Montreal Barbell The PR GYM

Squat

I put my suit on right away today, with no briefs (because I'm a fatty these days and my suit doesn't fit with both anymore).

Bar x reps

145 x 3

195 x 3 (belt)

225 x 3 (straps up)

285 x 1

325 x 1 x 2 (knee wraps)

I widened my stance; gives me more pop out of the bottom and I have better form wider - my knees don't come forward.  The trade off is that its harder to stand up when you're wider.  The stand up for me is the confidence builder - if  stand up easy with it I feel more confidant, but when I have a more narrow stance my knees come forward and I can't get depth.  Going to need to figure out the stand up with a wider stance, quick. 

I am growing and growing, Ghislain is going to try to let out the legs on my canvas suit because they are so tight and the chances of it fitting at the meet are slim to none.  Even with no briefs my legs were turning blue.  I'm liking my size right now.  I'm about 10 lbs heavier than I was, and I feel curvy and strong!  Might have to rein in the ropes on the pancakes, but I am having a lot of fun eating whatever I want and being indulgent; all good things must come to an end though.  So, going to get groceries tonight and will make a bigger effort to eat clean between now and the meet (without cutting calories).  I may keep pancakes in the diet just for fun until after the meet. 

Deadlift

135 x 10 (5 sumo/5 conv)

135 x 6 (3 sumo/3 conv)

185 x 3 (briefs on, belt on)

225 x 2 (suit on - straps down, belt on)

275 x 1 (straps on from here on)

315 x miss - reset right away

315 x miss - walked away, tightened straps, reset right away

315 x miss - at lock out, couldn't get my shoulders back

330 x miss - reset right away

330 x miss - at lock out, couldn't get my shoulders back

340 x miss

340 x miss - at lock out, couldn't get my shoulders back

Looks like a 'bad night' but it was actually a great night.  I couldn't get my shoulders back on any of my heavier lifts but mentally I didn't let any of it psyche me out.  My form was a little off tonight but I decided to just keep pulling no matter what; 340 was SLOW and I stalled out three different times but kept pulling, got my hips all the way forward to the bar, knees locked out but I just couldn't get my shoulders back.  I needed to get more momemtum off the floor and I think it would've gone.  Very happy with tonight though, mental work is just as important as the physical work.

Boxing Day aka Squatting Day

Bar x reps

105 x 5

briefs on, suit on

145 x 3

Belt on, straps down

195 x 3

Straps up

235 x 3

285 x 1

325 x 1 (knee wraps from here on)

350 x 1

365 ? x 1

375 x miss

350 x 1

I've recently fallen in love with pancakes, which means I've recently gained some weight, which means I've recently had some trouble getting into my gear.  I had to let my briefs out today, and had a hard time getting into my suit.  The guys were up to 4 or 5 plates by the time I got going! 

None of the weights felt heavy on my back today.  I couldn't get the feel of the squat though.  I felt like my knees were forward and I was doing quater squats but looking back at the videos each squat, minus the first 350 and 375, were decent.  The second 350 attempt was solid and about 1-2 inches more to go til depth but I'll take it for a training day!  I caved under the 375, my knees came right in on me and the spotters had to grab it.

Good training day though, getting ready for the Battle of Montreal, January 29 at Montreal Barbell.  There's a different vibe and tempoo when you're training for a meet, I like it!

Heavy Bench

Bar x reps

95 x 5

115 x 1

135 x 1

Shirt on

165 x 1

190 x 1

205 x 1

220 x 1

230 x 1

250 x miss x 2

Everything felt solid on the bench; 220 went up nice, I dumped 230 but was able to save it and ride the shirt all the way back up, and 250 was close...both times...I'll have to check my logs but I think this makes the 6th time I've missed it!  It felt good in my hands though.  For me, when I get to certain weights, it isn't so much about building the strength (the strength is there) its learning a whole new level of how hard to push mentally.  That's what 250 is for me, a lesson in how to push through mentally...soon...very soon.

Deadlift

135 x 10 (5 sumo/5 conv) x 2

Briefs on, suit on

185 x 3 (straps down)

Belt on

225 x 1 (straps up)

275 x 1

315 x  miss

The lock out on the 225 was sloppy and 275 flew off the floor - it was up to lock out before I even realized what was going on!  I "missed" 315 because when I went down to the bar and started pulling the pressure went right to my mouth - I decided it wasn't worth it.  After I wondered if I've forgetten how to "push" through the mental stuff, or if it was smart to walk away...still not sure.

Friday was my first heavy bench training in a while, 3 and a half weeks I think.  I had no idea how it was going to play out - if I lost some strength, if my blood clot would blow as soon as the shirt went on, so I decided to go with the flow...

Bar x reps

95 x 5

115 x 3

Shirt on

155 x 2

175 x 2

195 x 2

200 x 2

210 x miss

210 x 1

Squat Training

bar x reps

Briefs on, belt on

105 x 5

145 x 7

145 x 7

Suit on, straps down

195 x 5

Straps up

235 x 3

Briefs slid up when I put my suit on and it was killing me.  Took the suit and briefs off with the thought that I'd put them back on and keep working my way up but once it was off, the last thing I wanted to do was put it back on! 

Acessories:

Leg press     1 plate x 10 , 1.5 plates x 10 x 2

We set up the other monolift with bands and I worked my way up:

1 plate, 1.5 plates, 2 plates - It was fun to do something different!

Deadlift

135 x 10 (5 conv/5 sumo) x 2

185 x 5 (briefs)

225 x 1 x 3 (suit on, belt on) - careful not to let too much pressure build in my jaw

275 x 1

Finished off with the row machine, and some one arm rows with a 35 lb dumbbell.

Was glad to deadlift this week with the suit; I don't want to lose my form! Another two weeks and the dentist said I should be fine to train normally again, so each week I'm putting on a little more gear and up-ing the weights a bit to see how it feels.  I'm planning on benching this Friday in my shirt, with the sleeves let out (I blew the seem from where I had taken it in, the last time I benched in it).  I will play it by ear and see how it feels.  If the pressure is too much then I'll just bench raw.

TRAINING AND UPA MEET UPDATE

I'm slowly but surely making my way back in to the gym.  One of the extractions in my mouth is still healing so I need to be careful and not let too much pressure build, otherwise I will blow out the blood clot.  I raw benched last week and deadlifted up to a plate and a half (tried two plates but I could feel the pressure in my jaw).  Last night I squatted up to a plate with briefs just to keep the feeling in my head.  I'm looking forward to going full force again!

We went down to Lake George last weekend for the UPA Meet; Cheryl and Joanick lifted, Ross and I handled them.  Cheryl was incredible!  There were a couple scenarios where she could have lost her focus/form but she didn't let any of it throw her off and got a 1255 Total!  It was impressive!  Cheryl was a perfect example of how lifting isn't just about physical strength/technique, there is a mental aspect to it.  Part of Cheryl's strength has to do with her head; she understands herself and can call herself out of her own crap and not let any of it become an excuse to not perform well.  I admire her a lot!  Joanick had a tough day.  He had trouble from the start with his squat (kept losing his balance at the end of the lift) and personally, I think it rattled his confidence.  It was a positive experience all the same, though.  Sebastien Burns came over to help him out, and Bill Crawford came over to support him as well.  Regardless of the outcome, I think he had a good day.

It was a great group of lifters, everybody was very encouraging and supportive!  This sport breaks any stereotypes you might have and brings out a certain humbleness; everybody, no matter what size, age, gender, is out there trying to accomplish the same thing and having to push through the same road blocks as everybody else.  People share their experience and knowledge all in an attempt to help eachother out and see eachother do well.  It was a great weekend!