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April Mathis Training Log


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#41 Dru Patrick

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Great total April, watch your shoulder on the 7ft bar. I seperated my shoulder a while back squatting with a bar that small. If you feel it going into Unity do it but if you have reservations do Schwab's meet in feb. Unity is a untested,super strict but fair meet with a bunch of all stars, the people are great but beyond that its just another meet. Stay on your track and hit the goals that are important to you, your doing a great job thus far.

#42 April Mathis

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JackAss - 2009-12-16 11:06 AM

You have to get some videos going girl.
I can't believe the raw total you hit recently.
Your lifts are looking very strong keep it up!


Thanks Mark. I only had one friend of mine to hand off to me at that meet, so no one else to take video. I probably should have asked Brian Schwab if someone from his team would have. If I do raw unity I know they will have video of that. I don't have a video camera, although if I can find one for cheap I might get one mostly because I'd like to watch my own form and see where I can improve and when I actually do a pr lift or something put it on here.

#43 April Mathis

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Dru Patrick - 2009-12-17 2:18 AM

Great total April, watch your shoulder on the 7ft bar. I seperated my shoulder a while back squatting with a bar that small. If you feel it going into Unity do it but if you have reservations do Schwab's meet in feb. Unity is a untested,super strict but fair meet with a bunch of all stars, the people are great but beyond that its just another meet. Stay on your track and hit the goals that are important to you, your doing a great job thus far.


Thanks Dru. I agree with you on the bar. I'm gonna try it out before I go and if it's too uncomfortable or hurts my shoulder too much I won't do it. I really don't see why Eric's doing that anyways. Even IPF uses a 8ft. squat bar now. I have talked to someone else who did raw unity last year and said all of the bars sucked, so we'll see what happens. I really just want to do it one time this year to compete against another girl here in Tampa that will be lifting there, and I probably won't do it again.

#44 Dru Patrick

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April Mathis - 2009-12-17 11:56 AM

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Dru Patrick - 2009-12-17 2:18 AM

Great total April, watch your shoulder on the 7ft bar. I seperated my shoulder a while back squatting with a bar that small. If you feel it going into Unity do it but if you have reservations do Schwab's meet in feb. Unity is a untested,super strict but fair meet with a bunch of all stars, the people are great but beyond that its just another meet. Stay on your track and hit the goals that are important to you, your doing a great job thus far.


Thanks Dru. I agree with you on the bar. I'm gonna try it out before I go and if it's too uncomfortable or hurts my shoulder too much I won't do it. I really don't see why Eric's doing that anyways. Even IPF uses a 8ft. squat bar now. I have talked to someone else who did raw unity last year and said all of the bars sucked, so we'll see what happens. I really just want to do it one time this year to compete against another girl here in Tampa that will be lifting there, and I probably won't do it again.

Go there Kick her ass and stomp all over the record books!

#45 April Mathis

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12/17/2009 Bench

Bench Press
barx20
135x10
225x3
275x3
325x2x3sets
2-Board
345x3
3-Board
365x1 (missed 2nd; bad groove)

Flat DB Press
100sx10,8,6

Triceps Pushdowns
Green Bandx20x3sets

PecDec- 2sets of 20
R/C stuff

Ok benching for first day back. 325 was easy for 3 doubles. Plan to go up to 335 for the same next week. Endurance was down today though, as the board sets should have been easier than what they were. But it's probably since it was the first day back benching in 11 days.

#46 April Mathis

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Dru Patrick - 2009-12-17 11:12 PM
Go there Kick her ass and stomp all over the record books!


The contest is decided by formula (which is gay obviously) but it means I have to win by approximately 150-160lbs. since I weigh about 70-80lbs. more, from what I figured out with the Wilks formula calculators which is what they're using. I am going to try to total 1500lbs. at this contest. That would be my ultimate goal for it and I have the next 5 weeks of training based on max attempts of 565-385-550. I think I can hit those numbers. I had more left on the squat this last time, and my deadlift has continued to move. My bench has shown some improvement and would be only about 10lbs. from what I can hit on a good day now.

#47 Dru Patrick

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LMAO@formula is GAY!!! Why use weight lifted to determine who is stronger. I weigh 123 and squat 261 so Im stronger than YOU, yeahhhhhhhh keep thinking that and then try to do something about it. A ant can lift many more times its weight than a rhino, but a rhino will crush it everytime! Go crush that ant!

#48 paulthomas

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April - I must admit I do not understand the internal politics of the numerous powerlifting federations - but which fererations will you be competing under ?
The IPF seem to be the best recognised and organised internationally - with World Champs - World Games etc - and you are already competing at a level where you would excel - but the USAPL seem to treat their athletes quite badly - and then there is the cost of competing abroad
There seems to be no end of American federations - but they lack international competetion
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Also what is your athletic background - with your athletism and strength levels - you would be a great prospect at the Olympic throws - ie shot-discus- hammer -- have you ever trained and competed at these events ?
-
Finally congrats on what you have already achieved -you are blessed with an incredible sporting talent --- enjoy a great Christmas and New Year with your family and friends
Paul

#49 April Mathis

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paulthomas - 2009-12-21 10:26 AM

April - I must admit I do not understand the internal politics of the numerous powerlifting federations - but which fererations will you be competing under ?
The IPF seem to be the best recognised and organised internationally - with World Champs - World Games etc - and you are already competing at a level where you would excel - but the USAPL seem to treat their athletes quite badly - and then there is the cost of competing abroad
There seems to be no end of American federations - but they lack international competetion
-
Also what is your athletic background - with your athletism and strength levels - you would be a great prospect at the Olympic throws - ie shot-discus- hammer -- have you ever trained and competed at these events ?
-
Finally congrats on what you have already achieved -you are blessed with an incredible sporting talent --- enjoy a great Christmas and New Year with your family and friends
Paul


Hi Paul. Thanks for the congrats. I have competed in APF raw, because APF has many meets in Florida near where I live in, and I know a bunch of the people and other teams that go to them. I have only competed twice and trained raw thusfar, so I've only been interested in meets that offer that. I really don't think there's anywhere around here I'm going to compete and have a whole lot of competition either way. I just look at what the records are and try to beat those. I've played a variety of different sports as a kid growing up, but I didn't start with lifting until 17. I've never done Olympic stuff.

The next contest I'm going to do will most likely be the Raw Unity Meet here in Tampa on January 30, which is unsanctioned. I will probably compete in one of Brian Schwab's meets this next year as well. Besides that, I don't know. I don't see competing overseas anytime soon. I don't have the money to travel to another state much less another country.

#50 April Mathis

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Dru Patrick - 2009-12-18 6:28 PM

LMAO@formula is GAY!!! Why use weight lifted to determine who is stronger. I weigh 123 and squat 261 so Im stronger than YOU, yeahhhhhhhh keep thinking that and then try to do something about it. A ant can lift many more times its weight than a rhino, but a rhino will crush it everytime! Go crush that ant!


Haha. Well it's true. I especially don't see why you would use formula in a meet where you have a lightweight division and a heavyweight division. I mean shouldn't the highest total in the lightweight division win, and the highest total in the heavyweight division win? It doesn't even make any sense. I plan to win either way, so I don't care.

#51 April Mathis

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11/18/2009 Squat

Squat (walked out)
barxsome
145x5x2sets
235x3
325x3
375x2
415x2
435x2

Leg Curls- 3sets of 15
Hip Abductors/Adductors- 3sets of 15
Weighted Situps- 5sets up to BW+45x6
Leg Raises-3sets of 10
Ab Pulldowns- 3sets of 10

This was the first time I walked out a squat in two years or so. I have to say it's very strange after just using a monolift for a long time, and I don't much care for it. I used a squat bar today and I will later this week as well. I will be training at another gym on squat day this week, so I may not walk out either. Then, I'll try the 7 foot bar with the walkout the last 4 weeks.

#52 April Mathis

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12/21/2009 Shoulders/Biceps

Seated Overhead Log Press
90x10
110x8
140x3
165x3
195x3 Easy
215x2 PR
145x8

DB Front Raises
20sx10
30sx8
35sx8

DB Side Raises
20sx10
30sx10
40sx10

EZ Bar Curls
70x10
120x8
150x5
70x20

Good day. Overhead pressing felt quite abit easier than last week. Had misloaded the bar and thought I had 200 and then 220, but it was only 195 and then 215. Either way, 195x3 was much easier than 190 or 200 felt last week, and 215 was a solid double.

#53 paulthomas

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April - I have been considering how to raise sponsorship / funding for a non-Olympic athlete - and these are couple of ideas - I hope they are not to off the wall
Consider e-mailing the Guinness Book of Records re your end of January raw meet - you have already established that you are a genuine record breaker - what are their rules for being included in their book- are there any other strongwoman events which you could train for- and be accepted as a record ?
Check the benchpresschampion site- run by a French Priest Father Pascal Girard - who is a great character
The site is a bit haphazard - but there is an English version - click the news section - could be worth e-mailing Father Pascal as buried away on the site is a section of world record benches for reps- again a new challenge for you to train for
By being pro-active in contacting your local papers TV etc - you could gain mainstream media coverage - and explain your need for sponsorship
Google - chatshows - talkshows etc - email them see if they would be interested in covering your record attempts
I just would like you to have the chance to train and compete to get the most out of your God given talent - have fun at the same time- and receive the recognition you deserve
Paul

#54 April Mathis

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Paul- I don't care too much about being sponsored or being famous or none of that. I'm fine just training where I do and competing a couple times a year. Benching for reps is alright. It's not really done in most powerlifting contests though. It doesn't really have great translation to one-rep max anyways.

#55 April Mathis

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12/22/2009 Back

Barbell Shrugs
135x10
225x8
315x8
405x8
495x8
545x8

Barbell Rows
135x10
225x5
275x5
315x5
365x5
405x3 cheated PR

Face Pulls- 3sets of 15

Done. Good assistance day.

#56 April Mathis

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12/24/2009 Bench

Bench Press
barx20
135x10
225x3
275x3
315x2
335x2x3sets Easy
2-Board
350x2
3-Board
365x2

Bench Press with chains
225+40lbs.chainx3
225+80lbs.chainx3
225+120lbs.chainx2

Rope Triceps Pushdowns
100x15x3sets

R/C Stuff

Benching is feeling really good right now. The first set of 335 I know I could have had 4-5 reps on. Even the last set felt like I had another rep. I'll go to 345 for doubles next time. I think I'll get a pretty big PR on the bench come meet time if the rest of the training cycle continues this way.

#57 April Mathis

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12/26/2009 Squat

Squat (walked out)
barxsome
145x6
235x3
325x3
375x2
415x2
465x2 PR

Hip Abductors/Adductors
80x10x3sets each

KB Side Bends
80x8x3sets each side

Leg Raises-3sets

Good day. Special thanks to Tommy for letting me train at his gym due to the holiday. Walking out felt a little better this time. I was definitely a lot more confident than last week. 465 was a hard double, and pretty much only a PR since I haven't tried to double it before, although I'm sure I could have got this before the last meet as well. Plan is to go up to 485 next time and try to double it.

#58 BHopper242

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Are you ready for RUM?

#59 April Mathis

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BHopper242 - 2009-12-28 2:53 PM

Are you ready for RUM?


I will be by the time the meet is. Still have 4 more weeks to train first. By the end of this week I'll decide for sure if I'm doing the meet or not, since this Saturday I'm going to try squatting with the shorter bar. The last two times I still used a regular squat bar, since I didn't want to change too much at once, I figured the first two weeks I would walk out but stay with the same bar, then the last 4 now I will walk out and use the shorter bar.

#60 April Mathis

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12/28/2009 Shoulders/Biceps

Seated Overhead Log Press
90x10
110x8
145x6
175x3
200x3
225x1 PR
145x12

DB Side Raises
20sx10
30sx10
45sx10

DB Front Raises
25sx10
35sx10x2sets

EZ Bar Curls
70x10
120x10
150x8
170x6

Good day. 225 was a max single on the overhead press. It was a solid, but very slow press. I'm sure another 5lbs. would not have gone. This was probably my last day doing this lift for awhile. The last 3 weeks I'm going to concentrate on benching and peaking for the meet. After that, I'll go back to some more overhead work with a different bar, because I think it has definitely been helping. Besides, my shoulder feels a lot better doing one overhead day and one bench day every week. My bicep strength is back up as well. I think I can finally strict curl over 200lbs. again.





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