everything in your power to ensure a successful meet...

Written by: Tessa Yannone I still remember the first time we met quite vividly. Granted, it wasn’t that long ago but no matter how much time passes I think the first time I walked up to you will be one of those milestone moments like when you graduate, get married...

Written by Adrienne Thomas My name is Adriene! I am competitive, extremely goal driven and work my butt off. I have never been “the best” at anything but I have always given everything my all. These traits are all things that contribute to my drive as an athlete, but they are...

Written by: Precilla Navarro  Getting unwelcome input from people you don't know is annoying. I guess it's what we signed up for the moment we decided to create my daughter's Instagram page. Most of the unsolicited input we receive come from people who are uneducated in lifting weights. They regurgitate old...

Written By Gage Reid of Nova Strength Are you sore, tired and/or unmotivated to train far too often? Well, today is your lucky day because this article is solely focused on fatigue and how to manage it. Many of you who are reading this are probably competitive Powerlifters or thinking...

Written by Strength Coach and State Champion Powerlifter Christina Myers, MS Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention with special guest commentary by Dr. Sloan Beard, DC, MS Sports Science and Rehabilitation. Why the controversy? If you follow any female powerlifters on social media, chances are you’ve happened across a video of...

If anyone had anything bad to say about their experience at this years Jenn Rotsinger Women’s Empowerment Weekend, it’s 100% on them. Even if you had a bad meet performance, just being at The Jenn, named after one of the most genuine people that I’ve ever met, one the most...

Written by Kelsey Clifton I was the girl who was called "crazy" because she walked to the gym in negative temps and snow, rain or the sunshine. I was finally DOING something and proud of herself. I lost weight, and then I found powerlifting. My god, when I tell you...

Written by Nikita Ross Putting yourself out there and standing in front of a crowd can be challenging. Even those who don’t regularly suffer from anxiety experience this event-specific phenomenon. Call it performance anxiety, stage fright, agoraphobia; call it what you will. Then, pair the fear of messing up with...

by Gage Reid of Nova Strength Disclaimer: Before attempting any weight cut it's important to underage the risks, potential damage that can occur during extreme weight loss and periods of dehydration. As an athlete it's on you to ensure that you are putting the most important aspects at the top...

Written by: Stephanie Powell A little background: On April 20, 2013 my father lost his battle with cancer. That week leading up to his passing I spent by his side hoping for a miracle. In complete and utter regret, I took my 25 years with him for granted. As I...

Imagine an entire day filled with awesome women, doughnuts and heavy lifting. That’s what Camp Uplift Chicago was in a nutshell. Truthfully it was 1000 times better and to put it that simply would really be putting the day in the smallest nutshell ever. When I started GWPL, my aim...

Written by: Lindsay McGuire, MS, CSCS, PT, DPT Do you have shoulder pain? In my years in the gym, I have heard many people mention that they have shoulder pain, especially my fellow powerlifters, and then subsequently correlate it with shoulder impingement. But what is shoulder impingement? What are the...

Written by: Adrienne Thomas It happened again last week, and to be honest... it happens a little more frequently than I would like. The start of the week marked my final week of heavy training of meet prep. I hit PRs on all my lifts after enduring a prep full...

  by Gage Reid of Nova Strength Technical ProficiencyOne of the biggest criticisms of Powerlifting on social media by non-Powerlifters is technique or lift execution (IE: "exorcism arches", Sumo deadlifting, wide-stance low bar squatting, etc). Although many people simply don't understand (or choose not to understand) that Powerlifting is a...

  We all have those moments in our lifting lives, those chats with ourselves in the shower, those conversations on our way to the gym, personal moments that sometimes make us feel like no one understands. And for those moments, I introduce to you the "Getting Personal" blog series, written by...

by: Marlene Pizarro Like many young girls, I, too dealt with low self-esteem. I was influenced by the media and convinced I needed to fit their mold of the ideal female body. Straight hair, flawless skin, tall, thin legs, small waist, and visible collar bones. I was a 5' 2", 135 lbs.,...

Written by Jeremy McCann of Range Of Motion Squatting should be simple when you think about it. I mean all you are really doing when you squat is bending at the hips, the knees, and the ankles before you stand up again. Considering that you are likely to do these...

by Gage Reid of Nova Strength Ask any Powerlifter what the hardest lift to improve is and 9 times out of 10 you'll hear, "the Bench Press". Although there are a few outliers in the sport, Jen Thompson is an excellent example, but for the most part the Bench is...

Written by Renee-Rose Garcia In trying to figure out how to approach my first post as a TeamGWPL ambassador, I thought about all the experiences I've had in my short time competing as a powerlifter. When I first started out, I was training out of a commercial gym, not realizing...