The meet was yesterday.  I made weight and was 120.0 kilos exactly.   I was able to go from 278 down to 266.5 on strict dieting then drop to 264.5 on water loading the last few days.   This was a huge plus.  I weight in about 12:30 and needed to start warming up at 2.  I chose to open with 485.  I had 90 minutes to start hydrating.  I was able to drink and eat and not spend  the meet in the bathroom.  This was another huge plus.  This is where the huge pluses stopped occuring lol.  Warms ups started and I could tell I wasn't firing on all cyclinders.   This was expected with the rapid weight loss though I wasn't surprised.  I was surprised with how loose I felt and how off my set up was.  I couldn't get set up and keep my but down.  The tight bloated feeling of me at 278 helped me keep my but down with lots of leg drive.  I was concerned for this and the fact that I  opted to open with 485.....so I thought.  After I warmed up I looked at the line up board and realized I read the kilo chart went and picked 479 on accident.  With my set up woes I wasn't feeling like a BAMF so a lighter opener was welcome.  I hit 479 on my opener.  This was a very slow and uninspired lift.  Due to the fierce strictness of the USAPL I over complicated this rep and put my self in a position to guarantee my ass didn't come up.  This also guaranteed no leg drive.  I moved to 502 on my third and flat out missed the lift off the chest.  It was bad.  I then had an equally bad miss at 502 on a third attempt.  And just like that the meet was over.  I came in third place on my opener and left with a ton of notes for nationals in October.  Third place at a huge national meet is awesome so I'm happy overall.  I do wish I would have hit a USAPL bench pr but it's better to make the podium with a bunt then to hit a home run and walk home empty handed.

So what did I learn?

the art of the 2 hour weight in eludes me.  I am a lifter that is driven by technique and speed.  Weight manipulation and crash dieting  takes those two factors away and is not good for me.  I need to train at the weight I will compete at.  This will allow me the time to adjust technique over time and be dialed in for the meet.

Plan of correction?

i need to maintain a body weight that's inside the 120 kilo class.  Nationals is now 7 weeks out and I need to maintain the diet and discipline I have had the past month.  It's hard but it's a must.  In order for me to feel like I can be at my best I need to not cut or water load.  I plan to stay the course eating wise and hopefully be a 260-262 type weight the morning of nationals.  If I can do that I can have a real chance at some PRs.  If I don't do that I will most likely end of with a nice medal but a feeling of missed oppurtunities again.

Here's is video of my 479 opener.

[youtube=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b4sSwVj3_7A&app=m&persist_app=1]