.

My formula for happiness: a Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal.

2011-05-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

I haven’t updated this in a long time though I am sure no one has noticed…. lol.

I am doing a meet tomorrow in Los Altos May 22, then for the summer not training for ANYTHING. Its going to be great, I get to pick a few fun things to get better at that DON’T include Snatching!! I am going to get my Back Squat and Push Press up. I need handle Back Squatting 315lbs like a motherfucker and I want to Push Press 185 lbs. I am also gonna do KettleBells and jumping plyos for conditioning so that by the end of the summer I am lean mean 135 lbs! I have worked VERY hard to be 143-5 ish lbs and will do my normal upper body assistance work to keep building muscle b/c I NEVER want to have a skinny upper body. GROSS. But I want to lose about 5-7 lbs of body fat, then I could kick ass as a 63 kg lifter. I don't feel like my "extra" fat is helping me. I know I am going to get made fun of for saying that, but if you are a girl, don't even pretend that you don't understand!! I can't wait to get jacked! It’s going to be the fun summer I have never had. Minus working my job all the time, oh yeah.

I have been planning this "fun time" for a while. months in fact. I have a detailed routine of my fun lifting plan. It is actually kinda insane and not what most people would think of as fun. Nietzsche is my favorite philosopher and I feel that his ideas fit really well with my own world view and my thoughts and feelings on sports and my sport. One of the things he wrote, in Twilight of the Idols, was

"My formula for happiness: a Yes, a No, a straight line, a goal."

For me Happiness is having a goal to work towards, thats why even my off time/off season is planned and goal oriented. The fastest way to reach what you desire is a clear shot, a straight line.

A YES, A NO. A lot of times I have to say NO to certain things and activities. Like going out with friends, sleeping in for fun, lounging around and generally "relaxing" (relaxing that is not counted as "Recovery" time) But I do not feel like I am missing out, really. well sometimes I do, but that is a fleeting feeling. When it comes down the wire, I would be happy dying knowing that I gave myself 100% to my goals and aspirations, AND WAS TRUE TO MYSELF. But I would say YES to having a family in a second and NO to training hard (at least for a year, hahah)

49% Motherfucker. 51% Son of a Bitch

2011-05-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

I am a huge Motorhead fan and obviously the documentary on Lemmy Kilmister had me frothing at the mouth in anticipation. Oddly, I learned so much about MYSELF from the film, not just the fucking amazing badassness that is LEMMY. Various interviewers asked him throughout the film how it felt to still be creating, recording music and touring at 63 years old. Being a man of few words, but all the right ones, he simply says something along the lines of “I’m not qualified to do anything else, really.” The drummer says “They said motorhead was the worst band in the world, well the kids are showing up to see the worst band in the world!”

Motorhead has released 25 albums. There is no end. In the beginning they did not have an endpoint. I love that Lemmy keeps doing what he loves. He lives in a little 1 bedroom off the sunset strip and pays $900 a month and won't move because it's rent controlled and right by The Rainbow Bar and Grill. He says he doesn’t need more.

He can do what he loves, that’s all that matters.

That’s beautiful to me.

Respect.

With weightlifting or any sport, or even just working out to be in better shape/stronger, there is no endpoint either. Someone I know wrote this:

"The destination truly never comes. The closer you get, the further away it moves."

You have to enjoy the journey, enjoy the struggle, enjoy the pain! Not just enjoy the pain: LOVE the pain! To create your destiny you must be in control of the journey, knowing where to turn your sail. In every endeavor in life you are progressing or regressing. There is NO middle ground, stagnation means regression... Basically if you are not pushing to get better you are moving backwards, getting worse. THE DESTINATION NEVER COMES.

so enjoy the sweat pouring off you know and always give 100% in whatever you do!

Just like my hero, Lemmy Kilmister! *49% Motherfucker. 51% Son of a Bitch*

Fit Expo Bench and Deadlift Invitational

2011-01-31T13:09:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the honor of competing with some of the strongest ladies in the USA in the US Powerlifting Association's Fit Expo Bench and Deadlift Invitation Meet.

It was very fun, I had a blast even though I lifted Raw (no gear, just a belt), so my numbers, especially in my bench were way below most of the other ladies. My raw deadlift was about in the middle of the class. I weighted in at 141lbs and lifted in the 148 lb class. My powerlifting buddy Emilio from back in the day handed off and handled me, then he had to go for his softball game and Justin Lovato helped me with my deadlift. The slaps helped, thanks man! It was a huge crowd and lots of my golds gym buddies stopped by, hung out and cheered for me! it was soo cool! I was not nervous at all, I mean, its just for fun, right!?

In the Middle Weight (132,148, 165 pound) classes, I came in 3'd in the Bench and 3'd in the Deadlift out of 5 girls. Which is cool b/c I lifted raw, no bench shirt, no deadlift suit.

What I realized is that I am a way better Olympic Weightlifter than Powerlifter. I was one of the tallest girls there, definatly the tallest in my weight class! I realize that I love WL more than PL, but PL will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart and I know I will always be hitting up some PL meets! I love that I can't be pinned down as one or the other! I also love that I lift at "The Mecca of Bodybuilding!" I love combining aspects from all three sports to benefit each other.

I also met Olympian Cara Heads, which as very cool!! what an humble, amazing athlete and classy lady!

Thanks to Steve Chen, Max, and Larry for taking video and pics! My friend Larry lent me his mom's (how cool is that!?) old belt for DL in!

Faith and Patience

2011-01-19T01:39:00.000-08:00

Well I better write down my 2011 goals before its not January anymore!

*Clean and Jerk 100 kilos in Competition-currently 96 kilos. handling 90 kilos on a weekly basis for multiple sets and doubles on jerks.

*Be able to HANDLE 70 kilos in the Snatch in training-currently have randomly hit 70 in training and 65 consistently.

*Back Squat 150 kilos-currently @ 136 kilos, and can hit 130 almost any day.

*Power Clean 85 kilos-currently @75 kilos for sets of doubles, 78-80 max PC.

*Shoulder Press 135 lbs- currently @115 for triples.

I have been thinking about the Pyramid Of Success lately, by John Wooden. He died about half a year ago. I have read most of his books and his ideas have formed a huge part of how athletes are spose to behave and act and view success and "failure."

My favorite idea that Wooden had is what is written at the top of the Pyramid. "FAITH AND PATIENCE."

Faith and Patience: all good things happen with time.

When I started Weightlifting I was 23 /24. WAY TOO OLD by anyones standards to start a sport, much less one that takes YEARS AND YEARS to get good at. And that you have to start when you are FIVE!! I planned on WL till I was 30. Now I am 29. But I refused to believe that. I knew I had the perseverance and stamina to do whatever it took. I will be so tired from work, but the moment I step into the gym and smell the iron and sweat and I feel alive. Everything else melts away. Its just me and my passion.

These are mostly the same goals I have had for years and years. Silly me thought that I was gonna clean and jerk 100 k in my first year of Olympic lifting. I had no idea that kind of strength/form/posture that it really takes. So these are my seemingly modest goals. When I accomplish them I will be very proud of myself. I love my sport more than anything. I would do anything to be able train everyday to improve. I used to have daily training goals, ie, hit a certain number. I do not have those anymore. I do not need the extra pressure b/c I know I would never not try my absolute best every attempt. To not try my best would disgust me.

I have faith in myself.

I trust myself that I will always Find A Way.

I believe that if I always give 100% and train smart I will do my best. Doing the best that you can do is all Wooden asked of his athletes and thats all that I ask of myself. Have fun, enjoy the ride and push harder!

I realize, I get so cold/When I was young, I was already old.

2010-12-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

As the darkest, coldest hours of the year comes forth as the Winter Solstice, the astro sign of Capricorn begins and continues till the middle of Jan.

In my "humble" opinion ( I just say humble b/c as a Capricorn I know I always know best, okay? lol) its a pretty amazing sign to have. Some might say that its all bullshit, but I have noticed that all the Caps I know have a similar aura and similar traits and a silent confident way we carry ourselves.

We usually get underestimated -because we aren't a loud obnoxious Fire sign or a sprightly Air sign, or a over emotional weird-o Water sign. (generalizations haha!!)-because instead of TALKING about what we are going to do, or what we have done in the past, we let our actions speak louder than our words.

We will climb the highest mountain and never surrender. Quitting is seriously NOT an option. When we put our mind to something we have will power to control ourselves to a scary degree.

We aren't showy. we usually wear dark colors and love mysterious and evil things. we know were are badass and don't need to announce it to world (ahem, Leo's!!).

We are sexy and dark. and we don't need to show it off to get what we want. we would rather earn it.

We are serious. Everything we do is part of plan for greatness. Get the hell outta the way if you aren't gonna help us or watch out.

We have a dry, whitty sense of humor. Knock knock jokes don't cut it. weird oddities do.

While we may come off as stubborn, we are actually just being patient and biding our time all while calculating master plans in our heads.

We love work. when we aren't working towards a goal we go freaking crazy! we love goals and dislike people that are ambitionless and floaty and change their minds every 5 seconds. we know that "talent and luck" don't exist and are just a result of hard work!

We will do anything for the ones we love and destroy the ones that threaten us. without any hesitation.

Unless you are amazing in some sort of way, or unique we just don't care about you and in fact don't even know you exist.

All in all I really like my sign and find it quite true and I am very glad that I use my traits to make myself the best Strength Athlete that I can be. I find great pleasure in all the training I have to do to become one and hopefully I will one day live/lift up to what I know I can accomplish.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL MY CAPRICORN FRIENDS!!

Speed Force!!!/Keep Squatting and you'll get there.

2010-12-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

AN APPLICATION OF SPEED FORCE/STRENGTH!

Speed-Force or Speed-Strength is often a term used in sports to describe the application of an Explosive Movement. Anything where you are pushing or pulling as hard as you can for less than a second or two. It's an anaerobic effort. The maximum effort your muscles can exert in the shortest/"fastest" amount of time. Former UCLA Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Doc Kreis was really into "Speed Strength."

Some examples of Speed Force/Strength are Throwing Sports (shot put, javelin, hammer, discus) and Weightlifting (Snatch and Clean and Jerk). With Throwing, the weight stays the same and the distance tries to be increased.

Check out my friend Christina Scherwin!!

With Weightlifting the weight lifted tries to be increased and the distance (floor to overhead) stays the same.

This a Aimee Anaya Everett, she is amazing and very inspiring to me!

So they are kinda opposite, but the maximum about of force created stays the same. You give 100% effort each time. Or at least at 80-90% and above. Training for a sport that requires you to move a heavy object is different than training for a sport were the object is relatively light. Strength is a DETERMINING factor in success, as well as TECHNIQUE. You can be strong as freaking bull but if your form is shit, you will not throw far or lift what you are theoretically capable of.

Soo the questions remains...what music should you listen to while trying to develop Speed Force/Strength?

Well....how about Maxxxwell Carlisle's new shredding the fuck out metal instrumental album called SPEED FORCE?!!!? it rocks majorly and I did the album layout and my muse J.J. did the photos!

Check out a sampler of songs and seriously buy the album on Itunes. Don't be cheap sauce, okay?

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/speed-force/id405381508

Fit Expo

2010-12-02T00:59:00.000-08:00

The only news I have is that I am gonna Bench and Deadlift in the LA Fit Expo Jan 30.

I was not planning on doing a meet till the spring or summer 2011 and just "relax" over the winter (aka get hella jacked and just do fun body building stuff in addition to weightlifting.) It would have been a nice mental break. But since I qualified to lift because of the USPF State Games I thought that I should. Out of 5 girls invited to compete I am ranked 3'd in DL and 4th or 5th in Bench. In the 132-165 # weight class. My bench sucks. :) Its all Raw for me at least. Oh well, it will be a fun two month training period and after that I am gonna take a break and rock out!! I am actually gonna follow a diet too and eat regular meals and protein and stuff. OMG! lets see what miracles happen!

http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/node/16651

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-11-03T00:35:00.000-07:00

What Weightlifiting has given me

2010-10-28T01:16:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't updated this in months!

Here are some character traits that weightlifting has instilled in me. Even if I never competed or trained to compete again, these are with me for life and part of me!

Some of these blend into others, but you get the idea.

CONFIDENCE

I think the most important thing that weightlifting has given me has been self-confidence. It would shock people that know me today, but when I was younger I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence! I hadn’t done anything to EARN it yet. I felt like I had nothing to offer the world and was too scared of failure and rejection to go beyond my comfort zone. As a result I did not do and try a lot of activities that I really wanted to. (When I started my job people thought I was a transfer from another store because I carried myself with confidence and treated everyone with respect). As a child and in my teens, I thought I was “just not athletic,” which was ridiculous. I was such an agile, explosive and quick girl. I was always running, jumping and throwing. Later in life it was just a matter of finding the right sport for me.

Weightlifting and Powerlifting are sports that I love so much that I would make almost any sacrifice for and sometimes that sacrifice is my self-comfort and emotional self-defense. Other times it is hanging out with friends or making more money. When you find your (true) passion, nothing can stand in your way.

When you lift you need confidence, confidence that you CAN MAKE THE LIFT. There where times at UCLA when the athlete lifting would seem unconfident and say something along the lines of “oh, I don’t know if I can make it” or “this is really heavy.” We would say to them “then stop don’t go and get your fucking head straight! If you don’t have 1000% confidence that you are gonna KILL it, then don’t even bother.”

PATIENCE

All Sports teach patience, as well as confidence. That’s why it is soo important that children are involved in sports in some way.

Okay, so you want to lift a certain total, right? You say you want it NOW? Well, too fucking bad. Try and push results, weights, try to do everything at once and eventually you will get hurt and then you’re in trouble. You can’t force progress; it’s a SLOOOW process. It will sneak up on you. Today my friend, who doesn’t give out bullshit compliments, said my shoulders are looking awesome. Nice!!! I hadn’t even noticed because I look at them everyday!

Weightlifting teaches so much patience. Every kilo more lifted is progress. There are no “miracles” or “surprises” with weightlifting. The fact that it’s just you and the bar and no outside circumstances is very humbling. Every success and every missed attempt (er, opportunity to learn) is yours and yours ALONE. Try. Miss. Try again. Miss. Well, what to do next? Think and try again. Step away knowing that you will be back tomorrow. Its all in due time, even if you never “make it” to the Olympics.

FOCUS

Snatch and Clean & Jerk are arguably the most explosive, dynamic and powerful movements in all sports. It all happens in under a SECOND. Focus is a MUST. Focus on keeping the right body parts tight and the right ones taunt. Focus on pushing as hard you possibly can and focus on pulling under as strong you can! Focus! Focus! Focus! You can’t have any thoughts because the movements too fast. The moment a thought enters your mind, you miss. At meets and in training people and judges are watching you. You have to ignore them, ignore their questions, and ignore their actions. You have to be selfish. You have to focus on a singular goal of improving the classic lifts and back squat/front squat. Most people FAIL because they are unable to have a singular focus. Americans especially want it all. We want to be the strongest, the most cardio conditioned, the most ripped, and THEN want to be awesome at the O-Lifts! Sorry son, not gonna happen! Unless you want to get hella hurt. Try Crossfit. Sorry my dears!

DETERMINATION

In weightlifting things don’t always go your way. In fact most of the time nothing goes “your way.” Rather you must FIND A WAY. When you have a goal, or goals that all lead to the same thing (ie, to snatch a certain weight you have to back squat a certain weight and overhead support a certain about of weight, etc, etc.), you have to stay inspired and be determined to keep training even if it seems like the goal is light years away. What makes weightlifting beautiful is also what makes it so hard to stick with. Weightlifting is a constant, never ending process. There will always and forever be someone lifting more than you. You can ALWAYS improve. You have to have a certain about of “crazy” or “stubbornness” to stick with weightlifting for any extended amount of time, but I like to call it Determination instead.

HUMILITY

Weightlifting is a very humbling sport. One day you can lift a personal best and the next day fail at the same weight horribly. There’s a centimeter margin of error. You either make the lift beautifully or fail horribly. It’s very extreme. That’s why it looks so easy when you make a lift, but when you miss it looks like you're going to dislocate everything! The extremeness of it is what makes weightlifting addicting. The rush of a perfect lift.

Weightlifting is a hard sport to stick with because there is zero monetary compensation and not any public recognition beyond our lil circle of the strength world. You do it because you think its badass, amazing and different.

Weightlifting taught me not to take anything for granted.

I can’t take any weight for granted.

I can’t take my health for granted.

I can’t take my training facility for granted.

I can’t take my friends or family for granted.

I can’t take my job or my car for granted.

It could all be taken away in a second.

Because there are literally thousands of lifters in the world much better than you it keeps you very humble. I am a good lifter for the gym people I am around wherever I go and lift at, but in the grand or even not so grand scheme of things, I am not that accomplished at all! I am a lil fish. So if someone compliments me, I take it with a grain of salt and put it in perspective in my head. Otherwise my head would explode and I would walk around thinking I am the greatest gift to the world. Which would be really lame and not very cool!

It reminds him that he is alive

2010-09-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

My friend Garth wrote this and I love it...

"Fighters fight, we win, we lose, but the true fighter just wants to do it again because he knows no other way, its in his soul, in his blood, its in the little smirk he wears, he needs the competition, he needs the challenge, he needs to get hit, it reminds him that he is alive."

Last two weeks of training....

2010-07-31T22:58:00.000-07:00

Since everyone else posts their training, I thought I would do the same thing ( for the 3 girls that this might interest...lol). It will be good for me keep better track of my volume and intensity. Also if any of the coaches I know could look over it and offer advice, that would be much appreciated! getting ready for a PL meet in a month and working on Power in O-lifts. People always ask me about my lifting so here ya go...

Kg=Kilos.
#= pounds.

July 25-July 30 training notes

Sometimes I bike for like 15-30 min before and I warm up for about 15-20 minutes.
I like to be nice and loose and joints pain free. Less time to train this week, so cut out some Olympic lifting volume to concentrate my legs and arms for strength lifts.

Day 1 Sunday
Power snatch+ snatch balance 3+3 8 sets @ 54 kilos and 56 kilos

Back Squat
Warm up sets……then
245 lbs x1
265 x1 lbs
275x1 lbs
285x1 lbs

work sets

225x3
245 9x3

Bench

Shoulder press
95lbs x5
100lbs x5,5,5,5,

Goodmorning, shrugs, pull ups, tri, rear delts, core

Day 2- Monday- not really into it.

Power Clean and Split Jerk
64 K x2
68k x2
73x1,2,2,2,2
Squat clean and jerk- 80x1,1. Sucked
Power Clean and J -lower back down
68 x1
73x1
75x1
78 x1 squat ish

Front Squat

185 lbs x5
205 5x3, no belt

Back Squat Lockouts, from a little above parallel
275lbs 5x4

Regular assistance stuff

Tuesday day 3

Bench
Snatch push press 135 lbs 5x5
Snatch High pull 115 lbs x5, 5
125 x 5,5,5

Deadlift
135 lbs x5
185x5
225x3, or 5?
265x1
275 x1
295x1
315x1

275x3
295 5x3--!!!! Yes!!

Behind Neck Press
95 lbs 5x5

Incline bench
Goodmorning, shrugs, rows, tri, core

Wed day 4

Back Squats
Warm up then…
225x3
245x4
265x1
275x1
285x1
290x1

then….10x3
225x3
245x3,3
250x3
255x3,3
260x3,3,3,3---yes!

Rack Squats lockuts

275 x5
295x5
315 x5,4

Shoulder Press
95x5
100x5
105x 5x5-yes!

Assistance stuff, core

Thursday-HORRIBLE life day! Fuck! So annoyed
DAY 5

Power Snatch
45 Kx 3,3, 5x5, pause below knee

Snatch High Pulls, 54 k 5x5

Bench, forgot routine, so I did
155 lbs 5x3-yes!!! No spotter

Push Press 145 lbs 5x3

Some assistance, pull ups, tri, ect

Friday Day 6
Soo tired

Power Clean + Power Jerk + Split Jerk
68 k 10 singles

Bench

Dumbbell bench press, for fun! Coordination weird! Haha

35x10
40x10
45x10
50x10

not really hard but awkward b/c I don’t do them EVER!

Deadlift!!!!

257 x2
295x1
315 x 5 singles!!
275 3x3- should have done more, but tired from WORK. I AM NOT OVERTRAINED.

Rack DL-no straps
275x3
295x3,3,3

Behind Neck Press
85 lbs 5x5

Goodmorning, shrugs, rows, tri, core, windmills

July 19-23 2010-training notes

Monday

-3 Power Snatch+ 3 Snatch Balance-10 sets @ 54 kilos. no straps. Hella Strong!! WOW!!

-Back Squat- ( in #s)
work up to a heavy single!
235 x2
245 x1
265 x1
275x1
285x1

work sets 10x3
225 3,3,3,3
245 3,3,3,3,3,3

-Behind the neck Snatch Press. 85 # 5x5
-some Stop Squats @ 165# 2 or 3 sets of 5-7 reps, dont recall...
-Good Mornings- 1 or 2 sets of 10 @ 145-155. do them every day....almost
-Bench- following Pavels Series complex, too weird to write it all. just know I bench between 135-170 five times a week to get ready for my PL meet in Sept. its a lil everyday, never going crazy
-Shrugs, rows, assistance, core
Tues

-Power Clean and Split Jerk
64 k -1, 1
70 K-2,2
73 k-1
75- 2,2,1,2---great flip over/catch! YES!

-Front Squat
185# x3
205 # x3
225 #x1
235#x1

work sets

205 # -7 sets of 3

-Front Shoulder Press
95 #x5
105# x 5,4,5,5,5

-Deadlift-goal: between 5-10 sets of 3 at 245 plus...
225# x5
245x3
265x3
275x3,3,3,3
225x5

-bench
-assistance, core etc
Wed
like a Snatch assistance day, without actually snatching since I am benching.

-Snatch Push Press
145 # 5x3

-Snatch High Pull ( below knee)
125 # 5x5

-GM
-bench
-low shoulder dumbbell complex
-3 diff types of Plyo's-def effected my leg power the next day in a BAD way! fuck that shit!
-pull ups, rows, core etc
Thurs

-Power Clean and Split Jerk
legs are zapped. boo , shitty day.

64k x2
68k x2,2,2,
73k x 1p 1 squat. damn
78k x 1 p 1 squat. damn
73k x 1p 1 squat. damn
73k x 1p 1 squat. damn.

-Back Squat
225# 5x5, no belt. sooo tired! so no heavy single!

-Front Shoulder Press
95 x5
105x3
115x2,2
120 x1, 1
110 x 3,3,3

shrugs,
Good Morning 80 kilos 2x10 easy.
assistance a bit
Friday

-Power Snatch
45 Kilos x3
55 x1 power 1 squat
55 x1 power 1 squat

start squatting under....
60x1
64- 10 singles

-Snatch Push Press
135 # x5
145 # x3,5,5
155 x2
165-miss
155x2
145 x 4,5,5

Conventional Deadlift-no straps
work up to heavy single....
....275x1
295 x1
305x1
315x1
325x1
315x1

work sets...
275 x3
255 x3
295 x2,3,2

Rack Lockouts at 315 straps about 5 sets at 3-5 reps

Bench- 170 for heavy single at end of workout. raw PR.

Hella Assistance.....

I do more assistance than normal WL people. I feel that it keeps me healthy and able to train harder and long without getting hurt. This doesn't even look like that much stuff....damn gym people talking to me and Zapping my precious training time! LOL!

Gold's Gym Slide Show

2010-07-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

only kinda joking....

Check out some pics of me and other people from Golds gym, where I am mainly training at now. I will have some more pics in a bit, of Plyo's, bench, and some upper body. Jerry took pics of me while I was finishing my workout.

http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/blogs/jerryfredrick/?p=121

CA State Games + Training "Partners"

2010-07-12T15:08:00.000-07:00

I did the California State Games this past weekend. I actually had the best meet I have ever had! I made all my attempts and felt really strong, even though it was at 9 am in the morning! I am very happy. I wish I could have lifted more weight, but I really can't complain at all. JUST HAVE TO GET STRONGER and work on the weak points I see and feel.

I have been soo frustrated with Snatching lately that I just wanted to get this meet over with and do a training cycle where I concentrate on powerlifting, and get to bench and deadlift. I have been planning this. It is not a spur of the moment decision. Even though you know I can't not snatch! but it will be nice not to have it stress me out. Damn my long arms and mushy elbows! lol.

I have been snatching the same weight for years and have been trying to snatch 70 kilos in competition for about 1.5 years. I have been coaching myself for the past 6-3 months, based on what I have learned from my past coaches, and have also had a bunch of personal issues, or rather changes for the better! I have a whole bunch of awesome people in my life right now. I feel like I can finally get on with my life.

I love training alone and have never had a training "partner." I don't want someone to follow me (or I follow them) around and lift the same sets and reps and weights and whatnot. blah blah blah. I want to go at my own crazy ass pace and/or chill pace and take my rest periods how I want. I do, however, really like lifting with a "team" especially a team that has the same attitude that I do. They don't even have to do the same sport. I really liked working out at the same time as the UCLA Throwers! hell yeah! or even the ucla football team, because when you see people lift more weight than you, you (or I) want to train harder and faster and longer. I love training at Gold's gym! I can do whatever crazy thing I want and no one gives a shit because 80% of the people are outta their freaking minds! Lifting with pro bodybuilders and fitness models make me love Strength Sports even more! but we both are sorta outta our minds and so we all get along. =)

But when I think about it, many, many people have had an influence on me and I have lifted with some pretty amazing people. It is pretty amazing that I can call International Level Athletes from other countries my friends. Thanks to UCLA Athletics. I have so many resources and friends that I can turn to for Weightlifting help, advice and support and that really gives me confidence and makes me feel like everything will turn out OK.

What I love most about Powerlifting and Weightlifting is that while you are competing against others, it really is an individual sport and you can really only lift what you can lift. Even if you "Want It", if you are not strong enough or fast enough or most likely SKILLED enough, you won't "get it." If your competition makes lift and beats you, you still cheer and are happy for them because you know how hard it is to improve and whatnot.

a fire in my heart.

2010-07-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

When you are pursuing a hobby, sport, or whatever and love it with your whole heart and soul, you can't live and pursue it by other people's or the general norm's "rules".
Even though my passion is weightlifting and strength training to be the absolute strongest girl (er, woman, now I guess) I can be, while still being in shape and not fat, this applies to any passion one has. I know a few people that go their own way and make their own rules and stay true to them no matter what other people say. And they inspire me. I am lucky enough to know quite a few badass chicks (and dudes and family!) and see them quite frequently in the gym, or outside the gym. Unmotivated people will always be jealous of those with drive, motivation and a fire in their heart and will say things to put the other person down or make them seem "crazy", or "obsessed." Whatever.

Like crabs in a bucket that try to keep the leaders of the pack from escaping, the passionless people will try to bring others down with them with their backhanded compliments, obnoxious questions, and just plain rudeness. Similar to people that have drinking or drug problems and try to pressure others to join them in their destructive behavior.

When you finally find and discover the activity that you love so much it makes your heart hurt if it is taken away from you, and you would make any sacrifice to have in your life, then you have found your motivation to always work hard and give everything you got. its not even a question.

My brother Greg loves Jiu-Jitsu and drives to Davis every sunday to train with a certain group of people, even though he lives about 2 hours away. He has taken his time to get his second degree black belt, testing soon, to make sure that he knows and is completely competent in all the techniques and whatnot because he really respects the art and being able to teach it to others.

My mom is virtually unstoppable! She stopped working for 20 ( ! ) years to raise my two brothers and I, then went BACK to school after 20 years, got a new Masters Degree and fought hard to get an awesome job at the FDA. Now she goes to work everyday for a job she loves, keeps getting more and more responsibilities because she is so amazing, and travels all over the world; like England, for work and for fun; like Lebanon and around the USA all the time. Now...if I could only get her to workout....=)

I did quite a few things before I found lifting and when I found lifting I felt like a door had been opened and that I could FINALLY BE ME! I finally felt like I had come home. It was amazing. I do not understand why some people need "motivation" to work hard, train hard, and give 100% for each and every lift. I TRAIN EVERY DAY LIKE ITS MY LAST. Because it very well could be. If I get hit by a car or whatever, I want to die knowing that I left all I had on the platform, or in the squat rack. To me it is Obvious. I love to work hard at what I love and the thought of quitting half way though or half assing it is incomprehensible to me. Its disgusting to me. If you need to have all this outside motivation, then QUIT, stop complaining, and find something that DRIVES you!

Don't ever let anyone take away your passion, drive, or self-confidence. If they do and try to stop you or make you feel "guilty" or "shameful" for trying to pursue what you love, then screw 'em. They aren't your real friends and they don't really give a shit about you. And if you can't give the same respect to others then you are a selfish friend, girl/boyfriend, husband, wife, family member.

Mangaia Cook Islands

Today there is Solar Eclipse as well...nice! This is a live image from the Mangaia Cook Islands. It will also be very visible over EASTER ISLAND, which I am sort of obsessed with and want to visit!

Pauline Nordin's Butt Bible E-Book

2010-06-06T23:02:00.000-07:00

Pauline Nordin’s latest e-book, “The Butt Bible” provides the reader with a wide range of glute exercises and butt-training routines. She includes a number of different programs with varying levels of intensity from the absolute beginner to short-on-time programs to more advanced routines. All of the exercises are well explained and simple to execute with clear images that demonstrate the proper form. Pauline knows what she’s talking about. She is a walking, talking example of her own techniques and truly practices what she preaches. I often train at the same gym as her (Gold’s Gym in Venice California) and I see her first hand incorporating many of the “Butt Bible” exercises into her own routines on a daily basis.

Regardless of your sport or goal, a strong posterior chain is an absolute necessity. This is built by hardcore, old-school exercises like Squats, Deadlifts and Lunges. All of these exercises build a strong foundation from which a strong, beautiful, functional body can be crafted. Pauline really drives home the importance of these fundamental exercises and teaches the reader/trainer not only how to properly apply these exercise but also how to work through sticking points and problem areas. Some of my favorites are the Hip Mobility exercises that Pauline outlines to help increase the depth of your squats and the flexibility of your hips. There is a huge difference in glute activation between full and partial squats, yet many people have a problem with this basic aspect of the exercise. It’s well thought out details like that which really make this e-book invaluable. The best part is, these exercises and tips are useful to everyone! From hardcore athletes to fitness competitors and models to the everyday gym member with aspirations of having an amazing backside.

Pauline also has a number of other e-books that can help round out your butt training with proper cardio and nutrition. “Cardio: Fighter Diet Style“, “Fighter Diet” and “Fighter Diet Extreme” or even her “Guide to Nutrition” are all great additions. As a competitive Weightlifter, Powerlifter, and Personal Trainer, I highly recommend this e-book and encourage anyone who wants a stronger, healthier and sexier backside to put it on the top of his or her need-to-read list!

Order it at her website

www.fighterdiet.com

Have some respect!

2010-05-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

In the lifting, gym world there are a lot of unspoken etiquette rules that, unless you are serious lifter or athlete, you are probably unaware of. In fact, I can tell how experienced a lifter one is by the respect they show others. In Powerlifting and Weightlifting we are lifting and hoisting serious weight over our heads/ supporting it on our backs. Squats, deadlifts, bench press, snatching and clean and jerking are hardcore lifting because of the element of danger and explosive power involved. It commands respect. This is not machine bullshit, burn out sets. When someone squats big weight everyone watches. When someone jerks more than their body weight overhead, you watch, because intuitively you know its badass.

Very Badass Indeed.
Here are some Rules when it com to Weightlifting and Powerlfiting:

1) The Area around the platform or Squat Rack should be uncluttered and free of random plates and barbells or people exercising close by. There should be enough space for the lifter to miss a weight and jump out of the way without running into anything.

aww man not again!

2) Respect the pre lift prep: Before the athlete preforms the lift, even if it is a light warm up weight, DO NOT TALK TO THEM. Respect the visualization process. Before we lift athletes visualize the attempt and I personally imagine myself with the weight locked out and my standing up, I close my eyes and steady my breathing. We get into our calm arousal state. When someone talks it breaks this concentration. It is very disruptive and disturbing and shows a HUGE lack of respect.

There have been MANY MANY times where I am about to perform a lift and someone says something stupid or starts talking or asking me questions or just says "hi". It defiantly breaks my concentration. So I usually ignore people and sit kinda hidden. Even in a D1 University setting, some coaches violate this rule and post up in your face to chat (I swear, but I am not going to name names.) Some people who claim to be have been great lifters even talk to me WHILE I am lifting, and not even about lifting! its very very rude. Before a lifter goes, NO ONE SHOULD TALK. You can give encouragement, then shut the hell up.

The awesome Kara Bohigian Smith. her blog is www.karasblog.com

My friend Emilio
3) Stupid Questions: If someone is seriously training, it is not a PERSONAL INVITATION FOR CONVERSATION. Do not ask "How much weight is that?", "wow you look great, nice butt! "What are you doing?" "Wow that is cool, can you show me?".
In fact, don't even compliment lifter. They don't care about getting compliments. They care about lifting big weights, not your approval.

4) Don't Stare or Hover, or try stump us on Old School Trivia: Please do not stare and hover around the squat rack or platform. We do not want to talk to you. We are training. Talking is for later. And Yes, I know more about lifting history than you. I know who Doug Hepburn was, I know what the "bent press" is, and I know what IronMind is and sells, and what a MonoLift is.

Doug Hepburn Squatting a hell of a lot of weight

5) Taking over our space for Curls, etc: Nothing quirks serious lifters more than jackass's doing Biceps Curls in the Squat Rack. It is NEVER ok to take up a squat rack to do curls, unless you are Dorian Yates or Jay Culter, then its ok. Because they are awesome.

Not Ok, Bro!

6) Get outta my face: Do not stand on front or on the side of a lifter before they execute. Stay out of the line of vision. Nothing is more distracting that starting at someone's ugly mug while jumping under weight. Do not walk by. Do not sit and watch. This is not a "show."

7) Powerlifting IS NOT Weightlifting. I don't know why people get this confused soo much. Powerlifting is the BACK SQUAT, BENCH PRESS and DEADLIFT. Weightlifting is the SNATCH, and CLEAN AND JERK. They are DIFFERENT SPORTS.

8) Respect your training equipment. We take care of our equipment because it is expensive and shows our respect to the sport. Clean up your area and unrack your weights and put them away. Wipe down the platform or machine and wipe up the chalk spills.

9) The "deadlift platform" is not the "weightlifting platform." The dead "platform" is ON THE FLOOR, ANYWHERE!!!, not on the wooden platforms! When Metal plates hit the wood, it breaks the wood apart and destroys the platform. So don't deadlift on wooden platforms.

Just had to get that off my chest and hopefully you have learned a few things on how to be a better more respectful gym rat.

FIND A WAY!

2010-04-06T00:13:00.000-07:00

Coach Doc Kreis, former UCLA head strength and conditioning coach/entrepreneur extraordinaire/all around inspirational human being would say the most confusing and awesome quotes. You really had to THINK about what he meant through his thick southern drawl. I will share some as time goes on but one that fits for me right now is FIND A WAY!.

I just got my new female Weightlifting bar in the mail from Exertools.com, and now it is ON!!! I take it to the gym with me now and do not leave it there, as my other one got stolen from the gym. SO I look like a complete weirdo, psychopath, for brining my own bar, but it is soo awesome and feels soo good in my hands that I don't care. Yes, I am on a different level than normal people. All Athletes are and have to be.
I had a great workout friday with my new bar, snatching 65 kilos for 6 singles and clean and jerking 85 for 6 singles better than I had the entire week, as well as hitting a great 90 kg clean and 92 kg, at the end of an intense OL week, where I snatched 65 and clean and jerked 85 almost daily. I changed my set up a bit so it is more dynamic and I can lock in my torso a bit more.

So most people would just give up and quit, but I think Strength Athletes in general are a little nuts and we find a way to make our situations work. Weightlifting is a hard sport to do in the USA because of the lack of adequate training centers, but we still find a way and ban together and help each other out. We create our own gyms and drive crazy distances to train at WL gyms and we are all "one step" removed from each other.

SO here is my favorite video of the Doc...Thats Tendons and Ligaments! yes, he is that inspiring ALL THE TIME!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=804cl9OHfbU&NR=1

The Sounds of Weightlifting

2010-03-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

Remember in THE BIG LEBOWSKI, when The Dude is chilling in his
Valley Apt, drinking a White Russian, and listening to Sound of
BOWLING on his walkman?

I do, because this particular scene
shows the importance that SOUND plays in the visualization of
sports. The Dude, as simple and trashy as he was- which is why
he is so awesome- was defiantly on to something!
Sound plays a big part of Mental Visualization, which is a huge
part of training and competition preparation.
Close your eyes and visualize anything you like sport wise.
Do you HEAR the sound that it makes in your head
as the movement plays out?
This applies to all sports and music and basically anything
that is a skill.

Recently at the gym a few people have come up to me and made
comments about the SOUND that snatching and clean and jerking
make. In a huge gym blasting music and lame conversation,
the sound of weightlifting still draws attention and sticks out.
Here are two examples of two extremes:
1) an obviously ignorant person asked me
"why do you have to jump so much when you lift?"
"why do you have to make so much noise?"
I'm not even gonna bother answering that ridiculous question.
and
2) Former World champion weightlifter and Jr. World Record Holder
and current Pro bodybuilder, Silvo Samuel told me that when
he hears the sound of Weightlifting he get excited or happy and looks
around to see who is lifting. When he hears the sound something
instinctual goes off and the love of the sport that once comprised
his entire life comes through immediately. Sometimes he gives me
advice and I try to learn as many tips and tricks from him as
possible. He said he is 'always watching and observing.'
Nothing is more impressive than seeing a HUGE bodybuilder
effortlessly drop into a
squat snatch and NOT use his muscles to lift the weight but use
his MOVEMENT. One of the things he says that I really like is to
"make the bar fly, like an airplane slowing gaining speed,
make it fly, effortlessly."

Last night I went to see my friend's band play and someone was
talking to me and of course I have to mention that I do weightlifting
and he starts talking about what SOUNDS I make when I lift and
proceeds to make a bunch of weird grunting and yelling noises.
I had to laugh and this made me think about the sound of weightlifting
as well, which had already been on my mind.
Anyways those to just two of the many comments I receive on the
sound that weightlifting makes.

First some background info:
If you don't know, usually and ideally, the olympic lifts are performed
on a Platform, a wooden surface with rubber along the sides to cushion
the plates on the bar when you drop the bar after a lift.

this is a platform and bumper plates

The plates we use are called Bumper Plates and are rubber plates
so what we can drop the bar after a lift , or a miss a lift without
hurting ourselves, the bar, the weights or the platform.
You have to be able to MISS a lift and not be scared of hurting
yourself to fully commit to the attempt. That is why using metal
plates will not work for weightlifting training. Dropping Metal
plates on a wooden platform severely damages and breaks the
wood. Whenever I see someone trying to do Olympic Lifting at
Gold's Gym on the falling apart platform they have, where I keep
some bumpers with my friends, I always volunteer that they can use
my plates to save the platform. All bumper plates are the same size,
as the big 45 lb plate, but come in 5 different sizes. 5 kg, 10 kg, 15 kg,
20 kg, and 25 kg. This is because to create muscle memory and
proper mechanics you needs to have the same distance from the
floor every time. Muscle memory is the training of hands, feet or
any muscle to repeat an action consistently without having to think.

Weightlifting Shoes-Get Some!

The shoes we wear have a wooden sole and a heel so that it is easier
to squat solidly and let the knees go forward. The sound of wood
hitting wood is what creates the lovely sounds of weightlifting.
BAM!!!
The sound of dropping weights is quite nice as well.
People do not realize how heavythe bar is
until they hear the heavy THUD it makes when you drop it.
It is like"WOW I am really overcoming Gravity!" One works so
so hard to get strong and have good form to lift a little bit more
weight and gravity ALWAYS takes it away from you so fast and easily.
Charlie says that he can HEAR if my lift was good or bad, from the
sound my feet make in reference to sound of the plates spinning
around the bar and what not. Its pretty crazy.

here's a recent video of me so you can hear what I am talking about. these were my better lifts, unfortunately! =)

Here is a video of the Training Hall from the 1996
Olympic Games in Atlanta GA.
You can hear all the sounds
that weightlifting makes! Pretty Awesome!

Also here is an article on Bowling and the sounds
of bowling, relating to music and what not.
Its really interesting.

The search for the perfect sport for me

2010-03-26T01:35:00.000-07:00

I wrote this for school in 2005. I though I would share it because people always ask me how I got interested in lifting.

The search for the perfect sport for me

I was always quite active growing up. One of my first experiences with physical activity was climbing trees in my backyard and going across money bars. There was a great park and playground right by my house and I would go there all the time. I would also ride bikes and roller blade all the time. My friends and I (my neighbors, all boys) would have races around the tennis courts and around the blocks. I was pretty good and fast and had good balance, I rarely fell.

When I was in kindergarten I took ballet and loved it, I loved the outfits and the movements. But I quit before I was suppose to move on to toe shoes because I was scared of the new teacher. I wish my parents made me continue because if they made me I would have, because I secretly wanted to. When I was in elementary school I did Softball for three seasons. It was fun, but I didn’t like being part of team because I don’t like depending on people and the coaches did a half assed job teaching us and basically just favored the better players.

In Middle School I liked P.E. class and loved doing the crunches and push ups etc, that everyone hated, and I would do them at night as well. In high school I liked PE class still but assumed that I would never be an athlete. My family is not very athletic so I was never exposed to it. In high school I would do exercises in my room that I read about in teenage girl magazines, like lunges, push ups, sit ups etc with 10 lb dumbbells, then 15 lbs. I would do my exercises every night and liked the way it made my body look compared to my friends. While my friends complained of flabby triceps, I just shrugged. Mine were great. My best friend and I played “powder puff” football, but that wasn’t very fun for a number of reasons. The guys “coaching” us just flirted with the popular girls and we just jogged and tossed the ball around a bit. I learned nothing. It solidified the fact that I would never be an athlete. I really wanted to join a gym, but I was intimidated by all the machines and of people criticizing my technique. I felt like I would get laughed at and was very self conscious.

In Junior College I took physical education classes like yoga, jogging and FINALLY weight training! I felt like I was in heaven. I was the first one there and last one to leave. I expanded my routine from what I was doing in my room in high school and was getting stronger and in better shape. But I had no idea about progressions and training plans. But I never thought I could be an athlete because I would need a sport to compete in and I had no access to sports that suited me and my personality. My boyfriend was very much into working out and I was too intimated to tell him that I too loved working out because I didn’t want him to think I was copying him so he would like me. He took me to the gym at Stanford where he was a student and at Granada High, where his father was a track coach. I pretended I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t feel sure of myself. But we started working out together more and he showed me squats and dead lifts. Some of his friends did Powerlifting and my boyfriend started training for that, basically narrowing down the lifts to bench, squat and dead lift plus assistance to those. Even though I wasn’t lifting that much right way I started training for Powerlifting too. It turns out I have a natural ability for weightlifting. My boyfriend and I would go to Stanford on the weekends and train with his friends who had formed a Weightlifting Team. It was great to have smart people to train with. My boyfriend likes to tell the story of the first time he showed me how to Deadlift. The bar had 135 lbs on it and he said ‘do as many reps as you can’, then went to do his set of squats. When he turned about I was still going. I think I did about 10 or 15 reps. He was shocked.

I was so nervous before my first competition. I think I didn’t want to play sports before because I am shy and don’t like attention drawn to myself. I did okay and qualified for Nationals. I did another meet and got the state records for my age and weight class. I later got the Jr. American deadlift record of 375 lbs. I won Jr. Nationals in my weight class 2 years in a row and placed 5^th overall in my weight class. (I would have gotten 3’s if I made my last deadlift attempt of 400 lbs). I pulled 400 in the gym though. I used gear at this time as well because that is how I was competitive. I was one of the alternates for the world team, but of course did not go. I had been thinking about switching to Olympics Weightlifting for a while. Many people said I would be good at it because I am fairly flexible. I wanted to pull 400 lbs officially first and try for the squat record as well before I switched over.

After nationals in 2005 I started olympic lifting with my boyfriend coaching me.

So I have been training the olympics lifts for the past year at the UCLA athlete’s gym. It is such an awesome and inspiring environment. I am doing well, though there are ALWAYS things to work and improve on. I am looking forward to doing a few meets in the spring and qualifying for Nationals in August. I think that weightlifting just might be the perfect sport for me. I know now that I AM an athlete and a good one, and it was just a matter of finding the right sport for me.

This was the meet I got my American Record and took a pee test with the amazing Pricilla Ribic. It was AMAZING watching such a high caliber (female) lifter in person! For people that say powerlifters squat high, you need to watch a video of this lady squat!!

Written in 2005 by Christina Henesian-Stocking

"Hello, is Mr. Maxoutopoulis there?"

2010-03-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

Last week as I was putting together mailers for our Athletic Development Seminar in the Bay Area I came across this last name:
Maxoutopoulis

Perhaps the coolest last name ever!!!

The Trap of Tomorrow and Success

2010-03-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

How many times have you heard yourself say "I will be successful when .....?? and come up with a bunch of accomplishments that you must hit before you can be happy with yourself?? This happens all the time. In life we subconsiously think things like I will be happy when I am in a relationship, I will be happy when I am married, I will be happy when I have a baby, I will be happy when I make X amount of money per hour/day/week/month/year. We are putting off happiness for a future date.

I know in my own weightlifting endeavors I have put accomplishments that I had to fulfill before I could call myself a weightlifter or an athlete or a coach or even a happy, worthwhile person. I built my own glass celling and it was the bulletproof kind that never breaks. I really enjoy working out hard and training like a freaking maniac because I love weightlifting and strength training. Honestly, there is no place I would rather be than at the gym (the more hardcore, the better, req are dirt and chalk and bumper plates). It is never a question in my mind of "oh well I am tired and stressed out, I can skip today." NO WAY. To me that equals Death. That is NEVER an option. (my car got hit and I reported it after my workout. During my training I actually forgot about my car. My weightlifting bar got stolen, I still did my back squats. I was sick as hell over christmas one year and snatched 2 times a day for a week and eventfully snatched 55 kilos for 5x5, when I could only for do it for 1 or 2 reps at the time. So don't give me lame excuses like " I am tired, or it is raining, or my car wont start. FIND A WAY) Skip a set or a rep? I would rather shave my head, or give up splenda. The only time I change up my training plan is if my coach/husband tells me to, or I am in actual pain where I cry. I tell my coach EVERYTHING and he makes the call.

SoI found it rather strange that I even though I am devoting my life to strength and power that I put such limits on myself in terms of when I am actually able to call myself successful. I was WAITING to be happy with myself based on my weightlifting total and that is just silly! Do you LOVE what you do? Do you always want to learn more and improve in every way possible? Will you be back at the gym tomorrow? YES.

I was thinking that to be successful I have to 1) hit a PR or match my current PR in whatever exercise I was doing , snatch and clean and jerk wise (for example, I can hang power snatch 60 kilos, if I an doing hang powers and do not hit 60 , then I am failure for that day), But for Strength movements like squats and pulls and presses, I do not have this requirement b/c from my Powerlifting experience, I know it to be completely detrimental to success. I have seen people max out their back squat every session and get 100 lbs weaker in a short period of time.

So I have come up with a new definition of success, not based on totals, or numbers, or winning, or the olympics or any sort of competition where what YOU do has no influence on what OTHERS do.

It is that I am successful when I devote myself to being the best weightlifter and athlete I can be and training as hard and smart as I can. When I give 100 % of my soul and effort to each lift. Everyday that I get the opportunity to train and be in a gym where I am able to snatch, clean, jerk and squat, is a good day and I count my blessings that I have so many resources and good friends that help me with my lifting endeavors.

That is being successful. Not waiting till I am better than the person standing next to me because we are all on a unique path designed just for us.

"I want to lift HellaBytes"

2010-03-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

If you know me at all, you know that I say Hella every 5 seconds, especially when excited or enthusiastic. Well now Hella will hopefully become a scientific term to mean 10 to the 27th power. This is very awesome. I am hella stoked.

"1,000 yottabytes? That's hellabytes."

So proclaims a T-shirt sold by the campaign to make "hella" the prefix for 10^27, an extremely large number written out as a 1 followed by 27 zeroes.

Apparently, there is not yet a standard prefix for this number, in the way that "kilo" is "thousand" and "mega" is "million." That's how you know that a "kilobyte" is 1,000 bytes and a "megabyte" is 1,000,000 bytes. But so far only prefixes for units up to 10^24 ("yotta") have names, according to the International System of Units (SI). Here are the established prefixes.

Now comes a Facebook page (with more than 37,000 fans and counting), and an online petition to get "hella," a hip, Northern California slang term that means "a whole lot of" as a standard prefix for 10^27.

Here's an excerpt from the Facebook page, written by physics student Austin Sendek at the University of California, Davis:

"Addressing this issue presents an exciting opportunity. Since the SI system has traditionally adopted the last names of accomplished scientists for unit nomenclature, it follows that prefix designation should do the same. From this tradition comes the chance for the SI system to use nomenclature to honor a constantly overlooked scientific contributor: Northern California."

According to Sendek, since Northern California institutions have contributed greatly to scientific endeavors, it makes sense to honor the region with "hella." Apparently, that's where people originally started saying things like, "there are hella stars out tonight."

Speaking of stars, the word "hella" would be useful to describe the sun's energy, which is 4 x 10^27 watts according to NASA. That would be 4 hellawatts according to the proposal.

What do you think about bringing "hella" into scientific standard practice?

Written By: Elizabeth Landau -- CNN.com Writer/Producer

MotorBrands USA February Ride of the Month

2010-03-02T23:20:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to announce the MY car, my 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, was voted Ride of the Month at Motorbrandsusa.com!!!
I am very grateful to all my friends and family who put in a vote! Thank you!

What is Good?

2010-02-19T01:44:00.000-08:00

What is good?
All that heightens the feeling of power in man, the will to power, power itself.

What is bad?
All that is born of weakness.

What is happiness?
The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Athletic Development and Strength Training Fundamentals Seminars.

2010-02-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that we putting on three, two day Athletic Development and Strength Training Fundamentals seminars.

The dates are April 10&11, May 15&16, and June 26&27.

Through our own personal training in addition to working with countless Collegiate, Professional and Olympic athletes, including gold and silver medalists in the Beijing Olympics, Charles and I have acquired a strong body of knowledge and experience in what it takes to truly excel in the athletic world. We now wish to give back to the Athletic community of Livermore and help high school athletes of the tri-valley area to reach their true athletic potential.

We want to educate high school athletes and coaches on how professional athletes train and what it takes to develop a truly elite level of athleticism.

Through our seminar, athletes and coaches will learn:

·       The best exercises for preventing
   hamstring pulls and ELIMINATING
   Knee Pain!

· How to increase your bench press
with one simple trick,

·       How to add inches to your vertical
   and broad jump, by releasing your
   body’s natural “breaks.”

·       How to organize your workout
   for balanced muscular
   development and permanently
   eliminate overuse injuries.

·       How to increase your bench, push ups,
   pull-ups etc, with a simple and
   foolproof progressions.

· Two simple exercises that STOP Back Pain.

MM Crossfit in Livermore CA is the Location

313 Wright Brothers Ave, Livermore, CA 94550

www.mmcrossfit.com

Click to view some testimonials

Print this out and mail to address listed on form with check or money order. We can't wait to meet you!