Building Curves

[hardNheavy2011]

Dang Laura! Those deficit pulls looked really fast and easy!! Good luck at your upcoming comp. Are you going to drop weight this time? I think I remember you saying it didn't work out so great last time. lol

[jpfaherty]

I should have known something was off when my fingertips were up in the rafters before I started each lift.

laughed out loud at that lol - way to kill it Laura! See ya in a few days

[ilovethe80s]

Deadlifts look easy and fast in spite of the extra heel height!
Good luck next weekend I'm so excited for you!

wow. Congrats on getting through everything.

The meet should be really good!

looking awesome. this is going to be a great meet!

Thanks guys!!

Dang Laura! Those deficit pulls looked really fast and easy!! Good luck at your upcoming comp. Are you going to drop weight this time? I think I remember you saying it didn't work out so great last time. lol

I weigh around 134 right now so the plan was just to low carb this week and if I have any weight to get rid of at the end of that a brisk walk and hot bath. Both things I would enjoy doing anyway before the meet. My last water cut was a measly 5 pounds and somehow turned into the cut from hell so I haven't felt the urge to go that route again. I have a stomach bug right now though so at this rate I just might land in the 123s haha.

laughed out loud at that lol - way to kill it Laura! See ya in a few days

Thanks JP!

------

Was up all night last night because I was nauseous and freezing. Nausea all day but didn't actually start throwing up till this afternoon. And still nauseous, dizzy but now I'm overheated. I can't even look at food, open up the spice cabinet and I want to hurl.

I have heard that the stomach bug going around here is a 24 hour thing but my oldest son came down with it Friday, slept all day Saturday and Sunday and still hasn't been able to stomach any food. Normally he is bouncing off the walls and eating everything in sight.

Keeping my fingers crossed that this is at least somewhat manageable by tomorrow night (still need to take openers).

In a way, perfect timing I guess? Better now than Friday night. It is a free for all for the 2 year old. He threw everyone's toothbrushes into the toilet, ransacked the cabinets like a raccoon, the house is in disarray. He walks over every so often, pats me on the head, looks at me all concerned and gives me a drooly kiss on the forehead and then takes off running to continue his tirade.

[ilovethe80s]

The stomach bug was a 24 hour thing. I still can't stomach any food or even water, still nauseous today but nothing like yesterday. Tonight I was very tired, zero adrenalin, lightheaded and queasy. Really bad hip day today too, stance was very uneven, it snapped on every rep warming up and pain all down the shin. It is due for some rest for sure.

All that aside, squat went great! And I did not deserve for it to go great, bc I was definitely out to lunch tonight lol.

Squat Opener (actually must guiltily admit that I went to 2nd attempt)
45/5 (2x), 95/5, 135/5, 165/3, 185/3, 205/1, 225/1
Add loose wraps
245/1
Tighter wraps
255/1 (opener)
270/1 (previous meet best, possible 2nd attempt)
275/1 (possible 2nd attempt)

Here is 275. This is 5 more than my previous meet best.


I was standing under 270 like 'this is a bad idea, I'm going to fail!' But once I got over myself it felt just like my opener. So I tried 275. Doing it now will give me more confidence to do it meet day. Based on how it went, I have no idea how much more is in there. I'm thinking to go

Opener 255
2nd 270-275 depending on how opener felt
3rd 280-285?

Next meet (October), my goal is not to have this problem. RSA is great for me to peak with now because my problems are all mental and technique inconsistency. But it is really meant to be used PRIOR to the taper. There is no way I could have handled a real taper for this meet (or any previous meets so far) since I freak out and semi-permanently forget how to squat every time I get over 80%. This year, I want to get some confidence and quit forgetting how to squat every 5 minutes.

After all this work, I am really pleased with how my technique turned out and I think it has potential to move a lot more weight (provided that I don't freak out).

Bench
Benches felt unreasonably heavy tonight. I don't expect I will still feel this sh**y on meet day and these are weights I have been getting all along. Either way, I'm dropping my opener (was going to be 155) to 150 but not going any lower than that even though I struggled with it tonight.
45/8
95/5
115/5
135/3 (2x)
145/1
150 it took me about 10 tries to unrack it due to inability to maintain any sort of tightness, and butt completely off the bench the first time
150/1 again and my butt still left the bench again a little bit. I haven't seem 150 look this crappy in over a year

165 per last day of Brad Gillingham bench program SKIPPED. Obviously. Lol.
5 x 3 @145 paused per program but went with 140 and I sucked. Bar was wobbling everywhere, I'm killing my shoulder, butt was off the bench. I was going to do some accessories but it was 11 and I sucked so just went to bed.

Unless things go just awesome when I get to the meet I will probably play it safe and do
150
155
160

I was supposed to do speedy deadlifts with just 135 but I was so exhausted and I doubt they would have been beneficial at the time. I'll do it another night along with some very light speedy benches to correct all the things I did wrong tonight.

Just have to hope now that I don't forget how to squat between now and meet day!

[izzygrant]

that squat was super fast, that should be a very easy second for you. and what do you mean 150 looked bad? that fired off your chest! I bet you will have a lot more on meet day once you're rested and not sick. in fact I am positive of it and your hips lifted but there was still some butt contact the whole way. whites!

[tina722]

Agreed about looking fast,

Congrats on the squat PR.

[kaleida]

good to get the stomach bug out of the way earlier in the week!

275 looked easy, no sticking point at all!

[seepatlift]

275 looked like the opener. lol

[jpfaherty]

Squat looked awesome!

275 easy peasy.

Feel better! You better not bring that sickness with you

[ilovethe80s]

that squat was super fast, that should be a very easy second for you. and what do you mean 150 looked bad? that fired off your chest! I bet you will have a lot more on meet day once you're rested and not sick. in fact I am positive of it and your hips lifted but there was still some butt contact the whole way. whites!

Thanks! The bench was one of those nights where it was forced and might have looked alright from the outside but it didn't come from the heart lol. One pound would be the difference between a successful lift and the whole thing shattering, very loose and uninspired. Any least I know it is a safe opener though

Agreed about looking fast,

Congrats on the squat PR.

Thanks, I didn't even realize it was a PR till you mentioned it. I'm a giant chicken and haven't tested my lifts in so long. It's like 'pr? What's that?' Lol

good to get the stomach bug out of the way earlier in the week!

275 looked easy, no sticking point at all!

Thank you! I was totally out of commission Monday, couldn't eat or drink or even smell any food without gagging through last night. Now this morning I woke up STARVING which I guess is a good sign. But the plan was to eat light this week and lower carbs. Not eat nothing all week and then gorge the day before weighing in. I'm trying not to go nuts because not only have I not eaten, but only had tiny sips of water because drinking made me nauseous. So I know I am going to bloat up like mad. So hungry though lol.

275 looked like the opener. lol

Thanks! I was surprised by it, I thought for sure it would be a grinder.

Squat looked awesome!

275 easy peasy.

Feel better! You better not bring that sickness with you

Thank you I'm scared to death because this bug is still going through the school, like half the kids and teachers are out. And my middle child who also goes to that school hasn't come down with it yet and neither has the youngest. My awesomely optimistic husband swears that someone is going to get hit with it Friday and I will have an all nighter the night before the meet. Fingers crossed. That doesn't happen. I came down with it Sunday night so I am clean by now. These kids are harbingers of germs though so can't say the same for them. They are not going to the meet though. Which is also good because then I don't have to stop mid-squat to peel an orange or wipe somebody's nose lol.

[hardNheavy2011]

275 looked like the opener. lol

I agree with this Laura. I think you'll set a PR, but I think you'll waste an attempt doing a weight like this as anything other than an opener. However, I take risks in every meet and have bombed out a few times. I just don't see any reason to be cautious. Plus, you'll have that meet adrenaline going and you'll pop right up with 275.

[izzygrant]

I agree with this Laura. I think you'll set a PR, but I think you'll waste an attempt doing a weight like this as anything other than an opener. However, I take risks in every meet and have bombed out a few times. I just don't see any reason to be cautious. Plus, you'll have that meet adrenaline going and you'll pop right up with 275.

Nope, 275 is a perfect 2nd. Then something around 290 for a third. Opener around 260. That's how I'd call your attempts anyway.

[beatha]

wanted to say congrats on squat PR.... gonna crush 275 and getta whole new PR.

best of luck with the meet

[Flounderbout]

With all my powerlifting expertise, I thought I ought to chip in Laura. I think that your attempts should be as follows:

1st attempt: a weight that would put most guys to shame;
2nd attempt: a weight that would make most guys stop and look across the gym if they saw a guy lifting it, let alone a girl;
3rd attempt: holy phuck! - no girl can lift that much, least of all a girl who looks like that (no lecho)

Oh right, that's exactly what you have planned already...

Carry on!

[ilovethe80s]

I agree with this Laura. I think you'll set a PR, but I think you'll waste an attempt doing a weight like this as anything other than an opener. However, I take risks in every meet and have bombed out a few times. I just don't see any reason to be cautious. Plus, you'll have that meet adrenaline going and you'll pop right up with 275.

The fact that you think it looked light enough to open with makes me a lot more confident in the lift. thank you . If I had half a brain and some consistency about me I would definitely make it an opener. My first squat at meets (and sometimes all of them haha) is always bad. I get disoriented walking out on a monolift and then lean into the thing and get pinned if it is too heavy, so I try to open with something I can fight through if things go wrong. If I let that forward lean / sit back thing happen , I can fail way under my max. Sometimes I have no monolift to blame and just sit back too far in the squat for no reason well under my max in training. I really would be surprised if that happened for this one with all the tech work I've put in. But meets are like a box of chocolates for me haha.

Nope, 275 is a perfect 2nd. Then something around 290 for a third. Opener around 260. That's how I'd call your attempts anyway.

I was reading along smiling like oh yup 260 is good, 275 right on... then a lump immediately formed in my throat and a house fell on me for 290 lol. Was going to do 280 or 285 3rd, 290 did not even cross my mind but now that you mention it, it is only like 5 more pounds. if I can keep my nerves under control, might give it a whirl

wanted to say congrats on squat PR.... gonna crush 275 and getta whole new PR.

best of luck with the meet

Thanks!!

With all my powerlifting expertise, I thought I ought to chip in Laura. I think that your attempts should be as follows:

1st attempt: a weight that would put most guys to shame;
2nd attempt: a weight that would make most guys stop and look across the gym if they saw a guy lifting it, let alone a girl;
3rd attempt: holy phuck! - no girl can lift that much, least of all a girl who looks like that (no lecho)

Oh right, that's exactly what you have planned already...

Carry on!

Lol thank you! I don't think I'll be turning heads with my squat anytime soon, there are a ton of really good female squatters out there and at I'm not built for this shiz haha. As long as I don't bomb out so I can still deadlift, I'm happy

[ilovethe80s]

Yesterday:
Squat 3x3 empty bar
Bench 4 x 2 (95), unrack 185
Deadlift 3 x 1 (135)

Killed it! Lol. The deads felt right on, I leave this open to do as many as needed till it feels right. I was good after one, did 2 more for good measure.

Today's weigh in:
I went to bed last night at 132.8. I usually lose a pound or two overnight but I was so hungry since I pretty much haven't eaten since the stomach flu on Monday. I brought my ipad to bed and looked at food on pinterest (bad move lol). I planned on doing the early weigh-in so I could gorge AFTER, but I caved and rightfully woke up at 134. It had to happen though, I think if I waited any longer to eat it was going to start really effecting my strength at the meet if it wasn't already.

Husband stayed home today so I could weight in early. I walked fast on the treadmill in sweats for a while and took a hot shower. My scale is a decroded (holy crap, typing this in ipad just realized that is not a word and I use it all the time lol) piece of crap so according to it I weighed somewhere between 131 and 134.

I got there and weighed in at 132.2. The cutoff is 132.3. Made it by a hair! I was in a tank and capris so I had some leeway I guess, but still.

[kaleida]

Yay, successful weigh-in!

Good luck tomorrow! you'll kick butt


Also, decroded totally sounds like a real word to me ... somewhere between decrepit and eroded lol. I read it and just assumed I learned a new word

[izzygrant]

Congrats on making weight with no drama!

You need a handler, lol. If I was handling you and your second looked like that 275 I'd put 290 in without telling you what it was. If it was slower, 285. Depends on the day.

If I was picking your other stuff based on recent training it'd be 150/160-165/170-180, and 350/375/390-400, just in case you wanted opinions

GOOD LUCK!

[kaleida]

MEET DAYYYYY!!! Can't wait to hear how it's going!

[NorwichGrad]

Best of luck, Laura!

[Flounderbout]

Good luck laura!!!

[ilovethe80s]

Thanks so much for the well wishes guys! I came home from the meet to a puked on mattress in the garage and both husband and middle son puking. I am grateful that is all going down today instead of last night lol.

I had a bit of an off-day today but will post results here in a bit

[ilovethe80s]

Meet Report - RPS New England Revolution


Had stomach flu earlier in the week and couldn't stomach any food until Thursday. I was feeling pretty lightheaded and adrenalin was lacking.

Squat
Forgot how to squat. Nothing felt right in warmups, I felt loose and lightheaded and my technique wasn't there. Just doing a triple with the empty bar had me seeing stars. My last warmup of 245 was a good morning grinder.

Opener: 255 Good (using term loosely) Lift
It went but it felt TERRIBLE. With that technique, I might have been good for 5 more pounds tops. What technique was that anyway? Since when do I look at the floor when I squat??? 275 flew earlier this week much faster than this did. I went ahead and put in for a 270 second attempt anyway.

The back spotter told me to square off my hips. I could see that one foot was a good 8 inches in front of the other but couldn't fix. Very poor mobility this day.

2nd: 270 Fail
I sat back and got pinned like the good old days. This is not my normal technique AT ALL. Now I am thinking I am going to total less at this meet than my last (previous meet PR was 270). I don't normally bounce back after a failed squat. I wanted to faint after every attempt, just felt horrible overall.

3rd: 270 Good Lift
Everything came together, this felt like my technique as of late and I bounced out fast, no sticking point. 280 would have gone like this. Maybe 290, too. grrrrrr.

So I tied my previous meet best of 270, which was a disappointment because there was a lot more in there.

Bench
If I thought I wanted to faint trying to squat, lying down on a bench and then getting up was much worse. I couldn't get tight anywhere, just felt loose and relaxed. I was seriously considering lowering my opener.

JP gave me some caramel flavored carby stuff in a tube and I think it helped, I felt a bit more grounded.

Opener: 150 Good (again, using term very loosely)
I got on the bench and the bar was like 4 inches from my nose(?!). I had to unrack with arms completely bent 90 degrees. I have never benched a bar out of a rack like that but figured it was too late to say anything. I lost my setup, was all over the place and wobbling, very sloppy. I did ask them to raise the bar for me next time, but this felt really bad and I thought I was doomed.

2nd: 155 Good Lift
It was fine.

3rd: 160 Good Lift
Surprisingly, felt easy. You can see how much shuffling I had to do to setup and avoid the hip, leg drive was uneven and I looks like I might have come off the bench on the right side of my butt and might have got one red for that. But looks like 160 is my new 'bad hip' max.

Deadlift
I was really worried about this. I usually have a lot of adrenalin for deads, and I take a preworkout before they start which normally adds to that. Today I was woozy, no adrenalin, and all the preworkout did was make me keep thinking I had to pee when I really didn't.

Deadlifts today were not looking like my normal deads. WAY slower. In warmups, I had a grinder with 335 and nearly fainted. I was worried about my OPENER of 355 even going up, nevermind anything beyond that.

Opener: 355
Did not feel great. The world was upside down and there were stars falling around me for sometime after. I honestly thought I was done.

2nd: 380 Good Lift - Grinder
I committed to the lift, either it was going up or I was going to pass out on top of it. I really love grinders but this was the shakiest, stutteriest mess of CNS shock I have ever subjected myself to. It really shouldn't have happened but somehow it did. I couldn't believe this went up and just knew nothing else would. 400 was NOT in the cards this day. Put in for 390 and was sure I wouldn't get it.

3rd: 390 GRINDER AGAIN
Going by how messy 380 was, I was done. Then I realized that I actually really, really want 390.

I felt really empty taking this. Not like emotionally, haha but psysically. I felt really hungry all of a sudden, floaty, and like I had nothing left to give. Whatever that driving thing is that makes you gut through heavy weight was gone. But I really wanted 390 lol. In all truth, this felt like a gut-wrenching HELL with everything in my body telling me to stop. But it went up, I couldn't believe it. I didn't know I had the capacity to grind through something that came off the floor so slow and started dragging before it even cleared the knee. But I actually feel really good now knowing that I can

So in summary
Squat: 270 (tied previous meet PR)
Bench: 160 (+5 meet PR)
Deadlift: 390 (+15 meet PR)
Total: 820@132 (+20 total PR)

[geek23ka]

you tough chica. damn. i love your deadlifts so hard. grinders from hell and you just did NOT give in to them. even after not eating for a week, feeling shaky, seeing stars and failing a squat, you still upped your meet total by 20 lbs!!! it's the mental tenacity that makes you so damn good at this.

[kaleida]

I am so proud of you! great job!! Way to go powering through those deadlift grinders
I hope I can lift that much someday

[Big_Sky_Guy]

Great job gutting out a tough meet!

[izzygrant]

awesome work!! congratulations! you earned every pound of those deadlifts, for sure. 415 raw wilks is ridiculous!

[auntielingo]

Congrats, Laura! It's so inspiring seeing how well you do.

[hardNheavy2011]

Nice job Laura!! Too bad about the flu, but I think you know what you are capable of if it weren't for that! Hell, you still set 3 meet PRs!!

[Jtbny]

Had to come out of lurk mode to say grats on the meet! I have my daughter watch all of your vids to show her she can be strong if she wants to