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Kill With Power; Die!! Die!!
Topic Started: Jun 5 2005, 07:37 PM (10,143 Views)
Frozenkilt
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Online douche. GOLD! I need more Gold
Remind me again, Matt. With your 2 second pause, is that above or below the knee?

- Sean
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Matt Frost
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Fuckin' SLAYER!!
It's at or just below the knee. I try to keep it right at the knee, sometimes it ends up a little low.
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Matt Frost
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I know it's been a while, I just haven't had time to post my training log this week.

It was a very good week overall. Seems I got a lot of my snap back.

I broke up my weekend session- instead of doing two sessions on Saturday, I did one Sat and one Sunday. Want to see how I recover from that versus having the two whole days off thing.

Thursday's Training:

Squat Snatch

from power position

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 1
75 x 1
75 x 1

Jerk from the Rack:

70 x 3
85 x 3
100 x 2
105 x 2
105 x 2

Second set at 105 wasn't so hot but the first one (and all the ones leading up to it) were very crisp.

Front Squat:

90 x 5
125 x 3
145 x 2
155 x 2
155 x 2

BTN Snatch-Grip Push Press:

no rest except to change weight

50 x 5
60 x 5
70 x 4
75 x 4
80 x 3

abs, 60 reps.

Saturday's Training:

Hit up Iron Sport today. They had the energy drinks I swear by- ABB's Adrenalyn Stack. I was all out of my personal stash and GNC wasn't open when I left my house at 8:30, so...

Snatch Balance:

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 2
75 x 2
75 x 2

Nice. I had no problem snapping into these. There was no jerk-like movement with a ride-down, these were quick, explosive, right into the hole.

Squat Clean:

from floor, 2 sec. pause at knees

65 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 2
100 x 2
100 x 2
100 x 2

I wanted to keep going, these were all lightning-fast. Some days, 100kg feels like 200, but today, it felt like 50.

Snatch Pulls:

pause 2 sec. at knees

85 x 4
95 x 3
95 x 3
95 x 3

Jerk Balance:

50 x 5
60 x 4

BTN Split Jerk:

70 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 2

abs 80 reps.

Sunday's Training:

Kennedy's today. Nice being close by.

Squat Snatch:

from floor, 2 sec. pause at knees

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 2
80 x 2
85 x miss out front.
85 x 1
90 x 1
90 x miss out front
90 x 1
90 x 1

These were very nice, and I was able to diagnose the flaw when I missed. The 90's felt light when I was nailing them. Again, I wanted to go up, but wisely decided to stick to the plan.

Snatch Deadlift:

to the knees, standing on 2" platform

90 x 4
100 x 3
100 x 3
100 x 3

Front Squat

pause 2 sec. at bottom

90 x 5
110 x 4
125 x 3
145 x 2
155 x 1
155 x 1
155 x 1

That's some work for your ass, right there.

abs, 60 reps.

Program changes a little, three and a half weeks out from the meet. I'm not testing until then, so I shouldn't have any fatigue spells as long as I stay on track with my eating and resting.
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Matt Frost
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Another fine night at Kennedy's. Great weather, but it was hot inside the gym.

Jerk Balance:

50 x 5
60 x 4
70 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 3

Last set felt shaky but I have never gone that heavy with the jerk balance before. It's such an awkward exercise for me.

Squat Clean:

from below the knees

50 x 3
70 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 2
100 x 2
105 x 1
105 x 1
105 x 1

Cleans were very quick again today. Only on one of the 105's did I cut the pull a little short and had to step forward as I rose. Overall, though, very happy with these.

Clean Pulls:

pause 2 seconds at knee for 1st rep only

120 x 3
135 x 2
135 x 2
135 x 2

Passable, but I don't think I hit my groove until the last set. Seems like the other sets I was having a little trouble on timing. Must be the pausing on the first rep and then taking the rest from the floor without stopping. I'll adjust.

Overhead Squat:

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 2
80 x 2
80 x 2

Nice and smooth, very stable. 80 kg, I think, is my best OH squat, but I am not sure. I know I've done it before but I don't think I've done more. Either way, these were rock solid.

Abs, 80 reps, mixed stuff.

My knee gave me no trouble except for some soreness at the bottom of the patella, but that was in both knees. Not sure what the hell that spasm was Monday morning, but so far it has not relapsed, and I've suffered no swelling, bruising, pain, or limited range of motion. It did, however, scare the fuck out of me and I hope it doesn't happen again.

For those who don't know- Monday morning at work, I was walking to the kitchen and I experienced a very sharp pain located above and to the right of my patella on my left leg. I dropped like a stone, fearing I had torn something. Within a couple minutes, the pain was gone, replaced by a sore feeling, like someone had punched me in the teardrop area of my quad. Within hours, that pain dissipated too. I didn't treat my workout tonight with kid gloves, either. Still not sure what it was, but I am going to start taking knee prehab a whole lot more seriously than I already do- every day, not just before lifting.

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Caber McJock
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I agree
If you're feeling ok now, especially in the bottom of a full squat (was that Sunday you did a 2 second pause front squat?) you are probably fine.

Training looks rock solid.
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Matt Frost
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Jeff, right now all seems well. Aside of the usual joint pain, I'm OK. I just realized that I am out of glucosamine & chondroitin so I have to get some ASAP. I've been off it for about 10 days and I think that's contributing to the pain.

Thursday, May 4, 2006

Lots of lifting to do tonight, so I quickly got down to business.

Squat Snatch:

from below the knees

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 1
80 x 1
80 x 1
80 x 1

Beautiful. Probably could have kept going all day with these they felt so good. To clarify, since I don't have blocks at Kennedy's, I just pull them from the floor, pause for a second or two just below the knee, and continue with the snatch.

Jerks from the Rack:

warmup 50 x 3
70 x 3
85 x 3
100 x 2
105 x 2
110 x 1
110 x 1
110 x 1

The warmup set let me know that my knees weren't going to tolerate split jerks tonight, so I did power jerks instead. That first dip still made my knees hurt a little, but at least the jarring of a full stomp didn't make it worse. However, I did split-jerk the last three singles. They were passable but not pretty. It's hard to concentrate on a lockout if you're worried about another part of your body giving out, so until my knees feel a little better, I may just stick to push presses and push-jerks.

Front Squat:

90 x 5
110 x 4
125 x 3
145 x 2
155 x 2
165 x 2
165 x 2

Surprisingly, these went very well. The 165 sets were heavy, but fuck, it's 90% of my 1RM. Up until the 155 set they were actually quite explosive. And, my knees didn't bother me much at all. Odd. But, oh well.

Behind-the-neck Snatch-Grip Push Press:

70 x 5
80 x 5
90 x 4
95 x 4
100 x 3, best set of these yet.

Decided to be brave with these and whaddaya know, got a PR of sorts. Think I have 10 more kilos in the tank on these too.

Abs, 60 reps.

I've been diligent about ab work since I started going to Kennedy's. New gym, new focus on discipline and not skipping stuff just because I am tired from the rest of my training- especially ab exercises, which are crucial to building a strong core.

On the downside, it's 12:30 AM and I can't sleep, might have had too much caffeine today. Oh well. I'll be tired soon enough.


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Matt Frost
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Saturday, May 6, 2006

Dumb thing to do:

Get a huge tattoo on your calf the day before you have to do snatch balances.

Unfortunately the artist was halfway into it before I realized it. I was so excited about getting it that I completely forgot about my workout today. Doh!

Anyway, today went rather well, but I did take my time moreso than usual.

Snatch Balance:

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
75 x 2
80 x 2
80 x 2

Solid. The pain from the tattoo only bothered me for the first couple sets, but then I got used to it. The 80kg snatch balances were really decent, snapped into them with very little ride-down. On one, I came up a little forward, but oh well, shit happens.

Squat Clean:

from floor, pause at knees for 2 seconds on 1st rep only

warmup 50 x 3
70 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 2
100 x 2
105 x 1
105 x 1
105 x 1

The week is catching up to me. I was a little tired coming out of the hole on the latter sets. Still had some good snap to my second pull and drop, though. These didn't irritate my new tattoo much at all, which makes me glad- I have front squats tomorrow.

Snatch Pulls:

from floor, pause 2 seconds on 1st rep only

90 x 4
100 x 3
100 x 3
100 x 3

Gravy. Mmmm... gravy.

BTN Split Jerk:

70 x 5
80 x 4
90 x 3
95 x 2
100 x 2

Not bad. Always do better with these than I do with regular rack jerks. My knees weren't bugging me either today, for some odd reason. I did start taking joint support supplements again- the Arthrazine GS from Peak Performance and a topical cream as well, but I know that stuff doesn't work instantly. Weird.


Abs x 80 reps. Did 40 floor crunches, 20 lying trunk rotations, 20 unweighted reverse hypers.

And now, I am giving in to temptation and taking a fucking nap. I've earned it.
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Matt Frost
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Sunday, May 7, 2006

You could tell I was tired today. I wasn't as snappy, and my lockout strength was a little on the shaky side. Still, I got through it and I have two days of rest coming to me.

Squat Snatch:

from floor

50 x 3
60 x 1, miss, 2
70 x 2
75 x 2
80 x 1
80 x 1
80 x miss out front
80 x 1

The first miss was just an overpull, the second one I didn't finish my pull. I felt a little slow and beat up, but it's just acccumulated fatigue.

Power Jerks:

from the rack

70 x 3
85 x 3
100 x 2
105 x 2
110 x 1
110 x 1
110 x 1

Wobbly on a few but I didn't miss any. Still pushing them out front and I don't know why I've been having this problem as of late.

Snatch DL:

to knees, hold 2 seconds

85 x 4
95 x 3
100 x 2
100 x 2

Easy, didn't even rest between these.

Front Squat:

90 x 5
110 x 4
125 x 3
145 x 2
155 x 1
165 x 1

Not bad but they took the very last of my strength. I couldn't have done another one if I tried.

Of course, the tattoo was hurting every time I went ass to calves. I couldn't wear my Rehband knee sleeves because to do so would require me to drag it over my fresh ink. So, I went no-no-no on all my exercises. My knees feel much better since I started taking that Arthtazine GS.

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Matt Frost
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Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Today was just a strange day. I got home really late last night because I had a gig, so I didn't get to bed until 2:30 AM. My sleep wasn't solid through the night either, so all day I felt pretty drained. Then I looked at my workout and I was like, oh shit. I'm a dead man. But- considering everything, my workout was pretty solid.

Jerk Balance:

40 x 5
50 x 5
60 x 4
65 x 4
70 x 3

I went light with these today, since everything else on the agenda was heavy. And, I discovered something. When I dip and drive, if I bend my back leg, keep the bar path straight up, and thrust my front foot heel-down and really pinch my shoulder blades together, I get a very strong lockout. I still don't have it all quite down yet, but, just like I did with my snatch, I have to rebuild my split-jerk from the ground-up. So, today was a good start for this. Also, knees didn't bother me at all for these. Thank God for Arthrazine GS.

Squat Clean

from below knees

70 x 3
85 x 3
100 x 2
110 x 2
120 x miss
120 x 1
120 x 1

I am sure that this wasn't the right order but I forgot my workout sheet at home and I was going from memory. I only recalled that I had two singles at 120, so everything else was guesswork. Had some trouble on these- back management issues, and rushing the second pull. I don't have blocks so I am taking them from the floor, pausing briefly just below the knee, and then continuing the scoop. I guess I was rushing a lot of the scoops. One attempt at 110 ended up ruolling right out of my grip. I caught it on my delts and still stood up. I thought I had lost my grip and that was it, but when I repeated it on my second 120 clean, I realized that I was rushing the second pull and leaving the bar out front, so when I went to catch it, my body was about an inch or two behind the bar and it was just rolling off of my fingertips. I stood up with the 120 I zombied as well, but came back and nailed the second 120 single. The first 120 that I missed was just a mess, I had paused and then tried to double-dip the weight for some reason. Chalk that one up to lack of focus.

Clean Pulls:

pause 2 seconds at knees on 1st rep

130 x 3
145 x 2

Oh man. I aborted these. I think I waited too long in between exercises and I cooled off because 130 felt like a ton and 145 was just so sloppy, I realized that I wasn't going to get anything out of these today.

Overhead Squat:

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
80 x 2
85 x 1- I believe that's a PR.
90 x 1- That's another one.
100 x 1- MASSIVE PR!!

What a great way to end a workout that I thought was mediocre. I haven't really tested my overhead squat, and I wasn't supposed to this evening, but the 85 and 90, which I was slated to do, felt pretty easy. I figured, why the hell not? The 100 felt a little shaky at the top after I push-pressed it into place, but once I found the sweet spot and let my wrists lock back into place, I got my breath, and went down and up with ease, no strain at all.

Abs- DB side bends, 100 x 20 on each side. I was supposed to go 80 reps but everyone in the gym was crowding the dumbbells and I was tired, so I called it a day.

I don't like not working and then going to lift in the evening, it's hard to get myself going. From now on, I am going to do morning sessions on Tuesdays since I'll have that day off for the next month or so. Hopefully the idiots in my band won't book us gigs on Monday night anymore.




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StrohPA
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Matt, Ive got tuesdays off until june too, we should hook up for a morning session at your site or mine. Looking good though, nice on the overhead squats. Im off to grahams contest this weekend, but Ill call you before next tuesday sometime.

Craig
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Caber McJock
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I agree
Quote:
 
100 x 1- MASSIVE PR!!


That is T3H AWESOM3!

Fucking sweet.

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Frozenkilt
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That's an awesome OHSq, Matt! Keep it up!

- Sean
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Matt Frost
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Been a while since I checked in.

To update- my tattoo became infected, which made training very difficult. Thursday night I was only able to do my jerks from the rack. I could not go itno a full squat at all. I couldn't even get down low enough to substitute power cleans or power snatches.

I did jerk 130 quite nicely, though, so it wasn't a total wash.

Saturday I trained, the soreness and tightness was diminished, and I gutted through the pain.

Squat Snatch:

50 x 3
60 x 3
70 x 2
80 x 2
85 x 1
90 x 1
90 x 1

Pretty decent but my left calf was swollen and it made my landings a little unbalanced.

Squat Clean:

from floor, pause 2 sec at knee on 1st rep

70 x 3
85 x 3
95 x 2
105 x 2
110 x 1
120 x 1
128 x miss x 2

I was feeling pretty good, so I tried to push it a little. Wasn't my day to push it. Oh well.

Snatch Pulls:

95 x 3
110 x 2
110 x 2
110 x 2

Very strong. Felt like I could have snatched the 110.

Military Press:

70 x 3
80 x 2
85 x 1
90 x 1
95 x 1

Victor told me I should work these in to help my jerk lockouts, so this was a test set to see where my max was. My old PR from ages past was around 100kg, so this isn't too shabby.

Sunday, the tattoo was worse, so I decided not to put any stress on it. Monday I went to the doc and got some antibiotics. He said my left calf was 2cm larger than my right.

Today, after 1 day, the swelling has gone down. Doctor says it should be fine to train on, and the swelling should be completely gone by meet day (Saturday).

We'll see how today goes.
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Matt Frost
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Ah, the week before a meet. Light. Deceiving. Knowing that in a few days you have to go all out, but for now, it's time to reserve your strength.

Snatch:

50 x 3
60 x 2
70 x 2
75 x 1
80 x 1
80 x 1

Clean & Jerk:

65 x 3
80 x 2
90 x 2
100 x 1
105 x 1
105 x 1

Back Squat:

105 x 3
125 x 3
150 x 2
170 x 2
170 x 2

Quick and relatively painless. The swelling has abated significantly in my calf. It was nice to be able to feel full depth again. One more light day and then it's go time.
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Matt Frost
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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Today I earned my breakfast.

7:30 in the morning. Dragged myself out of bed after substandard sleep last night... maybe it was the excitement over who will be voted off of American Idol this week, I don't know, but I didn't fall asleep until 2:00 in the morning. Anyway, I wiped the crud from my eyes, fished around for some socks and my gym shorts, and then headed downstairs.

Now, do I eat first, or do I lift? Two seconds later I was dressed and lugging the barbell out the front door. Didn't need much weight, this is just my supplementary pressing. Made sure I got a good stretch and warmup in, seeing as this was a very cold start for me.

Power Clean/Military Press:

40 x 1 clean, 5 presses, 1 hang squat clean, 5 presses
50 x 1 clean, 4 presses, 1 hang squat clean, 4 presses
60 x 1 clean, 3 presses, pause, 3 more presses
70 x 1 clean, 3 presses
80 x 1 clean, 3 presses
80 x 1 clean, 3 presses
80 x 1 clean, 3 presses

And that was it. Headed inside, got my three S's taken care of, and made a breakfast that tasted so goddamned good...

I was supposed to begin this on Monday but I woke up to torrential rain. But starting after my meet, I'll be adding this morning exercise in on all my off-days. It's light enough so that (I hope) I don't end up overtraining, and I can keep a quick pace like I did today- about 20-25 minutes (only rested between the 80kg sets) then it will be some good cardio. On my training days, to keep the same schedule, I'll do my ab work first thing in the AM with some stretching before I eat. Right now I feel good, I just hope my energy levels don't plummet during the day. I have to remember to eat now that I got that quick start.
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Matt Frost
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Thursday, May 18, 2006

Very light day, contest in two days.

Snatch:

50 x 3
60 x 2
70 x 1
70 x 1
70 x 1

Clean & Jerk:

70 x 2+2
80 x 1+1
90 x 1+1
90 x 1+1
90 x 1+1

Did some fooling about with the log and stones at Kennedy's. The log is homemade out of an I-beam wrapped in polyurethane tubing, I did a few clean & presses at about 140 lbs. Also lifted their small stone which is 160 pounds. These are concrete stones, not exactly spherical, but round-ish, I suppose. I had to get out before I started going for the other stones. Now it's eat and rest, eat and rest...
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Matt Frost
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Yesterday was probably the most wacked-out day I've had in a while. Everything was upside down. It was like the old skit called the "introduction to the opposites" that they ran on You Can't Do That on Television.

The 105+ kg class had five competitors. It was going to be a fight. From East Coast Gold, there was Mike McKenna, Gary Roskoski, and myself. There were two other supers from Team New Jersey. One of them was 7' tall and weighed 186kg. The session we lifted in covered the 85's through 105+.

I opened with 92kg in the snatch and it was successful, though under strict judging it probably wouldn't have been. I lost my concentration for a split second and ended up pressing out with my left arm and chasing the lift down. I call a second attempt at 97. I think that the 7' fellow opened with 95 and missed, then made it on his second attempt. The other guy from TNJ made his opener but I didn't see what it was. He also made his second.

I made my 97 nicely, with only a small step forward at the top to stabilize, and called for 101 (PR attempt). The giant missed his third attempt at 100. Gary Roskoski was up, and this is the guy who is very close to me in the total. He has a better snatch, but I have the edge in the clean & jerk. Our totals are separated by 1 or 2 kilos, so I was looking forward to this contest. Gary missed his opener at 100, and that threw him really bad. He had just made it in the warmup areafive minutes before. He follows himself and misses again. His nerves are shot. I try to encourage him. Don't let your nerves get to you. There's only ten people out there, shut them out. Just like training. He attempts for the third time and misses again- he bombs out.

I am up for my 101 attempt. Gathering my focus and putting a Pantera song in my head, I step up to the bar, lock myself in, and fucking smoke it. No wavering, no stumbling. Was my best snatch of the three by far. The other guy from TNJ gets 102, though, and Mike McKenna hasn't even started yet. He's still warming up, and I see him hit 112 in the back.

When Mike gets to the platform, however, a different story emerges. He misses 117 twice, and then does a high pull with 120. Oh my God... I could actually win this thing now!

The fire inside me starts to blaze. The two supers from Team Jersey are still in this and I am 1 kilo down going into the clean & jerk. Dave Miller is coaching me and he gives me the best one-word piece of instruction I've ever had. See, despite all the specializing I've tried to do in the jerk the last two months, I am still throwing them out front. Dave notices this and tells me to stop, but I say, Dave, I've been trying to correct this flaw for months now and it's still there, how can I correct it in what, ten minutes?

He looks at me and says, "sit". As in, when I dip, sit down and then explode. Not sit down all the way, but dip as if I am going to sit down. After that, every jerk was ramrod-straight and pinned behind my ears.

I kept my opener at 120, seeing as I didn't have to overcome a big deficit from Gary (he was gunning for 105 in the snatch, which he has made before). Gary made all his clean & jerks, finishing with 125. The Giant took 115 as an opener and made it. The other NJ guy made the same weight. I made a routeen 120 and then called for 126 for a second attempt. Everyone else was taking 125 and since there were a couple misses, I ended up waiting a long time for my second attempt. I took a 100kg power clean in the back to keep myself in the mix. The two Jersey guys both finished with 125. I had to make my 126 to win and I had two attempts left. So, again, I stepped to the platform and though I struggled a little with the clean (it was out front a little and rising after the catch was tough), I stuck the jerk nicely, wrapping up the total and the gold. I called for a 3rd attempt of 132 for a PR, but missed the clean because my elbows didn't screw under quickly enough. I couldn't get it back on my delts. Oh well... 5/6 and the win? I'll take it.

They had two contests going at once- the Open and the NJ Championship. Only New Jersey residents were going for the NJ Championship, so the one guy from Team New Jersey got his gold too, even though I beat him overall. I won the gold in the Open. True, I got lucky because my more experienced teammate bombed his snatches, but once that door was opened, it was a real fight. Walking back to my car I felt so good, so alive.

Unti I checked my voice mail. I got laid off from my job.

Yep. An interesting day, to be sure. I should have known- I can never just have a day where I win without the punch in the face coming from somewhere. This is the third time something like this has happened.

Once, when I was 12, I spent a day with my father. I hadn't seen him in a long time and we went everywhere. He bought me one of those slot race tracks I had always wanted, took me out for pizza... and then, later that night, I end up grounded for weeks and weeks because my grades were slipping in school. Fast forward to age 24. I hadn't seen my father since the previous time I listed above. I decide to go see him and invite him to a show that my band is playing. It's our best show ever, 500 kids packed into the club, they're going nuts for us. For the first time I know what it's like to have a father who is proud of you (my step-father and I have always been a little distanced). The next day, I get kicked out of my band. Well- they say that they want to "break up" and then get together with another drummer. And now, this.

I am just doomed to never have anything good last for more than about 30 seconds, and it really makes me fucking hate people who just have everything. They don't have to worry about money or their jobs, they just fall through life catching the good things along the way. My roommate's boss is like that. Her biggest trial in life is whether or not she should trade her Corvette for an Escalade. She doesn't do anything, really. She gets paid $2000 a week for showing up 3 hours a day at a restaurant her parents own. She married into a rich family, has a husband who owns a contracting firm. I wouldn't begrudge her the wealth if she didn't act like her life was so damned tough, but she does. The minute she has the smallest crisis she acts like she's suffering the trials of Job. It makes me hate this woman's guts because she doesn't appreciate how good she has it.

I want to be optimistic about this. I want to see the silver lining, but it seems like every opportunity I would have pursued prior to being laid off is now closed to me. I want to look at this as a chance to get something going, maybe start on a path towards a career that I can see myself doing for the next 30-40 years. I don't want to make pizza for the rest of my life. I don't want to work in dead-end jobs that I suffer through. I'd really love to delve further into this physical world I've come to love over the last few years, become a strength coach, maybe work for a school or even a college... but I have no fucking idea where to begin, and I have doubts. I've only been lifting for 3 years. Who am I to say I should teach someone else? I know I would need to get more education, but how can I pay for it? What if I get a job but it doesn't leave me enough time to go to school? Fear of failure is just so daunting... if I knew how to start perhaps I could face it, but right now I am blind and unarmed. If anyone has any advice, I am wide open to suggestion right now.

The only thing I have is my lifting. I have my Eleiko bar, my plates, and my porch. And... right now, I have some steam to blow off.
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Matt Frost
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There is a certain advantage to not giving a shit about anything else except the one thing you're focused on. After typing that last burning missive, I felt the need to throw some weight around. I really don't know what the hell I would do if I didn't lift. By all rights I should be depressed as fuck, but, I am not. By all rights I should have gone out and gotten drunk last night. I did not. I should be biting my nails, worried about the future, but I'm only a little worried. And now, after lifting, I want to tear something else up. I might even clean my apartment.

Someone tell me what the fuck is wrong with me already.

Snatch:

50 x 3
60 x 2
70 x 2
75 x 1
75 x 1
75 x miss x 4- ouch.
75 x 1

I wasn't giving up until I got that third snatch. My lockouts weren't very strong and I lost my balance. I had to sit for a few minutes and clear my head. Surprisingly, I didn't get too frustrated. I knew it would come.

Clean & Jerk:

warmup 50 x 2+4
65 x 2+2
80 x 2+2
90 x 1+1
100 x 1+1
105 x 1+1
110 x 1+1
110 x 1+1

Well, the jerk technique I used yesterday was no fluke. Again, all my jerks today had zero forward lean, and the 110's were very explosive.

That was about it for me, 50 minutes of hate taken out on my porch, beaten, and left for fucking dead. Now with my mind clear, I can figure out what I am going to do for the next few weeks, and whether or not this is the time to change direction in life or at least begin planning for it.

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Jamie
First Moderator on the SDF; first to have moderator title revoked.
First of all, congrats on the win and the awesome lifting.

I'm really sorry to hear about you being laid-off, Matt. That really sucks. You're definintely in a time now where you'll have to do some hard thinking about your future, but I know you'll work it out. You're a smart guy, and if you set your mind on it, you'll get where you want to be.
Ask around some of the gyms where you visit to see if they need work, maybe? As for persuing coaching, ask some of the coaches and other lifters you know are serious. Maybe you can get some connections and set that up.

Best of luck.
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Matt Frost
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Fuckin' SLAYER!!
What a difference a day makes.

I already secured a part-time job slinging pies and delivering. It doesn't pay a lot but it will keep me afloat. I also went back to my old gym today to talk to the owner about how to get into the training gig, and got an application for a weekend personal training course. It's not much but it's a start. One foot in the door. I also have an interview at a gym on Wednesday.

While at my old gym I did a brief overhead workout.

all weight in pounds

Military Press/Jerk:

135 x 5 presses, 1 split jerk
155 x 4 presses, 1 split jerk
175 x 3 presses, 1 split jerk
185 x 2 presses, 1 split jerk

Push Press/Split Jerk:

205 x 1 press/1 jerk
225 x 1 press/1 jerk

Seated OH Press Machine:

200 x 5
220 x 5
250 x 3
250 x 3
250 x 3

Very brief, like a half hour, but enough to work up a sweat and work my lockout. Since I haven't gotten my new program yet, tomorrow's training will be cleans, snatch pulls, and overhead squats, followed by abs.

I am really going to harp on the owner of that gym about putting ina platform. There's no place in the Allentown area for Oly lifting. He builds a platform, I bring the equipment. I'm going to take the club coach course next time it's available... of course, he probably won't want the noise, but there is a back room that is large enough to accomodate a platform and it can be soundproofed and separated from the rest of the gym... It'll take some wheedling but the wheels are turning.
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Frozenkilt
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Online douche. GOLD! I need more Gold
Quote:
 
I've only been lifting for 3 years. Who am I to say I should teach someone else?


Actually, you're fantastic for it because you've personally seen what kind of changes the metal can make.

Huge congrats on the win and nice work on taking the next steps in securing a career. I have no doubts you'll succeed at anything you put your mind to.

- Sean
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Caber McJock
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I agree
I wish I'd have read this sooner.

First, congrats on the win- that's super cool.

As for the loss of your job, well fuck.

Quote:
 
I don't want to make pizza for the rest of my life. I don't want to work in dead-end jobs that I suffer through. I'd really love to delve further into this physical world I've come to love over the last few years, become a strength coach, maybe work for a school or even a college... but I have no fucking idea where to begin, and I have doubts. I've only been lifting for 3 years. Who am I to say I should teach someone else? I know I would need to get more education, but how can I pay for it? What if I get a job but it doesn't leave me enough time to go to school? Fear of failure is just so daunting...


We have never met, but there are a couple of things I think I know about you:

1. You are strong spiritually- not necessarily in the Christian sense though maybe- but you got a fire that burns in you.
2. You do not quit. See above.

This is not a loss for you, it is an opportunity. You are wasted as a pizza cook, but as a strength coach you could do much more than just teach people how to lift.

I would bet that someone with your expressive abilities has a gift for teaching Matt. Plus, it would be something you would enjoy- and make a living at- what more can you ask from life?

This is a tremendous turning point for you. Figure out what you want to do, map it out, make a plan and then get fucking started. It is NO DIFFERENT than when you started lifting- ever think you'd have a Gold in O-lifting?

Whatever small shit we can offer here, I expect everyone would be happy to help.
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StrohPA
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Fresh out of jail
Good job at the meet matt! Keep on keeping on, like everyone is saying, this is an opportunity. Give me a call to get together sometime, since I don't see you at Ironsport anymore, I'll be interested to hear what kind of things are taking shape for you, as they will.

Craig
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Matt Frost
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Fuckin' SLAYER!!
Sean, Craig, and Jeff- thank you again for your continued support and encouragement. Most of my doubts came because I thought I had to look like a personal trainer (we all know what "they" look like). But then I realized that I may be able to better relate to someone who wants to get in shape because of my size. And, when it comes to strength training, a little extra weight isn't a bad thing.

I had an interview today at a place that will be opening soon. It's a gym but not your typical run of the mill place. It's more geared towards kids ages 10 through 18. Could be anything from overweight kids and keeping them active, teaching them to enjoy being active, to sport-specific weight training for high schoolers. The owner was interested in me because of my Oly lifting background. While there won't be a platform, I can still teach the fundamentals with nothing more than a broomstick for the younger kids, and maybe do more individualized training on the barbell with light weight for the older students.

Things really clicked in that interview. The owner was looking for someone with personality, and as Craig will tell you I have that in abundance. When he asked me about my background I just laid it all out, no bullshit. Told him about my years as a musician and how I always worked jobs just to pay the bills, and my time as a pizzaman. I told him I have no experience as a trainer, but I can work with people and I think with a little bit of instruction in how-to, I should have no problem working with younger kids. I know I won't have trouble with the older kids. On one hand, I really hope I get that job. On the other, yeah, I am nervous because if I do, it's completely uncharted territory for me. But wasn't it once for someone, sometime?

I can't help but think that this would be much better than selling supplements in some chain gym.

I started working yesterday at some new pizzeria... what a shithole. The floor had grease on it. I was slipping on it. The money wasn't bad but the cheap-ass foreigner who owned it wouldn't even turn on the AC until my shirt was soaked through. Five hours there and I wanted to leave... so I did. I stopped by after my interview and told him thanks, but I was going to start studying and working towards my new career. I'm going back to my first pizza joint part time and I'll dole out for a little on unemployment if need be, but I'll be damned if I am going to waste my time scrubbing dishes that are so dirty they will never come clean in a humid, 100 degree kitchen. You're right, Jeff, I am wasting my life and the things I have learned these past three years by throwing pizzas.

Anyway, I trained yesterday too, forgot to post it, so that will be next.
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Matt Frost
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Fuckin' SLAYER!!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Not a bad day, nice weather. Mind was at ease because I had a job lined up to fill in the downtime and keep my bills paid.

Squat Clean

from floor

65 x 3
80 x 3
90 x 2
100 x 2
100 x 2
100 x 2

Not bad but I could tell I was getting tired. This was my third day in a row training post-meet, so Wednesday is going to be a day off for me.

Snatch Pull

from floor

80 x 4
90 x 3
90 x 3
90 x 3

Decent pulls. Trying to eliminate a slight slowdown I get when I hit my power position sometimes. It's almost like I try to make sure I get the bar in the right spot, but in doing so I lose a little momentum. I have to learn to accelerate that bar to that spot, not cautiously approach it.

BTN Snatch-Grip Push Press

50 x 5
60 x 4
70 x 4
75 x 3
80 x 3

Stayed light, I've been doing a lot of pressing lately so I didn't want to overdo it.

Not a bad session, only an hour and ten. Wednesday I am off, Thursday and Friday on. I don't have a set program yet, Leo says I'll have it by next week, so I'm going to keep it light.
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