Holy Cosmic Upheaval

Okay! Since January, I have been busy, but not with much of great importance. I did get some important things settled, such as:

• Chris and I have found and deposited for our apartment, and we're getting ready to move in.
• The wedding is settled!
• My wedding leave is approved!
• I shot expert on the range (one reason I haven't been blogging)
• I have been switched from days to nights at work.
• I've been doing a lot of leisure reading.
• I lost my Internet when my last roommate moved out.
• We even have a couple pieces of furniture for our apartment thanks to bridal shower cash!

I've also been working out a lot more. I started StrongLifts, which is a squat-based 5x5 program, in late January. Recently I've modified it by swapping out the Pendlay row with power cleans. My power clean form is, well, a lot cleaner. I'm also getting into the Olympic lifts. They are way more technical, and I'm self-teaching, so I'm taking it slowly. There's a USA Weightlifting Regional Training Center just a few miles away, and after we get settled into the apartment, I may head over there and see about getting some form checks and training advice.

I'm really excited about the weights I'm lifting. Tomorrow's squat weight is set for 100 lbs. That means the first ever time I squat triple digits. I will be taking on either 135 or 145 on my deadlift. I have to check my notebook. I've doubled my most serious weight at the OHP. I used to hit 40 once in a while, and now I can lift 60. Tomorrow's workout ups the ante to 65, and I might end up repeating the weight, but I have confidence I'll be putting that weight up easily in two weeks. My bench press (never even used to do it, except with small dumbbells) is at 70 lbs this week. My weakest lift is the power clean right now, but that is partly because I'm new to it and partly because I was cheating on the rows with form.

How You Can Tell I'm Serious About Lifting:
1. Only sheer exhaustion keeps me from working out (I hated range week).
2. I have no grip assists, extra gear, or lifting shoes.
3. My workout notebook has KITTENS on it. KITTENS.

I'm totally serious, guys.