You end up developing bad habbits without someone watching you and giving feedback.
No matter how careful you are.
Even on this forum.. take Nick for example.
he'd been lifting for years.
he did his first comp.
squat 170 with knees caving in badly
bench 110??
deadlift 180 - struggling.
He's since been training at PTC with others who offer advice and coaching and Markos doing so too..
last comp weighing 88kg (2kg less than the fist comp nick??)
sq 210
b 135
d 240
During this same period..
I've gone from
s 190
b 110
d 220
to
s 190 failed twice last night
b not benching - shoulder/elbow probs
d struggled with 205 and failed 210
Nick is 5 years younger but we are about the same height, weight, baldness.
If you think that you could be in any way competetive or in anyway as good as you can be without a good coach you're dreaming.