"prep" time

I always talk about the gym... I never really talk about all my "prep" outside the gym. I never tell you all how many times I successfully squat 150kg in preparation for my goal of squatting 150kg at the meet. Or how many successful bench presses I have, no matter how light. And I have gone so far as to imagine what it's going to feel like to pull that last deadlift and know I reached my total goal. For the 90 min I spend in the gym every day, I spend at least another 90 in my head every day. Not all at once... but through the day... always running through the set up, the feelings, my brother's voice, the commands, the success. I imagine it both as if I complete it and sometimes as if I am watching myself.

Keep in mind, it doesn't always go as planned... I mean, when I invisioned getting pumped about my 400 Wilks, I did not imagine leaping and being so excited that I slipped and nearly ran into a pole... but, that's okay :) The feeling was exactly as I knew it would be.

Funny enough, the closer I get to a meet, the less I feel motivated to log my training. I have now completed all my openers and am done heavy work until the meet. My squats in full gear were 285,295,305. My benches in my shirt were 145,155,160. Yesterday I did squats in a belt and I used knee sleeves as my knees were feeling stiff and sore. Did my regular high bar work and then moved into doubles with the belt @ 190,210,220. Today is a close grip bench day with decent weight and then after today everything drops in weight and I will be working super light from here on. I am really tired these days, which is likely just the result of the training intensity. But, probably means I should try and get some extra sleep ;)

deadlifts = fantastic

Deadlifts were great!

Warmed up and then got into 5 with bar and 135, 3 with 155, 2 with 185 and then singles @ 225,245,265 (belt), straps down 285, full gear @ 315, 325. Both felt smooth and relatively easy. Thinking I will aim to have my brother open me at 147.5kg at the meet.

Also had front squats, hip thrusts, yoga plex, pallof presses and stretches to finish the night.

been kinda busy

And just tired. Seems like I can't bring myself to do much posting of any kind.

I am feeling highly unfocused at work - that's a lot due to excitement :) We leave in 8 days...

Things have been going relatively well. Sunday bench I felt strong... such a nice change. Hit my spotter on the second rep at 260lbs Tuesday during squats which startled me so I lost my tension and really fought to get it up - he may have helped a bit even. Wednesday bench I was back to feeling like it was a struggle again, but it's all good. I had a great training night and am ready for deadlifts Thursday.

My weight has been up but likely just due to some unpleasant water retention... it seems to be coming back down again. I have my plan for water cutting now, which makes me feel good.

frustration of squats

Well, they felt good... the first couple "warm up" sets in my suit felt high but that made sense - the weight was still light. There's no reason I didn't hit depth in my suit yesterday. I got video and they all look high. Granted, the angle of the video is bad, and they were done with my phone, which doesn't necessarily take the best quality video. Still, they all look HIGH!! Worked up to a full gear double at 305lbs although with how those looked, I will likely be opening 135kg to be sure. Another opener that is going to be under what I want based on where I want to finish. Oh well... better to get my openers in and have a good total than stress about numbers.

this training stuff is hard

I took it relatively easy on Wednesday because of my failed attempt during shirted bench on Sunday. Did my 10-2 close grip starting at 85lbs and working up in 5s to 105lbs for the set of 2. Then I did ascending boards at 85lbs and it nearly killed me again. I had to rack and rest 15 seconds between the 2 and 3bd just so I could get it done.

Deadlifts started off poorly last night. My legs were still quite sore from Tues so I warmed up... stretched, dynamic work, mobility work... and still, as soon as I put 135lbs back down I pulled my inner thighs - EEK! So, I kept warming up... and I found as long as I didn't put the weight all the way to the floor, but rather, when the plates were about half inch to inch off the floor I just let the bar go, then I didn't get the pulling. It also meant that I was struggling to sit back into the deadlifts as well as I should have, because of that pulling sensation. I did get things done and pulled straps down triples at 275 and 295... tried 290 but I reset after the second and couldn't pull the 3rd. Part of it was in my head... I was afraid to hurt myself.

My legs feel less sore today although I will be resting lots, doing some easy walking on the treadmill after bench tonight and getting myself all recovered and ready for squats tomorrow :)

last few days

Rather than logging complete training days every day, I will give over views and speak to my main lifts. Friday was speed bench and lots of board work with bands. Worked up to 140 plus bands to a 3bd. Sat did 3x3 squats @ 225,240,255 then 2x1 @ 265,275. Sun was terrible... did a solid double at 155 but failed second rep at 165 for my shirted bench.

Monday was my rest day. Today was high bar squats followed by doubles w wraps. High bar 5x5 @ 155,160,170,180,190.. did 4 only last set as I was getting bent over. Then doubles at 225,245,255.

some thoughts...

I had a conversation today... what is normal for women any more? Young girls (and some of us old ones) are still struggling with these model images that tell us we need to be tall, skinny (and I mean skinny) and gorgeous or we are not worthwhile. There is a push to not accept those standards... look at The Dove Campaign... love it! But, we have almost swung too far. The norm is becoming young girls with excess fat rolls hanging out of clothes that are too small. These girls aren't healthy. While I am happy to see them not trying to maintain an artificial magazine image, I am sad that we have gone too far and are now unhealthy in the opposite direction. It's not healthy to starve yourself, vomit after you eat or use excessive amounts of exercise to keep your weight down... BUT, it's not healthy to drink slurpees, eat chips and hot dogs and lay around on the couch watching Twilight movies all night either. We are a society of extremes... in a time when the biggest thing we need is balance.

ah, how I love thee, deadlift

It felt like I warmed up forever, but it included some warm up sets. So, I did my usual warm up stuff and then touched the bar.

DLs 5 @ 135 then 3s @ 155,185,205,225
3 with belt @ 255
3s with straps down (and belt) @ 265,270,275,280
A1 front squats 3x8 @ 95,100,105
A2 single leg hip thrust 3x12 no weight
Tossed in some kneeling barbell hip thrusts in for fun 2x15 @ 85,95
B1 ankle mobility 3x8 each side
B2 DB swings
10 min on treadmill at a relatively slow pace

Rest day Wednesday... except...

A.M.
3 rounds of:
20 swings
20 of something I don't know the name for
20 slingshots
5 squats with presses
10 lunges

busy weekend

Friday night was a bench day with speed work and then lots of volume on boards. 5x5 to a 1bd working up to 115 and then 3x5 to a 2bd @ 125,130,130, which is excellent for me. Chins, DB shoulder presses and ab work rounded out the night. Also did 10 min on the stair mill.

Saturday I did a quick run through of KB work for about 10 min.

Saturday in the gym was squats with wraps. Sets of 3 up to 245lbs. I did 235 and 245... went to repeat 245 but lost balance on the first rep and it ended ugly. Still decided to go ahead with my singles. Did 2 singles at 255 and 265. Also had romanian dls, GMs, GHRs and side bridges this day. GMs felt better than they have since I tweaked my back a month or 2 ago.

Sunday morning, another bit of KB work.

Sunday was scheduled as a shirted bench day, but due to last week being an impromptu shirt day we changed this day. I did legs up 7s @ 65,75,85,95 then did some doubles (feet down) @ 105,115,120. Moved then to 3bd work and did a lot of volume - 3s @ 130,135,145,150,160,165 (competition grip), 170 (competition grip). This is by far my best to a 3bd.

Monday night once again squats. 5x5 high bar @ 155,160,165,175,185 then 2x2 with wraps @ 235,245. Also had reverse lunges and hypers. Tossed in a few snatches. Did the prescribed stretching - heel to butt and adductor stretches and 10 min on the stair mill.