SweattShop

This weekend was absolutely incredible. I got to talk to, ask questions to, and lift with 3 world record holding female lifters plus one of their trainer's. It was amazing. The seminar was held at the Sweatt Shop in Cincinnati, by Laura Phelps Sweatt and her trainer/husband Shane Sweatt. Amy Weisberger was there and so was Kara Bohigian. I promise if you google any of them, you will surely be impressed. They all came out of Westside Barbell...and we had some Westside guys to spot and critique us as well.

They were such great people!!!!! Very supportive and encouraging. Very down to earth. They said my bench setup & technique is perfect!!!! (Hmmmm......where have I heard that before?!?!?!) AND they DID NOT have to tell me to 'just go do it' because I just went and did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hit a PR of 185 lbs. yesterday when we benched!!!!!!!!!! It was SO amazing!!!!! It was smooth and clean and I'm sure it would have counted. I held it long enough, and I didn't even feel like I truly maxed out. I don't think I could have done any more that would be passable in Paralympics but I do think I could have gotten more up in the air :-) Everything they suggested as far as training programming goes, Brian has already done with me and it's on the list to circle back around to. They did come up with some good suggestions for new exercises for me to try.

Today I have a sinus infection and Brian wanted to wait to see what I came back with before he started a cycle with me. So, we tried a couple of the suggested exercises and we mostly talked. It was a great day :-) I love days like today. It's not reasonable to expect them very often because we hardly lifted a thing...but, I'll definitely take them when I can get them. Brian got on a roll explaining training methods to me and this, that and the other, and I think he probably talked for 40 minutes or more.

Even though I've always blogged that I love those days, something in me particularly appreciated today. I think it's because I was down with the best this weekend and they told me everything that Brian has told me 1,000 times. It kind of re-opened my eyes to appreciate what I have backing me up. When I was benching and they were talking about my arch and my form, I told them I've been with Brian a year and a half and they said "That's amazing. That's not very long." I told them, he's the best and should be down there with all of them. They told me to make sure I bring him next time. So, it gave me an even deeper respect and appreciation to listen to Brian as he spoke and explained things today.

Wednesday will be back on track with a cycle starting. Today the diet started back up. Oh, the competition life!!!