Bench Bitches

Can’t believe I haven’t posted all week. Have been carrying the P1 pager for work and its been a bit nasty! Between that, training and extra cardio I haven’t had much time for myself.

Wednesday had my visit to Peter Larkins, the Sports Doctor. He's happy with the progress and reduction in pain but if its not totally clear 2 weeks after the comp then I will have to see him again and most likely arrange an MRI scan to accurately assess the problem. Normally he would just do an ultra sound, but in this case as with the footballers who have more than the usual amount of muscle tissue, the MRI will give more detail. The ultrasound would have been ok if it was a shallow area such as a shoulder but getting into the glute and surrounding area is a little more difficult. After that a quick re-adjustment at the Chiro and off to training.


Met up with Shaz and Charmaine at Fitness First in Richmond at 5pm. Benched with my new Inzer bench shirt for the first time. Not as hard to get on as I had anticipated but hard work for Shazza nonetheless! Not as impressed with the bench shirt as I am with the squat suit. I could be that this shirt doesn’t suit the style of benching that Shaz is teaching me and that was certainly her opinion of the shirt. Definitely cuts in behind the arms when I pull the bar down - which is expected - both the pulling down and the cuts!! Benched 75kg which I know I can do - loaded it up to 80 but still needed spotting. Perhaps like the squat suit I need to break it in more? Or just adjust to it? I know I became comfortable with the squat suit at lot quicker though'.


Charmaine was pressing 50kg for reps with good form - that girl has some serious strength and rock solid determination! Great to train with too!


Considering her shoulder injury Shaz benched an awesome 90kg, which caught the attention of the guys on the bench next to us who were doing the same weight - The Bench Bitches are here! announced Shaz. And everyone there knew it!



Thursday night and into the Genhuntly rd Studio for my last squat session before the comp. Had a quick whinge to Steve about the bruising on the back of my arms from the bench shirt - but little sympathy... LOL Start my warmup before Shaz limps in... Limping?!? Oh yeah... forgot to mention, she dropped the bench on her foot last night - ooouch - very sore and bruised! A few more sets and the I get to wear my Inzer superwoman squat suit again! Can you tell I love it! A little easier to get on this time - actually got butt into without help.... now is that because I've done it before or because I've actually lost some weight at last??? Yay! Weighed in this morning at 68.9 kg. Still needed to hang from the smith machine and Shaz tugging it up from all sides. Wrapped up, belted up and under the bar at 90kg. Still hard to sink it - Steve noted that I wasn’t getting deep enough so a little more added to the bar - 115kg. Shaz re-wrapped and adjusted my suit, belted up and under the bar again - much better. A couple sets and my legs are starting to fatigue. The last set I hit bottom and need to be helped up. A good rest and we try again at 120kg but just too far gone - Steve Brown spots me this time so Shaz can check form and depth but its just not going to happen. Down with the wobbles and failed to come up - big Steve's gotta help me up and rack it. But a good experience to learn from as Shaz points what I did wrong I can acknowledge how the rep felt and relate what she's telling me. Good work and leave it there.

Finish up with some cardio - stepper for half an hour. Thankfully the big guy that helped me on with my suit last week came over (I was so busy laughing last time that I missed getting his name) and we had a little chat about bodybuilding and power lifting until his client came in. He would have been competing too except that he injured his hamstring - well there's always next year and he looks to have the body to do it with!


So, I know I always whinge about doing cardio. Actually it's the boredom factor that I don’t like, whether it’s running, walking or stepper. Which is why it was nice to have someone to chat too even for brief time, but I do love the feeling when its over and I don’t mean the elation of it being over - LOL. Rather the endorphins that are produced and the feeling of being totally exhausted at the same time - particularly after a run. Hope that answers your question Eddie!

Off to the basketball with Madi tonight - all the way out to Hampton Park.... Final deadlift tomorrow - Will report on it Tuesday. Til then...

Love yaz all

Vicki xxx