I have been competitively powerlifting for over 20 years. Within that time I have competed raw, single ply and multi ply. I hold the highest all time total of 1930 at 148, the third highest total of 2045 at 165 and have broken over 35 world records, over 25 of which I still hold. Through the years in this sport I have learned a great deal from various training methods, met and formed long lasting friends, as well as learned the importance of balancing life, work, and training.
Elitefts accepted me as a team member over ten years ago and I am currently the longest standing still competing powerlifter on the site. I appreciate Dave Tate and Elitefts for giving me the opportunity to learn from and teach others through the Q&A and my training log.
In 2005 I opened Orlando Barbell – a 24 hour powerlifting friendly gym. As well as running Orlando Barbell I designed and sell the Home GHR , the The OBB Power Handles and the Doorway Home Gym, wrote the 12 Weeks to a Bigger Bench EBook, and produced the 12Weeks to a Bigger Bench DVD.
My latest contribution was writing the M2Method EBook, designed to be the quintessential Raw Powerlifting training manual for beginners to advanced lifters looking to get stronger and prevent injury while incorporating the powerlifts.
Standard warm up:
5 mins. Treadmill
Prehab
PVC rolled on:
Lower back, shifted to right and left
Upper back, shifted to right and left scapula w/hips up
Armpits
Hamstrings
Glutes
Adductors
7 Weeks out from potentially competing in the RPS South Florida Conquest
Deadlifts off 2” Blocks-
135x3
225x3
315x2
w/single ply Metal King, straps down-
405x1
Straps up-
495x1
545x1
565xmiss
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsLZVktYPI]
Everyone else is right on track to hit some PRs.
Raw Squats onto a low box+Elitefts soft foam pad-
145x3
235x3
325x3
375x3
As I’ve mentioned before I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis back in January. I’ve been trying different meds for the last 8 months and have yet to improve. I’ve also been doing my best to try not to let the disease interfere with my daily life, but it’s impossible. I may have jumped the gun with planning to compete in this meet in October. Lately my symptoms seem to be worsening. I can deal with competing when I’m not at my best, but I can’t rationalize doing so when I’m at my worst.
I previously took part in a clinical trial on Enteragam, which is a serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate to help aid in the digestion of nutrients. That study ended and although it seemed to help they stopped giving me the supplement and now I’m worse than ever. Now I've been approved for a clinical study on etrolizumab to compare it to adalimumab (humira), both of which are biologics. The biololgics are what I really feel are necessary to get me into remission. Unfortunately our Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance only covers generic drugs and there aren’t any generic biologics. I start the screening period next Wednesday which can last as long as 28 days. It’s a double blind study, so I could also end up getting a placebo. My doctor understands my financial situation and knows there's no way I can get a hold of a biologic otherwise (the cheapest I found online was around $2500/month through a Canadian pharmacy) so he's been working to get me on a study for a while. Hopefully it will do the trick. Unfortunately I don’t think the pieces are magically all going to fall into place in time for this meet.
It’s funny, I rarely get sick, I’ve never had a serious injury or surgery, and then I get an autoimmune disease that it seems I had no way of preventing. I felt great last week, but this week I've felt progressively worse as my energy levels have been dropping. It's frustrating to say the least, but I'll keep plugging along.
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