jdmHey powerlifters in this thread: I started doing some bodyweight stuff when I was a teenager and my first year in college I've been lifting in a gym and trying to gain some weight
Right now I'm about 170 and although I don't really train for strength and have never really properly maxed, the heaviest I have lifted is 185 bench, 275 squat, and 365 deadlift
I have been thinking about focusing more on strength training next year and I'm wondering what your paths were for that. Did you join a club or a team? Did you have a friend who was more experienced to help you, or a friend you learned with? I have a buddy who is about as strong as me and we did track together in highschool and I was thinking about doing this with him. I don't really have the mental toughness to lift really heavy or stick to a plan without someone pushing me.
I probably won't do this seriously enough to compete but I'd like to get into the gym more than a few times a week and get more from it
Best thing you can do is join a good gym with like-minded (and strong) people. I'd highly reccomend signing up for a meet, even if you won't be super-competitive. Your numbers are in a good place and it'll give great structure to your training. You absolutely won't regret it, PL meets are full of wonderful people.