Taylor Woods | We All Have The Same 24 Hours
What has been your biggest achievement to date, and what is your ultimate goal in weightlifting?
My biggest achievement to date was coming second at nationals. That was a big achievement for me even though personally I am disappointed in myself. I lost by one kilo and I totaled seven kilos under my best total. I had done a meet a couple weeks prior and I totaled seven kilos higher. I expected more of myself. I am not going to lie and say I would rather done my best and come last because I always want to win. It took a long time to come to terms with the fact that I could've done better. Everyone was congratulating be but it was hard because I thought I could've performed better. It was the first time I cried from a performance and I am still not fully over it. It is very motivating to lose by that margin. I look forward to staying healthy and hopefully winning nationals next year.
My ultimate goal is to go as far as I can. I want to stay as healthy as I can and be as successful as I can. If that means 2024 Olympics then great, but right now I'm more focused on the journey. I think the journey is more important than the end goal.
Who has been your biggest role model outside the gym, and who is your biggest in?
My biggest role model is a non-American weightlifter named Rebeka Koha. She was 53 (kg weightlifter) and then moved up to 58. She has been smaller because she was younger when she started. Ever since I started she was my inspiration because she is so far ahead of her competitors. He work ethic is astonishing. I remember one time an Instagram page posted a picture of her in the gym the day after worlds. If I ever met her I would actually die! My biggest inspiration inside of the gym is probably my friend Hailey even though she is a weight class above me. I remember when I started weightlifting she could clean & jerk 135 and I said if I could reach that I would quit. That was my goal number. We ended up competing against each other, and she was super supportive person. She is an all around great person and my biggest inspiration in the gym.
What are your most impressive lifts and what is your favorite body part?
My most impressive lift is my back squat. When people ask me, they don't believe it. I back squat 148 kilos. I front squat 285lbs. I have cleaned 93 kilos. I have snatched 70 kilos. My bench is 135lbs which isn't overly impressive. I only focus on it for the high school season. My favorite body part to train is legs because that's probably the strongest. I should try to train shoulders a little more.
What sorts of training outside of weightlifting do you do?
Outside of lifting I was a competitive cheerleader. I feel like nothing can prepare you for weightlifting because it is such a different sport. It is much harder to push when you are tired with weightlifting. It is also more important to eat right, and get proper rest.
What is your favorite cheat meal, and what does your diet consist of?
My go-to cheat meal after weigh-ins is a waffle and a burger even though I only eat half of it. I won't do it for an important competition, just the local ones. I eat seven times a day. I eat in small increments before and after training. I get my carbs and proteins. I follow a low fat diet because I find that works better for me, and it's easier to stay consistent. I don't cheat on my diet when I'm in a routine.
What do you do to prepare for a competition? How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Obviously I train a lot leading up to the competition. Something people may neglect is the mental aspect. I like when I go to competitions where you get there a few days earlier so you can see the arena. When you go home you can run through it in your mind. It has made a huge difference in my performance because I find it calms my nerves. I try to envision myself being successful, I envision myself smiling and envision myself walking proudly off the stage. As for as a healthy lifestyle, I do a lot of recovery habits that help me train the next day to avoid injuries. I sprained my wrist several times in cheer leading so I make sure I ice them every night so they don't hurt when I lift. I also spend 15-30 minutes stretching and I will ice bath as well as foam roll. I am also very picky about how much I sleep, but I make sure it's between 8-10 hours a night.
For people starting out in the sport, what are some tips you would give?
For people starting out in the sport, my number one tip would be to get a coach. I think that everyone should think that they have the best coach. I believe that I have the best coach in the universe. You should follow their program, their process, 100%. You need to be willing to be uncomfortable. The sport is difficult, and you have to push yourself really hard.
How has lifting helped your self-esteem?
When I was in cheer leading, it was all about being small and flexible. It was about having a ripped six pack in order to be a flyer. I developed an unhealthy relationship with trying to fit in that category. Rather than trying to make you stronger, they would try and make you smaller. When I started high school I weighed 116lbs and now I weigh 143lbs. I went from a size 7 to 9 in a little over two years. You have to do your sport in order to get stronger and better, not to get skinny.
What was an obstacle you faced and how did you overcome it?
One obstacle I faced is that I am very busy. I am the student body president, I am an officer in five clubs, and a member of four others. I am ranked third in my class while having a job and training twice a day. It was hard for me to balance all that and find time to recover. It was hard for me to find balance, but if you want something bad enough you will make it work. It's not always about time, it's about priorities. We all have the same 24 hours.