In July I had my first Powerlifting meet: and had a 90Kg Deadlift, which was by far a personal best.  198#, plus a bit.  And since then, I've been sticking with the programming, and have not been up to even 185# (my previous gym PR) until just a few weeks ago.    It felt good to hit that 185#, but it was not exactly *new*. 

Today I pulled 200#.   And I am thrilled about it.  Its only marginally more than my previous best, and that took 5 months to gain.  And I am not known for my patience.  There is just something magic about this sport.

I have my whole life to create progress.  Bees make only 45 grams (based on my calculations and some wiki-work) in their life.      A lifes work, and it's over in a slice of bread.  But they make alot of other things too, while they make that honey.   Honey is just the most apparent evidence: The in-your-face proof. 

 1.6# is my 45bee-grams.  And I'll take every sweet drop. 

Seems I have had a number of updates in the last 2 weeks.  Nothing specific is going on;  just really enjoying myself, happy, fulfilled.  Some moments of 'blech' occasionally interrupt, but I feel as though this is one of the ways I count my blessings.  I talk about them here, and acknowledge it that way.   It also reinforces my contentment. 

It was a good day at the gym today.  We gradually are working back to meet-level weights with the new form (high-bar squat and conventional deadlift).  I miss low-bar and sumo.    But I am gradually improving with these movements, and I know it will make these lifts stronger no matter what style I choose.  And the high-bar does seem like less stress on the lower back (which is weird, because I don't think it's supposed to be. But it could just be because it's so much lighter, still).

140# squat and 155# DL today.   15# and 45# to add, respectively, to hit my July OPA-meet PR.     There was still gas in the tank, so I might be closer than I think!    It would be good to be there by the end of the year.  Then in January I can start to prep for a spring meet.  I won't do a meet until I can add 40# to my meet total.

Road to a 500# total.......  Long and winding.  But sunny and clear!

Jerimiah told me to work up to at least 140# for one every day for a week.  Today is day 1.140 felt good so I went for 145...and then 150#.   The pic is just the 140#    .....Video evidence of the buck-and-a-half is on Instagram @rzales.

I am visiting Montreal this week... and went into our local office after a client visit, and Immediately ran into someone I trained on Project Management - in a 3 day session in Oct 2014.

She was like “Woah!  Look at you, blah, blah….”.  And reminded me that when I trained them, I had talked about adult learning, and how I had just joined a gym and was having to hold someones hand in order to squat, or I’d fall over.  I guess I used it as an analogy to some other topic in the sessions.

Anyway, I was 35# heavier then.  And probably walking with a bit more swagger now.  :)   ......And she said … “I guess you figured it out . "

Yeah, I guess I did!

I don't know how that warrants a full post, but it does.   I have been like "I feel great.  I love gym on Friday. Wow, I feel pumped. blah blah blah ." So.... either I am having a bit of a moment.... or there's something to this Friday thing. It's happened before, so I am going with the latter.

Cool upgrade from Liftium. Well, it's not out yet, but I got advance viewing on account of beta testing it.  :)
Same really great interface for entry; but it has analytics now... way back HERE, it didn't....   Check him out HERE

In the last 2 weeks, I've been called 'skinny' twice.  Not that I am skinny.... technically, I am still overweight.  But it was an acknowledgement of my progress, and meant to be flattering. And truly; it was;  I felt the smile immediately rise.
Still; each time it left me thinking after :  why THAT word?  It's kind of weird that somehow that's a compliment.  And I am not shitting on anyone intent;  after all, I was flattered.... but there is something a bit off, I think, that the word has some sort of value associated with it. I can't quite place my feelings, but.... I have decided I don't like that word.

I feel like I should say something. But I got nothing.  All is well.  Calm.  A little back tension, but hanging in.

14 weeks out from the meet.  :)

I moved a lot more weight on March, as I start to prep for my meet.  I have a small lower back pain; so going for a massage tonight. Hoping it is ok by morning.  I was just tired and didn't hold the bracing tight enough.

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