Did legs last night, too.  Same story: no huge increases in weights but much improvement on form.  My knee tracks stupidly from skating since ‘93 and having my ankles weird.  They’re weak on one side, and the other has really overcompensated now for such a long time so it’s all sorts of not great.  I need to see if my insurance will cover a trip to a specialist and maybe get some shoe inserts or a knee brace or something to help force it to track right.  It’s better than it was when I started working out, but it’s not great.  I was super frustrated with this last night because it feels like I start correcting one thing and something else needs fixed.  I know this didn’t happen overnight so it’s not going to be fixed overnight.  I know this.  It’s not rocket science, but waiting for it is so frustrating!

K, it is on to sleep for me (off to sleep for me?) since I have finished my reading for class (OMG easy and "duh" and so happy this is going to be an easier semester because I LIVE THIS STUFF ) and have everything printed off/packed up (except lunch) for tomorrow.  I’m off to a great start this semester, though it IS only the 2nd week of classes LOL  We’ll see how long this lasts.

Firstly there is my husband.  It’s all his fault I am where I am   Ok, not ALL his fault, because I’m the one doing the work (though technically, by definition, I do ZERO net work because the weights end up right back where they started, so they didn’t MOVE any distance, so I didn’t do any work by definition, but I digress…).  It is his influence and encouragement that has me in the best shape I’ve ever been in.  Granted I was in pretty good shape when I played hockey 6 days a week, but my diet was crap, so I still looked pretty bad.  I am happiest with myself today.  I realized yesterday (or maybe it was this morning) that I am FINALLY happy with my off-season body.  I know I’m improving, and I know next year I’m going to come in much improved over last show.  I’m finally seeing it myself, and my poor psyche is finally healed and accepting off season physique.  My husband is so encouraging and supportive and takes TONS of crap from me in the mornings and doesn’t get overly frustrated and I’m not sure how/why, but I am forever grateful. It’s really his support that gets me to the gym (or dragging me there, kicking and screaming, but I’m always happier when it’s all said and done) and eating on time and correctly.

That brings me to DK.  She’s my first "tangible" influence to compete.  Yes, there’s Marzia Prince and Jamie Eason, but they’re not local, so I don’t have any real interaction.  Yes, I met Jamie a couple years ago, and every now and then get a short conversation going on myspace comments, but that’s rare.  DK is someone I can text with questions, or get a Sunday workout with, or coaching on posing, or diet help.  She has such an immaculate diet and such  dedication to what she does, and she looks great!  Seeing in person what is possible is really inspiring.

Then there’s Rita.  She’s the lightweight builder that works out at my gym.  Every time we’d be at the gym at the same time, there was admiration for her.  She’s so strong and has such an incredible physique.  But she is a little intimidating, all 5′0" and 113lbs of her!!  LOL  SO I never said Hi or anything until she came up to me a few weeks before State and offered her help.  I didn’t take her up on it at the time, but ended up needing her backstage, and she was there with smiles and help and encouragement!   And when I saw her Tuesday it was all smiles and encouragement and I really now feel like part of the club.  It’s totally awesome to have found my niche, and know that I’m not the only crazy girl that likes to out lift the boys!

School is great after this first week.  I really like the pacing of my schedule this semester.  Eat when I wake up, slam a shake after my first class, plow through 2 more, eat lunch, get through my last class, get home and eat, hit the gym, and eat again.  Work days it’s wake up and eat, gym, eat, work, eat on lunch, come home and eat and sleep.  I feel really bad for my Exercise Physiology teacher, though.  It’s his first teaching job, and he’s a nervous wreck!  He knows his stuff (he just finished his PhD. in the subject) but is a little intimidated.  I understand, though, and hope he finds his groove!  We’ve really only had 1 day of real class, today, and so far it’s been kind of slow, but I’ve already been able to connect class with what I’ve been doing to myself this last year and a half.  I’m in a very happy place right now, and feel that 2 main parts of my life (gym and school) are in harmony.  Now the discordant note is work, but I don’t think I can do much about that until I graduate.  Luckily it’s only 2 more years so I think I can survive.  I am thankful to have a good job right now, and I do really like my boss, so I can’t complain too much.  Overall I would say that life right now is great!   (but that’s also because it’s after 10pm and this is when I get my second wind.  Ask me at 5am and I’ll say something else LOL)

School starts tomorrow.  I’m pretty excited for that.  Got some of the books from a friend tonight, hoping to find the others super cheap elsewhere.  Though I may end up finding my own copies of these and keeping them around for my own use after graduation…Stupid books lol

Tonight was 8 sets of 2 reps,  prefaced by enough warm up sets to be good and loose.  Squats, bench and Deadlifts were on the menu.  I worked up in 5 lb intervals to the following weights:

Squats 155 (jump from 145 cuz it felt good )
Bench 115 (ok, last 2 sets were 115)
Deads 120 (first 3 sets were 95)

And to prove it, here’s video:

Back Squats: 95, 105, 115, 125 ,135, 145
Close Grip Bench: 85, 90, 95, 100, 100, 105
Bent Barbell Rows: 75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 135

I needed to start the rows at 100 and finish at 125, but it’s a benchmark.  I’m really liking the numbers I’m putting up. I apparently am gaining some size, too, because at the Renaissance Fair last weekend one of our friends remarked on my arms.  It was specifically in regard to the pillow fight thing (didn’t do it, sorry guys lol) but it was to the tune of "I can’t go against her: she’ll totally kick my ass!  Look at her arms!  No way I stand a chance."  The best part of all that was I did absolutely ZERO trash talking myself.  I sat there, kind of stunned, actually.  They’re not that big, nor are they separated, nor are they capped by beautiful delts yet.  But I totally took the CW moment and grinned!!
Weight is about 118-119 right now.  Not sure what bf% is at, probably 14-15% (being optimistic).  Not horribly worried, but obviously I don’t want to get much higher than that because it will be a pain to loose for my next show.  Need to take measurements this weekend too, especially shoulders, since that is my main focus.