Auteur: Iris Kensenhuis

Three weeks…..three Issues

Iris Kensenhuis

For this blog this week I’ll keep it short a

nd crispy.
Cause nobody has the time to read a long blog.
We are three weeks out for Nationals. That’s why I take the time to pinpoint 3 issues.
Let me discuss some of the issues I come across so every now and than.

1. I am sore…and walk around like a granny most of the time. I am pretty good in hiding that. #notsomuch;
2. Powerlifting unleashed the rebel in me;
3. Sometime I’d like to stop time. To enjoy some moments for a bit longer and also to prospone some of the heaviest trainings.

I am looking forward to being on the platform again. Seeing where I stand now this time around and how the equipped lifting has effected my classic performance.

Lately I received the question if I’ll transfer to only lifting equipped. The answer to that question is no. For me it’s not one style versus the other. With the best guidance from coach Wim and his help I’ll do everything that’s within my power to combine the two. And master both of them. I have a long way ahead of me.

There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. I’ll tell y’all more about that next time.
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Untill we meet again.

WHAT IF |

Iris Kensenhuis

o   1+1 was 3

o   I was a boy

o   I played the violin

o   I was part of a twin?

Well…..I can’t tell you how life would look like. Because that is not the case and my imaginition does not reach that far.

WHAT IF:

o   I was scared to get in to my brand new squatsuit

o   I was excited for every central training

o   My sister and coach where the best company I could have on a Saturday

o   Three is not a crowd and four is a party

Well….I know all bout that….so let me tell you how that looks like in this blog.

I am four weeks out of the Ducth Nationals Powerlifting Championships and four weeks in for my training. This trainingcycle is al so part of my preperation for the European Equipped Powerlifting Championships in Pilzen. Last week I received a brend new squat suit as a gift from my sponsor Titan.

Yeayyyyyyy……Titan should change their name in to TIGHTan if you ask me.
Coach suggested me to try it on (on my own) this coming week. Well I tell ya: It scared the hell out of me. I procrastinated trying the suit on for a week….and ofcourse during the last central training coach asked me how it fits. Well I told him….I can’t tell ya, cause I didn’t. He laughed at me and sad…..you know what to do.

This central training we had the privilege to be joined by some amazing company. The one and only Sandra Wildeman. Internationally known as Sandra WILDman. She’s known for being one of the females who took equipped powerlifting in the Netherlands to another level. She and coach go a long way back. Sandra has an amazing BENCHpress. I look up to her. Besides that she is also a great referee. And her sense of humor is unique just as her vivid personality. It was very nice seeing her and train with her.

The central training went good. Technique is way more complex than just moving weights around. I am in a phase were I am fine tuning stuff and working on my mobility. Al so I am learning to appreciate the fact that even after long days and stuff to do at home I’m able to focus on training and my technique helps me to push through every training. The coming weeks I’m allowed to use my equipment even more (knee sleeves and belt). So I can recover during training.

Today I am going to recover from yesterdays Central Training but even more trying to get in to my squat suit. Please don’t laugh….! Chicken dance anybody…click > here?

 

H O W . T O . S T A Y . O N . T R A C K |

Iris Kensenhuis

Week 3 is a fact. I’m getting  the hang of strolling down the city with my gymbag 3 times a week and every Saturday @wimwam’s place. Long days, medium sleep, and enough to eat. This week I’ve noticed that there are some things that drain me. Mostly because of some uninspiring and uncomfortable conversations I had this week.

I’ve told my self to stay on track by just focusing on myself and the things I want to do. Preparation and consistency do lead to succes when applied in the right way. It’s time to dust off some of these skills I possess in that department

Lately ’m keeping myself on track by;
Ø  going to bed on time
Ø  reduce the use of my  telephone (especially before bedtime)
Ø  packing my gymbag the day before
Ø  making sure I have enough food in the fridge ?
Ø  pick out my clothes the day before (that’s how I get so color coordinated)

I’ve noticed that sticking to these basic and simple things makes my life much easier. It saves me a lot of time and energy that I can use for other things. But what does this have to do with powerlifting you may ask? Well for me it means a lot. If I am slacking on some basic things it eventualy costs me energy I could have used on my performance in the gym; every set and rep. And powerlifting al so consists out of routines. I don’t even know how many squats, bench presses and deadlifts I’ve done these past 2 years.

Slacking is a forbidden word when it comes down to working out with coach Wim. He warned me at the beginning of the training that I would get to know him even more if I thought light about the (light) training.  If I get busted on doing so I’d be in for a surprise And I don’t like surprises so I rather be on my A game. And if @ilyscious does so I need to make sure I don’t follow her lead ?

Last central training went as planned. I’m getting used to wearing my suit backwards more and more. I’m excited for benchpress every training in a good way. And squats are improving too.

I can say I’m on track for now and aiming to keep doing so. Stay tuned for my powerlift adventures on this page to see If I keep doing so.

Untill we meet again

 

NEVER TOO LATE | TO THE PARTY

Iris Kensenhuis

Sunday’s are there for me to reflect on the week in general and ofcourse all my powerlift adventures are a part of that. Two weeks in to my new cycle for Nationals and I can say…..I’m still standing ?

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This week I saw different time slots in the gym. Early in the morning, during the afternoon and late nite creeping. Luckily for me the gym is open 24/7. Being the vampire that I am that’s a great outcome.

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This week I had a first time deadlift session with a new  kind of resistance. Oh Lord….that’s a whole other ballgame. Focusing on getting my back even stronger and holding the tension during my lock-out will for sure improve this lift.

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I also focused on my walk out for squats. Chest up, stand proud and trust the FORCE that’s in me. That counts for all the stuff I do.  While having a sit down with coach this week we also talked about how important it is to get enough sleep and feed of the right nutrition. Something I’ll look in to deeper this coming cycle amongst some other things, and for sure will write about this on here.

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All the upperbody accesories are contributing to my bench ?, al so pretty pleased with that. With a new BENCH SHIRT that will be my new best friend from now on.

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Another great friend of mine….my tailor…. did a great job on altering my squat and deadlift suit again. They were still too lose to coach’s opinion. And I agree with him (dont’t tell him that). Ofcourse that means I have to work even harder the coming weeks. Cause equipped lifting  is unforgiving when it comes down to cheating on your technique. Posture is KEY.

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But hey…didn’t I tell you a couple of blogs a go that I am up for a challenge? Down below you’ll see a first impression off that…..even picking up the bar needs some extra instruction. Eventualy the bar went UP, and came down.

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….Untill we meet again….

| P L A Y T I M E | IS | O V E R |

Iris Kensenhuis

Last sunday my first equipped meet took place.
I am still over the moon about my performance on that stage. I ended one chapter of my lifting carreer to start reading another one.
Coach gave me some rest so I could recover from all of this. And I used my spare time to do so.
That does not mean I didn’t see the gym at all. I went to the gym several times and focused on mobility work and light weight exercises.

Yesterday I had my first central training. It felt heavy. Heavy on my body and my mind.
If you would tell me that I moved all that weight 505,5 KG in total at the equipped meet I would tell you that it was not me but a body double. So at this point I am not that happy about myself, and my first training of the new cycle. And the real deal has yet to come. PLAYTIME is over.

I have to find the switch to turn that unhappy feeling in something positive. Because I know there is a lot to be excited for.

□ International competitions
□ The opportunity to develop myself as a more  skilled athlete,
□ Learn a lot more about lifting and myself.

With my equipped performance last week I was able to get invited to participate at the European Championship Equipped Powerlifting in Pilsen  [ Czech Republic ]. Not in in a million years I would have thought I would be doing such a thing. Knowing that powerlifting started as a joke and just for fun. And within 2 years it has became the real deal.

Just as real as the tickets that are booked to Canada where I’ll be participating at the World Championship Powerlifting in Calgary. ✔⚪⚪⚪✔. Talking about FUN stuff right.

Without having fun there is nothing to it. So that is what I am going to have from now on even now PLAYTIME IS OVER.

The new cycle is leading to Dutch Nationals that is 48 days and 14 hours away.  So buckle your seatbelt. It’s going to be a bumpy right.

 

 

 

◇ Untill we meet again ◇

I AM WHATEVER I SAY I AM

Iris Kensenhuis

And that is being equipped in powerlifting: not only setting goals but achieving them ??

10 weeks ago I decided to give equipped lifting a try. And I discovered that the difference between a wish and and a goal is: ACTION. I did not only strived to learn how to master at least a tiny bit of this style of lifting. I worked my ass of to do so and complaint just as much ?.

While writing this blog it’s saturday 14.00 o’clock in the afternoon and am waiting for Sunday ‘competitionday’ to peep its head around the corner. I AM SET on giving all I have got and more. It’s time to let my technique, strength and focus come together and work MAGIC.

By speaking it in to existence I know it will be all right. SO NO MORE FEAR ONLY the right mindset I AM ON FIRE. I got my coach there…my sister there and (gym) friends who care for me and want to see me shine.

COMPETITION DAY |And how did it actually go?

Everything I wished for and more. Eager to continue with equipped lifting. I will with the though love from coach @wimwam1 who got me this far.  It would not have been able to do this without his help and persistence.

THEY NEVER SAW  US COMING. During the day I dealt with some turbulation. Missed my weigh in. Bench did go as  aspected….I gave it my best shot. But was not able to show all I have got in my 2nd and 3rd attempt. But most off all I am uttermost satisfied. Squats went and felt great. I know what I have to work out. Especially my WALK OUT and wearing a tighter suit. Deadlifts need some extra love on my lock out and using the suit more. I lift classic in the suit and that works against me. But hey….that only means that I am getting stronger right ?✅✅

Broke the DUTCH EQUIPPED Deadlift record with a pound!!! Pretty AWESOME. . .

SQUAT 185 ✅ 195 ✅ 200 ❌
[ FOCUS ]
Bench 80   ✅ 87.5❌  87.5❌

[DETERMINATION]
Deadlift 220   ✅ 230.5✅ 238   ❌

[TECHNIQUE ]

Leave a comment if you want me to write a about a particular subject relating to my equipped journey.

◇ Untill we meet again ◇

Video of all my attempts:

I T ‘S | A L M O S T | F I N A L |

Iris Kensenhuis
The countdown…

F A I L I N G I S Y O U R B E S T M A S T E R

Iris Kensenhuis

F A I L I N G  I S  YO U R  B E S T   M A S T ER
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Eight weeks back I had no idea where I got myself in to. I think I know a lot more since then, but I am still searching fore  some overall clarity. I am learning new stuff by doing new things.  It gives me a new understanding about what I’m capable of doing. Am very gratefull for it.
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Overall I can say that some things feel good and a lot feels akward. And that akward feelling makes me somewhat insecure. It’s not a big deal…but enough of a deal for me to point it out. Knowing that it eventualy will make me embrace that feeling.  As I heard today (watching the Winter Olympics) that even the best of the best (top) atheletes have insecurities.

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This week most things I planned went as planned!
Particularly me following my training in the order I’m supposed to: 1,2,3, 4 and not 1,3,2 and 4. ?

I wouldn’t be me (silly human) if I didn’t mess something up. Ofcourse misloading plates during one of my work outs. Due to lack of my counting ability. This mistake came to bite me in the a$$ during this central training. I wasn’t able to hit all the numbers like I wanted to. Well you live and you learn right?

And F A I L I N G is a part of that. I’m learning to accept and adapt to this roalercoaster ride. Eventhough it’s difficult from time to time. But I’m learning from the best Master.

Untill we meet again..

 

 

Tick…. tick….tick…. tick ….BOOM

Iris Kensenhuis

That’s how I can describe yesterday’s training.
I tried my hardest to make this week go as smooth as possible.
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I can check the following boxes.
□ Did all work outs
□ Managed my time a lot better
□ Felt strong during the week
□ Eat and slept enough
□ Looked forward to the ‘lightweighted’ central training
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Even with all this preperation the central training got me like…..RU FREAKING KIDDING ME.
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Squats felt heavy….bench went much better….and deadlifts……..:-/.  Don’t you even get me started!
In Dutch there is a saying that goes like: those who are not strong should be smart.
Well… I can tell you that is difficult with a fried brain.
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During this training I asked myself many times….what am I doing? Why does this feels like I’m surviving. I’m glad to say that my technique  saved me through this day cause I felt like ‘UGH’. The head was out of office, and my manners took a vacation. Alll that was left was the heart to lift with.
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My sister @ilyscious was there to have my back. Every step a long the way, alongside coach. The one and only coach who made me do extra sets and reps to get the best (of that day) out of me. That is what I realise now. But at that moment it felt like he was pushing all my buttons and really got on my nerves. We are still friends but I did not like his behaviour that much! Or was it my own?
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This video shows what that looks like. I dare you to watch it (without laughing).
*3×170KG EQUIPPED SQUATS
*5×195KG EQUIPPED DEADLIFTS
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After getting my frustration out of the way, Coach was so kind to remind me of the boxes I forgot to  check:
□ Not sticking to the order of the programme
□ Forgetting that I’ve made progression
□ Being to ‘lightheaded’ about the lighttraining
□ Choosing to survive
□ Taking one step at a time
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Uhm….what did you say? Well that sets the record straight!
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When you think you know, but you have no idea.
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Untill we meet again

P E R S PE C T I V E

Iris Kensenhuis