MD State Prep

[AlexanderOmand]

When I got my new belt, a 13mm Brahma Lever belt from Titan, it took me a few months to get used to it.  If it's a 10mm belt, it'll loosen up quickly and feel more comfortable, than if it is a 13mm.

I will note, that I tend to wear mine slightly different for Deads, Squat and Bench.

it'll feel awkward the first few times, as it's forcing you into a new position when you Dead.  Stick with it, and in a few weeks, it'll be better.

[BLK00TJ]

When I got my new belt, a 13mm Brahma Lever belt from Titan, it took me a few months to get used to it.  If it's a 10mm belt, it'll loosen up quickly and feel more comfortable, than if it is a 13mm.

I will note, that I tend to wear mine slightly different for Deads, Squat and Bench.

it'll feel awkward the first few times, as it's forcing you into a new position when you Dead.  Stick with it, and in a few weeks, it'll be better.

by "new position", I guess that is the correct position.    I'll give it another shot next week.

[sakustoms]

Awesome job on the PR. My + set next week is the 1+ so I'm hoping to get at least 2 at 325.

Comp will be here before you know it. Hopefully that belt works out for you after all you went through to get it.

[BLK00TJ]

When I got my new belt, a 13mm Brahma Lever belt from Titan, it took me a few months to get used to it.  If it's a 10mm belt, it'll loosen up quickly and feel more comfortable, than if it is a 13mm.

I will note, that I tend to wear mine slightly different for Deads, Squat and Bench.

it'll feel awkward the first few times, as it's forcing you into a new position when you Dead.  Stick with it, and in a few weeks, it'll be better.

Oh yeah, I had a slight moment of panic with that belt today too.  Actually, it was about 30 minutes of panic.  I should have done my research about the tight holes for the lever.  I put it on and couldn't get it off for at least 30 minutes.  I was going through my toolbox looking for stuff to help me pry that SoB off.  finally got it off and reamed out the holes a bit with a fat screwdriver to open the holes up a tad more.

 

I just came back up from the basement after working with just the 135 for a while with the belt on.  Still awkward feeling, but it was getting more comfortable.

Awesome job on the PR. My + set next week is the 1+ so I'm hoping to get at least 2 at 325.

Comp will be here before you know it. Hopefully that belt works out for you after all you went through to get it.

I posted up in your thread, but if you got 315 for 6, I think you can get 325 for 5 next week.  That 405 is around the corner for you and you'll be repping that weight by the end of the year.

[sakustoms]

Thanks man. I'm gonna give it hell.

[Daniel0636]

Great deadlift PR BLK, 12 reps is crazy!

[BLK00TJ]

29 Days 'til competition

I had an idea this morning before my workout.  I have an extra week to fill up prior to my meet.  I was going to repeat this week next week and do the 5/5/5 again.  I think I might just work up some heavy singles instead for each day except for press day.  I'm interested in seeing what I can lift without gassing myself out on the max sets and it'll give me an idea of what my openers should be.

Cycle 2, Week 4  (5/5/5 - PRESS DAY)
Weight:  178
Press (pounds):
   Warmups
   45 x 10
   45 x 10
   55 x 5
   65 x 5
   80 x 3
   Worksets:
   85 x 5
   100 x 5
   115 x 5 +4.5 - I tried hard for that 10th rep, but couldn't get it for the PR.  Instead, it's a tie with 9 reps at that weight.
   125 x 4 (Joker)
   100 x 5 (FSL)
   85 x 5 +8 (FSL)

BBB Press
   85 x 10
   85 x 10
   85 x 10
   85 x 10
   85 x 10

Skullcrushers
   65 x 10
   65 x 10
   65 x 10

Face Pulls - first time doing these
   30 x 10
   40 x 10
   50 x 10

Chinups
   x 8
   x 8
   x 8
   x 8
   x 8


SQUATZ on Monday

[AlexanderOmand]

That's really a good choice.

Check all your openers a few weeks before the Meet.  It'll help sort your mind and you won't second guess your decisions.

[Daniel0636]

Sounds like a good idea, can't wait to see what your openers will be

[BLK00TJ]

26 days 'til competition
Today didn't go as planned.  I got a bunch of meetings dumped on me from work that were so spread out the only way I'd be able to make it to the gym would be after work.  Then of course that last meeting had to go an hour past schedule and finish up right during rush hour in the rain.  I had kind of chalked it up to a lost day but then got the brilliant idea to swap the squats for deads today since I could do those at home.

Today I tried a wider stance.  Didn't go as heavy as I wanted, but as heavy as I could.

Conventional Deadz
   Warmups:
   135 x 5
   135 x 5
   185 x 3

   Singles:
   225 x 1
   275 x 1
   315 x 1
   335 x 1
   365 x 1
   385 x 0
   375 x 0

http://youtu.be/3MGC42izG3I

[sakustoms]

Nice heavy singles. 365 

[BLK00TJ]

25 days 'til competition

Max Bench Day
Bench Press
   Warmups:
    45 x 10
    45 x 10
   140 x 5
   165 x 3
   
   Singles: - all paused
   190 x 1
   215 x 1
   235 x 1
   245 x 1

I was really happy with that 245 bench.  It meshes right up with my 1RM calculations from my max sets on the 5/3/1 program.  My likely opening bench will for 225.  Hopefully my final will be for 250 depending on how that goes.

I wasn't happy at all with my deadlifts yesterday so if anyone has any form tips that might help in a short period of time, please let me know.  I only have 2 more training sessions left for them so form will likely be the only way to improve my pulls.  As of now, deadlift opener will probably be 350.

Tomorrow off, Thursday or Friday max squatz.

[sakustoms]

Nice heavy singles, especially paused. Wish I could give you tips on DL but you're past my max already. Post up something in the PL section.

[BLK00TJ]

23 days 'til competition

Once I got to my RAW max, I used my new wraps to push the weight a little heavier.  Those Inzer F'ers are tight!  I'm still counting the SBD sleeves as raw since I don't think they add much at all to the lift.  I just want my knees from getting more f'ed up than they are before the meet so I'm not taking them off for training.  My opener will be far below what I was able to do today.

Max Squat Day
Low-bar squatz
   Warmups:
   45 x 10
   45 x 10
   135 x 5
   165 x 5
   195 x 3

   Singles with sleeves
   230 x 1
   280 x 1
   295 x 1
   315 x 1
   330 x 1 (depth was questionable)
   345 x 1 (wraps)
   365 x 0 (wraps)

http://youtu.be/-y04UTmndJU

300 will be my likely opener and work up to 340-50ish.

That puts my openers at 300/225/350 for a 875 total.  My final total will most likely be far from my hopes of breaking into the 1000lb club this meet.  I'd need a 350/250/400 to get there and I'm far off those numbers on squats and deads with a questionable gym squat of 330 and piss-poor 365 pull.

[AlexanderOmand]

Here's a few things you're not figuring into the Meet equation. One, the excitement of the day, can be a wicked adrenaline boost.  Properly contained and utilized, you'll smash PR's.  Ask Flex, in Augugst he warmed up for his Deads and said that 405 felt heavy as hell, and he didn't think his opener would even happen.  He wandered around, psyched up, and pulled everything he had. 495 warm-up sailed off the floor, and he pulled 575 for a final.  Adrenaline!

Two, you're going to be fully rested, carb loaded, and PWO overloaded.

Go in with focus on your openers, and your commands. I'd take a few minutes in the upcoming weeks and time yourself how long it takes to wrap your knees.  Given most Meets, it takes about 1min 20 seconds between lifters. So, if it takes 3 minutes to wrap your knees, you start when you're in the Hole, and there's a lifter on the platform, and one on Deck.

You'll blast PR's and be damn close to that 1000lbs.