Fit Expo Weekend

Well alright. The Fit Expo has come and gone and the American Cup was a success! While I came in second to a strong ass 148 pounder, I finally...FINALLY...got me Elite total and two personal records at 165 lbs.

The day started off kind of shaky. For whatever reason, I was very nervous. It's funny that you spend all this time training, but when it comes to game day, all confidence goes out the window. During my squat warm-ups, I was just not feeling it. So to be safe, I dropped my opener from 551 to 540. Although it was only 11 pounds, it was enough to settle my mind. I promptly went out and squatted. I followed with a second and successful attempt of 573 lbs...this was a personal best at 165 lbs. For my third attempt, I had 600 lbs. on the bar. While I went down and came back up with it, I cut the depth and was red lighted. I knew it too; the weight came up way to easy.

The next event was the bench press. Again, my mind was all scattered. I went into my opener of 330 and completely it succesfully. I jumped to 352 which ties my personal best at any body weight. I needed this press because it would basically seal my Elite...requiring only 606 lb deadlift. While I did press the weight, it was far from easy...felt heavy and my body was very shifty. I put 363 on the bar next and only managed to move it off my chest...I was just not feeling it. Besides, the bench press is the time I relax between the squat and deads right? Ha!

On to the Deadlift. Long story short....I went 3 for 3. To officially seal my Elite total, I opened with 606 lbs...brining my total to 1531. I entered a second attempt of 622 and then a third attempt of 633 (personal record at 165 lbs). This brought my Elite total up to 1560. This was the highest total I ever completed at 165 lbs...and it felt great!

Still, I have much improvement. My next two goals are a 1600 lb total and a 372 lb bench press. I may just enter a bench only meet to try and focus on that event. The only way I can safely secure a 1600 lb total is if my bench press improves. I can get a 600 lb squat; I can get a 650 lb deadlift BUT I don't want to have to rely on it. My bench is embarrassing and it needs to improve.

Also, while my deadlift is my bread and butter, my coach, Mark Bell, reminds my that my deadlift is good because I am strong...not because I am a master technician. If I can seal my technique and be consistent with it, why not pull 700 lbs? Seriously.

Anyway, that is the meet report.

Also, I have actually already squeezed in a quick workout. I pulled conventional tonight just to get a feel of the weights. Here is my workout for tonight.

February 1, 2011


Conventional Deadlifts
375 x 8 x 4

Pull Ups
BW x 12 x 1
BW x 10 x 1
BW x 8 x 1

Dumbell Rows
80 x 10-12 x 3

Next meet could be as early as March...if it is, it will be a bench only. Good times.