| Name |
| Catrina J. |
| Age |
| 43 |
| Weight Class |
| 84kg |
| Squat PR: |
| 300 lbs. (unofficial) / 292 lbs. (official) |
| Bench PR: |
| 149 lbs. (official) |
| Deadlift PR: |
| 330 lbs. (official) |
| Years powerlifting? |
| 1.5 |
| How did you come to powerlifting? |
| 3 years ago I started going to the gym to lose weight and get healthier, after losing 50 lbs. I was becoming complacent in the gym with just cardio and started slacking. I asked a trainer in the gym if he could show me how to use the dumbbells and after a few weeks I was hooked. He asked if I would be interested in taking the weights further, he advised I look up Powerlifting and offered to coach me in technique. It was an instant fit for me, I looked up competitions the next week and asked if he thought I could compete. He took a change on this old chick and I’ve never looked back! |
| Do you have any previous athletic or lifting experience? |
| I was athletic in high school, 25ish years ago – cross country, softball and cheerleading. I did not have any previous lifting experience and was not athletically active as an adult. |
| Do you compete? Why or why not? If you compete, what do you like most about the competitions? |
| I do compete. I love the electricity and camaraderie of the competitions. I am also a goal oriented person and need deadlines, competing helps me set markers and have deadlines for my lifting goals. |
| Equipped or Raw? |
| Raw |
| Do you have a coach or trainer? In person or online? How did you find your trainer/program? Do you have any advice for women looking for a trainer? |
| I have a Coach that I workout with in person 3x/week. I honestly couldn’t imagine not having a Coach – he keeps me accountable, pushes me when I try to give up on myself and talks me out of my own head. |
| Where do you train? Gym, garage? |
| I train in a small gym – we have one rack for squatting and benching. I am the only Powerlifter in the gym and the only female that uses the rack. The young guys in the gym are super supportive and root for me when we are peaking, they have even come to watch a couple of my competitions. |
| What is the hardest part about beginning lifting as an older woman? |
| The hardest part of taking up lifting at my age was retraining my body, but more importantly, my mind. I am a timid lifter; I have to recite a mantra to myself when I’m walking onto the platform that I am worthy, I belong here, I’m strong enough to push this weight and that I am a Beast! 🙂 |
| How has lifting affected your health? |
| Lifting has absolutely improved my health. When I started I had bad knees, I could barely do lunges because of the pain and stiffness in my knees – now I am squatting 300 lbs! |
| What would you tell women just beginning this journey? |
| Don’t give up. Believe in yourself. Keep pushing. Everyone’s journey is different, do not compare yourself to anyone other than yesterday’s version of yourself. |
