Hey all, I need to get more organized with my training and think a log will help me do that.

My next meet is December 6. My goal is to total at least 793 in the 165 weight class, to qualify for USAPL Women's Nationals.

Right now, my best raw bench is 165, best equipped squat is 275, and best equipped deadlift is 298. I've just started lifting with equipment, so I need to get comfortable in it and use it more.

I intend to drop a few lbs so I don't have to worry about cutting or having my equipment fit at a meet. I can deal with eating clean, but I hate cardio!

My coach sets up a program for me, which I then do on my own (he lives south, I live north, it's very traumatic). I'll probably get my new program on Monday or so, but I'll hit the gym Sunday just to get some kinks out.

I hope I'll be able to post videos of my lifts. Since I generally train alone or with my husband, videos should keep my squats honest.

Cool, I'l be looking forward to your log.
I'm not an equipped lifter, but there are a few girls around who are and will be interested in your training for sure.

That's great you are starting a log. We are in the same weight class and our lift numbers are about the same.

Do you bench with a shirt?

I'm glad you are starting a log. I look forward to following it. I have always been curious as to how you train. Good Luck!

HI!!














That's all I got. :P

Yay. I'm so glad you're going to be posting a log. I'm curious to see your training plus I just enjoy reading your posts in general.



I don't really get out much though.

Pearl Jam reference or is it some PLing thing I don't know about?

Pearl Jam...I'm slightly obsessed, and it is my favorite squatting song...the black circle is the plate, instead of the record.

Should I just have the mods move this thread to the secret TOTAL GEEK forum?

I always liked lifting - did some in high school with swim team, some in college for a class - but I was never really organized about it. In 2004, I got married, graduated law school, failed to get a job, and dealt with my husband blowing out his achilles' tendon. During this time, I went from 160 to 195. When my interview suits were too tight, I started Body for Life and ended up at around 155. Husband blew his patellar tendon last winter (sensing a pattern?) and I went back up to 170.

About 6 months into BFL, my friend Sunny taught me how to deadlift and about powerlifting. I was never worried about being too big because I've always been built like a linebacker. I enjoyed the big 3 lifts, and when I went for an interview at my current job (after 2.5 years at a hellhole), my boss asked what I would be if not a lawyer. I said either a librarian or a powerlifter. Turns out, one of the secretaries who has worked there forever is married to a world champ powerlifter (he's double qualified for the 09 Arnold, both raw and equipped).

She hooked me up with him and I did my first meet in 12/07. I've been hooked ever since.

Tonight:

Close grip bench 12x bar, 5x8x95, 24xbar. Concentrated on explosion off the chest. Made sure every rep was tight, arched, in position for a meet attempt. I'm working on stretching out my hips as I have trouble spreading my legs wide enough to get leg drive without the risk of a butt popping up (make jokes at will).

DB rows, 3x10x40/side
hammer curls with the hammer curl bar, 5x10x25
wide grip lat pull downs 5x8x96
front raises supersetted with rear delt raises, 3x10x12.5 for each exercise
Dips 5x5

Tonight, fun with the coach...testing a 1rm with bands.

I used my red bands, one size up from mini bands. Due to hubby's surgery, I had no spotter. I rigged the rack up so that I could hit my chest in an arch, but drop the weight on the bars in the event of failure.

Band bench, arched, explosion off the chest: 10xbar, 3x95, 1x115, 1x135 (slower here), 1x145, 0x155 (failed). I felt like I could've made 155 if I had a liftoff, but lifting it off myself takes a lot out of me on higher weights.

Straight bar row, 3x10x95

Overhead press, for reps not weight, 3x15x45

Hammer curl - not sure what the hammer curl bar weighs - maybe around 15. 12.5 on each side. 3x8x12.5

Ball crunches with 10lb medicine ball on chest. 10x10.

16 minutes rower (I love playing the fish game, where you go faster or slower to kill or be killed...in the fish world)

14 minutes arc trainer.

You said you're on the AD right? How is that affecting your workouts later in the week? Are you doing a two day carb up, or do you find that one day is enough for heavy lifting?

My first carb up is Saturday, so this week is pretty well glycogen depleted. I feel fantastic, it is kinda creepy. My head is clear and I am less tired in the mornings. I got tired during the last 14 minutes of cardio last night, but I might've just been bored. I felt great while lifting.

I have some low thyroid issues so I am planning on just doing one day of carb up. When I started my thyroid meds last winter, I felt better and my hormone levels got better, but I gained weight very quickly (lots of carbs at that time, too). We'll see if one day affects my lifts. Ideally I will lose enough weight to be able to do a carb up on the night before a meet (without busting my weight class), if the glycogen infusion is really as awesome as some people say.

I'm not craving carbs at all, which is really, really weird for me (I have an obscene sweet tooth and love beer). When I would eat a low fat, high protein, good carb diet I would find myself craving carbs like no one's business. I would eat two pounds of cherries or grapes in a day, or five or six apples, and then still want a Twix bar.

I just found out I'm hypothyroid too..in July. Seems like a lot of ladies here are!

You said you gained after you found out?
Interesting...was it harder to lose and keep off or are you still trying? I know you mentioned that you've gained and lost before and I've been in the same boat..only this time it's harder to lose!

Hijack*

borrek- possibly HYPERthyroidism?
I didn't think there was anything wrong with me, sure I was tired and lazy feeling most of the time, but what really bothered me was that no matter what I did, I couldn't get the scale to budge..and since I was losing inches I tried not to worry too much..but the fatigue got worse, and despite everyone telling me it was all in my head and that I just had to 'work harder,' I went to the DOC..a simple blood test later, and poof!

If your symptoms bother you to the point its hard to function, why not go to the DOC? You are your own advocate for your health!!

*btw-what part of MI? My hubby and his family are from Greenville( North of Lansing)