Mr. Fix-It

Brian fixes everything. When something's wrong w/ my grip, he says "Don't worry, we'll fix it." When I have trouble staying tight in my form, he says "We'll fix it, it just takes time." When I told him I was having a hard time finding grant information to obtain my wonderful dream exercise bike he said, "Don't worry about it. We'll work on it." Today, I had to drop my car at the dealership, so he offered to leave the gym to come get me and take me back. ...and people wonder why I think I'm the princess! ;-) I really appreciate having him in my life and I'm so happy he's so willing to be such a part of my journey. He'll be greatly rewarded for his humble ways and the acts of kindness he gives to everyone he works with.

Good day today. I was feeling very strong. And he said I looked better than I had been in my form. I remembered to keep my grip wider today. It helps SO much when I do that.

Bench Press w/ Band underneath - 95 lbs. plus black mini-band. Sets of 3.
Close Grip w/ Band underneath - 135 lbs. plus black mini-band. Sets of 5.
We did that new hip exercise off the end of the bench today. Brian's kinda excited about it, he says I get a lot of movement.
Cable Tricep Extensions - 90 lbs., 3 sets of 12. 100 lbs., 1 set of 12, Brian helped a little at the end.
Dumbbell Military Press (been a LOOOONG time) - 25 lbs., 12. 35 lbs., 12.
Blackburns - 8 lbs., 2 sets of 12.

And a 'lil stretching :-)

More sponsorships have been coming in. SO thankful for that.

Great Response

Hello there all.

We've been getting a lot of great responses from the news segments. I've even had people that I don't know contact me in one way or another. I was asked to go speak to a special needs class of 4th, 5th and 6th graders. So, I'll have to keep you posted on that. I got a couple of cards and a couple of emails as well. I was a bit disappointed with the segments, only because I contacted them to do a story on Brian, with me as a sample client kind of thing and it turned into a me story with Brian in the background as my trainer. But, if that's how it had to be, I'm sure glad that it's making a difference to people. That was my point even with writing them about Brian's side of the story...we just have our own different twists of making a difference. It's a great opening for me to know what's out there in other people's lives that I need to be praying for.

I don't have to go to Oklahoma this weekend. It's kind of a shame. I was hoping to get a better handle on what will be going on internationally and such pretty quick. But, it was also a bit of a relief, as I'm not much of a fan of leaving my routine. It's going to be rescheduled. And it looks to be at a better time for me, with not so much going on at school in the next half-semester.

We had a very good day today. I'm liking back day a bit more than I used to. Brian does some pretty cool stuff...most of it being that I'm more secure with everything than I used to be because of how he uses the straps.

Cable Rows - I did 4 sets between 8 and 12, working up to the whole 150 stack, plus a 35 lb. plate attached. This is really working out VERY well. They're definitely my favorite rows.
Dumbbell Rows - 40 lbs., 2 sets of 20.
<3 Back Raises <3 Brian said I did good at these again today! :) Then we tried something different. I'm not really sure what to call it. I turned around so that my hips were still at the end of the bench but my legs were hanging off instead of my upper body. Brian had me lift my hips that way with my lower back muscles. He wasn't sure if I'd get any movement, but I actually got a lot. And he said that it's much less stressful but it still works my lower back very well. I liked them....but I still adore my back raises. I think because I never thought I could do them, and I really can!
Lateral Pulldowns - worked up to 90 lbs., 3 sets of 10 (or close to).
Dumbbell Bicep HammerCurls - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Chops - 30 + lbs., 3 sets of 15.

Stretching!! :) Thank you, Brian.

Second Segment!!!!!

Here's the segment that aired tonight. It aired on FOUR different broadcasts!!!!! I was shocked. It's a wonderful segment. Very well put together. AND!!! MY FAVORITE PART....Brian holding up the bench so I can get a drink from my water bottle without being unstrapped!!!!! ;-) Brian told the reporter not to tape that, but I told him he should cuz that's why I contacted them!! I was SO excited that he included it!! The second link is the printed story that accompanies the video.

http://www.myvalleysports.com/default.aspx

http://www.myvalleysports.com/content/headlines/story/Powerlifter-Perseveres-Through-Passion/wIXqdiqpsEy0LJnzEA9xTw.cspx

We had a decent day today. I didn't start out in a great mood. I have to go to Oklahoma this weekend for clinic and any time I leave, I'm not always too excited about being out of my routine, even if I'm going to do something that I want to do. So, that's what was on my mind. But Brian got me distracted and really focused on talking about my lifting and it loosened me up a lot. I'm doing a lot of reverting back to the old way I used to bench. :( But, Brian said we'll fix it, a little at a time. My grip has been narrowing, and I didn't realize it until Brian told me today. So I have to work on widening that back up. And I'm stopping and thinking a lot in between reps again. That's always when Adam wished he could shut off my brain. I think I fall back into the pattern when I start to work with higher weight because I'm not quite as comfortable. But, Brian will get me back on track soon enough. It hasn't hurt me too badly, because I have still been making gains. But, we both think I'm stronger than what I'm pushing right now.

We did Reverse Band Press. Brian got new mini-bands and I was either off today or the bands don't have as much tension as the mini-bands we used last week. I worked up to 210 lbs. for 2 reps. Last week I got 205 lbs. for 5 reps.

Overhead Tricep Extensions - Worked up to 110 lbs. for 10-12.
Cable Crunches - Don't know weight. Did 15 reps for 3 sets
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 2 sets of 12.

I THINK that's it. We spent A LOT of time on Bench today. So, he didn't do quite as much of the other stuff, and we completely skipped dumbbells. Darn! (not really).

And, of course, stretching!

Everyone watch for me taking a drink at the end of the video!!!!! It's really cool. It makes me smile very big :-D

News Segment

For anyone who isn't around here (which is most of you) here's the first news segment of me and my Hometown Hero :-D

http://www.wfmj.com/global/category.asp?c=179433&clipId=4481991&topVideoCatNo=127724&autoStart=true

It's so cool!!! It will make you smile.

CELEBRITIES!

Yeah, Brian and I, we're kind of a big deal around here! ;-) BOTH reporters came to the gym to interview us today for the segment they're going to do. I had SOOOOOOOOO much fun with my interview!!!!!!!!!! Of course, it was mostly geared toward Brian because that's why I pitched the story to them, but they discussed my Paralympic dream as well. It's good exposure for me, no matter how large or small the amount of time. And it's GREAT exposure for Brian and his new endeavor of owning the gym. I really hope a good rep starts to get built and spread about him and it starts to bring in more business. .....and I really just have a big mouth and wanted to tell how much I appreciate everything he does for me :D I had a blast. I can't wait to do it again!!!! I probably talked crappy and choppy, but I talked how I always talk and I had a good time with the reporters. Brian was nervous. But, he said he appreciated me doing it for him. Hey, gotta do what ya gotta do, free advertising doesn't come along every day!

Brian wanted to show off for the cameras, so I got to do regular benching today. We worked up to around 170 lbs., just for one. He told me to take it easy on the reps since I have to do it again on Monday.
Dumbbell Bench Press - 40 lbs., 10. 45 lbs., 10. 50 lbs., 8.
I needed a drink between, and Brian told them not to tape, but I told them TO tape, and I think they did!! I'm strapped to the bench w/ all three straps and Brian lifts up the back of the bench to straighten me up so I can get a drink without being unstrapped! lol.
Dumbbell Skullcrushers - 15 lbs., 12. 20 lbs., 2 sets of 10.
(This is about when the camera people left.)
Tricep Pushdowns - 60 lbs., 20. 80 lbs., 20.
Then we did some abs. And we talked all about the interviews. :-D

<3 Stretching <3

I got a lot of sponsor checks in the mail yesterday. I'm totaling $1200 so far this year. That's an amazing start!! Very grateful.

Hometown Hero

So, I was brainstorming the other night on the way home and I thought it would be a very spectacular idea to nominate Brian as a local Hometown Hero. Unfortunately, I couldn't really find anything that gives out an award or anything. But, I wrote the news stations anyway and asked if they'd do a segment on such thing. They wrote back and are all interested in doing a story on both Brian and me!!!!!!! YAAAAY!!!!!!! I'm SO happy they responded and were interested. I really wanted to do something for Brian. He doesn't let anyone repay him for all the good he does. Which, I understand...he does it out of the goodness of his heart....but that's what makes me really wanna make sure it's something special when I do find something to do in return for him. AND! It's free advertisement for the gym!! ;) And maybe we'll get some sponsors out of it too. :) I'm super excited!!!!!!! He deserves some attention for the good he does for ALL of his clients.

Really good day today.

Single Arm Dumbbell Rows - 35 lbs., 40 lbs., 45 lbs., sets of 10. 50 lbs., a set of 8.
<3 Back Raises <3 Brian said I improved again...getting up a little higher. :-D
Cable Rows - Worked up to the whole stack of 150 lbs. for sets of 10. Brian said he's gonna have to find a way to rig more weight up to it. But, I REALLY REALLY liked these...A LOT.
Cable Shrugs - We worked up to about 100 lbs., but they didn't really work how Brian wanted them too. It was hard for him to hand each side to me at the same time and it was hard for me to keep on balance if he only handed me one side at a time. I think if he lightens the weight it will be easier for me to steady myself, but then I'll have to do more reps and I'm not sure that's what he's going for.
Inclined Facedown Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 2 sets of 12. I have a knot in my deltoid that bugged me..but I am behind on massages. That's all it'll take to correct it...not really a big deal.
Cable Bicep Curls - 50 lbs., 10. I think he went higher in weight, but I don't remember what he went to. I did two more sets of 10.

Stretching :-D

School started last night. Word Processing was easy. Tonight was Medical Terminology. That's going to be VERY demanding. We'll see what System Studies is like tomorrow.

Picture Perfect.

I'm a real sap for those inspirational, good-hearted hero movies where some teacher or coach or neighbor or authority figure takes the 'broken' kid under their wing and takes the time to broaden the horizons of him/her farther than they ever would have imagined. I always end up crying at the end (like most everyone)...and then I go away wishing someone would enter my life who is as compassionate and understanding as the movie made the teacher, coach, etc. seem to be. Then I realize it's a movie and it couldn't have been as good and as easy as the movie made it seem. There's so much detail that doesn't get put in a 2-hour movie...nothing is that picture perfect. That's why they call it picture perfect...not real life.

Now, I'm wishing someone was around to make a pitch about a movie of my life, because my life has become that movie, and it is picture perfect and it is as good and as easy as the movie (at least on my end. ;) )

The dictionary definition of a Guardian Angel is: a person who looks after or is concerned with the welfare of another.

This weekend, Brian had me start hanging on his new ropes. I can't climb yet...one arm is not strong enough to hold my body weight while I let go with the other hand to reach up higher. But, I can hang and it's a start. It's excellent to help improve my grip also.

This weekend Brian also talked to the massotherapist that just moved into the upstairs at the gym. His name is Jesse. Brian talked to him about coming to watch while we stretch, so he can see how Brian works with me and can learn about where my sensation ends and I can talk to him and get to know him, so I won't be so apprehensive about starting with a new massotherapist. Brian's talked a lot with him and knows him fairly well from making plans for him to be the gym's massotherapist. Brian knows what makes me so nervous with new people, so, I know he's covered all my bases for me and I feel really great about it. Brian thinks of everything. :) He also knows when I need a good swift kick in the tail, which he also did this weekend, and I appreciated. Then he includes himself in my entire journey of making my dreams come true, which is what I needed most of all when I was out looking for someone new to train with.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean on on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." He most definitely has directed this path. And I had no other options but to lean on Him because I didn't understand, at all, why things were going the way they were when I began the search for yet another trainer last July.

Good day today :) We had a rough start. I really had trouble finding my groove on my bench drill. It took me a while to do all the sets. But, it worked out in the end. I had a little trouble with my right arm, so he didn't change my dumbbell weight. He introduced me to a new tricep exercise that worked very well. And we experimented with some new ab stuff.

Reverse Band Press - I had a very hard time adjusting to regular bench the last time we were done with a cycle of bands, so, he only used a mini-band. It doesn't have near the tension that a wider band does. So, it's much closer to the real weight, but it is still aiding me a bit. I worked up to doing 205 lbs. for 5 reps. It was kind of funny, I was a little disappointed in myself because the first time we tried it, I really misgrooved and could hardly lift it, and after that I could only get 3 reps. But, then I tried again after a water break and I got all 5 lifts. I was kinda bummin' because I actually didn't realize how much weight he had put on. I said "Should that have been easier for me?" and he said "No, it was 205.", and then he smiled. So, I felt pretty good about it after I figured out exactly what the weight was.
Dumbbell Bench Press - 45 lbs., 4 sets of 10.
Overhead Cable Tricep Extensions - I don't know what the weight was on this or on abs. I forgot to ask. I'll try to remember next week. I did like 3 or 4 sets of 10.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 12. 20 lbs., 2 sets of 10. Lovin' the weight increase!!! I did well too. :)
My abs were seated crunches and I was pulling the cable from behind me, over my head. Did a couple sets of 15. We had to do a little experimentation, but it worked in the end.

I'm down to 122 lbs.!!!!! I need to be at 118 lbs. Getting closer! I've also started receiving sponsors for this year. I'm so grateful for that. Tomorrow I start school, so, Monday and Wednesday blogs are probably going to be late from here on out.

Hard Times

Sorry I'm late everyone. My day began with being poked with a needle and ended with finding out that Jack was already on his way out to New Mexico. That's definitely the LEAST ideal day on record for an extremely long time.

BUT, my in between was again wonderful. :) We only did two exercises yesterday, but both ended up very wonderful. As decent as my bench press was when I got to Brian, he's still improving it. Yesterday, we didn't do more than 65 lbs., but, we messed with my form a lot. And I think he fixed my right elbow situation. He's told me to pull the bar apart and pull myself to the bar instead of pulling the bar to me since I started with him. I had NO idea what he meant until yesterday. Then yesterday he had me turn my elbows in when I grip the bar...and PRESTO! You pretty much pull the bar apart and end up pulling yourself into it! I pulled my elbows apart on the way down and I was still able to stay very tight!! I really pushed through my lats more than I ever have. My elbow didn't crack or hurt. I felt much stronger. I stayed much tighter. And the weight got lighter. He said THAT'S my groove. I was really excited. Now I just need to make it a habit of staying right there. We tried some crazy band work, but it didn't really work out too well. It made me smile though :) Brian's so crazy. He does the most insane drills. Very fun :)

Then, we did <3 Back Raises <3 I did really well yesterday. I think I came up a little higher, and I was able to hold higher. It was awesome. Those are the best.

And Stretching :-D

Very good gym day.

Big Business!

Me? Or Brian? Both. :-D

Brian's been doing so well with gaining more clients for personal training!!! I'm really happy for him. He's good and knows what he's doing and deserves the business. It's actually a bit up in the air, whether he'll be able to take time off to go to my next meet. (so everyone say an extra special prayer about that one for Chelsi.) But, I'm super excited that it's working out so well since he took the gym over. Those steps into the unknown really shine some light in your life when they work out...especially so quickly. :-)

He was getting a pretty big kick out of how big my arms are today....so that's my big business. He even called another guy over to watch me to the exercise! lol. I don't know if it was the position of the exercise or if they're growing again. But he makes me laugh. I'm glad he's so excited and gets to see physical results with what he's doing with me. Has to make him feel good that it's doing what it's supposed to.

Another good day in the books. For real, all he has to do to make it a good day anymore is throw in my back-raises. It makes me feel real good that I can do them. :-D Today I was bumming a little about it, because we did them a little differently where I started up and he held me with a band and as he let go slightly with the band I was supposed to hold position. I didn't think I was able to hold much so I was a little disappointed. But, when we went over to the next workout, Brian said I did very well and I was actually holding once I got a little past half-way. I really needed him to tell me that, cuz it didn't feel like I was doing much at all. So, I'm glad he made sure I knew he was happy with it. It definitely made me not so disappointed in myself.

Cambered Bar Rows - 65 lbs., 4 sets of 10.
Dumbbell Rows - 25 lbs., 2 sets of 25. Brian had me do both arms at the same time, which I wasn't too thrilled about, but then he held me down along w/ my straps, so that made it all better. :-D
Back Raises - Inclined.....who knows how many. I did a set regular and then we did a few that I had to hold.
Lateral Pull-down - I actually don't know what the weight was. It was lighter. I got a lot of reps the first time. Then I did 2 or 3 more sets of 12. I was strapped and then Brian braced me so I sat straight. REALLY helps when he does that.
I THINK the next thing we did, he called Pythons - This is when he was getting such a kick out of how thick my arms are. It was a bicep curl, but the cable was up higher and my arms were straight out and I curled to my forehead. I actually liked them. I used 40 & 50 lbs. for a few sets of like 10 or 12.

<3 Stretching <3

Say a prayer for me. I have to go get a scan done on my abdomen on Friday and I have to have an IV for it. :-( My very very least favorite thing in the whoooooooooole universe. I'm even pondering switching training times because it's so draining for me....and depending on how well (or not well) it goes, Brian might not even want to deal with me that day. But, we'll see what happens.

All Smiles :-)

Now THAT is a good start to deload week. I love to give Brian a hard time about deloads, cuz I royally hated them when I started. I don't mind them anymore, it's just fun to hassle him. But, today we did band work which always keeps things interesting AND we did the back raises again!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!! My new favorite thing. It makes me so happy :-D

I did a set or two of 95 lbs. I believe. Then Brian took my red mini bands and tied them together, then put them around him and on then ends of the bars so that the bar pulled back a little bit. He is trying to teach me to stay tighter. I REALLY need it. He's thinking that's my right elbow problem...and I'm thinkin' he's right. I never thought of it until he said it today, but my right arm doesn't stay tight when I bench and the bar is always in front of my elbow, which puts extra pressure on it. So, we did a couple sets with Brian tied up in the bands and then he hung a band at each end with some weight in it, not sure what plate it was though. That's just a different technique to keep me tight, cuz it swings and I'm supposed to steady it.

Then we did the back raises. I have NO idea how many I do. There's too much on my mind to concentrate on for me to count or pay much attention to anything. It's pretty tough. But I'm SO excited that the muscles exist and that we can work at getting them better and stronger. I'm just thrilled beyond words that Brian's taken so much time to observe me and discover new things I can do.

We did some Tricep Pushdowns with my new bar. 3 sets of 40 at 40 lbs. Then Cable Rope Iron Crosses, 2 sets of 20 at 30 lbs.

That might be all we did. And, of course, stretching :-D

That's a very wonderful deload day, if you ask me!

Guardian Angel

So, I have this guardian angel. He's about medium height, bald head. He does single-arm back rows w/ 100 lb. dumbbells (which is unbelievably inspiring to me). He is old-hat at the tough guy routine...but is really just a big teddy bear. He has the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. He watches out for me and protects me on a daily basis...near or far. He's always most interested in what's best for me. And, in just a few short months, he knows how to pick out the stuff that means the most to me in life. I know you all think I talk to much for anyone to not know what's important to me....but you're wrong. I'm extra quiet about what I really wish for in life.

Most people take the intentions of my expressed gratitude for certain people in my life in a very wrong way. But, anyone I've ever been overly verbally expressive about has just simply given me something in life that most of you take for granted on a daily basis...in some way treated me 'normal' that most people don't do.

Brian takes the cake. Brian observes my every move I make and pulls natural, daily movements out of me that I had no idea I could do...or he finds over the top movements that will increase my daily function. He gives me so much of his time. He has started a process that will make me more independent than I could ever have dreamed. There are lots of things people, and myself, have assumed I was capable of....Brian is taking the time to give me the experiences of those things. Talking and experiencing are completely different. Adam always wanted me to be more independent in my workouts...but, I never had the resources to be. Brian is helping me through things and exercises that will strengthen me to be as independent on my own as Adam always wanted me to be. It just doesn't happen over night. I had to start somewhere...doesn't come about with the snap of a finger.

My God couldn't have given me a better gift than sending me to train with Brian. God has prepared all of the desires of my heart and laid them out one by one for me over the last 5 months. I cry, in awe and appreciation, on a regular basis because of the daily gifts Brian gives me...that I know most of you wouldn't bat an eye at. I'm so fortunate that Brian has such a passion for what he's doing and that it comes so easily to him and isn't a burden.

We did some cardio upstairs yesterday. The Prowler really kicks my tail! Today Brian took me downstairs after we stretched and he hooked my legs to the bench with his lifting belt (I didn't have my straps with me). From my belly up, I was hanging off the bench, head touching the floor. And I raised myself up backwards. I didn't go all the way up, but I had so much more movement than I thought I'd have, and Brian said I got better every time. It's such an incredible feeling to go in and do things that I never thought possible from not being able to use my legs to keep me down. It's much different than being strapped up in my braces, the way I used to walk as a kid. That was like robotic. I wasn't free to move around normally. But with the stuff we do...yes, I need straps, but the rest of my body moves about in a natural way. The way that everybody ELSE gets to move. And, Brian has taken his time to figure out how to make those things possible for me. That is a debt that isn't repayable...among so many others.

When you have something about yourself that runs so deeply in you and is such a part of your whole life, and you absolutely hate it is a tough thing to carry.....when you have someone that makes the discovery with/for you that it isn't so bad or it can be fixed, even in the least, it forms a very indescribable bond, unless you have lived through it. That's the part that most of you don't understand when I'm so expressive of how much someone means to me. I have felt broken all of my life. And there have been certain people that, little by little, have done a thing here or there to show me that maybe I'm not as broken as I think. But, to go in and have someone take the time to improve your quality of life, so that even after they might not be there your abilities will be forever strengthened.....it's a very liberating feeling to know that I'm not stuck in the same position doing the same things for the rest of my life.

I'm kinda stuck as to how to end this blog entry. I feel like I could talk forever, just because today meant so much for me to find out that I actually have muscles that (probably) can be strengthened. It was a lot like going up and getting on that exercise bike in Ann Arbor. I never expected my legs to do what they were actually supposed to do. And, I'm super thankful to have someone who doesn't mind taking the time to help make my dreams come true....way beyond the dream of the Paralympics. He's helping me become a very 'normal' person.

Change of Heart

I think it's very interesting how people's actions can be perceived as so far off of what the truth of the actual intention of the person is. Just an observation from a light-hearted comment I got that I probably took too seriously. That's all I'm going to say about that.

I had a wonderful day today. That seems to have become a routine thing. :-D I'm very happy about that. I hope I've become as fun to train as Brian is to train with. I know I'm not always a peach to handle, but things are so much different this time around and I feel so much looser and at ease most of the time, and feel more that way every day. Lots of fun and laughs today.

We started with Reverse Band Press. I did a couple of warm-ups and wasn't completely comfortable with how it was going, but I felt real good. Nothing was hurting terribly bad...just quirky stuff. We were supposed to work on speed drills today because we haven't done them this cycle due to the holidays....not chains or bands or anything. So, I do a couple warm-ups and Brian says "I've had a change of heart. Do ya feel okay? Do you wanna see what you can do on this so I can get an idea of your percentages for next cycle?" Do I WANT to max out?!?!?!?! Do you even have to ask???? Is there EVER a doubt that I WANT to max out!?!?!!? EVER?!? OF COURSE I want to max out!!!!!! And I didn't even have to beg for it!!!!!! It was all Brian's idea! (Of course, that means I owe him, so, I have to keep my mouth shut good and tight next week on deload week.) I was very happy with the end results of the max-out and so was Brian, as far as I could tell. I set a new P.R. on Reverse Band Press....two P.R.'s in one week!! YAY! Seems Brian knows what he's talking about. ;-)

Reverse Band Press - Worked my way up to 280 lbs. for a single. That's up 10 lbs. from my Reverse Band Press cycle when I first got home from my competition!!!
Tricep Extensions - I gave Brian a giftcard for Christmas from his favorite place to get 'new toys' for the gym.....intending that he get something for himself!!!!!! But, he got me a new bar with handles that twist, so your grip can change during an exercise if something hurts. He got it for my elbows for triceps stuff. :-) He said he'll use it, so I guess it's okay. lol. I love it!! It worked out super well. Neither elbow hurt at all while I was doing my extensions. I did 15 with 80 lbs. 12 with 100 lbs. 9 with 110 lbs. (Brian helped with the last one). Then I did 7 with 110 lbs., and he backed it down about 4 times till we got to 40 lbs., doing very quick sets, between 12 and 20 reps.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Blackburns - 8 lbs., 10 & 12. (Weight increase!)
Regular Reachups - 20, and then I went till I had to stop...I know it was over 40.

Good day, eh??? I was pleased. :-)

Comfortable

(sorry for who got this twice. I published it without all my weights...hit the wrong button) Today was a good day. I'm getting stronger in my back. My grip is gettung better too.

Cambered Bar Rows - Warm up set of 10. 95 lbs., 7, 5, 6.
Dumbbell Rows (Single Arm) - 50 lbs., 12, 10.
Shrugs - 95 lbs., 3 sets of 8...I REALLY could have done more, but my left thumb wouldn't stay wrapped around. I didn't say my grip was perfect...it's better than it was though.
Commando Pull-Ups - set of 8 and then a set of 6 w/ a chain around my neck. Felt pretty good!
Face-down Inclined Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., set of 12 w/ a pause. Set of 10 with a pause immediately followed by 5 quick reps.
Cable Bicep Curls - 40 lbs., 12. 50 lbs., 2 sets of 12. Had to work for these, and Brian had to hold me on the last set, cuz my straps weren't quite as tight as they should have been for a heavier weight. But, it worked.
Chops - 30 lbs., 3 sets of 15. I'm a lot more stable on these and getting better range of motion. That means my core is getting stronger! YAY!

So, I'm starting school on the 19th....night classes. I've been talking to my Stef, and to Brian about what I'm going to do in between training and school, b/c I'm not going to have enough time to come home. Well, at least until the weather breaks, I'm going to stay at the gym, b/c Stef's steps get pretty icy, and I'll already be at the gym and won't have to go back out into all the crap snow.

So, today Brian and I went to the locker room to see if I could reach the knob in the shower to turn it on, so I can get cleaned up before I leave for school. He took me up the 4 steps that there are to the locker room. I got down into the shower and propped my knees and just as I was getting ready to climb my way up the wall I turned around and looked at Brian w/ my "I hate this" look. He was just standing in the doorway watching me, and said "I know. It sucks, doesn't it?" It made my heart smile. It doesn't suck near as bad when you have someone there that knows how bad it sucks. Not only that, but, I was very happy to see that he's been around me enough that he's gotten used to watching me try stuff out before he wanders over to do any assisting. He was just standing in the doorway...knew I'd say if I needed something. Brian also said if worse comes to worse, he can always go in and turn the water on and it will just have to run until I get dressed when I'm done and then he can go back and turn it off. He says things so simply...just like he's always had to do stuff like that for people. My gut reaction is that it's just one more thing that I have to bother him to do for me and interrupt whatever he is doing at the moment...but, he just doesn't ever seem to care. It's how it is and he's always willingly there to make adjustments.

Then, when we were going back down the steps, he didn't stop to position me, and he went down the quickest that he has taken me down steps yet! He wasn't so hesitant about it. :-) I laughed, I told him he's getting brave...getting used to me. He said that might not be a good thing if he gets too comfortable. I think he meant I'm in for it the more he is brave enough to make me try stuff. But, it's a wonderful thing to me for him to be that comfortable....means I'm not a burden and how I have to do things is becoming normal routine for him. That's the best Chicken Soup for the Soul I can find. Means a lot to me. And I was happy to realize that I'm comfortable enough with him that I didn't hesitate to go climbing around and be in such an awkward position that usually people don't see me in. I know we've had many of those, but it's nice to know that each time it's getting easier for me and I think about it less and less.

P.R. !!

(For anyone that doesn't know, P.R. means Personal Record.)

So, I realized that this whole mental game can go both ways. It's not only believing that you can do something you probably shouldn't. It's also believing you will next time around when you don't make it.

My daddy came to watch me max today!! :-D Thanks Daddy. He was off work this afternoon, so he came up since it was my day to do singles.

My Workout:
Bench - Warm-up, 95 lbs., 10. 135 lbs., 3. A couple singles. Max out at 190 lbs.!! Never done that before!!! Never!! YAY!
Dumbbell Decline Press - 50 lbs., 8. 55 lbs., 8.
Skullcrushers - 30 lbs., (i finally remembered to ask! It's usually 40-50 lbs., but he took it easy on the elbow today) I think it was 4 sets....12 reps a set.
Shoulder Horn - 10 lbs., 2 sets of 30.
Abs on the half round thing :-D 2 sets of 12 and a set of 10 with a chain around my neck! lol. Fun times with crazy Brian.

So, I was a little bummed leaving the gym. I was really hoping for 195 lbs. But, I actually didn't even get the 190 lbs the first time. Brian helped a bit. But once I took a break and hit it again, I did it on my own. Anyway, I was leary of trying 195 lbs. after that, and if there's any hesitation I've learned I'm probably not going to get it. So we didn't try more.

On my way home I called my friend Scott. He asked me to call him when I maxed. He answered the phone and I said "I got 190," and I didn't say it very enthusiastically. He was on my tail before I ever finished my sentence, telling me I could be a little more proud of myself than I sounded. I told him I was hoping for 195. (And so was Brian....that always makes it a little rougher). Well, Scott went skiing this weekend and saw these kids that have Cerebral Palsy skiing and talked to them and told them about me and stuff. So Scott says to me on the phone, "Listen, that's 5 lbs. more than you got last time. You aren't going backwards. And you know those kids that I saw this weekend when I was skiing? They can't even get out of their wheelchairs to lift, so just be thankful that you are where you're at." It made me smile. I realized that setting your goals too high can be just as detrimental as setting them too low. He's right. It's more than I've ever done. And, what I wanted isn't that far off...I just have to wait longer. Not like I'm not going to get it. It just feels like every time I am very excited and feel ready and psyched up and I'm concentrated and mentally prepared, I do worse than what I want to do. I think I really have my heart set on funding qualification...especially since it's lower in the lower weight class...made it sound more believable to the near future. But, if it doesn't happen, I know I'll be funded. One way or the other.

We stretched today as well. :-) Thank you Brian.

The Big Picture

(I know that you'll get this twice if you're signed up to receive the email, but, it published it out of order, since I started it a couple of days ago...and I wanted my workout in order, so I deleted the last one and copied it like I wrote it today. It says the same thing though!)

I was in the final chapters of "Unthinkable" on Monday evening, and reading his description about the night before reaching his goal of being in the triathlon and what a huge deal it was, and then the description of the day of the event. That's a really major thing to get to that Ironman Triathlon....it's "the grand-daddy of them all" as they say.

Since I started my journey, and been reading so much about other people's journeys, I've realized how much effort and heart go into the goals that people set for themselves athletically, and it has taught me to really respect and be happy for whomever comes out on top in the end. Believe me, I still have my favorites and teams and people I root for....and I still have my opinions of people who probably didn't have to work as hard and it probably doesn't mean as much...but, all in all, when you see someone crying while their national anthem is being played, or when they're handed the trophy at the end of the game, it's hard not to be happy that they got what they deserved.

I get side-tracked a lot of times, because I'm such a detailed oriented person. I get caught up in the day to day routine of being at the gym and seeing Brian....and I'm always thankful for the time he spends with me. But, after reading those chapters of Unthinkable, and picturing what an enormous deal that was for Scott Rigsby and listening to him speak of all the people that got him that far...it made me start to cry. It was very humbling for me to think about Brian and all my sponsors and supporters giving everything that you all do, for me to get to something that is equally as enormous of a deal. All the small things that I'm so thankful for along the way build up into this incredible dream that I've always had...granted, I dont think I ever thought I'd be achieving it by powerlifting...but I've always watched the Olympics and wanted to be one of those people some day. And I'm awestruck when I think that I'm on my way to having my chance. It makes the gratitude go so much deeper and the meaning of each moment spent on me by someone else mean so much more.

That's a pretty big picture to grasp ahold of. Maybe that's why I focus so much on the details of day to day. It's very overwhelming to think that there's only one competition that stands between me and a spot on the World's Team. It's both scary and awesome. I can't imagine getting on a plane for something that big without my trainer or my parents or any other family. But, as Scott Rigsby says in his book "I had just a little more faith than I had fear."....and so do I.

So, I'm glad I have these reminders that show up every once and again to remind me who and what I'm competing for. I'm competing to represent the United States of America. That makes me smile. Wish I could remember more often. Mary and I watched the movie "Miracle" this weekend, about the Olympic hockey team from sometime in the '70's. When the team first gets selected, the coach asks them all what their names are and who they play for...they all say their name and their college. Then, after one of their games, that they didn't win and none of the bench players were really paying attention to the game, the coach makes them do laps, back and forth, across the ice, until the rink is closed up and everyone else has gone home...and most of the players start throwing up. Finally one kid speaks up, says his name and says he plays for the USA. Then they're allowed to go home. It made me smile. Mary said she thought that was a little overboard just to get them to say they played for the U.S. I say it isn't at all...cuz they never forgot after that.

Sorry I'm a day late blogging. I worked out yesterday, but was busy all day after the gym. So,
here is what I did:

Bench - 135 lbs with two-second pauses, sets of 3.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 2 sets of 12.
Tricep Pushdowns - 30 lbs., 3 or 4 sets of 15-20.
Regular Reach-Ups - 3 sets of 15.

I think that's it. Didn't stretch, but we're going to today after cardio. Brian fixed a couple loose bolts on my chair yesterday. :-) I'm well taken care of.

OOPS! I forgot....Cable Rope Iron Cross - 30 lbs., a few sets of 12 or 15.