2 Meets 5 Months Bring It!

Training
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I know that arrogance is the opposite of your style, and I also can’t remember where I was reading this the other day, but apparently the difference between winning athletes and those who just play the game is an almost cocky arrogance. Winners believe that they are the best and therefore they become more of the best than everyone around them. I believe I was reading this by John Berardi.

He was describing the difference between the athletes he trained who led and won the games, and those that were just competing.

It doesn’t matter if you fall down in a squat rack. I bet you everyone who’s ever mastered the squat has fallen down in the squat rack.

If you spend more time believing in your ability to master the squat than you do getting down on yourself over mistakes you’ll get there faster.

PS I know you know this, it’s just sometimes I get the impression you’re scared of cockiness.

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lil power - it is really nice to hear that you had that reaction to a faulty spot too. I still have some resentment about it, but I am moving on so I can get this meet under control. And good advice on the overloaded set-ups!

Oleena - I appreciate the thought. Honestly though, it is not that I am scared of cockiness or arrogance, I just do not feel arrogance is the way I want to achieve my goals. I feel there is a significant difference between arrogance and confidence, the latter of which I find way more respectable and useful. Having the confidence to squat weight that you have never had on your back before is a mental challenge that one can only train for with experience…I am finding this out by gaining that experience, good and bad. I think an athlete has the advantage when they know they have done EVERYTHING (training, diet, mental prep, etc.) that they can do to prepare and that is what I strive to accomplish. Falling on that squat harmed me mentally, not physically, and the mental rehab is what makes competing in powerlifting so challenging. And while I do find I am too hard on myself sometimes, it is that desire to be better that pushes me to train harder, stronger, and smarter, so it can’t all be bad!

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Went into SSP today to just run through the lifts with commands. I now remember how much I love training there! What a difference atmosphere can make…especially being around super awesome lifters who support the fuck out of you. And this woman Dana who is going to be judging my meet let me borrow her squat shoes!

Went light and easy on these:

SQUAT:
95 x 5
125 x 3
145 x 3
165 x 2
190 (opener) x 1 - with commands
190 x 1 - with commands

BENCH:
bar x 5
65 x 3
95 x 2
120 (opener) x 1 - with commands
120 x 1 - with commands

DEAD:
135 x 3
185 x 2
225 x 1
300 = opener
stopped at 225 on these because I’m 4 days out and don’t want to push it.

Felt really great. Mostly because the last few weeks I have forgotten to have fun with lifting and being back at SSP helped me remember why I love powerlifting. I am going to focus hardest on my squat and my bench instead of the dead which is my best lift (clearly). Just like we train strength imbalances, I want to work on the things I am not great at to challenge myself and hopefully improve. And besides, I have 2 more meets later on where I can focus on my deadlift #s. I am just going to have fun at this meet!

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BTW, feeling a little nervous about weigh in since I am 178-179 when I wake up. Thank god I live like 5 minutes from the place of the meet so I can weigh in and go eat after. Staying away from sugar, booze, and over doing the carbs this week so I can come in nice and steady below 181. Was 173 before a few days of cheat meals (ok, entire days…lets be real)! Mostly only carb bloat so hoping it will come down before Saturday!

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[quote]lil power wrote:

I also had/have a time getting over…“oh crap this is heavy” when I picked the weight, but really never had an issue squatting it. For this I do heavy or overloading the squat setup, just to get my CNS used to holding heavy weights.

[/quote]

Been there. If that thought enters my head, I’m a goner. Training with bands and performing heavy walkouts has really helped train my CNS.

Regarding ego/arrogance/confidence . . . I agree with what Oleena said. We women spend way too much time minimizing our accomplishments. It’s taken me several meets to be able to say “thank you” when someone congratulates me for winning or setting a state record rather than diminishing what I’ve achieved. My coach really got on me about that early on. I think one can own an accomplishment without being a pompous ass.

And good luck, Shaunar!

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good luck!!! go get em!!

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thanks snap and brute!

Started my period today. Excellent. It’s all good though. Aaron phrased it best by saying this meet is basically a one rep max workout. I am really looking forward to tomorrow, mostly because I love being around lifters (ok, its ACTUALLY because I am going to dive into some Mexican food afterward, but whatever). My weight has come down a few pounds even through the PMS symptoms. I am eating steady the rest of the night and then trying to get to sleep early, since it is a 6 am wake-up. Went in and foam rolled and stretched a bit yesterday which felt good. I REALLY REALLY REALLY need a massage so that’s the plan in the next few weeks.

Feeling good and hoping tomorrow is a good experience!

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Have fun today!

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Eager to hear results . . .

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i’m thinking of you and sending strength vibes!!! hope you are presently kickin ass!! :)!!

and i hope you van treat yourself to a wonderful massage after the meet sometime too!!

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probably a lil late but hope you rocked the platform!

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how did it goooooooo!!! tell us!! tell us!!!

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Ah, I have been busy!

The meet was, well, it was weird. I spent the entire night before trying to defunk my brain. But I woke up funked. And weak. I did not feel that crazy strength that I felt at my first meet (not surprisingly). And the meet had a bad vibe. The second I walked in the door it was just lacking positive energy. The woman running did not crack a smile once the entire day, so it kind of defines the feeling of the meet. Everyone had stone face. It’s hard to have fun when no one else seems to want to.

My '“super hard on myself, perfectionist, insecure” side of me says that I sucked it up. I didn’t PR in anything…I didn’t even meet the numbers I did last year. It made me feel bad, especially since I always put so much pressure on myself, even when I am just doing my warm-up.

The “realistic, optimistic, athlete” in me says this meet was an accomplishment. This meet was my I’m a real lifter meet. This meet taught me that I’m not going to make every lift like I did at my first meet. This meet was training in how it feels not to make a lift. I understand now that powerlifting means not making lifts. This meet is another notch in my meet experience. This meet was not supposed to be my big numbers meet (thank god), only a vision of where I was. And this meet showed me what a HUMONGOUS role where my mind is at will play out in my lifts. My confidence was lacking and if that’s not there, my lifting is nowhere.

SQUAT:
190 - good
231 - FAIL (I made the squat, depth and all, and was really upset they double red lighted it. I have a vid I am going to try and post when I get the camera. For all the bogus good calls they gave (passed people hitching on deads!) I couldn’t believe they failed me. I consider it a good squat. Fuck 'em.
231 - FAIL - Went TOO deep and lost my leverage. I had already psyched myself out, so I was not too surprised at this outcome.

BENCH:
120 - good
132 - good
148 - FAIL - way too big of a jump and my grip ended up being too narrow. Should have gone for 137/143 before 148.
I wasn’t too upset about the bench, mostly because I have only ever hit a 135 in practice and 143 meet, so I am proud that I had a solid attempt at that weight.

DEAD:
302 - good
330 - good
341 - FAIL
I was FINALLY starting to have fun when the dead started (finally 6 hours into the meet!), so I was not too concerned about not making that last lift, a number I made last time. I haven’t really been training the dead and overall, my confidence just wasn’t there. I remember thinking as the lift was 4 inches from being there that “I’m not going to get this…I should just put it down and not look like an idiot” WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT? Totally whack is what! I swear I need a motivational tape on repeat.

I’ll be honest and tell you that I’m the girl who has quit EVERY SINGLE sport I have ever been in since the age of 7 once I realized I wasn’t going to the Olympics…I think I even quit Tots Ballet…no joke. It is hard for me to not be the best. So I am proud of myself for rolling with the punches. Even more, I am amazed that I LOVE lifting SO much that I will deal with whatever it brings, even failure.

And after watching some girl’s ass get handed to her on a platter on national TV on So You Think You Can Dance, my ego is definitely on the mend…!!!

This was also the first experience with Aaron as my coach, and as much as I have to learn as an athlete and getting my mind in the game, Aaron has a lot to learn about how to communicate as a coach and with an athlete whose his girlfriend. It’s a complicated dynamic and sometimes there are just things I need to hear that I can’t listen to when Aaron says them. He has such an incredible knowledge base that has made me stronger but sometimes he can really piss me the fuck off and I don’t want to see his face (yes? anyone?) Hes my best friend in the world, but I don’t know how those figure skater couples do it…I would definitely end up stabbing a bitch with my blade. Totally quit figure skating too, by the way.

Anyway, I feel optimistic for the next meet, which I think I may do one in Southern WA in mid September. Even if I do worse there, I love it and can’t wait.

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Also, started my Intermittent Fasting experiment today. Since I just wrote a novel in the post above, I will write more tomorrow!

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You sound very wise and grown up :slight_smile:

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This lifting thing is a journey for all of us. You’ve definitely learned and grown throughout this process, with more to come!

Honestly, I’m not sure I could ever be coached by my husband. Good on you guys for giving that a go.

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I really enjoyed your outlook on this. I’ve learned to deal with “being the best” syndrome by accepting that I can be better everytime I do it if I am able to accept criticism and apply it next time. There is nothing we cannot learn (although I will amdmit some things are easier than others). Learning to drive smack dap in the middle of downtown was a crazy learning curve experience for me.

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Ahh, you sound like me in many regards. I, too, get so angry and depressed when I’m not the best. But reality is that I never will be in this sport and I love it just the same.

I really enjoyed reading your post. All the complex emotions. I’d love to see the red-lighted squat vid. What were you red-lighted for?

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you are so right! this meet was something that unfortunately needed to happen–though i’d never wish it on you–nor did you deserve it! or anyone! but you still did preform incredibly!!!

I’m sorry you had that bad vibe thing too–THAT is annoying. But you have it right on–and i think you are going to be in this sport for the long haul :slight_smile: …but still, you did do fabulous!! No need to feel ashamed about any of those lifts!

did you find out why they red lighted you? I want to know too! >:(

good luck with the fasting too! go get a message!

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Congrats on the meet - whilst it sucks about the squat, it’s a good learning experience and you’ve got the right attitude. You’ve figured out that lifting is a head game and will be better prepared for next time. I’m sure you’ll rock it in September.