Was in Vancouver this week; did go to the gym once in the 3 days, but the numbers were sad, sad, sad.
Going today, and again tomorrow early AM.  I guess we'll see if I have anything in the tank at all.  :)

I did my first session of programming towards meet prep lat night.  It was intense.  I thought I'd already been working hard, but this was a new level....
And I feel good.  The targets we set forb the meet seem high, but with an apparent plan for increased intensity.... suddenly it feels less scary.
We also talked about making weight.  I am about 15 overweight yet.  I am not aiming for super-lean, but around 27% body fat would be good. I'm not trending down fast enough, but Jerimiah figures with the increased intensity, I'll see better traction there as well.   We'll keep an eye on that over the next few weeks and see if we have to modify the caloric balance.

Benched 100# today for first time. 3X3, and then one, paused at the bottom.  I feel like a million bucks.

They say a calorie is a calorie.    I can't say that really makes sense to me from at least some perspectives.   Maybe if it's about weight loss?  
But I still figure your body handles all sorts of different calories in very different ways.  And some calories come with a wealth of other "good stuff ".
So with that in mind, here is the first swap I making as I head towards my first meet.

Two or three times a week I used to have 7 of these (very delicious, crunchy) chocolate eggs before the gym to give myself a bit of energy.   It was one of the things where I was still focusing on the experience vs the fuel, if I'm honest.
Anyway, that's the (caloric) equivalent of 3 of these figs, which I'll now have instead.
Although perhaps I should ask Garth to bring the rest of the eggs into work, just keep them out of my reach.  :)

I had written " it'll (probably) be all ok..." , and then the following, with the 'probably' being because I am not registered, but hope to be. And then I figured, well, it's ok either way, isn't it?  I do really want this, but it's not life or death.  :)
So.... Let's start over!
it'll ALL BE OK.
So, regarding my last post, and me missing registration for the August PL meet... we think I can be ready by July, so I'll sign up for the July 9th one.  Registration is not open until May (so I can't really say I have "checked that box" yet", and you know how I feel about loose ends....) so I can't say I AM signed up. But I WILL.  I WILL!
And it will all work out. And I will make weight.  And I will lift whatever I can, which may or may not be 500.5# by then.  :)

I waited to long to sign up for the meet in August.  It's full.  I feel gutted (which is a pretty extreme reaction.  But I guess a good sign, as had I felt relieved I'd question my motivation...)
I have asked Jerimiah for advice;  if I can make a July event in terms of readiness.  I am not worried about some big number; just want to be able to hit my best numbers or close to them for the day.  Right now, I am not regularly doing anything near my 1RM, so that'll take a bit.
And I need to lose more weight to get into the 63kg class, which I think is somewhere around my sweet-spot for day-to-day comfort in my own skin.   Based on my current trajectory, I can be there by July(ish) IF IF IF IF I am a bit more disciplined when I travel (that's those up-ticks.)

I don't know why this pleases me so much, but it does...

Before, during and after.... 5 X 135# (3 sets).  Hardly a big number, I know, BUT... the most I have ever moved without a spotter!  I am trying to get more comfy under the bar.  I was AOK.  So I will try to keep increasing my 'solo' weight in the same increments at my weights with Jerimiah.... so they won't ever be the same, but as long as I move with JW, I also move alone.

No, not a PR. But a cue from Jerimiah (knees out) that I finally get. It felt 30# lighter. Yeah baby!

Believe it or not, it's taken me a few days to relax from the "I got my CPU Card" hype of March 4th.   At this rate, I still have to :

• sign up for a competition
• prep for said competition
• cut weight
• figure out and get used to singlet, belt and knee sleeves

Which all sound pretty easy, right?  except SIGNING UP FOR THE CARD was an emotional high.
I gotta get a grip.  Or maybe, just maybe....this is why I have so much fun.  I am made up of mostly feelings, after all.  Why not throw some more on the fire!  :)