Celebrate Your Wins
In weightlifting, PBs usually come pretty frequently at first!
Big jumps.
PBs every few weeks.
It’s exciting, addictive, and honestly, one of the reasons many of us fall in love with the sport in the first place.
But as your training age grows, something shifts. The PBs slow down. The jumps get smaller.
This is where many lifters begin to struggle.
But here’s the truth: A 1KG PB is still a PB. And it still matters.
Small PBs Are Still Real Progress
People often underestimate the impact of adding 1-5KG when they are already strong.
Whether it’s a 1kg PB or a 10kg PB, it is still a step closer to your ultimate goal and still undeniable proof that you are improving.
In fact, a 1kg PB on a heavy lift after months of grinding is often a bigger technical and mental achievement than a 10kg PB in your first six months of training. Don't let the size of the number diminish the significance of the progress.
It means:
Your technique is improving.
Your positions are more consistent.
Your confidence is improving.
Your strength is building.
If you zoom out, it’s not “just 1kg.” It’s the accumulation of weeks or months of hard work showing up on the bar. If you only celebrate the big jumps, you’re going to miss 90% of your progress as a lifter.
The Target Number Isn’t the Only PB That Matters
Here’s a trap a lot of lifters fall into: They set a huge goal number in their head, which always ends in a 0, and then everything else becomes “not good enough.”
You hit a PB? "Yeah, but it wasn't the number I wanted."
You move better than ever? "Doesn't count, wasn't heavier."
You're more consistent? "Still not the number."
This mindset can kill your momentum and take the fun out of training.
The barbell won’t suddenly feel magical when you hit that target number. It will still feel like… a barbell. What will feel good is noticing and appreciating the small steps along the way.
PBs Come in More Forms Than Just a New Max
A true "win" in the gym doesn't always have to be a brand new number. Some of the most meaningful PBs aren’t even higher numbers..
Look for some of these wins in your training:
Consistency PB: Hitting 90% for consistent singles or doubles, when you used to grind out a single.
Rep Quality PB: Moving a heavier load with speed and control instead of fear and inconsistency.
Technical PB: moving weights with smoother and better technique. Sometimes, taking the win by how the weight feels!
Mental PB: Not panicking when you miss the first rep, or throwing off your whole session because of a small miss and still finishing the session strong.
These accomplishments demonstrate that you are not only getting stronger but also becoming better, more resilient, consistent, and technically proficient. That consistency is progress. And that kind of progress is what will always lead you to a higher number on the bar, while being able to make long-term progress.
Competition PBs Count Too (Even When They’re Not All-Time PBs)
Weightlifting competitions add another layer to this conversation, because PBs on the platform don’t always look the same as PBs in training.
Some lifters walk into a comp thinking:
“If I don’t hit an all-time PB today, the comp was a failure.”
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
You don’t need to hit your lifetime bests at every meet, especially if you’re new to competing.
For newer lifters, the goal is to build momentum across multiple competitions, gain experience, and develop confidence on the platform. Some competitions will go exactly how you imagined… and others will go completely the opposite. However, if you look closely, there are always wins to be found in every competition day.
I’ve had some great comps, and I’ve had some where I know I could have performed better.
But the funny thing is: the competitions that didn’t go the way I expected are the ones I’m most proud of.
There is one competition I think of often. I didn’t hit a single all-time PB that day, in fact, I didn’t even hit a 1RM. But it was one of my proudest competition moments because it marked a massive mindset shift in my clean & jerks.
It was in states a couple of years ago.
I almost bombed out in the snatch… but I also opened at my heaviest comp snatch ever, which I still think is pretty sick.
The nerves absolutely got the better of me in the snatch, and I learned (the hard way) that I need to slow down on the comp floor and not rush, haha. But that year, I had spent months working on my clean & jerks, because historically, the jerks were what held me back at every meet.
Once I made my third snatch attempt, I remember thinking:
“Alright, the hard part is over. Now I just need to do the clean & jerks.”
That was the first time I had ever felt confident about my CNJs in a competition setting and I hadn’t even jerked yet? Haha, it was crazy, and on top of that, I was also opening at my heaviest CNJ opener to date, something that would’ve been a third attempt at previous meets.
My second attempt was the biggest jump I had ever taken in competition, too.
Even though my snatch session didn’t go the way I wanted, my mindset and the numbers I hit for my clean & jerks are something I will always be proud of.
It is a reminder of all the unseen work I put in, which showed up when I needed it the most. None of the numbers I hit at that comp were all-time PBs, but the Clean & Jerks were Competition PBs and very much PBs in my confidence, which has set the tone for me as I have progressed in training and helped me grow confidence in my jerks now.
Why Celebrating Your Wins Actually Helps You Improve
When you celebrate:
You reinforce good habits.
You boost confidence.
You shift your focus to what’s working.
You build momentum.
You keep yourself motivated through the slower phases.
Lifting can sometimes be a tough sport. Don’t make it harder by refusing to acknowledge your own progress. If you’re waiting for “the perfect PB” or “that one number,” you’re going to miss all the critical steps that get you there. Don't get into the habit of downplaying the work you do and make sure you celebrate every win.
Zoom Out, Appreciate the Journey
If you’re training consistently, showing up even on the tough days, and putting in the work, you are improving.
A PB is a PB no matter the number.
Moving better, technically, more consistent, faster, stronger…. All wins
A more confident mindset is a win.
Tripling a weight that used to be a max? Massive win.
The barbell doesn't reward ego. It rewards patience, consistency, and awareness.
Celebrate your wins because the small wins are the ones that eventually turn into the big ones.
Want Help Building More Wins Into Your Lifting?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want to feel more confident, more consistent, and actually understand my lifting,” then the MWBC Intensive Weightlifting Workshop is exactly where you should be.
It’s a hands-on, high-feedback session designed to help you:
Understand your technique on a deeper level
Build confidence under the bar
Get immediate, personalised corrections
Learn how to create more “small wins” that add up to big PBs
Walk away with cues, drills, and clarity you can use straight away
If you want to lift better, move better, and feel more in control of your progress, this workshop will genuinely fast-track that process.
