By this same time two weeks from now I’ll be relaxing poolside in Orlando with a belly full of Cuban food after competing at USAPL Southeast Regionals.
Yes friends, meet day is almost here and this peaking stage of training is a sumbitch. For the first time I’m using the RP Strength templates for meet prep, and their peaking strategies are different from any that I’ve tried before.
I am squatting and benching 4 days and deadlifting 3 days each week, at varying intensities. I do heavy squats and heavy bench twice a week and heavy paused deadlifts once a week. My technique feels really sharp due to the increased frequency of practicing each lift.
I feel strong but I feel sore.
Can I get an amen for epsom salts baths and rest days?
My lifts are feeling good and I have a good shot at PRs in squat, bench, total and Wilks coefficient.
My deadlift is a wild card because I’ll be pulling sumo for the first time in a meet and I am still pretty new to it. The paused deadlifts I’ve been doing this block have really helped my confidence and technique. I have a much stronger start position now and have developed more patience at the start.
As much as I’d love to avoid the shameful possibility of out-squatting my deadlift, it is very likely that will happen for the second meet in a row.
If all goes as planned, I will qualify for Raw Nationals with my total at this meet. Then I’ve got two months to get more comfortable pulling sumo before heading back to Orlando to compete again (and devastate more Cuban food #empanadalove).
Up until a few weeks ago, I intended to cut weight and lift for the first time in the 63kg class. While I can usually drop some L-Bs easily as soon as I lock down my nutrition, this time was much different. I tried a few different macronutrient ratios without the scale budging at all.
Then about two weeks ago, my hypothyroid symptoms began flaring up. I have taken a few different medications over the past four years to manage my underactive thyroid, but I recently changed doctors and switched medications. Just last week I had more bloodwork done and now my meds have been adjusted again.
These hormones are just OUTTA WHACK, ya’ll.
So now I’ve gained another 6 pounds and am a legit 72kg lifter now (while I used to sit right between the two weight classes). For now I’m scrapping my goal of lifting at 63kg in exchange for my bigger priority of just balancing my energy levels and getting my thyroid issues in check.
Regardless of which weight class I lift in, I’m happy to be making progress and hopefully set a few new personal records… maybe even a new state record
(2015 Lis Saunders better LOOK OUT!!)
I’ll share a few more training updates here as I wrap up Southeast Regionals competition prep over the next two weeks.
Please share any questions for me in the comments!
Last week’s best squat: 290#x5x3
Last week’s best pause bench: 150#x4x3
Last week’s best deadlift: 280#x5x3 (pause below knee)
Bodyweight: 158#
