Wednesday, March 30, 2011

APF IL state meet.

It has been since October 2007 since my last full meet. Since then (Sept 2009) I packed up my equipment out in Buffalo brought it to Indiana and put it in storage. So it was time to get back to competing. I wanted to make getting back in as easy as possible so I decided to weigh whatever my body wanted on meet day and just lift. Not even thinking about personal records just get good solid lifts on the board and go for a total. I felt that all in all I could possibly total 2000 if I put everything together. My strength was very close and if I did everything right meet day this could happen. Well Not everything went as planned but there were some glimmers of hope among the chalk and dust.

So Saturday I weighed in at 111.7 kg (246)

Sunday after driving 45 minutes to the meet site I warmed up for the squat and all went well and I felt pretty good. I have been working on my squat for for the last 3 months. I took a few steps backward knowing that it will help me to move forward faster in the future. I have a strong back and week hamstring and I squat that way. I lean forward rather than being upright and sitting into my hamstrings. This is still a work in progress and I know it is better than before I just need to display it.

So I opened at 717 in the squat knowing that on a bad day this is doable. Well On my first attempt it was not doable. I missed half way up. My form was good but no pop out of the hole. I was so afraid of missing on depth that I did not tighten my straps on my suit and so I missed. Now in a powerlifting meet missing your first squat is not a good sign....especially when you miss like that.

So 2nd attempt I take it again but with my straps cranked. It is good. I am in the meet so the pressure is off a bit. But it was much harder than it should have been as I went back to old habits an leaned forward rather than staying upright. But I am in the meet.

3rd attempt I go to 766. This is a bit off of the 800 I needed to get my 2k but I will build for my total. I sit it down there and my wife calls me up. It is good two to one. The squat was borderline but the judges called it good so why would I argue.

Time for a break and then on to normally my worst lift of the three. The bench has been my arch enemy since I started powerlifting. I have never put up a huge bench and not even close to cracking the top 100 in my weight class. By comparison I have hit 20th in the deadlift when I weighed 220.

So I open extremely light but heavy enough to touch easily. 445 came down easy and came up even easier. Again I am in the meet. My wife was shocked to see it come up so easy so we called for 473. Again nice and easy. It was a little out of the groove but still a much need improvement on past meets. So we called 501 and planned to hit what I wanted. Just like the first two it was easy and a pr bench in a full meet.

Now on to the deadlift, my ace in the hole. I am built to pull but have disappointed in the past dropping 700 more than a few times due to grip. Again a light opener at 617. It got way out in front but light enough to pull back in with no problem. If all went well I was going to take 685 for either a pr total of 1985 or 700 for a 2k total. Well the 2k was out the window so I will try for a pr total. To set that up I took 672. My setup was bad and loaded up my right side for some reason. I still pulled it and got 3 white lights. So what do I do at this point try to build upon my total that was sitting at 1939 or go for the pr total. Well I came for a pr total and I tried for it. I called 713 for my 3rd attempt. That was a eight pound deadlift pr and would give me a small meet total pr.

So on my 3rd attempt I made a mistake. I let my handlers talk me into using nose tork and I had not used any all day. Well it lit up my right nostril and right eye. It was hard to see out of that right eye even after I attempted to pull the deadlift. It was a mistake but I am not sure I would have even pulled the deadlift. I was set up poorly and the weight set to the right side.

Overall I was pleased with the meet but I left a few pounds on the platform. I am going to take a shot at redeeming myself in about 10 weeks. I have a few things I am going to try over the next 5 weeks then decide if I am gong to enter APF SR. nationals of skip it. I do have to give a huge thanks to my wife and Nick Detman for helping out a stranger.

Here is the video of my good bad and ugly lifts.

Training log up to meet

The last month has been busy as I was getting ready for my meet, I let my gym membership run out and started to train more at my wife's place.

So Here is what I did up until the meet.

2/16

Sled drag
behind the knees 90 3x50 yards
rear fly 45 3x50 yards

Roller hyper 225 4x8
leg curls on hyper 90 3x10
situps on ghr 3x10

2/17

reverse band purple
185x5
225x5
275x3
315x3
335x3
365x1
385x1
405 3x1

pin press 1 inch
315x5
365x5
405x5
455x5
495x5

A1 sled drag Y+T 3x50 yards
A2 rolling db ext 45 4x8

B1 barbell rows 185 4x12
B2 band pullaparts 4x20

curls

2/20

Drove an hour to get to a monolift. Band tension was a little lower due to a smaller base but it has been over 2 years since I have done circa max and 2 yars since I used a mono so I will just go with it.

16 inch box with blue and green band

briefs
135x2
185x2
225x2
275x1
add suit bottoms no belt
315x1
add belt
365x1
405x1
455x1
495x1

roller hyper 4 plates 3x8

Over all I was happy wth my squatting but was having issues unracking the bar and hunching rather than arching into it. You can tell on 495. It was a 40# jump but felt like it was 100#s. I have one or two more sessions in the mono before the meet so I can iron these things out.

Video of week 1 circa max


2/22

Sunday
speed bench with mini
135 3x3
155 9x3

Knee was giving me fits and could not get comfortable on the bench.

bradfords
95 3x20

pushdowns 3x10
elbow out db rows 35 3x15
neutral grip pull ups 5x3

2/25

Tuesday
Don't remember everything I did.

Long strap hypers
6 plates 3x10
7 plates 3x10

sled drag behind knees
3 x 50 yards

pulldown abs with stagger stance purple band
3x15

I know there was more to it but I really can't remember

Thursday
floor press

308x1
330x1
352x1
308x4 (mats were slipping out from under me)

tates 50 6x8

bb rows 185 3x12

2/28 (posted on another log so I don't have all the dates correct)

Saturday
Knee has been swollen the whole last week and I am not sure if it was from the squatting last Saturday or the benching on Sunday but it was pretty swollen all week. But I decided to squat as this is circa max.

Got up early as I had a 1 hour window to use a monolift about an hour away. I was 55 minutes into my drive and less than a mile away fromt he gym and my car starts to misfire and almost dies. I totally bonked and reverted back to my old squat style and was leaning much more that last week. Not sure if it was the knee or just me just doing things wrong.

circa max squat
Blue and green band
16 inch box and worked up to 365 3x2

At that point the owner had to leave so I drove to the garage to have my car worked on.

Sunday
Speed bench + mini
135 5x3, 155 7x3

bradfords
95 x16
135 x20,20,16

pushdowns
3x10

curls

Monday
goodmornings
225 2x5

long strap hypers
8 plates 4x8

ghr 2x8 (bothering knee)

sled drag behind the knees
2 plates x 50 yards
2.5 plates 3x30 yards

side bends 70 5x10

back raises x15 x12

3/3

Thursday

Bench
135x5
185x5
225x3
275x2
315x1

3 board 365x1

add shirt
405 x3

445 2x1
455 x1

Felt more comfortable in the shirt today. Bench is coming back and I will need every pound to keep my total from being real bad. I am hoping at the next meet I am back to where I was before I moved.

4 board
315x5
365x5
405x1

neutral grip pulldowns
160 4x8

rotator bar face pulls
3x20


3/7

I felt terrible and my knee was bothering me some. My good briefs we in the other car so I put on sold old briefs that are used up and about 2 sizes too big.

box squat 275 3x2

speed deadlift 315 3x1, 365 3x1

Almost wish I would have not even squatted but I cant change that now.

short strap hypers 6 plates 3x10
pulldown abs 3x10
single leg rdls 70 # dumbells 3x8 each leg.

Sunday
speed bench
185 3x5
205 3x5

tricep death (2,3,4) boards
225, 275 3 reps each board
315 2 reps on 2 boards as the wife switched too early. Then did 3 reps on 3 and on 4 boards.

single arm cable rows 4x8
rear fly 15 3x15
dips 4x10
db curls

3/8

Monday
Pulled my opener. I will pull in my briefs as I feel much more comfortable and get into a better position.

Since the plates are in kilos i only know the last 3 weights
533
573
617

roller hypers
4 plates 4x10

leg curls on hyper 88 4x8

band pull aparts 2x50

abs against ghr with green band 3x12



3/14

Not much going on the last week. Been trying to rest up as I have a cold now and hope for all signs of it to be gone by the weekend. As far as training goes there has been nothing to write about and I have not felt like doing anything. I will update after the meet this weekend.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Meet prep, training log and videos

I have not posted in about a month as my meet prep has started to ramp up. I am about a month out right now so only a few weeks left before I am back on the platform. It has been a long time but I think I am ready and by the end of the year could be into uncharted water.

I got some help adjusting my squat form and it will pay off in the future. You may notice I am much more upright and using more hips and hamstrings. My bench is still behind from my injury but is coming along and I will be above 90% at this meet. After the meet I am going to get some help for my deadlift and see if I can get it moving.

Wednesday 1/12

Started to floor press but the shoulder was screaming so I stopped at 225.
Can't remember what exactly I did.
rolling db ext 50 5x8
pulldowns 5x12

Friday 1/14

speed squat went with loser briefs
ssb 275 9x2, 315x2
speed deadlift conventional 315 2x1, 365, 2x1, 405 2x1, 455 2x1. 495 2x1

pull throughs 6x12 3 sets bent over and 3 squatting. Keep rest less than 30 seconds between sets
side bends 65 3x12

Sunday 1/16

speed bench with mini
135 5x3, 155 4x3

5 board with mini
225x5, 275x5, 315x3, 335x3

low cable rows 5x12
face pulls w/ purple band 5x20
db curls 3x12

Monday 1/17

starting to get sick and the last 2 nights slept 11 and 10 hours. Skipping main exercises and will do mostly assistance work this week.

ghr x40, 35, 25
single leg hypers 90 3x12
neutral grip pullups x5, 4, 4, 3
band pull aparts 3x15

I think I did something else but I really can't remember.

Wednesday 1/19


db bench with purple band behind back 70 4x12
db ext on floor 40 6x12
lat pulldowns 5x10
side raises 15 2x12
rear flys 15 3x15
cable curls 3x12

Friday 1/21


Did a bunch of kettlebell swings

Monday 1/24

cambered bar goodmornings (bar=45)
135x5
185x5
225x5
275x3
315x3
365x3
405x3
455x3
495x1

squatting pul thrus
150 3x12

short strap hypers
270 3x10

side bends 105 3x8

rotator bar pulldowns
120, 140, 160 x12


Wednesday 1/26

reverse band bench with purple
185x5
225x3
275x3
315x3
335x3
365x1
385x1
405x1

db ext on floor
45 5x10

wide grip pull ups
5x3

band face pulls 5x25

Pulled something in my neck and it kills to turn my head. I could really do without this right now.

Friday 1/28

speed squat
275+ blue band 6x2

speed deadlift
mini band 315 3x1, 365 4x1

long strap hypers 365 4x10



Sunday 1/30

speed bench
185 3x5, 205x5, 225x5
chinups 4x5
dips 5x8
db powercleans 17.5 3x20
cable curls 2x12

Monday 1/31

sumo deadlift with 4 chain
225
315
365
405
add suit
455
495
545
585 - pulled something in my mid back at lockout. Might be lat or rhomboid. Shut it down there.

Short strap hypers
180, 270 3x10

green band leg curls 3x12

leg raises 2x25

Thursday 2/3

bench
135x5
185x5
225x3
275x3
315x2
add 3 board
315x3
365x2
405xmiss - should have had this but lost my tightness. Opted to stop rather then take it again.

db bench with purple band behind back
70 2x8

face pulls for a song
abs on dip machine for a song

pushdowns 5x12
rope curls 5x10

Friday 2/4

Friday
speed squat with blue band
275 x2
315 5x2
365 x1
405 x1
455 x1

Over all I was happy with my squat today. 365 felt perfect and 405 felt alright. I got a little forward with 455 but I will take it.

side bends 105 4x8
blue band goodmorning 3x12
green band pull throughs 2x12



speed bench Sunday 2/6
205 5x5

5 board
275 x8
315 x8
365 x8

db powercleans 20 3x15

chin ups x5, 6, 6, 5, 4, 4
curls 3x12

Monday 2/7

stiff leg sumo deadlift
135x5
225x5
275x5
315x5
365x3
405x3
455x3
495x3
545x1

roller hyper
180 3x10

ghr
3x10

situps on ghr with 10 behind head
2x10

Wednesday 2/9

Bench
135x5
185x5
225x3
275x3
315x1

add shirt
365x3
405x3 pretty close to touching
435x2 touched on 2nd rep but pushed straight up rather than back.

This was satisfactory for today. First time in this shirt in 18 months and 2nd time in a shirt in the same time.

4 board
275x5
315x5
365x5

rolling db ext 50 4x8
db rows 110 4x8
face pulls for a song.

Friday 2/11
BW 247

squat
135x5
225x3
275x3
315x1
365x1
add briefs
405 2x1
455x1
add suit straps down
495x3
545x1
straps up
585x2
635x1

Felt a little inconsistent today with my setup but felt ok. Stance felt too narrow at times. I need to get throughthis meet and will be able to work on it with a little more patience.

arch back goodmornings
185 3x8

Long strap hypers
4 plates x8
6 plates x8
8 plates 4x8

pulldown abs 3x2

Sunday 2/13
90 minute nap
speed bench 205 6x5

pushdowns 3x15
db powercleans 20 3x15
battling ropes x200
db curls 2x12

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Training log

The last couple of weeks have been busy but now that the holidays are done I am back on schedule. My next meet will be March 19-20th at the APF IL state meet. My meet prep has started but I have shortened it down and will lift in whatever weight class I might be in that morning.

1/3/2011

Monday
Free squat
225×3
275×3
add briefs
315×3
365×3
405×2
add suit bottoms
455×1
straps up
495×1
545 3×1
pull throughs 150 5×12
fat man rows 3×10
leg raises 3×12



1/5/2011

ME bench
60kg x5
80kg x5
100kg x3
120kg x3
140kg x1
add 3 board
140kg x5
150kg x3
160kg x1
170kg x1
140kg x3
bb rows elbows out 60kg 3×10
elbows in 100kg 3×12
cable tri extensions 5×12
ext rotator 3×15

1/7/2011

Had windows put in yesterday so I had to make due at alternate site.
box squat worked up in doubles to 140kg and shut it down
stiff leg deadlift
140kg x5
160 x5
180 x3
200 x3
220 x3
235kg x3
ghr raised 10 inches and purple band x10, 10, 6 (4 bodyweight), 5 (5 bodyweight)
sidebends on assisted pullup machine 3×12

1/9/2011

Did speed bench for the first time in a while so I kept it lighter this week
135+mini 9×3
5 board with mini 225×5, 315×5, 335×3
low cable rows 3×12
back to back with
purple band face pulls 3×15
cable curls 3×10

1/10/2011

ssb goodmornings
135, 185, 225×5, 275×3, 315×3, 365×3 Form started breking down a bit. Felt it was best to stop there. see video above
hypers
short strap 230×8, 270 3×8
long strap hypers 320×8, 360 3×8
pulldown abs 130 2×10, 140 2×10
green band leg curls 4×10