Results of Freedom Open in Leesburg.

Weighed in at 266 so I was in the 275lbs weight class and the 55-59 age division. I opened with 340lbs and it went up easy. Second attempt was 365lbs. It was a little wobbly at the lift off so I held it at the top until it was steady, it went up fast. My confidence was high at this point and I raised the weight to 385. I previously missed 375 at bench nationals last summer. The lift was strong and smooth and 49 pounds over the 336 national record that we started the day with. I opted for a fourth attempt at 405lbs. to up the record again. I had a mental lapse and held the bar after lift off for almost 4 seconds waiting for a start command. Of course there is no start command in the 100% Raw Federation. I brought the bar down a little high on my chest and was not able to complete the lift. I had to settle for setting a new national record 3 times. The world record is also 336 but this was a sanction II meet so national records were as high as you could go.

Next up the 100% Raw Freedom USA Open:

Next Saturday Sid, Mike (new guy from Fitness 19), and I will take Pat over to Leesburg for a raw bench meet. The 100% Raw federation allows lifting belt only.

I will be attempting to set a new national record for the 55-59 275lb weight class. The current record is 336lbs. I will be opening with 340lbs.

As we know I was drug tested at the Richmond meet. I am not worried about anything I have taken for weight lifting, however I have taken some new supplements that are about healthful aging etc. (Protandim and Resveratol) The only problem with them is that the conditions with which they are packaged are not controlled like they are for drugs so there is the possibility of cross contamination with a supplement that may have been packaged just prior to whatever you are using. This is a chance you take with any supplement. I would however like that big Pass to show up soon.

I think I figured out why I have been steady putting on pounds. Back when I pulled a groin muscle I quit doing my daily morning squats. I do these to fire up my metabolism so it burns strong all day. I started back on the morning regimen last Monday and have dropped 5 pounds already. Whew! (Slap forehead).

After this meet I am going to purchase a new Super Katana and start shirted traing from the beginning. The groove is different from the Fury and therefore the technique is different also. I have to train to keep my head on the bench. I will train for the nationals in Cleveland in September. If I cant get the shirt to work for me I think I will just lift raw.