Montreal Barbell The PR GYM

After last weeks heavy squat of 735 lbs, I felt a bit beat up and wasn't quite sure if I was ready to go up in weight to 755 lbs. But, Shawna stretched me out again and I thought I would just go up in weight and see if I could go for it. Quite a different approach than from last week when I walked in determined to do it. Shawna also had a big squat PR of 435 lbs last week and we both walked in with a "lets just see how it goes" attitude today.

Ghislain made a new squat suit for himself and it was too big, I tried it and it fit. He tried to dye it black but the dye didn't take and it just turned purple or mauve. I wanted to just try the suit to use as a back up suit in case I get too big for my canvas suit by meet time.

145 x reps about 10

235 x 6

briefs and Ghislain's purple suit on

325 x 5

415 x 3

505 x 1

put my canvas suit on and knee wraps

620 x 1

700 x 1

755 x 1

Ghislain's squat suit felt great. It was a bit loose but had a good solid feel in the bottom. I bought it from him and he will take it in in the hips. My form on the rest of the squats didn't feel as good as last week but I kept trying to sit back and find it. I think just the core wasn't as solid. And, here's another one, when I have a goal to get to a certain weight, it's hard to get psyched for the ramp up weights. Mostly it's in the head. Today, the 755 went better than the rest of the squats, but my head was not as aggressive, even though I tried, and as I went down, I came up early. On the video it looks not too bad, but I shook my head because I knew I came up early.

Shawna had no expectations and had a great squat day, probably her best yet. She went 400, 430 and 450 lbs PR. The 450 was a bit high but she handled the weight very easily especially for trying it for the first time.

Mike Guay came in and helped everyone and stayed raw and impressed us all with a triple with 7 plates, 685 lbs raw. Ghislain tried a big jump up to 850 lbs and handled it but got stuck at the sticking point, great effort and courage. Joanick back from his vacation and first time in his canvas suit did his best squat yet, a very calm and good tempo 825 lbs. Cheryl is on a special three week strength building program where she squats, benches and deadlifts every two days. Today she squatted for 5 reps with 325 lbs. Leo the Greek came back today too and it was good to see him. He is working his way up in briefs.

The energy in the gym was a working energy where everyone was a bit calmer and focussed on their lifts and helping everyone else. Right now, I am focussed on myself more to prepare for the next meet and on Shawna as well because she may do the meet with me. Everyone else is a the beginning of training for the Pro/Am June 4, 5.