Confidence

I know that one of my main issues in terms of getting peak performance on my main lifts in the gym, and especially in competition situations, is confidence in my abilities, or a lack thereof. For instance, I fully believe that I am capable of deadlifting 275# pounds physically, but yesterday the little whisps of doubt began to sneak in as I assessed how much weight was on the bar and that although I had gotten up 280# at my last comp, it was just barely and with terrible form. Basically instead of just believing that I could complete the pull and just attacking it I started coming up with reasons I might not be able to before I even tried. Recipe for failed lifts right there.

Today was bench day and I knew I should be trying for a 130#x1 max lift. Since hitting 135# with Chris in May, I have failed at 130# twice in my last two x1 week cycles. This is not exactly confidence boosting. Today I knew I wanted to get good work in, but I also wanted to help myself succeed, so rather than doing the prescribed work sets of 100#x5, 115#x3 and 130#x1 and potentially (probably?) failing at 130# yet again, after I hit 115#x3 I went to 120#x1 and then 125# for two more singles (the first of which was definitely NOT competition-legal, but the second probably would have passed with the judges.) All of this was without a spotter, which I think also helps my confidence and is good practice as well because there's no spotter at the competition. The psychological boost of only adding 5# at a time to the bar is incredibly helpful, and I think with this strategy going forward I should be able to hit 130-5# easily before October 12.

Training today:
Warm-up: landmine presses and band pull-aparts
Bench: 9 sets working up to 125#x1,1. Supersetted with cable rows
Accessory: band pull-ups and triceps work
Finisher: Single-arm overhead waiter carries around the boxing gym with 35# dumbbell

P.s. For those regular readers (thank you, by the way!) the blog may be a bit quiet over the next week as I'm traveling to Pittsburgh to visit the family. Though lifting at the neighborhood YMCA by my Mom's house is usually good for at least a couple decent gym stories. The last time I was there, a fellow lifter told me I reminded him of Annie Thorisdottor, which is pretty much as good as it gets as far as gym compliments go :)