Prepping for the APF-AAPF Orlando Barbell Florida State Meet - February 28, 2015. Qualified National Strongman competitor and will be competing this coming October, 2015. I am here to live, learn, and pass on.

3 weeks out from the APF Florida State meet and picking my openers and possible second attempts are in the works. APF is a federation I have competed in before but the meet was a push/pull meet -- it was actually my brutters first meet and I wanted to be there for moral support and well, try to see if I can out lift him.

This will be a full meet but APF rules do not allow knee wraps or knee sleeves. So this will definitely be interesting since I have always done meets that use mono-lifts and allowed knee wraps. I am actually more excited than nervous because it's a new challenge: walking out the weight and no knee wraps? Do you even raw raw squat, bro?

When picking your openers, especially for new lifters, you always want to start with a weight you can do for multiple reps, maybe even something you can do on a really sh--ty day. I actually learned that from Tony Ramos, who trains at Westside Barbell, a few years back when I started. I like this approach because your first attempt should make you feel confident for your next attempt. I am also saying this from experience. I've aimed too high before because I was determined to hit a certain number, purely based on ego and not thinking smart, and it bit me in the bum. I bombed.

First estimated opener and second attempt: 250 lbs , 265 lbs

These are only estimations. They may go up, they may go down, depending on how I feel on the day of the meet: adrenaline rush; food and water consumption; rest and mind-set -- those are all taken into account on how your performance will be that day.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0goXbMIB27c

 

Finished off with:

  • Pause squats with 225lbs - 3 x 5
  • Box squats (targeting the hamstrings and glutes) 5 x 8
  • Abductions x 100
  • Band ham curls x 100
 

Thank you for being a part of my journey. Suggestions and comments are always welcomed!

Yessica Martinez
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!