Today was 4 th squat training session before the 2011 Battle of Montreal at Montreal Barbell. Everyone did very well. Joanick, Cheryl, Chris, Ghislain, Shawna and me.

bar x reps

145 x about 12 to 15 reps

235 x 6

briefs on

325 x 3

425 x 3

Metal Suit on

505 x 3

505 x 3

505 x 3

505 x 3

Inner quad is still hurting that is why I stayed with 505. Shoulder didn't hurt as much today with the bar on my back, so I am pleased with that. I was more aggressive with my lifting and it made the weights feel lighter and I got through my training faster.

Everyone did very well today. Ghislain made a squat suit and wore it for the first time today and got himself back up to heavy weights - 775 lbs squat and he got lower on some of his squats, missing just an inch or two for legal depth. Joanick worked his way up to 775 lbs going deeper and smoother, he looked strong today too. Cheryl squatted in briefs and squatted deeper and better than I have ever seen her. Chris put on a suit with his briefs for the first time and did four sets of 505 working his balance and form. His form is getting better every week. After squatting Chris benched and went up to 455, missed it the first time and on his second he got his feet right and he made 455 fly right to the top and made it look easy, It was amazing. Shawna drove down from her Christmas visit with her mom in Ottawa and stayed determined and focussed. She hurt her ribs on both sides in her last bench session on Friday pushing her arch so hard - she may have bruised ribs which is very annoying. Her suit is almost too tight in the legs - she did a lot of  work and many sets and you could see her legs turning purple but she didn't complain. We will have to widen the legs on her suit before the meet because it may not fit her in a few weeks. Shawna squatted 325 for one of the nicest form squats I have seen her do. Then, she did 350 three times and got two of them with almost perfect smooth form just not deep enough. She tried 375 lbs and stood up with well but lost her balance in the bottom of the lift and caved in and fell back. That was five sets of squats with knee wraps and with near maximum weight and this was her first heavy squat since her wisdom teeth were pulled about 5 weeks ago. She still has a lot of work to do on getting her squat right, but when she does, I am sure she will get some very impressive squats just like she does in her bench and deadlift.

We got many Christmas wishes from people and we spent the nicest Christmas ever with our family.