Getting geared up

I haven't posted any workouts because I have been doing stuff to get ready for my competition. This is pretty much a rest week before the big day. Typically I don't train much right prior to it so that I don't over work or injure myself. Today we just went to the gym, I warmed up with the bar, and got my shirt on and worked with it some more. I feel much more comfortable about it today than I did Saturday. I even took the day off work so that I could get my shirt ready to go. Earl's off today and he has to help me put it on. Now THAT'S a workout in itself. So I got my groove with my shirt figured out. I am trying not to get too stressed over it all, after all this is supposed to be fun. Tomorrow I am doing speed squats and that is it. Then Saturday will be here! Whew, got butterflies in my pouch just thinking about it!! Hope everyone is having a good week! MUCH LOVE TO MY HOMIES! Val

Val, what kind of shirt are you talking about? I like to lift but the stuff y'all talk about goes over my head sometimes. Which competition are you competing in? I guess I will wish you a great competition anyway. Earl and you both seem to know lots. Do you both have coaches? Or trainers? Tammy

Sorry... I forget that not everyone knows what the heck I am talking about. Earl says I do that with medical jargon too...he just looks at me and says honey you lost me hours ago... They are shirts you wear to help with recoil on the bench. It creates a tension that helps "lift" the bar. Kinda gives you that extra push from the bottom. You have to work with it tho, so you lower the bar to your chest and these boogars are really tight so after you get to that point it gives you kind of an extra UMPF I guess. They are either denim or polyester. I have used both. I prefer denim, but for this meet I am using a basic poly shirt. The meet is a bench press meet. So basically that's all we will be doing. Bench presses. You get three attempts to get your highest weight. BUT you have to make your first attempt to get in the meet. So... my opening bench press will be 110 pounds, because with my shirt that is an easy amount for me. It will get me into the meet. Lifts number two and three will go up. I will probably attempt 125 for my second lift. If I get it I will go all out on number 3 for 135. If I don't get it I will just probably do 125 again. There are other meets called full meets where you compete in any or all of the lifting whi*****ludes squatting, bench pressing and deadlifting, all in that order. Those make for LONG days. But I love it. Did that make any sense? Sorry that was probably way too much information huh? I hope that wasn't confusing. Nope, no trainers. Earl has been doing this for over 30 years. He has learned everything he knows on his own believe it or not, and lucky me I got a built in trainer when I married him! BONUS!! So he has passed that knowledge on to me. But, things are always changing and improving. He aspires to be a personal trainer one day and he would be great at it. He gets me to push myself harder than I do on my own. He really has helped me so much. I don't think I could find a better trainer than he is.

not too much info. I am interested in it. Thanks for the encouragement. Hope you have a great time. I know you can get #135 up easily. Go kick some girly butt (grin). I know you have to be competative.....go get em girl! Tammy

Thanks Tammy! That's what I am gonna do!

You go girly girl!!! I cannot wait to hear how it went, you win either way, you know that. Here is me today: Chest Press (machine): Set 1: 3 reps @ 160.0 lbs | Set 2: 8 reps @ 150.0 lbs | Set 3: 10 reps @ 130.0 lbs Set 4: 5 reps @ 140.0 lbs | Set 5: 6 reps @ 170.0 lbs Stability Ball Dumbbell Incline Flys: Set 1: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs | Set 2: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs Dumbbell Lateral Raise: Set 1: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs | Set 2: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs Dumbbell Supported Rear Lateral Raise: Set 1: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs | Set 2: 12 reps @ 15.0 lbs Cable Triceps Pushdown - reverse grip (short bar): Set 1: 12 reps @ 60.0 lbs | Set 2: 12 reps @ 60.0 lbs Alternate Heel Touches: Set 1: 90 reps | Set 2: 90 reps | Set 3: 80 reps Lying Bent Leg Raises: Set 1: 40 reps | Set 2: 40 reps Bent Leg Crunches: Set 1: 90 reps | Set 2: 90 reps | Set 3: 70 reps CARDIO: Skiing - Nordic: 427 calories burned: 1.2 miles, 20 minutes ,3.6 mph Set 1: 20 minutes at (Intensity 3 -- Moderate) Tae Bo: 637 calories burned: 30 minutes, Set 1: 30 minutes at (Intensity 4 -- Hard) Mike425/280/235

You are going to do fantastic!! Best of luck =) I'm having a hard time at work.. just really busy. Up at 1am working on a few last min things. We have two software lives this week and next week with document scaning and coding. I'm also ramping up for a major transcription and dictation project that will streamline dictation across our entire health care system. Thought this was not going to kick off until after surgery but it looks like that will start with a meeting tomorrow. Also helping train a new PACS (filmless radiology) Admin. Then of course I have the usually break/fix sort of issues. That with my pre-ops and also trying to get the Mary Kay biz going is a bit insane. Still making it to the gym here and there but not consistent. Eating is just ok. Will post when I can.. Have my first pre-op appt tomorrow with my GYN. My surgeon needs me to have an updated pap and do the typical yearly stuff. Should be a fun birthday! My big present will be getting to go to bed by 8pm!!

Thanks Mike, I wish you guys could all be there! Just think of me noon (ohio time) I think thats 3pm your time right? Or is it 9am? I get all backwards on the time zone thingy... ANYWHOO good job on the workout dude!! You are really crankin' them out!!!