Categorie: Personal Powerlifting History
Finally determined by testing …… It costed 5 years….
I’m loving the mornings!!
January is almost coming to an end and I am still checking my boxes. Beating PROcrastination is rewarding. The last two weeks I have been working on strengthening the adductors and my buns (the latest I’d love to turn into steel ;-)). I am happy to already see some changes in how I approach the programme and even the bar.
Sunday’s I take the time out for my weekly review on paper and digital. The biggest ‘ahaah-thing’ I can say is…..I’m loving the mornings. Being on the go from 6.30 o’clock is challenging and once you get the hang of it the nicest flow to be in. Seeing the sun come up and noticing that I’ve already indulged some ME-time and brace myself for the tasks that are there for me to take on or even tackle. It gives me more time and focus to enjoy the things I do in my spare time.
This “check in” is quick so there will be more to tell and show next week.
Let me check what’s on my ‘I will be doing’ list for the coming week!!
How do you prepare yourself for the week and keep your focus? I am curious to know how this time of the year and season is treating you and what you are putting in to it.
Untill we meet again.
–XOXO–
I.R.I.S.
Recover & Recharge
Yes, we made it to another week this new year. This week the focus was on recovery. While typing this a saying I once heard goes through my head: Recovery is not for people who need it, it’s for people who want it. And it’s never too late to join the party.
For me this also raises the question: but what does recovery actually means? Is that;
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- taking rest; doing nothing;
- still being active but with another intensity and intention on the outcome? ;
- fill in the blanks yourself ****
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Whatever recovery means for you; I find it important to make the time for it and be consistent in applying this in my active lifestyle. The way you deal with muscle aches, preventing injuries (big and small), lowering your stress levels..…it’s all important and will benefit you in the long run if you have a plan by hand.
This week celebrating the existence of recovery meant treating myself to an acupuncture session to release the soreness and stiffness in my legs. And going back to the gym (since they reopened last friday here in the Netherland). I found myself doing way overdue assistive work. And I can honestly say….I enjoyed it. Not because of the fact I wasn’t moving loads and loads of KG’s. Mostly because my focus was solemnly on strengthening overlooked and underdeveloped parts in my body in addition to my overall FIT_ness!
I’m curious to hear what your recovery(plan) looks like.
Feel free to share
Untill we meet again.
–XOXO–
I.r.i.s
2021 Year reflection
My year 2021 reflection, click one of links below to read 🙂
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4687171284702180&id=100002280649015
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYJiuFELXPe/
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
Training like an older + wiser (hu)man…..
Nine days have passed since I was in Stavanger Norway and participated in the World Equipped Powerlifting Championship of 2021. Looking back at this experience I can say that I am still in awe of the fact that it was possible to be there. My last memories of an equipped Championship goed back to 2019. A whole different time frame, state of mind, state of the world we are living in and a lot has happened in those last two years. Nonetheless the people were so supportive and wanted everyone to succeed. The pleasure of experiencing this was all mine.
I want to share a little bit on how, for the last 1,5 year, I managed to hang in there when “The going got tough and the tough got going”. During the preparation of this competition things didn’t go as easy or structured as normal. Don’t get me wrong I am privileged; having a roof above my head, clothing on my back, access to food and water, feeling healthy, a job to pay the bills and loving people around me. And on top of that I have access to workout stuff and just train. At the same time a lot didn’t feel as “just”.
For a long period things felt as a must…..things felt slow…and at the same time, the time was flying by. There were many times that I asked myself the question ‘what is the point in lifting’ if there is no competition or higher goal foreseen anytime soon. I had to go back to basics in my mind, in my approach of ‘being active’ and in how I trained.
The conversations with the coach, who noticed I was not in my happiest element gave me a new outlook on things. He invited me to only focus my energy on the things I could influence and can take responsibility for. That was the beginning of letting go and trusting the process.
It took 10 weeks to find some structure and I managed to keep it like that. After those 8 weeks work became busier, and consumed more of my spare time leaving a little bit of energy left to unwind. Lifting heavy weights was not something that came to mind. And still….within the circumstances I dusted myself off and did what I could to maintain a minimum of form and work on my technique. And the beginning of another training approach was born. Also introduced to me as: Training like an old man. Sounds strange does it not?¿This preparation and competition showed me that what you do in the dark comes to the light. You never know for how long someone is running if you see them passing by on the street. You never know how many miles someone has traveled if you see them sleeping at the bus stop or in the train. And you don’t know what someone has endured in training/off the platform when you see them competing. That’s something I keep in mind when looking at other people and being amazed by their performances (in life), and discipline to keep going or change their course if necessary.
So for the coming weeks and entering the new year I’m training in a way I am not yet used to and am curious where this will lead to.Hopefully a road of more adventures and great memories off and on the platform lay ahead.
Until we meet again.
– xoxo- Iris –
The Vintage Report (30th September 2021) on Sneakerjagers YouTube canal
How it started vs How it’s going…
Do you ever look back at how and when you started doing something that you
love? Was this a choice – after some long thinking – or did you grow into this naturally? Whether it’s in sports, work, reading, painting, gaming, planning quality time, learning a new language. Developing a new skill or improving the skills you already have? YOU NAME IT!
For me…. doing something that I love did not come naturally! I had to go out and look for it, because something just felt off and I needed to do something that only involved being with me and learning more about myself.
Maybe the fact that it will take only 119 days before 2021 ends and Christmass is around the corner makes me appreciate the past, cherish the now and embrace the future.
I’m just getting used to the crazy feeling of this year and reviewing if I met up with the things I took upon myself to do. More about that later.
At the same time those (un)friendly Google reminders show me pictures around this time last year, two,3 and even 5 years back. And my oh my……I’d lie if I tell you that a lot has changed or that everything stayed the same.
Most of the clothing I’m wearing in those pictures; I can’t even tell you where they are. It’s not that I lost them…it’s mostly because they don’t fit anymore or because
I’m hardly leaving the house to dress up.
Throughout this year materialism and wanting more has gotten another meaning to it. Don’t get me wrong: I still love and like to purchase things to please my soul, eyes and sometimes deal with a void that I try to fill.
Because if I’m honest: I don’t need anything that is out there for sale. It’s a privilege to be able to do so and it’s even more satisfying not to buy something, because it doesn’t add value to me or how I feel in the long run.
In no way, shape or form, I am anything near to becoming a minimalist….although the view of an (almost) empty space or just starting over with a clean slate is tempting. On the other hand, the energy it takes of getting rid of all the things I accumulated in those 25+ years…….is overwhelming. And that’s why things stay the same, and I’m operating in my comfort zone.
When it comes down to powerlifting,,,,I’m learning that less is more and that sparks my interest in being more intentional with what is already there.
A true lesson that I’m slowly but surely am incorporating in my non-lifting activities.
Please feel free to comment or share if you can relate to anything I mentioned. I’m curious to know how you view 2021 and have been taking yourself through this year and into the next one.
Until the next one..
XoXo – Iris –