Long time no see or hear. Hope you have been well and so are your loved ones. I just pop on here to say hi! A lot has been said and written already on social media on how to ‘keep going’ or take a step back from whatever you used to see as normal ((during this pandemic)).
I can say that I’m still adjusting to the new normal and have been using this time to reflect even more on all the blessings I’m surrounded by (health = wealth) and the fact that being able to stay safe and sound is a privilege. Just putting up this post to remind myself – and anyone who is in need of hearing so – that this to not only a time to look back but also look forward. Forward to whatever may cross my path or I’ll actively look for.
Being active these days gives me a better understanding of how the passion + love for sports all started (dancing, athletics, basketball, bootcamps, kickboxing you name it). Just a way of dealing with situations in any shape or form. A way to relax, destress, find a piece of mind and get to know thyself and others better. With or without social distancing!
If you mind please leave a comment below and share how you are doing these days? Looking forward to hear what y’all have been doing the last couple of months to keep yourself going.
Leaves me with no other thing to say than; stay safe and until we meet again.
Its’s been a while that I’ve reflected on the special things I’ve achieved this year with the guidance of the one and only Wim Wamsteeker. Being in my own bubble; of eat, work, gym, eat some more, sleep and repeat does that sometimes. And to be honest – this time– for way too long.
With that said I find it important to keep myself on track and look back on this crazy journey and adventure I’m still on. Today finally I take some time to sit my butt down and create room for NOT (over)thinking and letting things flow and grow.
The (almost last 365 days) in 2019 has been all about making C H O I C E S and being P A T I E N C E. #OHLORD, #MYOHMY, #PREMIERE, #ITOLDYOUSO.
C H O I C E S At the end of 2018 Wim asked me to write down what I wanted to focus on in 2019. For the people who know me, or are about to, my first answer to his questions was: HUH…..why should I, I still want to focus on everything that’s possible and comes my way. Thinking that if I keep my options open there will always be enough to achieve, do and see. I was about to find out that that I’m not a superhuman nor a robot so that I needed to narrow things down, to be more and highly effective in the things I’m wishing for and am able to achieve.
P A T I E N C E Wim warned me that 2019 would be a difficult year training wise. Meaning: Working harder for every (kilo)gram. Not by doing more but by sharpening my technique. That included a lot of patience (not my first nature when it comes down to myself) and therefor a lot of downs and ups. More ups and downs because, as you might have seen and noticed…the fruits of all this labor payed of big time by begin able to set a new world record on the deadlift at the World Open Championships in Dubai.
D R E A M S VS R E A L I T Y Still at this point I can’t believe that all those training hours spend in the gym and all the tears shed, aches and pains have led up to (and as I like to say and see it) USachieving this.
It’s been 4 weeks and exactly 3 days POST meet, and I still am afraid that someone will pinch me and tell me it was all a dream.
I’ve come to the realization that being an athlete is not something that you do part-time besides your job. It’s something that you are and If you pay close attention to it you can feel it in your bones.
THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH – NOT ONY THE GOLD –
A NEW WORLD RECORD Thanks to Wim I’m still learning how to CHECK IN instead of checking out, or not even showing up at the bus stop. Especially when I’m getting too much caught up in details rather than zooming out and looking at the process = progress. Will I ever be able to love the 1sth word :-0).
Wim shows me that ‘Failure is instructive’ : even when things don’t feel right, being an athlete makes you look in the accountability mirror and pick yourself right back up.
Meaning: you get up, show up and get the job done. ALL WE HAVE IS NOW and COURAGE over COMFORT is what makes you GROW.
NO, not only when I’m feeling sorry for myself and doubting if I’m doing things right; NO, not only in the gym, and on the platform; YES, pretty much in general!
>>□ These are the live lessons by Wim I take by heart □<<
Philifsophy says it all: It’s BEYOND the program and more about YOU.
Want to read more about what Philoftsophy and all the lifters touched by Wim are up to?
Where will I start 🙂 Looking back this year gives me a lot of uncertain feelings and thoughts. And at the end the trigeminal neuralgia is gone for a year….. Believe me that is really awesome.
Nevertheless I have to cope that my live has changed after the brain operation. Step by step it’s becoming easier if I hold the boundaries I’ve got now….. Before my illness I didn’t have any boundaries in work, training etc. 🙂 Now I take my rest during the day and plan my work (even better) I feel I got more grip on it (again). Trainingsessions during the week are maximum 1 hour and in the weekend I train only once. That session does not take longer than 1,5 hour. So I’ve created a new way of training (light weight sessions 🙂 ). Besides that I found a new way of breathing (to keep the pressure out of my head) feels great. Like a little kid 🙂 Although I don’t lift the weights I did in the past. I’m able to lift on the platform again. And that gives me a lot of joy and a goal to train.
In 1987 I lifted my 1st Powerlifting Nationals (juniors at the age of 18 🙂 ) Since then I lifted at least 1 national competition per year 🙂 So 31 years in a row and still feeling like a junior.
Today Iris was my coach and Ilrish was here back support. Please read the blog of Iris and watch here video. She had a great equipped session yesterday. click here! Thank you both for your support. You did a great job.
Squats: I opened with 195kg (no sleeves), 2nd squat 207,5kg and 3rd 212,5kg
Bench press: Started with 120kg (no belt), 2nd 125kg and 3rd 127,5kg
Deadlift: 1st attempt 220kg (no belt), 2nd 235kg and 3rd 242,5kg
Total of 582,5kg and that is good for the moment. Unfortunately the next meet which I can compete will be in September……. or I have to lift a the Equipped Powerlifting Nationals at the end of this moment…… Will that be wise at this moment? No……. At the Equipped Powerlifting Nationals I got another thing to do 😉
Video of today’s Nationals. Recorded by Ilrish Kensenhuis. Thank you 🙂
What can I say. It was very awesome to lift today even though the weights are low, it felt awesome. 5 months ago it was over and now I’m standing on the platform again 😀 Since May 1987 I’m lifting Powerlifting Nationals juniors, open and masters 🙂
The last few days I did too much and my mind (brain) wasn’t fully charged today. So for a next meet I have to do what I ‘normally’ ‘did’ do for a meet…………. NOTHING………. 🙂 😀 😆
Video at the end of the blog 😉
Squats:
2×8 20kg 5x70kg 5x100kg 3x130kg 2x160kg 1×180kg (belt)
Opener: 195kg (sleeves + belt)
2nd attempt: 210kg (wraps + belt) due lack of fully energy I skipped an attempt with tighter sleeves and did it straight away with knee wraps 🙂
3rd attempt: 220kg (wraps + belt)
Bench press:
2×8 20kg 8x50kg 5x70kg 2×3 90kg 1×110
Opener: 120kg
2nd attempt: 127,5kg not totally focused and I pushed too much and therefor I skipped my 3rd attempt.
Deadlift
3x90kg 3x120kg 3x150kg 1x180kg 1x200kg
Opener: 220kg
2nd attempt: 230kg
3rd attempt: failed 240kg I didn’t start correct and made thereby an mistake with my breathing. So I let it go.
Great support from Henk and Gerrit and very nice responses from the attendees 🙂
This week I mentioned that the upcoming Dutch Powerlifting Nationals for Masters are a memorable meet for me personally. 5 monhts ago I woke up after my operation. The surgeon came to my bed and asked if the pain was gone? I said: Yes. The surgeon: so the operation is successful and due complication you have to stop with your sport………
You can image that was a big punch in my face…….. The weeks after the operation were tough due I have to deal with that message. Ofcourse you can accept and give it up. Only the voice in my head was searching for alternatives. So few days before the control appointment in March I started to train with very light weight. During the control appointment the problems which occur during the operation became much more clear. I understand how it come that the surgeon advice me to stop my sport. Because too much pressure in my head can generate too much pressure on my bloodvains and this can cost again the pain I had. The conversation at the control appointment was confronting and the surgeon told me: When you can control the pressure and manage it to your core (belly/stomach) you can train. Wow that was a very nice gift 😀
After that I started step by step with my training and the first steps with CardioPowerLifting 😆 I was (am) very happy that I was able to train, although it is only with light weights. During the weeks I felt that although I was training with light weight, my maximum strenght was gaining 🙂 And 3 weeks ago I was for myself at a level that it is ok for me to compete on a platform. And this is awesome for me. A lot of things can change in 5 months and most of all: keep your eyes for on the things you want and search for alternative ways.
This week I also figure out that 30th years ago I competed on my first Dutch Powerlifting Nationals (years) and lifted each year at least in National Powerlifting Championship 🙂 So you can image that this makes the upcoming Nationals memorable to me.
In 1983 I did my first gymcompetition bench press in March 1985 I did my first full Powerlifting meet.
On my May 30th 1987 (1 month after I became 18) I competed in the -90kg class at the junior Nationals. It was my debuted on the Nationals. It was new for me and I was very enthusiastic for the meet. I trained very very hard for the meet. So hard that I was a little bit over my peak moment and I had to adjust my goals (in kilograms) I missed my opener in squat 190kg.
Although I squatted over the 200kg in the gym. 2 attempt was in and for my 3rd attempt only 5kg was added. That was also a good attempt.
Bench press went not that great. I pressed only my opener of 110kg and failed 2 times on 115kg.
Deadlift went great. We (the coach) decided to adjustment my opener with a lighter weight, because I was able to win the Nationals 😀 That was a great learning point, because on championships it is not about the kilograms you lift, it is about the ranking you get.
My opener was 180kg, followed by 195kg and my 3rd attempt was 210kg.
My goal in the nearby future is now to compete at the Worlds Masters. The Europeans are to earlier, otherwise I will be to eager to gain the weights in the coming weeks. After the Nationals Sunday, my first priority is to control my bodyweight and go back to the -120kg class. Than I have plenty of time to train and hopefully can wear loose suits / shirt to support my lifts.
But first things first. Sunday the Nationals Powerlifting Masters 😀
I can say that I’m still adjusting to the new normal and have been using this time to reflect even more on all the blessings I’m surrounded by (health = wealth) and the fact that being able to stay safe and sound is a privilege. Just putting up this post to remind myself – and anyone who is in need of hearing so – that this to not only a time to look back but also look forward. Forward to whatever may cross my path or I’ll actively look for.
kg (belt)
