bruising is relatively normal for me on the traps from the bar but when I train or compete in my lifting gear I will have bruising all the way along my triceps from my bench shirt and bruising around quads and hamstrings from my squat suit.
you might be a powerlifter if...........
-if it takes 5 seconds for your soul to re-enter your body after deadlifting
-if you dream about lifting in the masters division when you retire instead of golf or fishing
-if you show people you hardly know the cuts and bruises under your armpits and say
"now that shirt fits great"
- "The marks from your bench shirt are so bad that non-powerlifters don’t dare say anything when they see them. After all, who wants to aggravate the psycho S&M guy?"
-if more then 5 reps per set is considered cardio
-You love the blood running down your shins, which had just healed from you last deadlift work out.
- You admire the fresh marks left by your new bench shirt.
- You tell the story of how you ripped all of the flesh from your hand on your last deadlift, and how you super glued it back on.
...You know more about injuries than your physio, but still manage to cripple yourself in some way, shape or form every three months. Ok, maybe every month.
Your neighbours think you are into some kind of bizzare homo bondage thing. Tight suits, the sound of chains, 'pull harder, stay tight, get down' etc, groaning, and some very strange bruises all over your body...