Gearing up.

Well, tomorrow will be a week until I compete. :-) Today was my last really big workout...wasn't extremely big. I've had an ear infection all week so Brian cut me back a little bit. But, it was still quite a bit. :-)

Bench Speed Drill - 95 lbs., plus 1 set of chains 3 sets of 3. Plus 2 sets of chains 5 sets of 3.
Dumbbell Bench - 35 lbs., 4 sets of 12.
Triceps Rollouts - 20 lbs., 6 sets of 10.
Dumbbell Military - 20 lbs., 12. 25 lbs., 12, 10, 10.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 10.

<3 Stretching <3

Getting super excited!!!!!!!!!!

Less Words, More Message

Here's a commercial I'm sure you've all seen. Notice each of the bottles they show. There's only two words on each of them. But, they each speak volumes more than that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZgYJzYOhdw

We had a good day today. I was surprised that I did what I did. I have an ear infection. But, my energy level was pretty good clear through my workout. My diet must really be doing some good :-)

Cable Rows - 130 lbs., 15. 150 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Cable Overhead Iron Cross - 70 lbs., 90 lbs., 100 lbs. (x's 2) - 15.
Lateral Pulldown - 70 lbs., 4 sets of 12.
Hammer Curls - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 15.

<3 Stretching <3

Yes. It's Worth It.

I've had some sacrifices that I've had to make due to training smacking me in the face recently (one large one in particular) Then, I saw this video. Very fitting for heading towards my first major qualfying competition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U551J57YoK0

Bench - Tried 165 again...so very very close. Gonna go for it at Competition.
Arnold Presses - 25 lbs., 12. 30 lbs., 2 sets of 8.
Triceps Rollouts supersetted with Side Extensions - 15 lbs., 6 sets of 6.
We did some new abs. Not sure what to call them. I'm going to have to ask Brian :-)

<3 Stretching <3

The qualifying weight I have to hit is 132 lbs. My opener is planned at 148 lbs. :-D

Excited!

Well, we're one day short of 2 weeks out!!!!! I'm getting pretty excited about it. Loving the competition atmosphere that has started to build around me already.

Dumbbell Rows - 35 lbs., 2 sets of 15 and 2 sets of 12.
Blackburns - 5 lbs., 2 sets of 25.
PullUps supersetted with Band Triceps Pushdowns (red mini) - I think 5 sets of each. Pullups were sets of 5 and Pushdowns were sets of 25.
Dumbbell Rotating Bench Press - 25 lbs., 2 sets timed for a minute and a half (I think).

<3 Stretching <3

Life is great!

It's Not About Luck

Here's a video for everyone. These are the guys that Brian follows for a lot of my training stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Clg9VjBNM

And I definitely need to get my hands on one of those shamrock shirts someday :)

Bench with Chains - 3 sets of 3 with 95 lbs., plus one set of chains. 5 sets of 3 with 95 lbs., plus 2 sets of chains.
Close Grips - 95 lbs., 115 lbs., 125 lbs.,(2 sets) all sets of 5.
Triceps Pushdowns - 60 lbs., 12. 70 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Backwards Flys - 15 lbs.(?), 3 sets of 12.

<3 Stretching <3

I did backwards flys last week and I think I forgot to mention them. Two weeks out as of tomorrow.


Couple side notes: Fundraiser events are turning out very smoothly. Some extra sponsors are rolling in. Very grateful for that.

Also, a very huge congratulations to my cousin, Caitlin, who follows my blog. She gets married tomorrow, in Fla. I, unfortunately, could not be there, due to being so close to a competition. But, I am so happy for her and I'm praying nothing but perfection for her big day! I love you very much, Caite :)

Just a Good Day

Nothing in particular to blog about. It was just your normal-every-day good day. :-) I'm really excited that it's normal for us to have good days. I love training. It makes my heart happy.

Cable Rows - 140 lbs., 2 sets of 20. 150 lbs., 2 sets of 15 and a set of 18.
Overhead Cable Iron Cross - 100 lbs., 2 sets of 15, a set of 20 and a set of 10.
Lateral Pulldown - 70 lbs., 4 sets of 12.
Hammer Curls - 20 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Chops - 40 lbs., 3 sets of 12.

<3 Stretching <3

The response to my benefit concert seems to be good. And I've been getting calls for Tastefully Simple orders for that fundraiser. And I have a fundraiser for June in the works. It's all gonna be A-OK.

Good to Great

So, today was a crappy day. I very much put expectations on myself to lift at least 170 lbs. at my competition and was really hoping for 175 lbs. I wanted to go blow the socks off of everyone to qualify and rank for the first time. I've practiced 155 lbs. a couple of times now and it feels VERY light...almost like it should be my opener. I thought 170 lbs. was a shoo-in. So Brian loads the bar today and I work up to 155 lbs. and nail it. I knew it was 155 lbs, cuz I did it last week. I could tell. And it was easier than it was last week. Then he loads some more and I just barely got it off of me, all the way up....and honestly, they probably would have taken it from me had it been at a competition. I sit up hoping and praying it was at LEAST 170 lbs. It was not. It was 165 lbs. So, Brian tells me not to start and not to get in my head, which is very hard for me to do. I was good the rest of the time I was with him. He keeps me talking about other things. Distraction is always good. But, then I head home, and I can feel the feeling of unsatisfaction creeping in. It isn't that I'm unsatisfied with how he works out my training. I'm just so conditioned to believing that my body doesn't (ever) do what it's supposed to do, that, when I don't get what I thought, I assume it's something wrong with how my body reacts. And it throws me into a downward spiral because I don't know why my body just won't do SOMETHING normal...I want to scream at it and say "Just do ONE thing that you're supposed to."

Then, I got home, and got on my facebook page and a friend posts a video called "Why nothing is impossible." I watch it, it's nice. But, doesn't quite hit the spot for me...so I start snooping around at the other video suggestions off to the right side of the youtube screen. And this is what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUKiS0Jn7hs

We've had a lot of tiny set backs that have added up into being pretty big changes. My form looks nothing like when I started coming to Brian. I've dropped 9 lbs. I had a total crash physically and Brian had to rearrange my diet, just 6 weeks ago. Plus, I've had massage issues in between that kept me from lifting at my best.

The video (for those of you who finished reading first) is called Good to Great. And as I was watching it, I heard Brian's voice in my head, telling me to get out of my head and not to start. And it makes me smile. Then I remembered the other famous quote Brian always says to me: "Rome was not built in a day." And I smile. Then I look where I have 3 quotes taped to the top of my computer screen and the first one says "The difficult takes time. The impossible takes a little longer." And I smile. I also picture Brian standing in front of me, listing all the set backs I listed above, telling me that's why I should stay out of my head and I realize...My body IS reacting normal. And I smile. Brian is taking me from Good to Great. I just have to stay out of the way so he can get me there.

So, all-in-all, it wasn't a totally crappy day. I'm definitely learning to get out of my head faster than I used to. Just erase it and start over. And, if I have a 5 lb. gain, then that's much better than a 5 lb. loss in strength. (See why I brought up being thankful no matter what the outcome? Circumstances change in the blink of an eye.).

Bench - All with Pauses. Worked up to 165 lbs. Got 2 singles, on my own...they just weren't clean enough for competition.
Arnold Presses - 2 sets of 20 with 20 lbs.
Triceps Rollouts - 3(?) sets of 12.

And...

<3 Stretching <3

Ending the day with a smile.

Slow Down, Time!

I think this is my favorite time frame to be in...I'd love to hang between 5 & 3 weeks out of competition forever. I'm trying to make it go as slow as it possibly will go. It's the perfect spot to sit in and relish what all is happening. There's the perfect amount of excitement and adrenaline that has started to build. There's no winning or losing to cloud the perceptions of what really matters. I got a card for Brian last week and the jist of what I wrote in it was that no matter what happens in 3 weeks, I'm so thankful for everything that he's done that has gotten me to this point. If he does or doesn't go with me, if I do or don't do well, all of that is relevant in the small picture of Chelsi's brain, but not in the big picture of true success...not in the overall effort that has brought me as far as I've come. What really matters is that we've made it as far as this and I could have never been as prepared as I am for my World's qualifying competition without him. Nothing that happens in 3 weeks or ever will have any effect on my appreciation for what he's helped me accomplish. My dreams are coming true right before my eyes and it is THE coolest feeling ever.

Great workout today :)

Dumbbell Rows - 35 lbs., 20, 15, 15, 12.
Blackburns - 5 lbs., 1 set of 20.
Pullups (with a bar, not ropes) supersetted with Band Triceps Pushdowns - Like 5 or 6 sets. I did sets of 5 pullups and sets of 25 pushdowns.
Dumbbell Rotating Press - 2 sets for time, a minute and a half. I changed the angles of each press. Plus he stretched my shoulders in between. :-D

Then stretched my legs. Feels super excellent :-D

Tickled (but not pink)

Well, today was wonderful...again... :) I've done SO well the last few weeks. My life has gone back to perfection and I'm in my glory. I get to return to weekly visits with My Cousin, my bench is continually increasing, my form is completely perfect, I am full of energy, my muscles feel absolutely great, and I'm 3 weeks out of a really big-stinking-deal competition. Love my life.

Today Brian said he was 'tickled' that I am doing as well as I'm doing. It made me smile. Not an expression that I'm used to hearing him use. It just struck me as amusing...but, I really feel the same way. I think it's a really good description...just not a word I would have thought to use. But, we definitely aren't tickled pink...pink is for 'girls'. No pink in the weightroom...I guess we'll have to be tickled black or something. lol. I have so much fun there. :)

Great day.
Speed Drill Bench - 95 lbs., with 1 set of chains, 4 sets of 3. 95 lbs., with 2 sets of chains, 3 sets of 3. 125 lbs., 2 sets of chains for a single. 135 lbs., 2 sets of chains for a single. All sets were with pauses.
Close Grip Board Presses with 6x6 block of wood (Brian said would be between 3 and 4 boards) with two sets of chains - 95 lbs., 115 lbs., 125 lbs., 135 lbs., sets of 5.
Incline Dumbbell Bench - 30 lbs., 1 set of 12. 35 lbs., 3 sets of 12.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 4 sets of 12.
Backward Flys - 12 lbs., 2 sets of 12. 15 lbs., 2 sets of 12.

<3 Stretching<3

That's that! 3 weeks out as of tomorrow. Everyone say your prayers for Brian going. :) Jewel is being the biggest blessing I could ever imagine as far as fundraising goes. She set me up a page for the benefit concert she organized for me. Here's the link: http://chelsi2012.ucoz.com/

Tea Party

I had another really deep topic to blog about today (actually, it was going to be about being really deep in a way), but, I kinda feel like my head is gonna explode, just from so much going on, so, I decided to wait and save that one for another day. :)

Brian and I had a tea party today. lol. Not really. He's always trying to figure out how to keep my legs out of the way for hammer curls, so, today I crossed one over the other to keep them from pulling out to the sides. About half way through my curls I said "I feel really proper right now, like I should be at a tea party or something. Not sure if that's what you're supposed to feel like when you're powerlifting." lol.

Very wonderful day again today. We're super excited about how well I've been doing the last couple of weeks.

Cable Rows - 150 lbs., 12 (i think). 175 lbs., 10. 185 lbs., 8. 195 lbs., 2 sets of 8(ish...wasn't coming back all the way by the end).
Cable Overhead Iron Cross - 100 lbs., 120 lbs., 140 lbs., 150 lbs., I think all sets of 10.
Shrugs - 95 lbs., 10. 115 lbs., 10. 135 lbs., 6. **PR**
Hammer Curls - 15 lbs., 1 set of 12, 2 sets of 18.
Chops - 40 lbs., 3 sets of 12.

<3 Stretching <3

I'm doing a fundraiser through Tastefully Simple, through the end of May, so if anyone would like to place an order, pleast contact me or my mom :) Thanks much!

The Ant

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

So, lately I've been sitting out in the parking lot stretching today because it's been in the 60's and that's pretty much my favorite weather. There are all these ants running around like mad the whole time I'm out there. The other day a tiny one was carrying a dead one that was about 3 times it's size. Today one was carrying this twig that looked pretty tiny to me, but, if I was that ant, it would have been quite a chore to hold it up let alone try to carry it from point A to point B.

Today I started thinking about my life lately and how I long for some relaxation some days...just not to feel rushed or crammed in my day. Seems like all I do is cook & study. And of course I train, but, I like that :) No complaints there. Anyway, I was thinking about how these ants run around all the time always busily on a mission. When you see ants they are on their way to somewhere to collect something to take back to where they live for their colony. They take care of each other. They're always busy. They are always full of purpose. And, I wondered, if we could hear the tiny frequencies of the noises they make (if they make noise?), if we'd ever hear them complain. Or if they just go about their business because they know it's their responsibility to complete their tasks.

Anyway, not much to do with training, but, it was a decent observation. :)

Today was SO wonderful :-D I set a new PR!!!!!!!! Brian asked me how I was feeling after a few exercises and I said "Nothing hurts. Nothing hurts Brian. How about that?" He said "Chelsi, I think I'm more relieved than you are." :-) I'm sure he is. He really looks out for me and it bugs him when something isn't right. I felt really great all the way through my workout. And I'm SO stoked for my meet now!!!!!!!!

Bench with Bands Underneath - Not sure what the previous sets were but I worked up to 160 lbs for 3 AND THEN 165 lbs for 3!!!!!!! SO excited. Two weeks ago I barely did 155 for 3 withOUT bands. YAY! Then I did 3 pauses with 135 lbs. plus bands.
Military Pin Press - Worked up to 130 lbs. for 6. I think Brian helped a little bit, but not much. And he was pretty happy. He said that when we started pin presses, 130 was burying me.
Triceps Rollouts with Triceps Sideways Extensions supersetted - 20 lbs., 1 set of 6 each. 25 lbs., 3 sets of 6 each. 20 lbs., 2 sets of 6 each.
Shoulder Horn - 5 lbs., 3 sets of 25.
Cable Rope Ab Crunches - I don't know how much weight he used but I did 3 sets of 15.

<3 Stretching <3

Soooooo Physical

Well, ya know all those blogs over the past months about what could possibly be wrong with me and it's either mental, physical or technical, and we'd exhausted about every option? It was COMPLETELY physical. Changing my diet helped a GREAT deal. And, the other missing link, we finally discovered, is proper treatment of massages. Jack is back, he came back shortly after he left, and I went back to him last week, and this week, just for a trial and error kind of thing, and my lifting is completely fantastic. It's totally changed for the better. So, it looks like I'm going back to him. I have no time to mess around and wait for someone else to get an understanding of my body. Maybe after the meets are done, but, I'm now less than 4 weeks out and Worlds is 10 weeks after that one...experimentation is out of the question.

So glad we've pin-pointed the problem.

Today was awesome.
Dumbbell Rows - 30 lbs., 4 sets of 20.
Blackburns - 5 lbs., 1 set of 20.
Y's - 5 lbs., 1 set of 25.
Pullups with a Rope - 6 sets of 5.
Triceps Pushdowns with red mini-band - 4 sets of 20.

<3 Stretching <3

Rows and Pullups were majorly different today. I did so much better. About 2 months ago I literally was starting to convince myself that I might have mono...with not having energy and my arms being so achy and fatigued. Super thankful to have Brian. He's very smart and he's really helped turn things around a lot quicker than I would have thought possible. And now I get to see My Cousin again weekly as well. :-) He takes good care of me also.

Smoothing Out.

Speed Bench - 95 lbs + 1 set of chains, 8 sets of 3.
Close Grip - 135 lbs., 145 lbs., 150 lbs., sets of 5.
Triceps Pressdowns - 70 lbs., set of 20. 80 lbs., 2 sets of 12.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 3 sets of 15.
Shoulder Horn - 2 1/2 lbs., 2 sets of 30.
BOSU abs - 3 sets of 15.

<3 Stretching <3

Was a very very good day. Feeling very good. Moving well. Bench is moving well. Sets are going well. Placement is very good (per Brian). Bar is staying even & has some 'pop' to it (per Brian). Things are excellent. I'm super excited for 4 weeks from now.

Say prayers about Brian coming with me. Say prayers for funds. I have a girl I went to school with who's been a HUGE blessing this week. She's setting up 3 different fundraisers for me. Please pray that we get what I need from them.

Unstoppable

This year has been insane. School + training = kicking my tail. It's been extraordinarily hectic. I said tonight, I'd be fine if I didn't have the rest of life to take care of. Some days I feel like it's all I can do to keep my head above water. There are so many intricate annoyances that I can't begin to explain, unless you're right there going through it as well. And just as I think I have everything settled into a nice organized package, a wrench gets thrown at me. But, apparently I was raised right because even at my worst I keep on going...and going...and going (kinda like the energizer bunny!) And eventually, sometimes longer than others, there's a breakthrough and things fall back into place (for a very short time, I might add). I was looking for the Rascal Flatts song called "Unstoppable" to link to my post tonight, and I found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1xF1L8ZS7s . It's not the original version, but, it's wonderfully fitting. The original is fitting also, because, it talks about Love being unstoppable...which was why I was going to post it. I wouldn't be able to keep going if I didn't have the love and support around me from everyone. It takes an army to make one person's dream come true. But, I really like this version that Rascal Flatts did. You'll see why when you watch it. When you're done with it, youtube the original version if you have time.

I need a lot of prayers. My grant request for this year was denied. I was really counting on receiving it. I have more expenses than ever this year with going to Malaysia added on to the regularly occuring expenses. I know it will come. I know that God didn't bring me this far to leave me hanging. It was just a very big blow to think about having to deal with raising all the money on top of my already hectic schedule. But, Brian always says "We'll work on it. We'll fix it." And, he said it again this week, and I know we will. Somehow.

Today was a GREAT workout. My forearms felt GREAT. I was able to do full sets without stopping AND when I got done, the rest of my body actually felt like I worked out today. :)

Cable Rows - 150 lbs., 15. 175 lbs., 10. 185 lbs., 8. 195 lbs., 7, plus 2 more with 150 lbs.
Overhead Cable Iron Cross - 90 lbs., 110 lbs., 120 lbs., 12 each.
Lateral Pulldown - 70 lbs., 10 & 90 lbs., 6, both with the long rotator bar. Then 60 lbs., 2 sets of 12 with the parallel bar (i think that's what Brian called it).
Shrugs - 95 lbs., 15. 115 lbs., 2 sets of 10 & a set of 8 (i think...maybe just one set of 10).
Hammer/Regular Biceps Curls - 15 lbs., 4 sets of 10 each way.
Chops - 40 lbs., 3 sets of 15.

<3 Stretching <3 My fave :)

Do-Over (again)

So, I was having a TREMENDOUSLY hard time with my forearms....for months. We thought it was energy. So, Brian took over the diet thing. That helped out a great deal, but, I still couldn't move my arms. FINALLY figured out, I just need my massotherapist to use a different technique than he's been using. GEEEEEEEEEEEEEZ. Utter drama and chaos for such a simple fix.

Anywho. :-) Feeling MUCH better. Moved much easier today. Brian spent a good bit of time with me last Tuesday to teach me some added technique stuff. I think it's helping a lot, and he said it looks like I've improved. We're headed in the right direction! (again!) Still tinkering with the diet, to get me to maintain weight. But, Brian is staying right on top of everything and he's closing in on the right formula for me ....for now that is. lol.

Today was very good. I improved since last week. And we had a good time :-) We're good at that.

Bench with Bands underneath - 95 lbs., 8. 135 lbs., 3. 145 lbs. 3. 150 lbs., 3.
Bench with Pauses - 135 lbs., 145 lbs., 155 lbs.
Military Pin Presses - 95 lbs., 10. 115 lbs., & 125 lbs., 8.
Triceps Side Extensions supersetted with Triceps Roll-Up Extensions - 15 lbs., 6 each. 20 lbs., 6 each. 25 lbs., 2 sets of 6 each. 20 lbs., 2 sets of 6 each.
Shoulder Horn - 5 lbs., 2 sets of 25 and a set of 17.
BOSU abs - 15, 12, 11.

<3 Stretching <3

Things are wonderful. I can't believe I've lost 8-9 lbs. and, not only have I not lost strength, but, I've gone UP. I've never been able to do 25 lbs on triceps with dumbbells and 155 lbs. with pauses was not perfect, but it was not questionable that I was going to get it up and it was the very last thing I did after all the band sets. That's pretty amazing. So thankful for all the work Brian puts into me. I'm very much hoping for 175 lbs. in May...but, we'll have to see where I'm at...probably for sure 170 lbs.

Everybody say an extra prayer...I almost have Brian coming with me to Virginia. That would be the last piece of the puzzle to make everything as perfect as I could ask for to go to my first qualifying competition. :-D

5 Weeks

I don't really have a theme to go along with today's blog. But, as of tomorrow (Saturday) I'll be 5 weeks out of my qualifying competition for the World's Team. Pretty sweet, eh?

Speed Bench - 95 lbs. + 1 set of chains - 8 sets of 3.
Close Grip - 95 lbs., 115 lbs., 125 lbs., 135 lbs., sets of 5.
Triceps Pushdowns - 70 lbs., 3 sets of 15.
Lateral Raises - 10 lbs., 4 sets of 15.


<3 Stretching <3