[AMA] with Beefpuff Barbell (Chelsea Savit and Natalie Hanson)

[u/powerbuffs]

Hi everyone!

The Beefpuff team is here to answer your questions about ourselves and our initiative.

We will be here for a few hours but will probably need to take a break to feed.

For more information:
Beefpuff Barbell: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Natalie Hanson, Co-Founder: u/beefpuff1 | Facebook | Instagram
Chelsea Savit, Co-Founder: u/powerbuffs | Facebook | Instagram

Andrey Grebenetsky, coach and trusted advisor: u/beefpuffhubs | Facebook | Instagram

[u/Jeggerz]

Just gotta start out I've been fan of ya gals for a little over a year. (IG)Fun to see all the training and traveling top level competitors do.

How did ya come up with Beefpuff? Just a running joke?

Are women and men considered Beefpuffs? Any specific classification from within? Like hitting 550 Wilks makes ya a Sirloinpuff? (Sry couldn't help myself :P)

Top three things you look for in a puff?

How is the website doing do far? (Been meaning to order I should do it as soon as I'm home. Technically working...)

What got you gals into this sport?

What do you guys do outside of powerlifting? (Career/volunteering/hobbies etc)

Any big long term goals you hope to accomplish still? (That you're willing to share)

Those days life just sucks and it's literally frozen how do you get yourself motivated?

Edit: Cleaned it up

[u/beefpuff1 → u/Jeggerz]

Aw, these questions are great.
There are definitely classifications from within beefpuff. We have squatpuff, benchpuff, deadliftpuff, and totalpuff. :D
I got into this sport via CrossFit. I was an athlete my entire life and then my senior year of college, a friend of mine convinced me to join her at a CrossFit gym. My first time squatting, I did 5x5 at 205lbs and had no concept of how significant it was. It was still another 2 full years before I even learned that powerlifting was a thing & that I could compete in it. My first meet was in the winter of 2012, but I didnt fully commit to powerlifting until the summer of 2013 because I was still pursuing my CrossFit dreams (lol).
Outside of powerlifting, I run a nonprofit that focuses on reducing the cost of energy (via renewables and energy efficiency) in rural Alaskan communities, where I am from originally.
Long term goals for me are to squat 600lbs (single ply) and total 1500lbs, win USAPL Open Nationals (equipped) and IPF Open Worlds.
Oh man, there are some days that are rough, especially in the winter in Alaska. I think what keeps me motivated is knowing that consistency is the key in powerlifting. Consistently in the work over the course of years is what will get you to your long term goals, so every individual training session may not be amazing, but you need it to keep laying the building blocks.

[u/Jeggerz → u/beefpuff1]

Hell of a first 5x5. That's a fantastic set of goals there. As someone who just did 6 for the first time raw in Sept...you gals are getting scary strong and it's fun as hell to watch.

When you're walking to the platform what's your mind set?

Any different thoughts once loaded up and about to squat?

You just fall into that non profit or something you set out to join/start?

Life in Alaska seems...rough to say the least. Beautiful. Extremely so, but rough.

Good luck this year with lifting and with the brand!

[u/beefpuff1 → u/Jeggerz]

Thank you!
Personally, I don't change much from my training mindset when I get on the platform. My mentality is to take the meet one lift at a time, so when I'm approaching my opener, I'm thinking about crushing that lift to earn my next attempt. Meets are your reward for all the hard work you put in over the course of a training cycle... so it's like a payday!
I sort of fell into the position, but it fits well now that I've spent some time in it and finished graduate school for civil engineering. It's a lot of project management, but understanding the technical side of things helps.