Olympic Lifting for Girls

World Masters Championship

2010-09-24T06:57:00.001-07:00

Firstly, Thank you so so much John, I couldn't have done it without you. My coach, John Walton)Last weekend was an experience I will never forget!!! I travelled to Poland to compete in the World Master, I arrived on the Friday evening and lifted on the Sunday at 3pm. It was good to have a day between to do some light training and get some good sleep. My training session didn't go so well as my knee injury was feeling painful or maybe it was nerves. On the Suanday morning I got to have a swim and stretch then went to weigh in at 1pm, this was my first chance to meet the girls in my age and weight class. My main competitor was Carmen Garcia from Venezuela, she weighed in at 57kg and I weighed in at 56kg. We were all presented just before lifting started at which point I realised that every other competitor had a team tracksuit or leotard, I felt a bit out of place. So starting weights were posted and we warmed up, the adrenaline had really started to kick in and my heart was in my mouth. At each attempt on the platform Carmen and I were lifting very close weights to each other and on the Snacth we both missed our 3rd attempt at 45kg. On the Clean & Jerk Carmen took 50kg 1st attempt then 55kg 2nd attempt, I took 51kg 1st, 54kg 2nd on our 3rd attempts I lifted 56kg but the lift was failed, her coach had put Carmen in for 58kg but wanted to change it to 56kg when my final lift was failed but it was too late and 58kg was on the bar and the clock ran out (you get 1 minute to attempt a lift). So our end totals were both 97kg but because of our weight difference 56kg and 57kg I won on points. My first reaction was overwhelming joy that I had won because I have work so incredibly hard for a year for this and I am carrying an injury, then as things calmed down I felt a little sorry for Carmen as it was confusion with coachs that caused her to miss an attempt.

Lifting at Masters level (age 35-39) is fantastic, because there is competition but also there's a community of people who have great respect for eachother and a mutual interest. On my journey home I had the pleasure to meet Victoria Brady a lady from Brisbon, we travellwed together all day as she was travelling on to London to visit friends. If you are looking for someone to inspire you, Vicky is your lady. She is 67 years old, has been lifting for 7 years, coachs and competes at lifting and triathalons, oh and she has two prosthetic hips!!! We chatted all the way back to London and have exchanged emails to keep in contact and I really hope to see her next year in Canada for the next Worlds.

Its been an amazing experience, never in my life did I expect to stand on a podium, wearing a gold medal, watching the flag go up while the national anthem played!!! It has certainly given me the drive to keep lifting, get stronger and lift bigger competition weights, when my knee gets better!!!

CrossFit Reading

2010-08-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

My other half and I own a business call Caveman Snacks, which is basically as it sounds. Nutritious, tasty snacks for post training or meal replacement or just as a snack!!! http://www.cavemansnacks.co.uk/. Anyway, we were invited to sponsor a couple of CrossFit events at which we were lucky enough to meet Andy from CrossFit Reading. I got chatting to him and he new of my lifting experience and invited me along to his CF Box to help out with an Oly Lifting Workshop they were running last Sunday. It was a great experience for me and really hope to get involved with some more. It has helped me look at the way that I coach the lifts.
So many thanks to CF Reading and good luck, Andy, on your move. x

Whats next?

2010-08-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well since the British I have been training consistently, competing at regional championships/opens and have just added in two sessions extra squats a week to improve my leg strength, which Mark Beck from CF Manchester is helping me with, for which I am very greatful as I have already seen strength gains within a week and a half of starting the programme. All the extra training is because on the 19th September I will be competing at the World Masters Championship in Poland and I have no intention of coming home without a medal!!! Thankfully we have also just obtained a womens 15kg bar, which is a competition weight bar for females, I have up until now been training on a mens 20kg bar. So, currently I am injury free and training hard and with a little bit of luck I will be coming home with a world title in September!!!! Watch this space.

British Masters

2010-08-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

It has been such a long time since I last blogged and within that time I have competed in the British Master Championship and am very pleased to say that I won my weight class. From what I can recall prep for the comp wasn't without its tough moments. Including injury and feeling very hungry. It was all well worth it tho!!

English Open

2010-02-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

This weekend I travelled up to Lillieshall National Sports Centre for the English Open. There were 5 females competing in my weight class of 53kg. All very good lifters, with fantastic technique and lifting some serious weight. Watching them lift has helped me think about how I am lifting and what I need to improve.
I was feeling very poorly prepared for this competition as I had a sickness virus for 5 days, which made me feel very weak and had only really begun to recover on the wednesday before the competition then weighed in at 51.8kg, which is much too light for me. This reflected in my performance on the day and the PB I was hoping for didn't happen. 5 out 6 of my lifts were good but I missed my final snatch and lifted lighter than I hoped to. However it was a positive experience as I got to watch some outstanding lifter and hopefully learn from there technique, I gained experience lifting on the platform that I will be lifting on for the British Masters and became familiar with the venue. It also made me realise that there are areas of my general fitness that need serious improvement and I need to look at my general training program..... more CrossFit!!!
Im looking forward to the next 5 weeks of good clean eating, training and lifting in preparation for my next competition and hopefully my lifting shoes will have arrived by then!!

Facebook | The Mojo Dojo

2010-02-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

Facebook The Mojo Dojo

Southern Masters

2010-02-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Today was the Southern Masters Championship held at Bethernal Green Weightlifting Club.
I weighed at 52.4kgs and had starting weights of 38kg snatch and 50kg C&J, they went well and I followed with 41kg and 54kg then finished with 43kg and 57kg, missed the 57kg (very frustrating!) but finished with a total of 97kg, would have loved a 100kg total, but I came first which I was obviously very pleased with, its just made me all the more determined to get that 57kg and get my total up. A fantastic day and well done to everyone that lifted and for everyones support especially my very knowledgeable coach, John Walton.

Snatch practice

2010-02-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

Warming up for snatch practice with some hang power snatch.

Its been a while

2009-12-15T12:29:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged for a while, as you can see. Well I've been making steady progress although a couple of weeks ago I bailed the bar badly behind me and hit the base of my spine with the bar!!! So its off to the hospital for an x-ray. I have to say though, it hasn't stopped me from training, I just can't sleep on my back too well!!
On the 5th December I went to watch the Open at Crystal Palace, which was great. I got to see how the competitions are run and watch the female lifters, there were none there in my weight class though.
Josie has joined the gym that I train at, so I am hoping to train with her very soon. She lifted at Crystal Palace and did really well, so well done Josie.
Ive been researching cutting weight for competitions and planning and preparations are essential. My diet is very clean anyway as I try to follow a Paleo diet with very little starchy carbs and I don't eat dairy. When I need to cut weight I usually weigh and measure my food following the Zone block plan which is extremely effective. I eat 5 times a day, 3 meals and 2 snacks, one usually after training. Every meal and snack consists of a balance of carbs (from fruit or veg), protein and fat. I think that if I start weighing and measuring early enough i won't need to take any drastic measure prior to competing, like starvation or dehydration, which are sure to effect the ability to lift well!

A training buddy!

2009-10-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

It looks like I may be getting the chance to lift with another girl. Josie is 17 and already competing so I am really looking forward to having the chance of meeting and hopefully training with her, it could be beneficial to both of us, moral support etc. All else is going well, with steady progress, the weight is creeping up and I already feel much stronger in the areas that were weak. Also the strange thing is my weight has changed but not how I thought it would. I have gone from 55.2kg to 54.6kg so I'm now aiming for the 53kg weight class. Also my body

fat % has gone from 13.6% to 12.3%. I need to keep a check on it and alter my diet if neccessary, although currently I feel fitter and stronger than ever!

Fast pace

2009-10-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

When my training began I was doing 1 session a week for about an hour and a half, this has now become 2 sessions a week for a solid hour and a half, maybe more, so I am practicing the Snatch and C&J for nearly three and half hours a week. I learn something new at every session and it never gets boring!

So far I have managed a personal best (pb) at each session. Im feeling stronger already although I know that this fast rate of progress will slow down.

For anyone who is unsure of what the Snatch or C&J movements are then you can find videos on the CrossFit site in exercises and demos www.crossfit.com or just type in olymic weightlifting to youtube and there are plenty to choose from.

The conclusion that I have come to so far is that the smallest details can make or fail a lift! Even down to your attitude when you approach the bar, positive thinking and determination are essential!!!

The beginning

2009-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Throughout my life I've tried to keep reasonably fit, I wanted to watch my weight and tone up a bit. I had no interest in lifting weights because, like most girls, I assumed that it would make me 'bulk up'. Not the look I was going for! As time went on and I chose the fitness industy as my career I obviously studied and researched. I qualified as a Personal trainer, circuit instructor and massage therapist. A couple of years ago I was introduced to the CrossFit method of constantly changing, whole body, functional movement, performed at high intensity. I was hesitent at first because the method involved olympic lifting. I had to learn the techniques and I was still a bit concerned about the bulking thing but I decided to give it a try. Well i have to say, along side a sound nutrtion plan, the method really worked, it got results, I was slimmer and more tone, not bulky! I was so impressed by the method that I chose to go to America and take the CrossFit Level 1 Certification, which I did and I now use the method regularly with my classes and clients.

My interest in the lifting grew, I actually enjoyed it, it felt natural to me. I was keen to improve my technique and so sort the help of a Vertan Lifter, with great experience. I trained a session with John Walton which I found very worthwhile. A short while ago John emailed me to see how things were going and encouraged me to start focusing on the Lifting as he saw potential in my ability. We now train regularly and I hope to compete when we both feel I am ready.

Oh and I am still not bulky, I don't have huge shoulders or legs and I love having a sport that I am passionate about. So watch this space and I'll keep you posted with my progress!!!!!!