sat

84.2kg [from 87 on monday] I seem to watch what I eat during the week but self destruct during the weekends. I am going to exercsie more self control in future.

4 mile walk. Had breakfast down town, tasty scrambled egg and toast.

Starting weights at home with son tomorrow. More time warming up in future.

I feel that if I can work my training and not aggravate knee, then when I visit 'go-lift', the competition and atmosphere is going drive me to heavier lifts in future.

6 weeks until irish championships in Jordanstown

Pete's gym

Finally got around to making the journey up to Ballyrobert.

Was still concerned about the knee pain but this didnt hinder me. Brendan jnr got plenty of instruction and encouragement from Pete and he really enjoyed the session.

I lifted with a guy called Ross and we seemed to inspire each other to some good lifting. Ross had a pb of 74 snatch with plenty left in the tank..
Considering how little lifting I have done recently, I lifted much better than I expected. It shows what competition and a good atmosphere does to inspire.
Snatch 40x3; 40x3; 50x2; 50x2; 55x2; 55x2; 60x2; 65; 70; 72x; 72; 74x; 74x. Pete throws in the right amount of technical suggestion.What I do like is that he doesnt throw too many things at me and I understand what he is talking about.
Things to work on:
- position of the feet especially in the receive position
- hips, explosion, bar position too low down on thighs etc
Clean and jerk 70x2; 80x2; 90; 95
Clean 97; 100[ I wrote in my diary yesterday that I wanted to get this by July!!]
Total 72+95=167[although the 95 clean and jerk was a press out]

All in all, a really good session. Delighted that my son enjoyed it and cant wait for the next time.

Rest

The knee has been rested for a few days. I jarred the knee doing power cleans at the weekend and I still have a bit of pain.
Heading up to Pete's gym tomorrow with my son for some coaching. I really hope I can shake off injuries because I feel that I am on the brink of making decent gains

sun

Knee very sore this morning and putting me in bad form which I had to snap out of very quickly. Spent most of the day reading in the bad garden and enjoying the fine weather.

At 6pm, I decided to give clean and jerk another go. The pain was moderate. Common advice is always to rest when injured but I felt that i had nothing to lose. Can't keep stopping every time I get a niggle.
Clean and jerk
40x3; 40x3; 50x2; 60x2. No increase in pain so I continued. 65; 70; 75; 80; 85. 85 clean very hard but jerk very easy. Relieved that pain is not any worse.

Front squat. light reps up to 70. Decided not to squat anymore than this,

Rack jerk
40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x3; 60x3; 65x3; 70; 75; 80; 85; 90; 95x Very close with 95 which was quite surprising.

injury jinx

decided to get in a good session today.
snatch 40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 45x3; 50x3; 50x3; 52; 55; 57; 60; 62; 50; 52; 55; 57; 60; 62; 65; 67; 70x
Very pleased with this but concerned about slight niggling pain in the left knee.

Snatch Balance. As I worked through these, the knee gradually got worse.

Clean and jerk 40. After a 40 clean and jerk, I couldnt lift any more. the pain became very uncomfortable and remained for the rest of the day. I dont know what the problem is but i cant seem to get a decent break from injury.

out of action

spent most of fri and sat in altnagelvin getting poked and prodded by doctor. a scan hasnt identified the problem. go back in on thurs and if no improvement, then surgery.

catn walk or weightlift which is very disappointing. i need to get this sorted now

thurs

No training, too sore.

Unfortunately, I have a little bit of stomach pain today. It maybe only a bit of residue left from last week. Hopefully not a reoccuring problem. This makes me nervous.

bliss

2nd part of midweek programme

Rack jerk
40x3; 40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 45x3;50x3; 50x3; 55x3; 55x3; 60x3; 65x3; 70x3; 72; 75; 77; 80; 82; 85; 87; 90. Havent done this exercise for almost a month. Still need improvement in technique. delighted and surprised to get 90 today. I dont think it will be long b4 I get over the 100 again.

Back Squats. Similar lifts up to a max of 90 which is the heaviest I have squatted for 30 months.

Going out for an 8 mile walk. feels gr8 to be doing something after being laid low for 10 days. I should know how I am after the weekend but so far, no pains in the stomach.

For the love of ...., weightlfting

After a while out of action and stomach ailments, I went against the advice of a few and had a lifting session. I am not foolish; any sign of pain and I would stop. Hoping that the problem was just a nasty infection and not muscle or organ related.
Snatch
40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 45x3; 50x3; 52; 55; 57; 60; 62; 50; 52; 55; 57; 60; 62; 65x. The 62's were quite hard but only one failure.
Snatch balance
40x3; 40x3; 45x3; 45x3; 50x3; 50x3; 55x3; 55x3; 60; 62x; 50x3; 52x3; 55x3; 60; 62; 65
Power clean
40x3; 45x3; 50x3; 55x3; 60x3; 62; 65; 67; 70; 72; 75; 60x3; 60x3; 40x3; 45x3; 45x3; 50x3; 50x3; 55x3; 55x3; 60x3; 60x3.
Quite a stiff workout to see how the abdomin holds up. 2nd part of the session is completed tomorrow with rack jerk, squats and presses. The key thing for me is to get to Sunday with no stomach pain.

On the mend?

Going to do a light weights session maybe later in the week. Hoping my stomach problems are behind me. Started on a more healthy diet on Sunday; only 2 days done but I am determined to succeed. I have been consuming too much junk food recently and this needs to stop.

The only thing that will stop me doing weights will be from serious injury. Weightlifting is a great distraction which throws up plenty of personal challenges and the main reward being the opportunity to compete all over ireland.

march 2nd

85.4kg

no real pain in stomach this morning.Still plenty of swelling around navel.Will be on antibiotics until at least Wednesday hoping the infection clears up. Stomach still expanded by about 3".

Had 3 doctors opinions to date. none of them no where this infection has come from. Doctor 3ays he is convinced it is nothing to do with weightlifting although lifting is out of the question for now. I need to get back to lifting asap so that I dont fall behind.Irish senior is 10 weeks from Saturday so i dont want to lose too much time.

The big aim for me is next year's irish masters where I hope to be lifting close to 85+105

1st march

86.1kg. been eating badly recently so i am using the first day of march to make a commitment to eating better.



no training or walking for the time being due to stomach problem. Swelling hasn't got any worse so I have to be patient and hope situation improves. Doctors still dont know what caused this problem. the first doctors grasped at the fact that i have been weightlifting caused the problem. 2nd and 3rd doctor dont think it has anything to do with lifting. I have to take at least 2 weeks b4 thinking of lifting again. i really hope 2 weeks off wont cause me to lose strength