SO I GUESS IT IS NOT THE SUMMER OF CHIN UPS

Follow me on the journey!!!

Yes, bear with me everyone.  I will be pretty obsessive until this weekend is over.  I am trying to mentally get my head in the game.  Until Tuesday it will be blah, blah, blah barbell, blah blah blah StrongFirst, and blah blah blah certification.  Hang in there with me please.   

When I am training at the gym or at a certification, I really like to push my limits.  I want people to respect the amount of weight I can lift.  I think when people look at me they realize my strength.  I've worked hard.  I have been dedicated.  I like showing that off...so to speak.

Skill of Strength - home base for the weekend.

I also did a barbell user course here.  Find me in the picture

if you can.

The SFL this weekend will be different.  My injury really does limit what I can do at the moment.  I won't be squatting.  Goblet squats with an 8 kg kettlebell are a challenge at the moment.  I didn't train my press or bench because I was in a funk nor did I want to hurt myself.  I am not sure what weight I can bench or press.

Anyway, as the excitement builds, let me share some videos and words from Strong First (not necessarily barbell).  

The following video does bring tears to my eyes.  First, because it is so exciting.  StrongFirst weekends are amazing.  Second because I will not be able to fully participate in the weekend as I had planned.

 

I am an introvert who willing does the StrongFirst experience.  Go figure!

 

REPEAT AFTER ME....

THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THE GOAL THE GOAL...Dan John.

I have this on a carousel in my brain 24/7.  It is so easy for me to want to step outside my training program.  I want to do get ups, swings and even carries.  Even though I was given the okay, I've come to believe it is not the smartest thing for me to do.  Upper body is holding up during this training but the lower body not so much.  The IT is flaring for one.  It was flaring so much I decided to go to the YMCA instead of Skill of Strength to work it out...I did but....

And then along comes this one week before the certification...

Advanced Skills Kettlebell Workshop at Iron Body Studios.  I can't get it out of my head. 

 



http://www.ironbodystudios.com/

 

I can do double KB Presses but not a double KB jerk, Windmill, bent press or double KB snatch.  I can't not even tell you how much I want to learn those skills.  They are challenging and difficult but one week before the Barbell Certification?  Am I crazy?

 

Not only that...Artemis is a fantastic coach and such a strong woman.  There is no one better to teach these skills. 

 

 

There goes the ping pong in my head.  Yes, I want to do the workshop.  It is only a half a day.  I will go easy.  Ya...me go easy learning a double KB snatch. 

 

 

And on the other side...you are training with a specific program for a specific goal.  What is wrong with you even thinking about this?  What if you get injured?  Then what?

 

 

Ping pong in my brain.

 

 

On to today's training session:

 

Week 3: Day 3:

 

I did some significant foam rolling, stretching and mobility work today.  The IT band needed some work.  It feels better.  Here are the stats:

 

SQUAT:  Max weight was 60 pounds which is an increase of 5 pounds from last week.  Squats were low and pain free.  Slow and steady to 115 pounds.

 

PAUSE BENCH PRESS - 2 SECOND PAUSE AT THE BOTTOM:  Max weight was 55 pounds which is a 5 pound increase from last week.  The pause at the bottom makes this more difficult. 

 

MILITARY PRESS, LIGHT WEIGHT, WORKING ON FORM....

 

The a circuit of high rep goblet squats using 12KG kettlebell and leg lowers. 

 

Happy that I got it done...

 



LOGGING IN

I previously said that I would log my workouts.  This may not be of interest to everyone but it does help me.  Some of you may want to follow my progress.

Why does it help me to log them here?  Because I am a hot mess when I am responsible for keeping a written log.  The paper gets lost only to be found years later.  Just how it goes.  I can't change it.

So I give you Week 2; Day 3 (Monday March 21, 2016)

I did my warm up which included Turkish Get Ups and Swings although I had to cut the TGUs short.  I was at the Y and for some reason I ended up surrounded by people.  TGUs and people nearby is an opportunity for injury....there's not mine. 

Here is Artemis of Iron Body Studios doing a TGU...Just so you know what I am talking about.  She is one incredibly strong woman. 



Squats:  Last week my max was 50 pounds; this week 55.  I always considered myself a master squatter.  (YIKES)  My legs have felt torched and they have felt tender.  In the end, it all worked out though.

Bench Press with two second pause at the bottom:  Last week, I started out at a higher weight thinking, "Hey, I am benching.  No big deal."  Turns out that 2 second pause at the bottom is a big deal.  I only used 50 pounds which felt too light but stuck with it.  I could "feel the bern."  (Little shout out to Bernie.)

Light day Military Press:  Went light.  Groove felt good. 

Then a rotation of high rep goblet squats (I used a 20 pound kettlebell) and leg lowers.  Let me just say....we are seriously talking a lot of goblet squats.



One thing Mike Perry insists on with this program is that you don't miss a rep so when the weight felt heavy I could hear him in my ear saying don't miss a rep especially while doing a gazillion goblet squats. 

It all felt really good.  I do feel that maybe I should have challenged myself a little more. 

TRAINING - SOS DAY 2

 

Me...on my journey!  At times, in this blog, I am going to invite you on my journey.  I hope you enjoy the process as much as I will.

 

The barbell class is an hour long and we only (at least so far) do two moves plus an awesome hip warm up.  (My hips thanked me.) 

Last Thursday we did the deadlift...

On my last set, I was able to pull 185 pounds and it felt easy and it was after 5:30 PM.  Since the certification, I've been unable to get past 175.  Why the improvement?  There is nothing like good coaching.  Mike Perry, co-owner of SOS, is a great coach.  He notices the big and, more importantly, the small imperfections in your technique. 

Steve, shown in the video below, is a coach at SOS and he was one of my coaches at the SFG.




and the barbell squat...

I made the decisions to start very light (unlike the chica above).  I haven't done much barbell squatting recently and I had some concerns.  I really wanted to work on technique.  One tweak by Mike made the concern I had disappear.  With my arms in the correct position and my concern disappeared. 

The hour flew by and I felt pumped, motivated and invigorated after the class.  I am hooked...

So today, I took it to the YMCA to practice deadlifts, squats and bench press.  For my last set of deadlifts, I hit 190 pounds.  I did 70 squats and 70 pounds on the bench.  It all felt really good.

I love the process of working toward a goal.  This will not be any different.  In a couple weeks, Mike will write my own private program for working toward the Strong First Barbell Certification. 

Searching for SOS videos, I came across that I want to share with you and save for me.

S.O.S. UPDATE

It really is a cool sign.  I just take crappy pictures in addition to not having my glasses on.

 

One class in and I am psyched to be taking the bar technique class at Skill of Strength.  Some of the things I was worried about did not materialize or maybe they did and I was able to deal with them.

 

I am always uncomfortable when I first do something.  I don't know the people or the procedure.  Heading to Skill of Strength was no exception.  I sat in my car looking in the windows.  Damn there were a lot of people working out in there.  Long story short, I met up with Mike Perry, co-owner with his wife and got settled.  There were some awkward moments for me about the procedure for the class  but I think I got it down.

 

Good part...one of the trainers was my trainer at the SFG certification and my training partner at SFG trainers at SOS.  So psyched to see her again.  She's also taking the Barbell cert. 

 

It is an hour long class.  We worked two moves.  The deadlift and the bench.  Mike said I am going to critique the shit out of you (okay maybe I am paraphrasing) and I said that is what I am here for.  Learned a lot.  My deadlift technique improved after one class and I got back to benching.  I haven't benched much since the Arnold. 

 

My second worry was that I would be able to lift any thing heavy and be motivated after a long day at work...on Thursdays I start at 6:00 am.  Ya know what?  It was easy.  The drive worked out.  I was excited to learn and at the end of the class I felt pumped.  I was invigorated and not ready to fall asleep.

 

I hope to be able to outline my journey to the SFG barbell certification.  Going through the certification is incredible and draining.  Me...I love, love, love the process of getting to the weekend.  And so it begins.



AND SO IT BEGINS

Tomorrow night I start my training for the StrongFirst Barbell Instructor course which I will participate in in June 2016.  I am taking the course at Skill of Strength in Chelmsford and I plan to train there also.

I took the StrongFirst Barbll Course there also...can you find me?

Everything is mostly a pro about the training except I will be training at 5:30 after work.  I will be lifting heavy weights after work.  Gotta say....I am a morning work out person so this will be a challenge.  Here's the thing.  I always feel the need to push my self.  This is another such case.  I always say it.  I want to be as strong as I possible can be.  

Strength...where does the motivation and desire originate.

Thinking about the blog post on Dave Mirra and what an inspiration he was.  I started thinking about Extreme Sports and how male dominated they are.  I vaguely remember two  or three women skateboarders at the Gravity Games in Providence, RI...doesn't mean there weren't others.  The Skateboarding Women's Event is what I remember.  Where are the women?  Who are the women that are pioneers and who inspire? 

Today you can find those women in the health and fitness field.  They are young woman pushing the boundaries of strength.  They are promoting body acceptance.  They are role models for our teens and pre-teens.  They have inspired me to live outside my comfort zone and to pick up some dang heavy weights.  

I plan to spend the next several weeks...one day a week...introducing you to those women who inspire me.  But wait, the very first blog I started reading was by Tony Gentilcore in the Boston Herald.  He is a strength loving, deadlift loving, cat loving and movie loving kind of guy.  He is also one of the first I was exposed to and who promoted women's strength training. 

It was his blog that started my journey.

http://tonygentilcore.com/

ADVENTURE, CHALLENGES, CONFIDENCE AND LEARNING!

Adventure, Challenges, Confidence and Learning...

I read a posting by Jill Coleman in which she talked about setting a theme for the year...not a goal specifically or a resolution but a theme or mantra.  Her 2016 mantra is joy.  (You can find her here:  https://www.facebook.com/JillFit/?fref=ts  ) 

When I think about it, my mantra for the past several has been "living out side my comfort zone."  It wasn't a conscious decision but it evolved.  I've put myself in uncomfortable positions (for me) and survived.  Maybe you could even say I thrived.  Because of my increasing ability to "comfortably" live outside my comfort zone, I was able to attend the StrongFirst certification and pass. 

Jill's post motivated me to reflect on what my 2016 theme or mantra should be.  I have an agenda I want to advance.  Not only that but for the past several years, I have not thought about learning, more specific learning new things. 

So I spent time thinking what my new theme for 2016 it would be "work hard" but the words that stuck with me were adventure, challenges, confidence and learning. 

And then today I read this by Glennon on her blog, Momastery...

"I don’t want a new, better life in 2016. I just want new eyes to see that my life is already staggeringly beautiful. 
I don’t want to be a better mom in 2016. I just want new eyes to see that the miracle is not good better best — the miracle is that these people are mine and I am theirs. Full stop.
And I don’t want to be a BETTER ME in 2016. Screw that. I don’t want to chase after some imaginary more fabulous version of myself. I AM what the people I love need. I already AM. And when we are always BECOMING we have no room to BE. So I’m done striving. I’m fine, thanks. I’m showing up to love my people and you and the world this year JUST AS I AM."

Hmmmm...living outside your comfort zone wasn't a theme I picked at the beginning of some random year.  It just evolved.  It was really just me being me.

But, I do have serious changes I want to make this year.  Do I need to define them or name them or do just need to do them? 

Ultimately, I need accountability...not that it always works.  Some, only some of my goals, are shared below...only some.  Some are private.  Also, for a very long time I have been very good at just being...I've always just be able to be.  In my opinion, a better life comes from reflection and improvement.  That doesn't mean you weren't good enough before.  It doesn't even mean you weren't the very best.  It just means life can be more interesting. 

So...with a sense of adventure, with confidence while seeking challenges and promoting a sense of learning....

I got my SFG certification because I did want to train people.  I want to turn people on to the correct use of kettlebells.  Yet, despite having people who want me to train them I've held myself back with excuses.  I need a name.  I need insurance.  I was traveling.  I was traveling for work.  I need a plan.  Hello...adventure, confidence, challenges and learning.  This needs to be the year and soon.

I've tried Spanish, French and German and have completely unsuccessful learning a foreign language.  It is scary.  So...I've decided I want to attempt...no wait...I want to learn Italian.  Knowing a second language makes you a better person when traveling the world.  Adventure, CHALLENGE, CONFIDENCE, and learning. 

Barbell...anyone who knows me knows I love the bar.  I've missed it.  My Deadlift PR was 210.  Since finishing the cert process, I've only been able to pull a max of 175.  So, it is the year of the deadlift!!!  And hopefully the year of the Strongfirst Barbell Certification.  None are currently scheduled.

I did a StrongFirst Barbell user course at Skill of Strength...a gym in Chelmsford.  Awesome.  Great place.  Great people.  A little far.  Maybe I can figure out a way to train for the Barbell there.

 

 

All of this reminds me of the battle of Brendan Rearick, who was a trainer at MBSC when I trained there.  He was not just any trainer.  He was a rock star trainer.  He now suffers from aplastic anemia.  His current campaign is "COLLECT EXPERIENCES NOT THINGS."  Since learning of his condition I have tried to own that thought.  You can learn more about Brendan here. 


https://www.youcaring.com/brendon-rearick-385794

The world is too amazing to just stand still!