185lbs

It’s official! I can deadlift 185lbs!

This morning at Crossfit, Kenny and I decided to find out one my one rep max deadlift is. When I’ve done deadlifts at Crossfit before, it was with 65lbs (I think, will need to double check) and high reps. I wanted to know how much I could lift at one time.

Here’s the progression:

95 lbs – 10 reps

115 lbs – 5 reps

135 lbs – 3 reps

155 lbs – 1 rep

165 lbs – 1 rep

175 lbs – 1 rep

185 lbs – 1 rep!!!!

It took me three tries to get the 185 – it was HEAVY! A lot of it is mental; having the confidence and the focus to lift it. The physical part is making sure you have the correct form. On the first two attempts, I couldn’t get the bar and plates off the ground. On the third attempt, after taking a break and psyching myself up, I got the bar and plates about 1 inch off the ground and from there, it was just driving my heels into the ground and using my legs to pull it up.

There was no way I could do 195lbs and Kenny recognized that. Give me another month and I think I’ll be able to lift that, though! I would also like to point out that I lifted more than my body weight. Booyah!

Check it out – I lifted THAT!!!

I love that I’m pushing myself and that I know I can continue to get stronger. Since starting Crossfit, I’ve definitely watched a lot of the 2012 Reebok Crossfit Games via YouTube and it is awesome to see the strength, power, and endurance that the female competitors have. Annie Thorisdottir has one the Games twice in a row, making her the world’s fittest woman. I’ve really come to admire her disciline, work ethic, commitment, and passion. Also, in interviews she comes across as a really nice person.

(source)

I’m not sure how much she is deadlifting in this picture – at least 285lbs. Her one rep max is 160kg/352lbs!!! I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to lift that much, but it is a reminder that I am far from hitting my limit. The best part is that I love pushing myself and I feel a huge sense of accomplishment and pride when I know I’ve given 110%, not just with my workouts, but in all aspects of my life.

Yeah, I think I’ve drunk the Crossfit koolaid and I definitely like it!