Showing posts with label Deadlift. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deadlift. Show all posts

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Competition: My Fear of Not Making It

I have a fear. A fear that I won't make it through Crossfit Open 2012. I have been training rigorously as some know, but am I getting closer to where I need to be? Unfortunately, I don't think so. I have been training for competition for exactly 10 weeks, and there are about 9 more weeks left.


You'd think there is enough time. Wrong. There is not. 


If I were to tell you I have not made any gains in the past 10 weeks, I would be a liar. If anything, I have made some awesome personal gains; some of which include my 90kgs deadlift, 65kgs back squat, 40kgs squat clean, 30kgs snatch, 1RM Weight-pull ups @ 10kgs, my wallballs are better, my box jumps are improving...I am improving, but am I improving enough to make it? 


You see, crossfit is unlike any other competition. There are no weight classes; which is what makes it exciting but also very nerve-wrecking for a 50kgs, 5'2 small girl like me. Most crossfit women who I have seen compete are beasts and majority - not all - but majority weigh in their 60s with experience in Crossfit or other sports.


Yes, I was weight-training before, but not this way. Not even close.


However, when it comes to doing body-weighted movements, my light weight helps; with push ups, pullups....etc, but what worries me is that there will be a big weight thrown in the Open which will immediately disqualify me; especially anything overhead.


Although my overhead position improved SO much in the past 10 weeks; before I was not able to hold more than 5kgs and squat it down without dropping the bar. Yet, I recently did an overhead squat with 25kgs, and HERE is a video similar to what I did with 1kg less.


I have been going for physiotherapy for the past 10 weeks and doing extensive 30-45 minutes mobility exercises everyday (aside from my actual training). The goal of the physiotherapy is to make sure I get mobility, better range of motion, prevent injuries and work on existing injuries.


Yet, I wonder...is it enough? Am I doing enough to make it? Am I doing everything I should be doing to get through?


Another major concern of mine is....DOUBLE-UNDERS! Before Crossfit, I never skipped in my life, let alone do a double-under (which basically when you jump once and the rope goes under your feet twice.) I have been going at it for at least TWO months. I get it occasionally - out of the blue - and then it disappears for a long time. And to be honest, I am not sure how to get them. EVERYONE exhausted their double-under cues to me, I watched numerous videos...and it's just not happening. Will that be what stops me from making it through the open to go through Asia Regionals? 


I have quite a lot of these doubts. A lot of people tell me that I have passion and my passion will get me through. I don't think passion without hard work is enough. I have the passion, I am working hard, and spending a lot of money on my training and physio. Yet, I still wonder...is it enough?


I really for once in my life want to do something daring. I never did anything so. I want to make it to the regionals, even if it's just for ONE workout. I know I am not strong enough to make top 10 or go to the Games. Not because *I am not strong as me*, but I am not strong compared to the other women who have years of experience under their belt, while me...I have only been technically doing crossfit for 4-5 months.



It may seem that I am "making excuses", and maybe I am, but my excuses are realistic concerns, too....yet I am still training , working hard, and making gains. So my goal is to keep focusing on getting ME better. Getting ME stronger. Getting me to perfect some skills. Yet sometimes, my body doesn't respond the way I want it to.


I have these fears. And a lot more. They came up sometimes. It's normal and I need to let it out, because if I don't I will be cheating myself and only drive myself crazy with self-doubt.


Yet I am still trying and going to give it a shot - because I never know if I don't try and I don't want to regret not giving it all I've got. But at the same time, I want to be realistic and not disappoint myself if I don't make it or disappoint those who supported me, either.


Yours Truly,
GymFreak @999Fitness


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

"Emotional Salad" By Amna Al Haddad at TedxAjman 2011

Dear Readers,

I hope you enjoy the video - just fyi: that is me speaking!


Yours truly,
GymFreak @ 999fitness.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Deadlifts and I

*Note: This is a personal post, and not related to my usual posts on tips. Achievement is the key word here. 

A lot of men and women assume that I am physically big because I lift heavy weights, but they don't realize that lifting heavy for women would probably will never yield to bulging muscles as for those that bodybuilders have ( that require specified training, diet, dedication, genetics and in extreme cases steroids.)

I probably have achieved my personal best today, which was completely unexpected, while performing my favorite exercise, the deadlift. I have written on why I love the Deadlift, where I go into detail about its benefits and what muscle group it works.

However, today, with a push of a friend, also my soon-to-be personal trainer, I lifted 72.5kgs ~ 159lbs. This would be 10kgs more than the weight I lifted last week! I honestly thought I'd be lifting this amount by June, and would probably reach about 100kgs by December, 2011. My goals have changed and I want to double today's lift by December. I already lift more than my bodyweight as is. Soon it will be 2x my body weight.

I was really proven wrong with my previous misconception on how much I can lift, and I am glad to have been so. Why? Because it amazes me how strong our bodies are, while we hardly ever give it credit for. Our bodies are like a tool, that we either use it for us or against us. It's your body - and you should know what works for you and what doesn't. Know how to push it to the limits - but not to the point of breaking down.

Deadlifts give me this sense of confidence, more than any exercise I have ever done. A lot of people think lifting weights of the floor is easy, it really isn't. It will have you winded in no time & gasping for air like anything, but again it's one exercise that will tell you how strong your whole body is, from legs, to core, to back and arms.

I ain't quitting this baby, here! Imma master the mother of all lifts!

FYI: According to strength standards by exrx, I am currently between an intermediate-advanced level with the deadlifts and it's all done in less than 2 years! Only if I could say the same about, ehm, my squats and presses. *covers face*

After seeing such progress in the past year and four months, I am really considering Olympic/powerlifting more seriously in the sense of including other exercises such as clean & jerk, Snatch...etc. It gives my life...focus. Hell, maybe one day join the olympics, for fun, and break stereotypes! But it has to be female-only event, ha!

I am interested in hearing about other females in the Middle East who are interested in heavy weight lifting, bodybuilding or power/Olympic lifting. Share your stories! Lets fight this misconception of lifting heavy weights = big muscles already! Not that I'd mind a bit of big muscles ;). 

Yours truly,
GymFreak @ 999Fitness.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Why I love the deadlift

Every Friday, I enter the gym knowing that I will be spending a good 'ol 30 minutes just doing one particular exercise that I know if I didn't do any other exercise for my legs, I would still get a well-rounded workout, both muscle-targeted & a hint of cardio. Why? Because every Friday I perform an exercise called the Deadlift - and yes the deadlift is as deadly as it sounds, but in a very lively way. 

What is the Deadlift?


It's an exercise that is sadly often ignored but highly appreciated and beneficial among bodybuilders and powerlifters. The deadlift is a compound exercise that works more than one muscle at a time which means more calories are burnt. Usually, in my 4 sets of doing the deadlift, which takes me about 20-25 minutes, I lose upto 150 calories - but then again, I am talking about heavy weights & usually use between 70-80% of my Target Heart Rate (THR).

When doing the deadlift, you usually use a barbell bar and stack it up with weights on both side of the bar and lift the weights from the ground. Note: Steps are below in a video.
This is probably one of the exercises that will actually help you with your daily activities. When was the last time you bent down to pick up an item, a heavy box, or a tray? A lot of times you find yourself touching your lower back, eh? Well, this exercise will help in reducing that pain or discomfort.

The muscles usually worked in a Deadlift are: 

From where I'm standing, it seems like the whole body is, eh? But more seriously:

  • Hamstrings (back of the leg)
  • Quads (front of the leg)
  • Glutes
  • Calves
  • Lower Back
  • Abs
  • Lats 
  • Traps 
  • Forearms

Honestly, after every single session of doing a proper Dead, I always feel that I've ran a marathon, which I never really have, so how would I know how that feels like? Nevertheless, you'd usually hear me grunting while performing the exercise, swimming in sweat,panting for air and drinking plenty of water after every single set. So far, I feel that performing this exercise is one reason why I feel my body has the strength. Also there are many variations for the deadlift, them being: Romanian deadlift, Stiff-Legged Deadlift, and Sumo-Deadlift.

More on the author: She weighs about 52kgs and can do a deadlift with 57.5kgs. Her goal is to do a dead twice her bodyweight by sometime mid of next year. 

Yours Truly,
GymFreak at 999-Fitness.

* Here is a video that shows: How to Perform a Deadlift