Bodybuilding.com - How I Became A Powerlifter!

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Stacey has major surgery in 2001!

Stacey Hammer is the Idaho state record holder with 176 lbs on the bench and a 336 lbs on the dead lift!

I'm going to start off by clarifying one common misconception; I am a POWERLIFTER not a bodybuilder. Those of us in the realm of lifting weights know there is a big difference between the two.

A couple of the main differences are:

Powerlifters lift as much weight as they can for 1 rep
You don't have to look pretty doing it!

Growing Up

Growing up in a small town in Washington and being an athlete I was exposed to weight training very young and fell in love early. I then went on to play 3 years of college basketball and 2 years of softball at Walla Walla Community College finishing up my career at Albertson College of Idaho. I was fortunate to graduate with a B.S. Degree in Exercise Science from ACI in 2001.

Powerlifting

I always thought about powerlifting but didn't start seriously considering it until after I came back from major surgery in 2001 when I had to take 5 months off from any strenuous activity period. Upon return I wanted to be as strong as I possibly could but knew it would take time.

I was fortunate in August 2001 to get hired at the DT YMCA in Boise as a Personal Trainer and became friends with 2-time Junior World Champion Powerlifter Andy Lambert who talked up the sport.

Currently

I currently compete in the WABDL (World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters). They held a contest close by in April that I was able to participate in without worry of travel expenses and I got hooked. It is a smaller organization and is helping me get some much-needed experience.

Though I have always been a lifter, only the last 4 months have I been focused specifically on powerlifting. I am currently the Idaho State Junior Women's Champion at #165lb class, North American Champion, and state record holder with 176lb bench and a 336lb dead lift. Wrapping up I need to thank the people who have helped out these last months.

Andy Lambert

Andy Lambert for putting together my workout and letting me in on a few of the ins and outs of the sport he learned, you're the best! Bodybuilding.com for all of their support above and beyond anything I anticipated!!! Last but not least my friends at the YMCA, yes Annette this includes you.

Thanks,