saharali1991
New member
I've been done lifting for 2 hours, so it's totally time to think things out. Please excuse rambling! Grainy lift vids are currently in my IG story, and I will update the post when I get quality videos.
Background
Previous meet PR: 365 @ 63 or 385 at 64.3, so as a 72. Been powerlifting 1.5 years now. Background was college swimming before getting fat before finding crossfit before finding our lord and savior, Bench Press.
Meet Prep
Meet prep - off-season: I sprained my shoulder 3 days before my last meet in February. Spent 1.5 months unable to squat or bench, and 1 month unable to deadlift. Then did 3 months, basically my off season, with Mash Elite Performance. I liked them, but I wouldn't use them for meet prep because they're weightlifting specialists. I then tore some cartilage in my wrist and couldn't bench or low bar squat for another month.
Meet prep for nationals: Started after a 2 week vacation without touching a barbell in early August. I had 6 day training weeks that looked like this: heavy bench / heavy squat & deadlift accessory / off / volume bench / volume squat & heavy deadlift / off.
Bench was Deathbench - I'll do a separate program report but overall, I really liked it!
Squat was me making stuff up and messing up my peak, but overall getting really consistent and confident at heavier weights!
Deadlift was based on SSPT deadlift training: AKA I only ever pulled singles. I hate deadlifts, didn't really care about how it was going. Should probably care. That might help.
Making Weight
I'm too tall to be a 63. A week ago, I had a Dexa scan at 66.7 and 17.7% body fat. This cut was pretty drastic! I water loaded 2 gallons 5 days out, did 1/2 gallon the day before, and stopped water and food at 3pm. Minimal sodium and fiber, tapering carbs down to under 40 the day before. Took 2 hot baths the night before, went to sleep at 63.6 and woke up at 62.9, made weight at 62.84. I'm going to do a bulk through the holidays to see what happens!
Squat
1: 135kg/297: Very easy. I've squatted 300 every day in training for the last 5 weeks.
2: 140kg/308: 2.5kg PR, very easy.
3: 145kg/319: Two reds, one side judge and one front, both for depth. Everyone around, even Geno, said it was a BS call and to take it to the jury, but when my handler did, there were only 2 refs at the table, and they can't overturn without 3. They went to the other table, but the other table claimed it was too late. I kind of feel like I got screwed here. If they had legitimately said "no, we agree, it was high," I'd be okay, but not having a 3rd jury member, then THEIR mistake making it too late, is just not a fair situation.
Bench
1: 97.5kg/215: Easy opener. The ground was SUPER slippery, especially on my platform (since it was used for primetime in addition to 2 other sessions each day). I slipped out of my arch a little but it was light enough to not matter.
2: 102.5kg/226: Three reds. I slipped out of my arch a lot and misgrooved because of that.
3: 102.5kg/226: Got it! Set up pretty darn flat and minimized leg drive. My levers were all off, but this is why you don't rely on arch and you just get yourself strong! I've tripled this in the gym, but under the slippery floor circumstances, I'm happy with it.
Deadlift
1: 150kg/330: I hate deads, that's all. Easy opener.
2: 160kg/352: 2.5kg meet PR / 2# lifetime PR. Sorta grindy, but the cleanest anything over 340 has ever come up for me.
3: 167.5kg/369: No lift. Wasn't strong enough. I went for this to get a 900# total, even though it would've been a HUGE reach. I got it halfway up my thighs, peed, stalled out, and put it down. I don't regret it!
Overall
33pt Wilks PR (flair update, please?), PRs in every lift (2.5 squat, 10 bench, 2.5 deadlift, 17.5 total). Qualified for the Arnold; will probably get a Pro Bench invite, CA state records for bench . . .
Can't be mad about any of this! I'm going to do the American Open in December as a 72 to lock up the CA 72 bench records, then decide whether I want to do the Arnold as a 63 or 72.
I'm also going to find a coach I trust and want to be with longterm. It's time.
Background
Previous meet PR: 365 @ 63 or 385 at 64.3, so as a 72. Been powerlifting 1.5 years now. Background was college swimming before getting fat before finding crossfit before finding our lord and savior, Bench Press.
Meet Prep
Meet prep - off-season: I sprained my shoulder 3 days before my last meet in February. Spent 1.5 months unable to squat or bench, and 1 month unable to deadlift. Then did 3 months, basically my off season, with Mash Elite Performance. I liked them, but I wouldn't use them for meet prep because they're weightlifting specialists. I then tore some cartilage in my wrist and couldn't bench or low bar squat for another month.
Meet prep for nationals: Started after a 2 week vacation without touching a barbell in early August. I had 6 day training weeks that looked like this: heavy bench / heavy squat & deadlift accessory / off / volume bench / volume squat & heavy deadlift / off.
Bench was Deathbench - I'll do a separate program report but overall, I really liked it!
Squat was me making stuff up and messing up my peak, but overall getting really consistent and confident at heavier weights!
Deadlift was based on SSPT deadlift training: AKA I only ever pulled singles. I hate deadlifts, didn't really care about how it was going. Should probably care. That might help.
Making Weight
I'm too tall to be a 63. A week ago, I had a Dexa scan at 66.7 and 17.7% body fat. This cut was pretty drastic! I water loaded 2 gallons 5 days out, did 1/2 gallon the day before, and stopped water and food at 3pm. Minimal sodium and fiber, tapering carbs down to under 40 the day before. Took 2 hot baths the night before, went to sleep at 63.6 and woke up at 62.9, made weight at 62.84. I'm going to do a bulk through the holidays to see what happens!
Squat
1: 135kg/297: Very easy. I've squatted 300 every day in training for the last 5 weeks.
2: 140kg/308: 2.5kg PR, very easy.
3: 145kg/319: Two reds, one side judge and one front, both for depth. Everyone around, even Geno, said it was a BS call and to take it to the jury, but when my handler did, there were only 2 refs at the table, and they can't overturn without 3. They went to the other table, but the other table claimed it was too late. I kind of feel like I got screwed here. If they had legitimately said "no, we agree, it was high," I'd be okay, but not having a 3rd jury member, then THEIR mistake making it too late, is just not a fair situation.
Bench
1: 97.5kg/215: Easy opener. The ground was SUPER slippery, especially on my platform (since it was used for primetime in addition to 2 other sessions each day). I slipped out of my arch a little but it was light enough to not matter.
2: 102.5kg/226: Three reds. I slipped out of my arch a lot and misgrooved because of that.
3: 102.5kg/226: Got it! Set up pretty darn flat and minimized leg drive. My levers were all off, but this is why you don't rely on arch and you just get yourself strong! I've tripled this in the gym, but under the slippery floor circumstances, I'm happy with it.
Deadlift
1: 150kg/330: I hate deads, that's all. Easy opener.
2: 160kg/352: 2.5kg meet PR / 2# lifetime PR. Sorta grindy, but the cleanest anything over 340 has ever come up for me.
3: 167.5kg/369: No lift. Wasn't strong enough. I went for this to get a 900# total, even though it would've been a HUGE reach. I got it halfway up my thighs, peed, stalled out, and put it down. I don't regret it!
Overall
33pt Wilks PR (flair update, please?), PRs in every lift (2.5 squat, 10 bench, 2.5 deadlift, 17.5 total). Qualified for the Arnold; will probably get a Pro Bench invite, CA state records for bench . . .
Can't be mad about any of this! I'm going to do the American Open in December as a 72 to lock up the CA 72 bench records, then decide whether I want to do the Arnold as a 63 or 72.
I'm also going to find a coach I trust and want to be with longterm. It's time.
