I'm 15lbs away!

[Scarlett]

WANNA SEE ME CLEAN 120?
(crappy gym music warning...)
YouTube - 9/1/08: Squat Clean - 120x1

WANNA SEE ME SCRATCH IT?
YouTube - 9/1/08: Squat Clean - 120x1 SCRATCH


LOL.

That was one of only TWO misses out of ten singles this morning - I'm pretty happy with that actually. I was super excited to clean today... 120 is about where I thought my max PC was, but HOLY CRAP, I'm squat cleaning MORE than I'm power cleaning now! Because of the schedule clusterfck that was moving and gym-finding for the past couple of weeks.

(I have like five videos, but most of them aren't incredibly useful as it was ridiculously difficult to get a good angle.)

(Check out the boxing ring in the background. It's pretty cool when guys are fighting while I'm lifting...)

(I think I need to watch my movement at the bottom of the lift; try to get even lower and not jolt into the shrug.)

(Although a lot of things could probably be fixed by me getting some damn shoes... dammit.)

Around the 7th single my hands started killing me, so I barreled through my last few sets and had to use straps on my rows. The skin looks pretty brutal and feels really tight; my hands are usually the worst on deadlift days.

Anyway, just wanted to throw some videos out there of me cleaning at the new gym.






So what do you think guys, can I make it to 135 by the end of the year?

[Ulter]

I think it's a slam dunk by the end of the year. Was that chalk I saw on your hands? Outrageous!

[Blut Wump]

Nice work.

I've yet to look at the scratch but, on the good lift, I had the impression that you're not yet fully extending on the way up. I'm not well into Oly lifts but it seemed that you have a lot, lot more in you with improved technique.

[Scarlett]

Originally Posted by Ulter

I think it's a slam dunk by the end of the year. Was that chalk I saw on your hands? Outrageous!

HAHA, I KNOW. And letting the bar hit the floor? What sort of BLACK MAGIC do they allow at this gym?!

[Que_66]

[Cynical Simian]

Adding four pounds per month would get you there, so yeah, I think you can do it.

What's the deal with your hands? If cleans are tearing up your palms at the base of the fingers (in the spot where you usually get callouses from deads) you might try shifting the bar a bit lower into the "hook" of the fingers. (You'll probably be quick to point out that with your small hands that might not work, but if you can do it the hook grip should hold.)

[Blut Wump]

Agreed with CS. My hands are probably larger than yours but after switching to more of a fingers hold than a full-handed hold on deads I stopped growing calluses on my palm at the base of my fingers and only get them on the fingers themselves.

I felt that the bar tends to slip there anyway so it might as well begin there and have less opportunity to drag my skin along with it as it moved.

[MrMuscle]

Awesome lifts. I was listening to Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd) while watching it, and i got pumped!

[JoeD]

Good lifting. I think if you pushed up your other lifts you could nail 135 easy. I saw a kid over the summer take his clean from 300 to 340 @ bw 205 and he said he a)did lots of jumps, squats, kneeling Pcs, and stiff legged power cleans to push his PC up. I dont know shit about the olympic lifts but thought I would share my very few experiences with it

[MR. BMJ]

That was awesome Scarlet. I'm so happy that you are happy

You'll hit that 15-lbs in no time, especially now that you have a new spark for WANTING to go to a gym that is better than the one you were dreading going to.

BMJ

[Scarlett]

Originally Posted by Cynical Simian

Adding four pounds per month would get you there, so yeah, I think you can do it.

What's the deal with your hands? If cleans are tearing up your palms at the base of the fingers (in the spot where you usually get callouses from deads) you might try shifting the bar a bit lower into the "hook" of the fingers. (You'll probably be quick to point out that with your small hands that might not work, but if you can do it the hook grip should hold.)

Thanks, but it actually wasn't a big deal - my callouses weren't hurting in particular; it just seemed like my hands were just sensitive today. I can remember it happening once or twice before and I attributed it to some random, spur-of-the-workout complaining from the abuse.

Originally Posted by Blut Wump

Agreed with CS. My hands are probably larger than yours but after switching to more of a fingers hold than a full-handed hold on deads I stopped growing calluses on my palm at the base of my fingers and only get them on the fingers themselves.

I felt that the bar tends to slip there anyway so it might as well begin there and have less opportunity to drag my skin along with it as it moved.

I should hope so. You'd probably look like a demented caricature if your hands were made for flower-picking like mine.

Hmm, I doubt I need to adjust anything yet, but I'll probably reach that point eventually... in which case I'll do just what you guys suggested. Until my fingers fall off - THEN we've got a problem.

[Pan]

Way to go Lily. Your form has improved loads since your first videos. I have to disagree with JoeD on bumping up your strength on your other lifts, because strength is rarely the thing that holds back oly lifts, it's always technique and having the balls to attempt heavier weights cos there's a lot more that can go wrong.

Of course strength helps, but as I said, technique is an extremely limiting factor when cleaning and snatching. You could deadlift +400lbs but without adequate form, you might struggle to clean even 135 consistenly without missing a lot

[Scarlett]

Originally Posted by MR. BMJ

That was awesome Scarlet. I'm so happy that you are happy

You'll hit that 15-lbs in no time, especially now that you have a new spark for WANTING to go to a gym that is better than the one you were dreading going to.

BMJ

Awww,

Yeah, no kidding. Going to the gym here required coordination between which gyms I thought could handle which lifts. And I'd be nervous about doing ANYTHING to draw that negative attention.

NOT ANYMORE! Thanks to Superman.

Originally Posted by Pan

Way to go Lily. Your form has improved loads since your first videos. I have to disagree with JoeD on bumping up your strength on your other lifts, because strength is rarely the thing that holds back oly lifts, it's always technique and having the balls to attempt heavier weights cos there's a lot more that can go wrong.

Of course strength helps, but as I said, technique is an extremely limiting factor when cleaning and snatching. You could deadlift +400lbs but without adequate form, you might struggle to clean even 135 consistenly without missing a lot

YAY, THANK YOU! I should totally go back and look at my cleaning videos from like April. It'll make me feel good about myself, lol.

And thanks for the information there.

[WonderWoman]

That was awesome.... Can you come teach me how to clean? well not literally, I am pretty anal about that, lol.

you are so cute too

[Big Sky Guy]

Very smooth Scar!

[Hidngod]

That first vid was sweeeet. I could watch stuff like that all day.
I'm glad you faound a gym you like.

[Kabeetz]

I just want to say that:

1 (and most important) ) That is some incredible lifting!

2) Any gym with a ring is f'n cool!!!

3) Not to detract from your lift accomplishment, but you look great doing it as well!