After nine months of strength training
I have entered the part of my programming where I am doing more volume work and hitting fewer PRs, which means there are many nights that feel “easy” this past quarter. It’s nice. I also switched from the power clean to the power snatch, introduced paused squats once a week for six weeks, began using the “talon grip” for the squat (where the thumb and pinky are wrapped under the bar) to release tension from my wrists, and got my own weightlifting belt.
The toughest lift was the 185 lb. deadlift that I failed a few times in mid-April. My technique was off because I kept shifting my hips. The cues that help me the most are: PUSH THE FLOOR AWAY WITH YOUR FEET + STRAIGHT ELBOWS. But I still couldn’t manage it, probably due to poor sleep and eating fewer calories. I felt a mild fatigue throughout my body. This is when I decided to wear my Fitbit to bed again and it has helped. Two months later, I was able to pull 185 off the floor, and that was the highlight of my day 😌
In other news, I went on a first (and only) date with a competitive powerlifter in early May whose numbers really inspired me. She’s an inch shorter than I am, weighs 198 lbs, and has been lifting for 4-5 years. She’s currently squatting ~408 lbs, benching ~242.5 lbs, deadlifting ~460 lbs. Wtf!!! I was laughing in disbelief as she mentioned each one. I was looking up a “forecast” of where I could expect to be if I continued training for 10 years and it would not be anything close to the 1,000 lb. club.
Positive things this past quarter:
- the joy of using a new block of chalk
- met six new members at the gym
- unmounting and mounting my 35+ lb. bike from the wall without dreading it
- being able to help Vicki carry a free chair to her car
- feeling honored that Tom thought I could help spot him on his bench press
- smiling at my phone while replying to Beata’s text and cracking up that Nathan, then Alex, noticed
- catching a rainbow outside with my gymmates (happy pride month)
Personal records as of 6/23/2025
Bodyweight: 130 lbs
- Squat: 145 lbs
- Bench: 99 lbs
- Press: 71 lbs
- Deadlift: 187.5 lbs
- Power Snatch: 51 lbs