I wouldnt think any PL program would be good while cutting, but ive never cut before. And im still fairly new to it all. I just figured out of any PL template the volume there would be better than any 3x5 or 5x5 system or 5/3/1. Like I said though, im an outsider when it comes to it. Most of my knowledge of the program comes from you.
PL programming can actually be very good for cutting. Remember, intensity (% of 1RM) is more important for preserving muscle mass than volume so any powerlifting template with low moderate to low volume and higher intensity will help preserving muscle mass during a cut. You won't be making the same strength gains but the fact that you're stimulating muscle fibers with higher intensity and eating enough protein while cutting will work towards preserving what you gained.
I think because of where i started at. Remember in july / august I had lost a lot muscle from being sick.
Also the bf measure I use is tape test (we have to do it for work). So it does height / weight and measures neck and abdomen. If your neck grows more than your abdomen then you went down. I need to get a caliper done again but the gym here lost theres and I havent bought any.
I know you're in east bumblefuck but is there anywhere you can go for a bodpod or dexa scan where you're at? I think the cost is roughly $80-120 but you'll get an extremely accurate measure of body fat, muscle mass, body fat %, etc which can help you tighten up your diet more and track progress body composition wise easier.
That is my biggest fear is that at my weight im gonna get murdered by the big boys. MP weighs 40 lbs less and can lift more. But i think I would have to drop so much weight to make a lesser class it wouldnt be worth it.
When competing, your FIRST and PRIMARY competiton is yourself. That is, above all, you are competing against yourself to set PRs relative to what you've done in the gym, past competitons, etc.
After yourself, your competiton is the next guy.
I went to a PL meet this last weekend to see two forum friends lift. I saw a 242lb lifter open his squats with 240lbs. I saw a 220lb lifter open bench with 165lbs. I saw a 70yo man missing a 470lb 2nd pull only to come back on his 3rd attempt and get 480lbs. I saw a shirted bencher miss all 3 of his 725lb bench attempts and bomb out of the competiton bc of that. My point is ppl are all over the map. You cannot let your fears of of being #1 hold you back or stop you from doing what you want to do.
MP is an amazing lifter but you need to understand he's been training and competing for strength for many years. He has time under the bar over you. His weight is less but his CNS has been trained for longer and therefor it doesn't come as a surprise that he can lift more. I'm at 198 and we have a 165er on my other board who can bench and squat more than me and he's elite. It just motivates me to go harder. I can't get myself down over it bc the guy has been doing it for years and been relatively injury free whereas I've trained for a short period of time for this and am constantly battling injuries.
My final point:
At this past meet I was at a few days ago, there was a mentally challenged kid (I think he had multiple issues like autism and soemthing else) judging from the way he walked and had to be led around the gym we were in. He was pretty young, maybe late teens or early 20s, and he missed a 95lb bench. Nobody judged him, nobody ridiculed him, and nobody compared themselves to him. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, from the judges, to the other competitors, to the people watching from the stands stood and gave the kid a round of applause like no other lifter got that day. Point is, when you step on the platform you become a brother to evey other lifter there. Don't worry about your total compared to theirs bc they don't care. It's a big family once you strap on that singlet.
sorry eh)
