Strength log for Tuesday, September 9th - Trust the process

It's easy sometimes, when you are going through the motions, laying the bricks as I like to say, towards a goal, to lose perspective, to lose faith.

But then out of nowhere you break through a barrier and you realize that the process is working. Even when it doesn't seem like it, you have to remember to trust that the plan, if you are following it, will bear fruit.

The last time I tried to perform a shoulder press at 145lbs, one week ago, I got the bar about as high as my nose before it stopped dead in it's tracks.  After 8 weeks of slowly building up from five sets of five reps at 70% all the way up to 3 heavy singles at 95%, it was like a slap in the face.  After putting in all that work, how could I not get that 5lbs difference?

I didn't harp on it as I had many other lifts I was progressing on to keep my body and mind busy with. 

Today, going into the gym to hit a heavy single, and either peel back and do some reps or push ahead and attempt a PR, I didn't have a preference which it would be.  If it felt good, I'd go for it, if not, I'd salvage the workout with some heavy rep work.

My warm up was very short, only a few reps at 60%, 70% and 80% of my current max, then a single at 90% of my current max. Then I jumped 20lbs from 125lbs to 145lbs.

Straight up. Fought it a bit, but there was never any doubt it was going up.  In fact a took a few minutes to walk around and get some water and  then I did it again. Even better the second time.

It was a pretty awesome feeling, that completely erase the slap in the face from last week.

I have set some pretty aggressive goals for myself, but I know I'll get there.

I just have to trust the process.  



Progress update:

Strict Press PR. 

Strength:
Bench: 215lbs July 4, 2014 (up from 205lbs)
Dead Lift: 355lbs September 5, 2014 (up from 345lbs)
Press: 145lbs September 9, 2014 (up from 140lbs)
Back Squat: 285lbs June 30, 2014 (up from 275lbs)
Front Squat: 250# (up from 245#) September 3, 2014
Overhead squat: 115# April 10th, 2014



Power:
Power Clean: 185lbs Dec 30, 2013 (up from 175lbs)
Power snatch:  125lbs Mar, 27, 2014 (up from 115lbs)
Push Press: 175# (up from 165#) Feb 18, 2014
Clean: 191# (up from 185#) July 29, 2014
Jerk: 185# (up from 180#) Oct 30, 2013
Snatch: 130# July 22, 2013
Clean and Jerk: 175# July 24, 2013