September Has Been PR Month!!!

I am going on my 6th week of this 12 week program and the results so far have been great for me. I can’t say that everyone will get the same results, but I believe a lot of it has to do with being consistent and committed to getting the workouts done. That in itself has been a challenge. We all know that life has a habit of getting in the way of your goals, but if your REALLY COMMITTED you find a way to make them happen. For me that meant scheduling my workouts for the week at the beginning of the week and not letting things interfere with that time. Also, if for whatever reason something came up that prevented me from working out, I would make it up or combine workouts so that I didn’t miss them. For instance last week I had a huge and unbearable headache. There was no way that I was going to be able to do the workout I was supposed to do for that day. I ended up having to take that day, Thursday, as a rest day and then make it up the following day, Friday, which was supposed to be a rest day.

Make working out or YOUR GOALS a priority and they will become reality. Schedule your workouts just like you schedule meetings or anything else you do in your day. And then don’t let things interfere with that time. Then its just, “GET ER DONE!!!”

SEPTEMBER PRS:

SNATCH: 97.5kg, 98kg, 101kg

CLEAN & JERK: 127.5kg

CLEAN: 130kg

3RM FRONT SQUAT: 150kg

1RM BACK SQUAT: 200kg

3RM BACK SQUAT: 190kg

5RM BACK SQUAT: 180kg

Scratch that last post of 182kg

This week I am starting week 5 of the 12 week program.  Yesterday I went from doing 5 rep maxes to 3 rep maxes.  I was able to put up a new PR of 190kg for 3.  Needless to say I am pretty happy.  I am really looking forward to when I hit week 10 or 11 to see what my lifts look like.  I was also able to hit a New PR in the Snatch this past weekend at 101kg.  That is the first time I have been over 100.  It felt AWESOME!!!!

I am super excited about how things are going.  I just have to keep it going!!!

Check out the video below.

The 12 Week Program

Just finished up the first week of a 12 week Olympic lifting program this past Saturday.  Man was it a kick in the nuts!  I was pretty sore for the first part, actually let me rephrase that, MOST of the week.  Its a program that Casey Burgener put together.  He used his experiences with all the different coaches he has had and put something together to see how it would work out.  There are a few of us doing this program so it should be fun to see the results in the end.  You can follow the program on his blog.  http://kcbtraining.blogspot.com

As for my results it will be tough to gauge because I am going on 12 weeks out of surgery for a torn pectoral tendon.  For that reason I have had to take it slower then I would like.  On top of that my body decided that it needed to move up to the 85kg weight class.  I was trying to stay down around 77kgs but my body kept wanting to go higher.  Coach recommends eating up to your weight class instead of cutting.  Since I was hovering in between 79.5 and 81 eating healthy it only made sense to go up and to put on some more muscle.

The results for the Max out session on Saturday are as follows:

SNATCH:

• 40 x 3
• 60 x 2
• 70 x 1
• 80 x 1
• 90 x 1  (Could have gone higher but decided to pull it back because of the shoulder)  I’m Happy

CLEAN & JERK:

• 40 x 3
• 60 x 2
• 80 x 1
• 100 x 1
• 110 x 1 Missed the Jerk!!!  I dipped, then on the drive the bar slid down my shoulder less then an inch, so when I finished the drive it was out front.  Pissed!!!  I stopped there because I figured I was already pushing it.

I will have plenty more chances to beat my old PRs of SNATCH 97kg and CLEAN & JERK 126kg.  As for now I happy with my progress and can’t wait to see how the next 12 weeks unfold.

San Diego Olympic Lifting Program

Last week we started the Olympic lifting program.   So far we have two athletes that are looking to compete.  One of them is a former Notre Dame and SDSU Track and Field athlete and the other a guy who just seems to pick everything up with no problem.  Both of them have good strength and great flexibility.  Pluses for Olympic Lifting.  

With what I learned at the USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach certification, Sage and I sat down and programmed there first 12 weeks.  It starts off with light intensities and then get harder over the 12 weeks.  It will also cover a lot of the basic lifts with a good variety to get their bodies ready to compete in late October.  I can’t wait to see the results that these guys get over the next 2 1/2 months.  I expect that both of them will make some dramatic increases!!!

If your looking for a sport to compete in or want to improve your Olympic lifts then this Olympic Weightlifting class at Crossfit San Diego is exactly what you need.  

Contact jp@crossfitsandiego.com if you have any further questions about the program.

I am also available for group training and or 1 on 1 training

Feeling Good

I have been able to work out now for almost 2 weeks and I am feeling good.  I can instantly feel the difference when I concentrate on the Olympic Lifts.  My body starts to change and my traps get sore. haha  As far as last week goes, I was able to Snatch and Clean & Jerk at the beginning of the week, but then I tweaked a little muscle in my left shoulder.  So then I laid off the overhead stuff for the rest of last week and this week.  The shoulder feels good now, but I will still leave alone until next week to make sure it doesn’t get aggravated.

This week has looked like this:

Monday:

• 1. Back Squats:  60×3, 80×3, 100×3
• 2. Halting Snatch Deadlifts + Shrug:  (50×3)2, 60×3, 70×3, 80×3, 90×3
• 3. Back Squat: 80×3, 100×3, 110×3
• 4. Snatch Shrugs: 100×3, 120×3, 130×3
• 5. Abs and Back: Abmat situps and Good Mornings

Tuesday:

• 1. Halting Clean Deadlifts + Shrug:  60×3, 100×3, (120×3)3, Back down to work speed to 100×3, 110×3, 120×3
• 2. Back Squats: 60×3, 100×3, 120×3, 140×3, 150×3
• 3.  Abs and Back:  GHD situps & Reverse Hypers

All in all I am pretty happy.  The 160kg triple felt pretty easy.  I didn’t go any higher because I was feeling a little tightness in the chest, because of my recent pec surgery.

*** All weights are in KGs *** 

Coming Back Little by Little

Seven weeks out of surgery and the path to recovery is slow and mentally challenging. If any of you have been seriously injured and very active you all know what I am talking about. Not only does the injury put a damper on your spirits but the time you spend getting back to where you before the injury and the discipline it takes can be rough as well. Some people have made comments about my spirit while I was in the sling and have noticed a change for the better now that I am moving around and working out. I guess that is a good thing. I never really noticed how my injuries effect my mood, and others that interact with me. I feel sorry for the people that never work out. What are their lives like?

Today was a great day for the better.  I had a Olympic lifting session with my new International Irish Friend and fellow weightlifter Barry Kinsella.  He maintains the blog http://www.weightliftingepiphanies.blogspot.com/. Very good read and entertaining.  Not only does he write well and add some cool videos, but he is a good lifter as well. Another good thing is that he is a former Rugby player. If you all know me then you know that I play Rugby as well. So naturally we got along. It was fun talking about Rugby and Weightlifting with Barry. Glad he stopped by with his girlfriend Ailish (I think that is how you spell it) for a workout at Crossfit San Diego.

As for the Workout Today I did:

• 1. Snatch: 60kg x 1 for 7 sets (working technique and keeping it light while the pec heals)
• 2.Clean & Jerk: Up to 80kg x 1 for 5 sets (Same as above, keeping it light)
• 3. Front Squat: Up to 120kg.  (Felt good and not too heavy)

Congrats to Barry for setting a new Personal Record of a Behind the Neck Jerk of 150kg!!!  Awesome stuff!!!

Squat Strength Program

Today marks the first day that I am starting a squat strength program.  I am limited on what I can do right now because I just had my torn pectoral tendon re-attached.  Lucky me Coach Burgener has a safety squat bar that lets me do back squats while I let my left pec heal.  Next time I go up to Coach B’s I will take a picture so that you can see what I am talking about.  Basically it has a collar that sits on my shoulders with a couple bars that run down to my chest that I can hold on too without stretching my chest out.  PERFECT!!!  I can still work on gaining strength and not be worthless.   

My intentions were to start some kind of program today when I went up to coach’s (Mike’s Gym).  I talked with him about the Hatch Squat Routine and a couple others.  He decided I should try out another type.  It has a lot of volume but broken up into lots of sets with small reps.  Today looked like this:

• 10sets x 3reps at 120kg (264lbs)
• Back & Abs (GHD sit ups & Back Extensions)

My current PRs are at 180kg for back squat, and 150kg for front squat.  We will see how this program works out.  The program is that you squat twice a week.  One day heavier then the other.  So today would be my heavy day and Thursday will be lighter day.  Then next week I will increase the percentage on my heavy day and light day.  Each week trying to go up more and more.  As for today, I felt pretty good.  Each set pushed me on that 3rd rep. Once I got to the later sets I could feel it was working my legs.  This type of workout is perfect for gaining strength and not getting sore.  We will see how I feel over the next few days.  I am excited to see the results when its all done.  

If your looking to gain some leg strength then give something like this a try.  If you have any questions you can shoot me an email at:

jp@crossfitsandiego.com

Weight Gain

This past Saturday I was hanging out with Coach Burgener at Mike’s Gym.  I brought up a couple of my soon to be trainers up there to get some work on technique with the Olympic Lifts and to get  a work out in.  Plus its always just good to hang out with “Coach B”.  Always full of knowledge and willing to help.  We had some time while everyone was training to talk about the surgery and how my recovery was going.  I told him that since I had the surgery I had lost 6lbs.  He asked me how much I weighed.  I told him 77.2kgs. (169lbs)  He said,” So you are light right now, and you want to compete in the 77kg class?  That doesn’t make any sense.  I have always felt athletes should eat up to their weight class, not lose weight.  You should be an 85kg (187lbs).”  That’s when I said, ” Those 85s lift heavy weights!!! I would rather stay at 77kg and try and compete.”  That was me just being funny though.  Ever since that conversation I have been thinking about how much food I would have to eat.  I would especially want to put on functional muscle and not fat.  Since fat doesn’t lift weight.  I have a hard task in front of me.  One advantage though will be that I am shorter then most 85s, I think.  So that is good.  I won’t have to get the weight that high.

This is a whole new experience for me.  There have been times in my life when I felt like I need to gain weight, like for football or rugby, but not like this.  If I felt it slowed me down on the field though, I would shed it off.  There is nothing worse then being caught from behind after you make a long break in Rugby or Football.  So I did whatever it took to make sure that wouldn’t happen.  Now, I am not sprinting down a sideline, but trying to move massive amounts of weight.  If gaining weight is going to make me more competitive then that is something I am going to have to do.  I have a hard road ahead of me, because from what I have been reading, putting on functional muscle is harder then losing weight.  There are all kinds of theories on how to do it, but the bottom line is that I have to eat clean and make sure I am getting more then enough calories in to support the muscle gains.  One suggestion that seems to come up often is drinking a half gallon to gallon of milk a day.  Which makes sense because of the high calorie and high protein content in milk.  John Welbourne (Crossfit Football) talked about this at his CF Football cert, Rippatoe talks about it in his strength books, and Greg Everette talks about it in his Olympic Weightlifting book. I am sold, I will be hitting that hard along with upping my protien consumption to 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight.  That should do it over time and then I will just have to maintain.  We will see how it goes.  

First and foremost I have to get this left shoulder healthy and back to 100% from the torn pectoral re-attachment surgery I had 2 weeks ago.  Things are going well as far as that goes.  Still in the sling, but able to train others and glad to be at work.  As long as I can do that then life is good.  

Stand by!!! I will keep you posted.

Olympic Weightlifting Program In San Diego

I am super excited about our Olympic Weightlifting Program that is on the horizon.  My plan is to have the best program in the area.  We have the platforms, bumper plates, Olympic bars, and great coaching.  There is no reason why we can’t have the best lifters in the area training with us.  The Crossfit San Diego Olympic weightlifting class will train Monday through Thursday at 4 or 4:30.  Rest Friday.  Train Saturday at Crossfit San Diego or up at Mike’s Gym to get training from the guru himself, Mike Burgener. (A.K.A. Coach B).  What a great opportunity to work on your lifts and improve your overall athleticism.

The benefits of Olympic Style lifting are numerous.  How many lifts do you know of that improve agility, speed, power, balance, explosiveness, flexibility, and on and on and on.  There is no comparison.  The Olympic lifts are what the Professional Athletes do.  Its part of their program.  If you ask me its crazy that these aren’t taught to high school athletes.  If there are high school athletes doing the Olympic lifts, I can almost guarantee they are starting for their sport.  You just can’t get good at the lifts without it benefiting you in your sport.  Period.  

There is no substitute.   

Olympic Weightlifting in San Diego

If you found this article its probably because your looking for a place to do some Olympic Weightlifting.  Most globo-gym facilities don’t cut it, or get mad at you if you want to throw some weight around.  Well, your in luck.  I coach and train in Olympic Weightlifting here at Crossfit San Diego.  We have everything you need to meet your goals. (4 Platforms, Jerk Boxes, Bumper Plates, Bars, Coaches)  We are also a regional training center for the Crossfit Weightlifting Team under Coach Mike Burgener.  We have 2 in house coaches here.  Sage Burgener and myself.  Sage has a lifetime of experience and is a great communicator with her students.  You will not find a better place to train here in San Diego.  The closest thing is Mike’s Gym in Bonsall.  

In the near future Crossfit San Diego will be adding a weightlifting training sessions for those people looking to improve their lifts.  My whole thought behind adding this session is to get some serious lifters in here that may want to compete or just get really good with their lifts.  The sessions will be run by Sage and Myself.  If you want to get good then this is where your going to do it.  We will occasionally set up road trips up to Mike’s Gym to get some instruction from the Guru himself.

If this sounds like something for you.  Please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment.