Saturday was squat day. Since I have decided to the RPS Nationals on January 25-26 my whole program is out of whack. I had gotten some new Overkill briefs in the middle of my training for the Semis. When I had sent my measurements to Rudy I was a about ten pounds lighter. Come to find out my hips were 1.25" smaller than they are now... I tried them a couple weeks ago and couldnt get them over my ass. Well, I talked to Rudy and he told me a couple things to try and I stretched them out overnight Friday and poured boiling water all over them. I got to the gym Saturday and warmed up and then spent the next hour hanging, twisting, and squirming my way into these briefs.
I finally got them pretty much on. I worked up to 520 for a couple sets of 2. They weight felt heavy on my back but it moved really good. Surprisingly I got down pretty good without my knees going to far forward.
It only took about 5 minutes to get the things off. I did pause squats, walking lunges, and a couple core exercises. A good day. I am liking the way the lunges are feeling. I know that my biggest weakness is my glutes and hams so I am focusing on that. Between GHR, lunges, and leg curls I think they may get right. I will not allow my deadlift to keep going the way it has. Even if my squat and bench have to stay put to get it moving I am willing to do that.
Things are going pretty good for the website and magazine. Picked up another meet sponsor and advertiser today: powerbellygear.com
Please go visit our website redemptionpowerlifting.com and take part in our forum, we will get a couple pro lifters for a Q&A next week. Remember that you will have to switch to the web version if you have trouble bringing the forum up your mobile device. Also, if you haven't already please go to our Facebook page and like us -
The last couple of weeks have been all over the place. I had to work in Islamorada, poor me, for a week and I also got to take the family. We had a blast. That got my training off schedule and we only got to half ass train last Saturday. We went to a local "gym" and I think we would have been better off not training. They had a squat rack but the safety catches were so high we had to walk all the way out of the rack, about six feet or so. I did notice that there wasn't any plates around the rack, they were all by the benches. Guess it doesn't get much use. I was supposed to work up to a top set of six but that wasn't happening. I stayed at 405 for a couple triples and called it. Now the whole place was looking at Mindy and me anyway but when we started doing walking lunges with a barbell this one "trainer" started freaking out. He was yelling 'you can't do that' and I was looking around trying to figure out what he was talking about. I finally realized he was yelling at Mindy so I asked 'she can't lift weights?' He replied that what she was doing was dangerous... To which I replied 'seriously? lunges? so what your saying is we can't train here?' He started mumbling and walked off. We finished our lunges with his dirty looks motivating us to do an extra set for spite. Real douchebag. So, I highly recommend steering clear of Froggys Fitness if your in the Florida Keys. I missed my bench day Monday, so I benched and Deadlifted Wednesday. On bench I worked up to 355 for my last set of 6. Then did some conventional pulls up to 405 for 3x6. Then 405 for 3x3. After that I did various accessories. If you haven't seen the XPC website the Finals are now a two day event and the amateur meet I had planned on doing is up in the air. I don't like the unknown especially with what gets put into meet prep physically, mentally, and financially so I have decided to compete at the RPS Nationals on January 26 in Newark, NJ. Brian isn't exactly thrilled but I want to compete again soon. The subpar performance at the Semis is really pushing me. So that means I'm 13 weeks out. A couple transition weeks and right back at it. I'm excited and feel pretty good. After this meet I may have to have my umbilical hernia taken care of so I will have some down time before I go back after it at next years Semi Finals.
I would also like to invite everybody to check out Mindy and I's website:
redemptionpowerlifting.com
This is a project that has evolved from wanting to put on kick ass meets to now having a magazine scheduled for January... We also have a forum on the site that we will be having pro lifters come on for q&a's every couple of weeks and to also be able to interact with other strength athletes. I'm going to try and moderate it to keep some of the things that turn people away from other forums. Right now there is an issue and the forum isn't available on mobile devices, so you will have to switch from mobile to the full web version on your phones, etc... Please give us feedback on things you like and especially things you don't like. This project is for lifters so we want it to be the best experience possible. Email us at: publisher@redemptionpowerlifting.com
Saturday I competed at the XPC Semi Finals. I had an awesome training cycle and had very high hopes going into this meet. I flew up Thursday afternoon and met up with friends and are really good. I had moved up from the 275 weight class to the 308's. I wasn't worrying about my weight. Friday morning I weighed in at 290.something. That had been my average weight and my gear had been fitting perfect right there. I was with Mick, Drew, Justin, and Brian from Omaha Barbell and we went on an eating mission Friday. That night I weighed over 296...that's the most I've ever weighed. But, I felt really good. We had went to the Elitefts Compound for some pre-meet training and my body was ready to lift right then. I didn't get a lot of sleep with the anxiety of the meet.Saturday morning I was pretty worked up already at breakfast. I ate a little bit and started to hydrate the best I could. During warm ups I could feel myself letting my knees drift forward in my squats. I thought it might just be the lighter weights and my heavier bodyweight. I got to 715 which would be my opener and took it down and my knees went forward again, so bad I had them take the weight. I was very frustrated and concerned with what was going on. Brian changed my opener, which caused a brief argument between us that he did win...It's hard to argue with facts... I was sucking ass that day and I needed to go out and be OK. I took my opener squat, 760, and it was nice and smooth. Knees were forward but not to bad. Went for a PR of 810 on the next and got it pretty good too but I felt a strain in my lower back and oblique on my right side.
We decided that I would take 830 and unrack it and see what it felt like. I did, and when I broke at the hips all of those muscles told me they weren't cooperating with me so I racked it. Disappointed because I have more than that but it was a PR. Bench warm ups felt spot on. Opener was 575 and it was smooth and easy. I went to 605 which would be a 5lbs PR. I set up and took the weight down pretty good. When I got the press command and drove with my legs my left foot slipped about 6" forward. That threw my balance off and I dumped it. Very annoyed... Took it again and pressed it easy.
So with the squat and bench being off just a few pounds it all added up to a bigger than I wanted necessary pull. I would have to pull 675 to qualify elite and make it to the Arnold. My training had actually been going very well up until four weeks out. I was going to open with 6 and then get my total and if things were OK try for a PR. But by meet time I knew the dead was trying to fall apart. So I opened with 575 which I got OK but wasn't as easy as it should be. I came to qualify so I went straight to 675. Went after it twice and both times stalled at the knees. This sucks... I hate you Deadlift!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I'm trying to figure out what to do. I'll probably do the open meet that's either Friday or Sunday in Columbus. I love going up for the Arnold and Mindy is going this time. I have to seriously look at everything with Brian and make some big adjustments. It is my main goal to PR my dead in March. The list of thank you's is long. Brian Carroll, Ria Carroll,Clint Smith, Brian Mull, Mick Manley, Justin Graalfs, Drew Kleymann,Chad Walker, Greg Staruk, Torey Haun, John Romoser, Phil Halliwell, and I know there's many more. Especially my mother Joye Cole for the help and support. But, most importantly, and without your support and dedication none of this would happen - Thank You Mindy! Thank you.
