I haven't posted on any boards in forever, but I saw this thread and just wanted to tell you to have fun and enjoy the powerlifting. It is such a nice change from the subjective nature of bodybuilding. It provides you with concrete goals and concrete results that cannot be argued with. Your placing is based upon your successful lifts and whether you followed the rules through the lifts.
I decided to compete in an APF powerlifting meet last November prior to my 36th birthday, and I had an absolute blast! My training combined the powerlifting techniques I used over 10 years ago and the bodybuilding techniques I currently need for my Masters Nationals prep this year, so while my lifts weren't as high as I could have done if I stuck with pure powerlifting and dropped my running regimen, I still met my goals and had so much fun with it. My boyfriend did an incredible job with wrapping my knees so tightly that I thought my legs would fall off, and he really helped to keep me motivated and fired up for the competition.
I also found that the heavy chest press, heavy squats, and heavy deadlifts did a great job at adding more size to my front delts as well as my back. The lifting also created more of the shape I wanted for my legs and glutes. I must say that Lori's success in 2008 with both powerlifting and bodybuilding helped me to make the decision to venture back into powerlifting, and I'm so pleased with my decision to have done the APF Federation meet.
For any naysayers who don't believe "The Beast's" lifts, don't doubt. Size does not automatically transfer into strength, and strength does not necessarily require size. Take a look at this link
http://apftexas.com/records/APF-AAPF%20TEXAS%20SUBMASTER%20RECORDS.htm, click on the APF Women tab, and you'll see that I broke all of the Texas state records in the Women's Submaster, 114-lb class division with the following lifts, and let me mention, I weighed 112 pounds for this meet, and I am natural. Looks can be deceiving. A female bodybuilder can be beautiful and a small woman can be strong. Stop doubting the women who post on here with pride in their lifts and start respecting.
Squat: 214 lbs.
Bench: 126.5 lbs.
Deadlift: 269.5 lbs.
All the best to you, Jenn! Keep working hard, and you will do well.