Lift like a girl- I think this madness is working

So I've been getting increasingly frustrated and angry lately. 

Getting used to the lack of shit food.

Not drinking.

Not being rich yet.

And not having a total Hot bod.

I was starting to feel like fuck it I don't care.

(i'm hardly dramatic)

That was until I woke up and bodaboom bodabing- are those little baby abs creeping in to say a little hello????

I did say LITTLE. But I was pretty chuffed with it. 'til I ate a fricking omelette and they seemed to just fudge off home again. 

And then I noticed my skin has cleared up loads, no eczema, I don't look like I'm storing food in my hamster cheeks-aka less bloat and my eyes seem a little sparklier!

So I'm into my last 2 weeks of strength cycle before the big strip, which I'd rather not think too much about right now. En ce moment I'm doing very little movement, apart from lifting sthuff....cardio.....

unless........

But another Powerlifting term was thrown at me - Wilkes.

Basically there's a formula that takes into consideration your

Gender

Height

Age 

Lift

and calculates it so that everyone can be measured against each other.

I googled it.

It's real life.

My squat went from 55 to 70 in the last month and I was so close to 50 on my bench HOWEVER being up since 430 that morning and testing at 6 that evening wasn't going to help. Doesn't change the number unfortunately.

Buuuut I'm not too far behind the boys. As in I'm about 3 points behind- Yay!

So in short- The Lift Like a Girl program is making me stronger than the boys!!

I out chef-ed myself then as a treat I made some chocolate protein pancakes smathered in Nutella and Peanut butter

And then we all got a lovely treat in Maximum Results, Max went about getting on board sponsors....so we now have 10% off Galway Tattoos and McGraths Butchers, 5 beans off Muscle Maintenance and my personal fav....20% off Million Dollar Secrets!!!!

Talk about looking after your clients!

Booked my hollibops to Malta this week too so another added incentive....because a photo shoot and a powerlifting competition wasn't enough,

I love pressure!

 if someone could find me these runners that would be awesome....

 snapchat me on foxylaura1

and lastly- so far I've really noticed not mindlessly eating the house over the weekends has been the hardest part but just consciously not eating the pick n mix has helped me loads!

Summers a comin guys!!!!!!!! 

and that's about the most inspirational quote you're gonna get from me 

Toodles

  

Lift like a girl- Lord give me Abs!

And by Lord I mean Max.

I'm still quite happy with how single lift went, even tho not entirely as planned 

(you can read that here)

I'm really loving being a Powerlifting Princess.

So next up is The National  Powerlifting Championships in May.

Now at Single Lifts you could chose to enter in Bench, Squat or Deadlift.

Or 2 of the 3 or 3 of 3.

Full power however is all 3 and then your score is accumulated.

Not only am I training to get V strong for that as my squat sucks at the minute, I'm also trying to cut down on my squishy bits and get a nice ol bod.

First up- My diet.

While I didn't have the worlds worst diet- I know my good food from my bad. I can cook and quite well actually (I just can't clean), Firstly- I constantly over eat- even on the good stuff. I had no portion control what so ever. Secondly- I mindlessly eat, as in I never realized when I'm at an event lets say and how many goujons and cocktail sausages would pass my lips pretty much without my knowledge. Lastly- I absolutely Love Ice Cream.

Now while I'm not going to tell you exactly what my day to day food plan is (because I genuinely think that everyone is different and this has been tailor made for me and my lifestyle)

I will say it ain't bad. 

*Disclaimer* I would like to apologize to my poor Boyf who could possibly disagree with this statement as I may or may not have lost my shit with him my first weekend as my sugar cravings were in overdrive* but then again if it wasn't that it would have probably been something else.

And then I figured out that there's room for my Ice cream once a week *yay*.

Next up was a consultation with the my fellow lifter but full time fairy Órla O'Flaherty Naturopath & Herbalist. Bit of a TMI moment here but I just got the contraceptive implant removed from my arm so lucky for me Orla was on hand with her magic herbs to regulate my hormones!

That and my life. She has such a calming nature and knows her stuff and I'm a little bit stressed out at the minute working different jobs - THAT I LOVE- I'm not complaining about my work but it's a serious change and a lot of pressure so coming out of her office I felt A-OK and it's great to know she's there to pop into anytime.

(not what Orla gave me but an example of what she's all about! Read her personal transformation story here)

And then there's my training. As I'm travelling between Dublin and Galway I couldn't commit to 5 days in Maximum Results - cue tears!

Luckily for me Max devised a Hell like programme where I can get my 5 days done in 3, or if anything spills over I can head to Flyefit to do a little bit while I'm in The Big Smoke.

What I'm lovin' the most right now is how much I'm surprising myself- like being able to do a power push up no problemo and I'm on my way to doing a pull up.

Goals within Goals.

Instead of giving out about not being toned and defined, I'm going to give out about getting toned and defined and super dooper strong. But I'm under no illusion this is going to be easy, luckily I have a kind and supportive network surrounding me that only sends encouraging messages (sort of)

Because basically I like to whinge.

Lift Like a Girl......The big weekend!

National Single Lifts Gorey are dunzo hunzo!

With 7 weeks training I took to the platform and it was honestly one of the greatest experiences ever.

Kicked of the weekend last Friday with the 5 hour trip to Wexico, felt like 5 minutes because the banter was so much fun!

Landed down did a big shop and I'm kind of depressed to be home now because we took Princess Powerlifting very seriously!!

Double en suite room, serious vanity mirror and meals whipped up every evening followed by a foot massage and Rocky!! bahhaha!

Saturday morning up at the crack of dawn for weigh ins at 7am,

then it was breakfast, coffee and next thing it was time to get into the beaut of a singlet and warm up.

I was a little bit nervous the first day, but with reassurance from Max and the team I was good to go. 

My main worry about Bench was that I'd miss my commands.

Basically Max hands me the bar, I wait for the official to say down, then press, then rack.

Doing any of these too soon results in a red light. 

There are 3 lights per lift and at least 2 of them have to be white to pass.

My opening lift was 42kg, Soft.

Then 45kg - easy breezy.

Then 47.5. Tough as flip. 

I got one red light as I was uneven but I got there!

Whooo hoooo!!!!!! 

And then to top it off the ever fantastic Laura O'Shea finishing 1st in the Sr division for bench!

I was on an absolute high. 

Then we had Wexford County Matters come and film a little interview about the Single Lifts and our Lift like a girl and 

it was so odd to be the far side of the camera, answering questions, not asking them!

Back to our house for the night where dinner was whipped up by the dream team of Corey and Laura, all the while Max was busy inflicting pain with his elbow in the form of "ironing out the creases" and trying to get rid of an accumulation of knots that have built up from training so hard...

then this was followed by Orla's magic tea and a foot massage.

Literally spoilt.

Sunday Morning it was time for deadlift.

I actually can't explain how well I was feeling that morning.

No pains, no random twinges, I wasn't tired and I wasn't hungry!

But when I went to the warm up area I was lifting 90kg and it literally felt like 190kg. 

Max assured me it was just the warm up and I'd be fine.

It was my time then to take to the platform.

117.5kg was my opening lift.

I've done this 100 times with ease.

I've ripped that bar off the ground feeling like my ass cheeks are going to explode in pain and my hamstrings are about to blow.

Nothing.

Not a peep of pain.

I just could not lift that damn bar.

Totes awks.

I couldn't drop down in weight so I had to go for the same again.

Nothing.

I was mortified.

And the shit feeling that I had let everybody down after all that training was the worst.

Now this is the point I need to stress, we we're at a competition, competing against each other, and girls I've never met before are coming up to me telling me it's fine,this happens all the time and then cheering me on. Even all the officials really want you to do it.

Last time up to the platform, I'm laughing now thinking about it but at the time I was distraught.

I may as well have been trying to lift a house.

I could not get it up. 

I was so embarrassed, and all I was thinking was why the hell did I do this, bawling crying like a toddler and then laughing because while we joke about me being a prissy powerlifting princess to any onlooker that's exactly what I looked like throwing the toys out of the pram!

Big Well Done to Laura who pulled 150kg

and Corey with 172.5kg deadlift!

The experience of the entire weekend wouldn't have been the same without the Maximum Results family! 

Corey- for just being cool as a cucumber when everyone needed it, a general lol, bullying your way into the kitchen to help O'Shea cooking up greatness and listening to the same stories out of my mouth 100 times and pretending it was the first!!

Laura O'Shea- for getting us across the border to Wexico, being a constant source of entertainment, being Mammy cooking seriously yummy dinners every night and just being a serious trooper.

Orla- for minding me, pep talks on the ready, being a great friend and those delicious coconut balls!

Max Pain- for making this all possible! The initial idea for #liftlikeagirl, all the training, running such an unreal gym, all your greatness in general.

But having said all of that I am going to produce this picture for being literally a pain in my ass!!!!!!

All official!!

And of course not forgetting the Team at home sending messages of support!

The Highs- coming exactly smack bang in the middle of my division for bench with 3 clean lifts, 

the banter, the chums and the dinners!

The lows- bombing out in my deadlift and Max's elbow.

I'm happy out in my life right now eating a tub of Ben&Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup Ice cream for breakfast, just finished the weekends episode of the kardashians and on to the 1 Direction movie and I'm not even sorry!

Back to the gym later to see what torture with be inflicted on me for my quest for abs!

and the next phase of Foxy the Powerlifting Princess!

#liftlikeagirl

Lift like a girl- Week 7

So week 7 is in the bag and we're into the Grand Finale!

We kicked off the week hitting a new PB (personal best) of 125kg in my deadlift.

And then just to make things even better again I hit a new PB on my Bench.

I went from 42kg to 47.5kg!

At the start of the week I caught up with my ol buddy me ol pal Daragh from the Sunday World.

Anyone who knows me knows that I had the best year being Miss Sunday World.

And I like to pretend I still am by annoying Daragh on the regular.

              (All my lovely PIA dresses)

I was chatting about the IDFPA Single Lifts coming up this weekend and he was shocked!

WHICH WAS PERFECT!

Powerlifting is so clearly alien to everybody, including myself until very recently.

So with a days notice he thought it would make a great feature.

It was the weirdest thing ever to take photos in the gym!!! Plus I'm 25 in case anyone thinks I'm 27 (hanging on for dear life)

I feel like a fraud any time I model. I love it but it doesn't feel real and I get super critical of myself, which is why I didn't look at these pictures until today when they were printed!!

This isn't the first time Maximum Results has been printed in the SW

 And they actually got the double whammy today with another client Roisin Nolan making a full spread in the paper looking awesome!!!!!

It was great to get a chance to explain what powerlifting is. And I would encourage anybody looking to start or looking to mix up their workouts to get in touch with me for first hand advice!

And Max in Maximum Results for actual information!

He's not that terrifying!

SO 

Last week of preparing for my first competition this weekend.

But definitely not my last week of powerlifting!

I'm hooked now

However next month I'm setting Max the serious task of getting me some real life abs.

Excited? yes.

In Pain? yes.

Shitting it? 100% yes.

But I'm also very excited about the full weekend in Gorey with the Maximum Results crew!

and especially about the 3 and a half hour car ride which I've luckily got to chose the playlist for!

Flashback Friday will be in full swing!

Lift Like a girl- Week 6

This week started out great, We kicked it off with a little explanation video with the lovely Jerry.

Which you can watch right here

And then it all went downhill and I turned into the worlds greatest blubbering baby on Tuesday.

Maxing out everyday has really taken its toll on my ass and hamstrings.

I'm not injured pain, it's just "pain" pain.

As a wise bald headed man once said

"Pain, even if it is good pain, still fucking hurts"

-Maximilian Lauth 1946

I've realized I am one angry toddler when I'm feeling sorry for myself.

Threatening to burn down gyms and snapping at fellow Power Lifters for taking my weights, when there's speculation that they in fact may not have. 

  

I had a bit of a mind flip with my bench this week too. Doing something called a paddle press

That's just a blurry picture of myself and Max.

It's a real case of everything I learned going out the window. 

HOWEVER I did manage to max at 45kg so yay!!!

I'm pretty chuffed with that. 

It's been mentally a tough week, and I know this week isn't going to be much better.

In fact probably worse.

But it's all coming together slightly.

I'm feeling slimmer. I'm lifting heavier.

I've got no pants left that I haven't burst out of- I'm a bit yay and nay on that point.

Yay to booty gains, and actually yay all round as now I have an excuse to only wear yoga pants!

So basically I'm gonna suck it up so I don't have to suck it in

That's it for now, if you want to listen to me being a whinge bag all week then feel free to follow me on snapchat at foxylaura1 

Toodles

Lift like a girl- Week 5

Nothing could have prepared me for this week.

Nothing.

and even then....

So my first day back I was pretty chuffed with life, I only went down 2.5kg after the xmas break on my deadlift, and after testing I had to deadlift 75% -90kg- for 42 reps.

What spurred me on the most was listening to Max give a very painful HIIT class next door.

I've really become a power lifting douchebag -cardio....no thanks! :)

Day 2 

a) I slept in 

b)wtf 

Very disorientated rocking in only an hour late at 930.

I had to test bench, soft enough, in and out....

WRONG!

Hello Bulgarian! 

It basically means I'm maxing out every day, tested deadlift again- 120kg.. so off one block I had to lift that 21 times. 

I failed. sort of. I lifted it 15 times and did the last 6 off 110kg

 I'd been repeatedly told Bulgarian would make me it's bitch but I really wasn't expecting the actual despair my life felt like it was going thru.

The next day I was down 5kg :( 

(this was actually Thursday not Wednesday!)

But bench was still 42.5kg

I really enjoy Bench, and for no other reason than I get to lie down!!!!

Friday was the most painful experience of my life.

Deadlift, Good Mornings, Bench and reverse curl.

Good Mornings help with your hamstring and lower back, 

you pick up the bar as you would for a squat and lean forward shooting your hips back.....I'd say that's the worst explanation ever but I'll take pictures next week, I was close to death yesterday so forgot.

I literally could feel my ass getting bigger yesterday from deadlifting, and I was in SO much pain- so I knew I was doing something right!!!

All in all it was a tough first week back, and it's not going to get any easier but I already feel like I'm slimmer after xmas so yaaaaaay!!

I called up to Sean Mc Cormacks studio yesterday to get some more progress pics taken. I hate doing it...there's no hiding from Sean......but I can definitely notice some difference!

 Don't let the selfie fool you, I'm Queen of angles and filters!

Now to stay out of trouble for the weekend and filming some lols in the gym Monday!

That should be fun!

Toodlepips til then mofos!