Competing in the 72kg-- Open Division.

Placed: 2nd

Squat: 347lbs (~5lbs under meet Pr; ~25lbs under gym PR)

Bench: 187lbs (~5lbs under meet PR; ~15lbs under gym PR)

Deadlift: 440lbs (20lb Meet PR; ~5lbs under gym PR)


 

So this Meet was far from an ideal performance, and was a real lesson in learning how to compete under far from perfect circumstances.

The main factor affecting my meet was the weight cut. Going into Pan-Am's my weight was right within target. However, the international travel + the food in Brazil (extremely salty) put me way over my target/competition weight which resulted in some drastic last minute weight cut tactics (IPF = 2 hour weigh ins). I was able to make weight, but wasn't able to rehydrate quickly enough (sick from dehydration, but felt too sick to eat or drink as much as I needed).

Throughout the entire meet I felt as though I was either going to pass out or throw up (or both). Clammy, Dizzy, Cold sweats, you name it. I've had to cut weight before, but never like this. As a result-- meet performance suffered.

However, things ended on an oddly positive note. Although I Deadlifted less than I was supposed to that day-- I ended up having the biggest Deadlift of the day [440lbs] (for women), setting a meet PR, and a Pan-Am Deadlift record (Pulling Beltless Sumo). This was my first time pulling Sumo in a meet, still no belt.

All in all, I accomplished what I wanted to Placing wise (Silver) and took home a Pan-Am Record and Deadlift PR. We adjusted my numbers so that I went 7/9.

 

It wasn't the meet that I expected or wanted, but I did what I needed to do under the circumstances to build the total I needed for my team/ placing.

Mickey Belaineh
Tagged: Training Log

EliteFTS Table Talk— Where strength meets truth. Hosted byDave Tate, Table Talk cuts through the noise to bring raw, unfiltered conversations about training, coaching, business, and life under the bar. No fluff. No hype. Just decades of experience — shared to make you stronger in and out of the gym.

Join the Crew!

Support us and access premium content monthly!