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| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 28-05-2012 @ 13:15 | ||
| Brit BPC Raw finals update Squats 220 good lift 240 good lift (and biggest squat in comp so far for me) 255 No lift (depth) Bench 130 good lift 140 good lift 150 No lift (didnt get it all the way up) Deads 270 Good lift (new masters brit record) 290 Good lift (new masters brit record) 310 No lift (to knees) What a day. After spending a week and a half dieting with low or no carbs and spending 4ish days of manipulating my water I actually came in at 102.8kg which is the lightest I have been for a long while... dieting was crap, didnt like it and have a lot more respect for those that go through it for so long. Water manipulation was even worse and I have even more respect for those that do it... friday I was 108.9kg and thinking just to flag it and go over 105... sat morning I weight in at 104.6 and thought alright might do this after all... I felt ok but fuzzy... things seemed slower or maybe it was just me lol... woke up sun morn and my scales said 103.2 so really happy... went and weighed in and 102.8kg BAM baby... made weight... straight after had a lucosade with a diarlyte, a Protein 247 Hydrorecover shake (4 scoops in 600ml of water and its @Hillys design (great shake mate), a load of choc brownies and jelly babies and snakes then off to a big plate of bacon and eggs... oh and two bannas lol... then slowed down on the food front and just grazed as per normal... by the time I got to lift I was back up to 106.9kg and feeling pretty good... no bloat or stomach problems with all the eating or rehydrating... just before warming up for the squat I had another diarlyte as really needed to replace all the electrolytes... warm ups went well but a bit rushed at the end as there were a few lifters and we started a bit slowly... Squats - feeling good with these, warmed up to 200 and felt comfortable... out to my opener of 220 and feeling a bit nervous as always with the first lift of the day... belt felt a bit loose at the normal hole but still tight enough to get a good push against... 220 easy lift... second lift came around fairly quickly and 240 was nice and easy as well, bit nervous on this one as it is normally where I choke but got good lift and well happy... 255 I set as I wanted to get a good lift in and set a new brit record but went out and set up which felt ok but just missed depth, tbh I felt like I had missed depth as I was coming up as I just didnt feel my hams and glutes fire as they noramlly do when I hit depth... speaking with @Emma James later she suggested it could be nerves over depth as the squat itself looked easy... it felt fine so kicking myself a bit there (and this prob cost me best lifter in the masters cat more later) Bench - feeling both good and nervous about this... the what ifs started hitting me about now, feeling it from squats and I was tempted to bring my opener down, but thought just need a cup of mtfu and get on with it... warm ups went well but didnt calm me much tbh... out for the opener and it was easy... 140 next again set up felt good and the arch felt tight... having Emma behind me talking was awesome as she was a calming influence and really got me on point lift wise... 140 up nicely and felt good... 150 next... as you may know this has been a mental lift for me... but if you dont try you dont know right... out to lift and set up well... arch nice and tight and felt pretty good... took the bar (awesome hand off by the spotter btw) and took it down to chest easy, press comman and started to lift it got it a couple inches off the chest and was thinking Fvck yeah when got cramp in right side of my back... pulled the bar slightly off line and even though I fought to hold it I lost the drive, it was there though... even though missed that it is a huge boost in the mental side of it for me (but I am still peeved I missed it lol)... Deads - by this stage I was flagging which is a first as normally by this stage I am loving it and right into it... thank fvck Adam Pickles was there to drive and support me along... warm ups went well and easy up to 250... so sat and composed myself (first mistake) then after just getting in the zone I stood up and started cramping in my legs... great more darlyte shed down the throat and walking it off, just getting myself in the zone... thankfully worked well and legs clamed down... first lift easy... went up and new brit masters record... second lift at 290 went up a little harder but still felt great and a new masters record again... happy enough and thought lets get that 310 (which would also set the open record which even though I got last comp was not given to me for some reason sigh) went out, set up and managed to get it to my knees then couldnt see kept trying but it didnt want to go... let the bar down and walked back to the chalk, damn near fainted at that stage lol but held on to the chalk bowl till I could be confident again and went out back to watch Adam pull it... awesome pull but peeved I missed it... sigh... back to the training board for that lift for sure... Day over and at the presentations I found I was about 5 points off getting the overall masters award... again always the bridesmaid never the bride lol... was feeling tried but ok... had a big meal at mcdees on way home lol and by the time we got home I was feeling it, big time, could barely move and went to bed early... today I am feeling it even more, very sore and tired but ok... Some observations from the day... My wife tells me that I didnt seem to have the same spark and that the dieting and water work seem to have taken it out of me... I didnt approach it with the same sort of zest I normally do... Emma tells me that on the last deadlift I held my breath but not on the first two (I have no memory of holding my breath lol) so thats something to watch for future lifts... dieting and water work are not for me and unless I do it the week before or at least get weigh in the day before I wont be doing that again... would like to thank all those who helped and supported me through it all, my wife (who god bless her put up with my sh1t) 247 whos protein kept me going through the diet and great new product got me up and running on the day, @JW007 for all the advice and support, @Kate1976 who was there every day through the "diet" and water work listening to me whinge lol and was there on the day as ever yelling at me to get my sorry ass lifting, @gemc1981 @Little Ron and @welshguy84 who all came to see me do ok... @Tatty who is always in my head when I squat with her initial advice about lifting in a mono and @Emma James who helped calm me on the day with her words of wisdom... and many others who have offered advice and words of encouragement to get my lifts up... will do better next time for sure guys... finally a good day and a fantastic bunch of guys and girls to lift with... now off to eat lol... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 21-05-2012 @ 18:02 | ||
| Openers Squats and Bench Squats WU 60x5, 100x5, 140x3, 180x3, 200x1 belt on 220x1 Bench WU 60x5, 80x5, 100x3, 115x1 (full pause) 130x1 (full pause, prob longer as wanted to make sure lol) Squats - just kept it simple and reps lower than planned originally in the vein of less is more as prev discussed... 200 flew up and was great depth, well below parallel... 220 I put my belt on as thats how I will lift on the day and tbh it was the easiest 220 I have ever lifted... damn near like no weight at all... man I hope it goes like that on the day... very very pleased and a huge ego boost... squats sorted and put to bed... technique felt ON and drive was right there... considering a bit tired from the weekend its all good... Bench - my old nemesis... but not today warm ups went well 115 stopped at my chest for a count of 2 and then drive up... 130 stopped for a count of 3 just in case lol and drive up again, went up well and felt like a lot more there... really happy with this, progress is def there from the last training cycle... now its pure rest, sleep most days and just fanny about choosing weight class as the list has now been posted... I am in both 105 and 130 as just not sure where I will be yet but certainly in the 110 (normal cat) so I can get some more decent numbers... Had a blast at the BP expo this weekend gone... met some great people from here and got some huge motivation from the lifting... also got some great comments from people re my physique and how its changed (for the better I might add lol) so something must be going right... feeling so on right now and I wanted to lift all weekend lol... now its even worse, just finished my last session and want to lift already Also would like to make it all official like I now have a sponsor!! Protein 247 will be sponsoring me from now on and many thanks to Paul at Protein 247 and @Hilly for all his help in getting me this. Very very happy as I have used 247 for a while and its very good stuff... a great team behind this product and some great things in the pipeline. very good weekend overall for me... now bring on the brits!!! | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 18-05-2012 @ 13:45 | ||
| Deadlift opener WU 120x5, 170x5, 210x3 250x2 270x1 just a quick one today, doesnt even feel like I have trained really... warm ups nice and easy... 210 was just simple as can get really, 250 could have repped it out and 270 just BAM baby... was going to do another rep or two but it just felt so good and right that I thought I would take @Dig and @jdog advice and do less is more... feeling good about deads but then they always are... generally feeling pretty poo though... not a lot of sleep the last couple of nights, between fighting the mrs and cat for some duvet and just up and down its been a mare... body weight went down to 109.7 so that was good but now up to 110.3 again... not too bothered as I should lose a bit of water in the next few days... will monitor it daily from next week but it means that I will be watching my diet for the next little bit... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 16-05-2012 @ 18:46 | ||
| Prilepins day 2 ME Bench WU 60x5, 80x5, 100x5, 115x3, 130x3 140x1 150xf Dislocations bar x 3 x 20 thats it... last of the heavy bench... went as well as last week, better really for various reasons... Bench - warm ups went well 130 set of 3 fine, 140 came off line a little so made it a bit more difficult than it should have been but I kept it in and it went well... this week I took 150 of the rack and held it, put it back, tried it again... put it back... looked like it was going to go as last week and I realised my head was talking me out of even trying to bench the weight... so with @JW007 words in mind I thought lets lower it under control, set the safeties up and just did it... nice slow decent thought drive up, drive up... but nope... however this is not a failure but a win I broke through my mental barrier of even trying... it didnt feel that heavy but there you go... dislocations - nice and steady... good stretch... chest feels well worked today... more worked than before and I am again ahead of the lift compared to previous comps... happy with that to be sure... all my heavy lifting is done now... just the openers to be set and tbh they are pretty much set in my mind now certainly based on the last few weeks training they will be well within my scope and a spring board to better numbers... onward and upward... oh and my elbows are quite sore too | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 15-05-2012 @ 16:59 | ||
| Prilepins Day 1 (last heavy squat session) ME squats WU 60x5, 100x5, 140x5, 180x4, 200x3, belt on 220x3 240x1 260x1 + 1f (PR) thats it... all she wrote and done and dusted... went in to todays session feeling really good... way better than last friday or yesterday for that matter so glad I put it off a day... warm ups went well 220 felt very easy... 240 funnily felt heavy... thought wtf will try 260 and bam got the single I was going for and stupidly instead of stopping there as planned and adding 10kg I tried for another but that didnt work out so well lol... really happy with the session and stoked I got a PR... really felt good on all reps and now my legs are well and truly buzzing, funnily enough my glutes and hams are really sore... saw spots on the last set, had to take a seat rather quickly as was a bit woozy too but dammit what a great way to finish my heavy squat cycle... I think I am good for another 10 or so kg at least... only got the openers to set next monday (although I am pretty sure I have them in mind already) and thats all she wrote folks... bring on the Brits!!! | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 11-05-2012 @ 15:55 | ||
| Prilepins day 3 ME deadlifts WU 120x5, 170x5, 210x3, 250x1 270x1 290x1 310xf (dammit) thats it... no assistance today... trained a bit earlier than planned as have stuff to do when I was going to train but it wouldnt have mattered, feeling tired and just a bit meh... but cracked on... Deads - warm ups no problems and woke me up a bit, so was pretty hopeful that would crack the 310 today... as I got to the heavier weights though I was feeling like I was lifting through molasses, felt slow... 270 went up fine, 290 was a bit harder than last week but still good so thought right 310 then... loaded the bar took some time before attempt and then went for the lift... set up seemed good but again felt a bit slow and only managed to get the bar off the floor to just under my knees... really felt it in my back not in a painful or sprainful way but like my ribs were strained (if that makes sense, they have been a bit iffy since squats the other day)... bit miffed as was really looking for this but thats the way the cookie crumbles... last time I missed a goal weight I got 30kg more in the comp so maybe this is a good thing lol... mixed day really, good last heavy dead day but keep thinking could have done better... next week is my openers setting for deadlifts so no more max effort till the comp... also will be dropping all assitance work from now as feeling really tired and the body is feeling a little beat up... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 09-05-2012 @ 17:55 | ||
| Prilepins/Coan (sort of) day 2 ME Bench WU 60x5, 80x5, 100x5, 115x3 130x3 (pb) 140x1 150 meh... Dislocations Bar x 3x20 wow, wasnt thinking much of today and thought training would suffer as a bit tired and feeling it from yesterday... Bench - all warm ups felt good 100 I was supposed to do 3 but forgot so 5, 115 flew up but the big surprise was 130... 3 very easy reps this week, form was spot on and kept tight all the way through each rep and leg drive, squeezing the bar and arch all right there when needed... felt so comfortable and could have done 4 or even 5 but I wanted to go up a bit this week... 140 BAM, flew up and felt not light or easy per say but just went up really well... no hesitation or anything... so I thought you know what lets put 150 on and see how that goes... um well this is when my head interfered and caused a mental block, I am damn sure my body could have done it but unracking it I just hit a mental brick wall that wouldnt let me do the rep... sigh... but it didnt feel particularly heavy and unracking it was easy which I was surprised at as normally unracking is a bit awkward... really really happy even though I bolloxed the 150... but I KNOW its right there... Dislocations - oh yeah, stretched out the shoulders and traps and chest, felt great and thats all she wrote... an easy tripple on 130, I will take that all day long... one more heavy bench day to go and this time will do the 150 for sure... felt very good in training today... certainly making progress and thats great... last heavy dead day friday... bring it on...!!! | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 08-05-2012 @ 17:24 | ||
| Prilepins day 1... ME squats WU 60x5, 100x5, 140x5, 180x3, 210x2, 230x1 250x2x2 SLDL 160x1x9, 1x8 oh good god, why oh why... great training session... pretty damn awesome with only a couple of slight low points... Squats - warm ups went really well, 210 felt light and the form felt so bang on... 230 the walk out felt great and I was focussing on starting the rep when my phone went off and distracted me (had to have it on so my daughter could let me know when she was on her way home) and right at the top sigh, so it didnt go as smoothly as expected but still got it out ok... no belt so happy enough... 250 went really well, first rep on first set might have been high or just to parallel (I like to go just below) but the second went really well... second set the first rep was awesome, low and felt tight... was so happy with it that I forgot to keep as tight on the second rep lol, but still got it again it was a tad high as least it felt like it... very happy with it over all... next week is my last heavy squat training and its looking good... SLDL - yeah baby, felt awesome... glutes and hams fried, blowing out my ar$e and seeing spots... could barely walk and felt like throwing up... yep all done Thats all she wrote, really simplifying it all now, dropping all speed work and only keeping in a few assistance exercises from now... feeling good... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 04-05-2012 @ 17:32 | ||
| Prilepins day 3 ME Deadlift WU 120x5, 170x5, 210x3, 250x1 270x1 290x1 310x2xf (doh! just)... DE Bench WU 60x5, 80x6 100x2x5 Chins BWx1x8, 1x6 BOR 130x1x9, 1x8 oooooh yeah... great workout sorely needed... disappointed I missed 310 but it wasnt by much... Deads - not ever put 300 or over on my bar so new experience with 310 on it... warm ups were too easy... 270 felt a little harder but 290 just flew up... almost too easy... really happy with it... 310 on and the first attempt got to just above my knees, couldnt quite get the lock out as my right outer chest tingled so instead of mtfu I bottled... sigh... think if I had just pushed the hips through and kept pulling it would have gone... second attempt when to just below the knees... by this stage my back was on fire... huge pump... disappointed I missed the top weight but know its there and a bit more besides... so over all I am a happy bunny... Bench - really comfortable, all paused with a long pause and felt good... not a slightest bit of a niggle from the chest or shoulder area at all, very happy... Chins - felt great but hard as rushed to these as time was v short (picking up kids from school)... upper back felt great... forearms pumped to hell... BOR - oh these felt good... upper back very pumped but sore and felt so good... very easy comfortable reps... well happy... really needed a good solid training session today... loved the deads and moved the bar really well... bodes well for the comp... bench felt comfortable which is nice... very happy... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 02-05-2012 @ 18:29 | ||
| Prilepins day 2 ME Bench WU 60x10, 80x8, 100x5, 115x3 130x1x2, 2x1 DE squats WU 100x5, 130x5 160x2x5 Dislocations Barx3x20 Was just not into it today, very tired as last night didnt have the best nights sleep... can of monster and some mtfu pills later and just cracked on with it... Bench - all warm ups felt really easy and tight... first set of 130 did 2 and it felt great, easiest its been... second set the first rep went up really nicely, then back just tightened up and hips started cramping so left it at that... similar on the third set but pretty happy all the same as this is the best its felt and easiest too... all reps had a pause and things seemed to work well... Squats - worked the technique more on these today along with getting better power from the bottom of the hole... felt better than expected... mtfu pills working nicely... Dislocations - oh yeah, soooo good doing these... really stretches out the shoulders... really happy today, training went far better than expected and its moving along better than before but I need to get my arch sorted so I dont cramp up or get too painful... small things that make big differences that will be worth it in the end... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 01-05-2012 @ 18:22 | ||
| Prilepins day 1 ME Squats WU 60x10, 100x8, 140x6, 180x3, 210x2, 230x1 (PB without belt) 250x1x1+1f DE deads WU 120x5, 160x5 200x2x5 SLDL 160x1x7+1p, 1x6 actually felt pretty good going into it today... Squats - warm up sets went well and felt very good and really tight and 230 is the heaviest I have gone without a belt so happy with that... had stars in front of the eyes after the max sets too lol... got to the max set and first rep went well kept back tight, chest out and went down drive out of the hole was good, maintained chest out/back tight... felt good, second rep went well on the way down but on the way up didnt go so well... about half way up drifted about an inch forward and then just couldnt bring it back... managed to maintain a nice tight back and my chest didnt collapse so that was good and I even managed to lower the weight to the safeties fully under control... but alas still only the single and was looking for 2 sets tonight too... next week for sure... Deads - good as always... speed was good and reps tight... no hassle there... SLDL - heaviest I have gone I think and felt good... glutes and hams got a great workout and I was concentrating on using the hips ala @Tatty s journal (I think she posted it there)... made a bit of a difference and felt good... overall its a good workout but I would have been happier with the 2 sets at 250... next week for sure as it didnt feel heavy just lost it on the second rep... got some huge back pumps though and my legs are humming, actually humming... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 27-04-2012 @ 18:49 | ||
| Prilepins day 3 ME Deads WU 120x10, 170x8, 210x5, 250x2 270x1 290xf DE bench WU 60x5, 80x5 100x2x5 Chins BWx1x8, 1x7+1p BOR 130x1x7, 1x6 mixed session, I felt great going into it, bit tired as been an unbelieveably looooong week but nothing too serious... but then missed the 290 on deads which I should have got... Deads - wow, felt great up to 270... smooth and had plenty of legs for each set and it all just felt so right... 290 proved a bit of a problem though as I got the bar to the lockout stage but then my upper outer right pec pulled and felt a pain so lowered the bar rather quickly... sat for 5 mins looking at the bar thinking right another go then but decided against it as I didnt want to do anything silly this close to comp time... feels alright now, just rubbed it out and while its a bit sore it didnt hinder other exercises... Bench - great benching today, felt smooth and in control and easy... only up to 100 for 2 sets all with a pause... might need to work on the power from the chest a little more but better than in the past for sure... didnt feel chest at all on these sets, either the old injury or the new strain from deads... so all good... Chins - initially difficult but once got to rep 3 seemed to get in my stride and it became easier and more comfortable... felt it down my lats today a lot more so thats a good thing... BOR - kept a better arch in my lower back, keeping chest out and not round the upper back... really feeling it now and its good lol... well happy with this today... Over all it an ok session... miffed I could quite lock out the 290 as that should have been an easy one and I was hoping to break the 300 barrier with a 310 attempt today... but that will have to be next week now... got two more max dead sessions and one opener session then its comp day... looking forward to it and will be looking to get some PRs on the day... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 25-04-2012 @ 18:51 | ||
| Prilepins/Coan day 2 ME bench WU 60x12, 80x10, 100x6, 115x3 130x2x1 DE squats WU 100x5, 130x5 160x2x5 TPD WU 30x11 50x1x8, 1x7+1p Dislocations barx3x20 day was a bit messed up, well very messed up tbh... bit late back from work so lunch a bit late then found out that the bottom tray of the car has come loose from fridays accident and was dragging on the road/ground, so after getting boy from school had to fix that then get girl from school then could train... my training timing was thrown right out as instead of 330 didnt get to it till 515... sigh... meant pre training supps were mistimed something rotten... still had to be done... Bench - my old nemesis... but feeling pretty good actually... 115 flew up and starting getting a bit nervous about 130 as feeling pants but first rep went up easy as pie, second was even better... most pleased... but want more weight now... chest didnt have a niggle to its name and felt really good... keeping the left arm down a few mm def is the sweet spot for me... not that happy with arch or position today but it was ok... Squats - oh all thats good and holy... legs still feeling it from monday... was really hard but felt good... technique felt tight and weight easy... legs didnt feel so good however lol... all ok though... TPD - these felt good today... triceps worked well and feeling it now... Dislocations - wow I like these for stretching out the shoulders and they really open them up... feels hard but sooo good... over all pretty pleased, better lifting than same time in previous comps so thats a good thing, technique is moving forward and improving the lift too so happy with that... starting to formulate a game plan now and finding myself setting up for lifts at all points in the day lol... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 23-04-2012 @ 18:48 | ||
| Prilepins day 1 ME squats WU 60x10, 100x8, 140x6, 180x3, 205x2, 225x2 240x3x2 *belt on* DE deads WU 120x5, 160x5 200x2x5 SLDL 150x2x8 Owww.ww man awesome session... has been two weeks since last squat session so wasnt sure how it would go... Squats - oh yeah baby... warm ups all good, 225 is a PB with no belt, very comfortable and stable, good depth well pleased... 240 the first set felt shakey, just didnt maintain form through the whole lift, so had a stern talking to myself went over the technique in my mind and then BAM oh yeah thats the stuff, much better and felt great, quads truly felt and fried... Deads - as always went well, nice easy lifting and good speed off the floor, I have now dropped the DE lifts to 2 sets and any assistance work will also be 2 sets only up to 8 max as its now quite close to the comp and I want to recover well and not tax the cns too much... SLDL - oh my god, hams and glutes were caned... loved the 2 sets I did and felt it deep in the muscle and still do... after last set damn near ready to pass out and was sucking air through my rear... legs and lower back really feeling it now... Great workout today and better than where I have been in the past... starting to focus more on the main lifts and less on the DE and assistance stuff... not going to do singles just yet but things going better than planned atm... Going to get a couple of 4inch sleepers for each side so will be able to do 8 and 4 inch block pulls and going to make up a box beginning of may... hopefully will get some more 20kg plates in then as well so I can then go heavier on deads etc... | |||
| » My Powerlifting journey (Go to post) | 16-04-2012 @ 18:05 | ||
| Prilepins day 3 ME Deads WU 120x10, 170x8, 210x5 250x2x3, 1x4 DE Bench WU 60x10, 80x6 96x4x5 Chin BWx3x6 BOR 125x2x8, 1x7 Woo hoooo great freaking workout... had to put it off a day as was knackered from saturday (BPC powerlifting comp that I helped load and spot) and had to do some chores round the house... but really glad I did now as it turned out for the best... Deads - wasnt going max max today, just a light max day... thought 3 sets of tripples on 250 would be fine but I felt I had plenty in the tank and wanted to do more so on the last set I thought why not try for 4... could have done 5 though... well pleased with that and feel like I have so much more in the tank... smooth and comfortable... Bench - get in with this, no niggle at all and felt so comfortable and plenty of power... almost flew off the chest... set up was nice and it felt strong... Chins - felt good and going higher on the bar which is nice, but as the roof is so low on the gym I thought too high and I would be knocking myself out lol... but these are feeling better and easier which is nice... BOR - Oh a nice finisher... weight up and reps up... felt it so much in the back right where its supposed to... all over one of the best workouts to date... god I wish they were all like this... | |||