1st Pakistan Women’s National Weightlifting Championships & War Eagle Open competitions

Posted by liftingc on Mar 24, 2013 in Blog, Competition, News & Updates | 7 comments

War Eagle Open March 23, 2013

I have not competed for about 1 year, since Korea April 2012, where I represented Pakistan in the Asian Weightlifting Championships. I also learned about today’s competition only a few days ago, so my training cycle was not programmed for this. I also decided not to compete as a 53kg. I decided to move up from a 48kg to 53kg the end of last summer 2012. My current weight is 54kg, and only having a few days to reduce my salt intake (basically dealing with my water retention issues), start better water drinking habits, deal with weight of my training clothes and the weigh in, I decided to not deal with any of it and just go suck it up and compete as a 58kg!

It has been a while in my training since I started hitting 45kg+ in the Snatch again. It has been a slow road to get my confidence back, while increasing the volume & weight of my training. I wanted to make higher weights for the Clean and Jerk as well, but God willing at the next competition.

My result: Snatch 42kg (successful – did not get this one on video), 45kg (missed), 45kg (missed) Clean and Jerk: 53kg (Successful), 56kg (press out on the jerk), 56kg (successful) Total Score: 98kg (216 lb)

The same video here on my Facebook page (for those who can not access Youtube)

Another local meet is being held at the end of April 2013 in the same city 1 hour driving distance from my house, so I hope to try again there.

Inaugural Pakistan Women’s National Weightlifting Championships March 23, 2013

In very exciting news, the Pakistan Weightlifting Federation held their first Women’s weightlifting Championships in Lahore, Pakistan! Mubarak (Congratulations) to all of the ladies who competed! I wish I could have been there in person. You might recognize the person on the wall behind the platform I couldn’t believe it when I saw, I feel extremely honored! I am happy that women have started competing there, and I hope the participation continues to grow and move forward. Keep a look out for more media from the competition and other updates in this regard.  Below are embedded pictures from the album on their Facebook page.

March 2013 Training & Competition + other news

Posted by liftingc on Mar 21, 2013 in Blog, Training, Training Videos | 2 comments

Nowruz Mobarak!  نوروز مبارك (Happy Persian New Year)

New short training video compilation (3 minutes), I decided on a Farsi songs for the background.

1. Man Amadeam من آمده ام by Googoosh گوگوش , an older song 
2. Joone Khodet (Dokhtar Irooni) by Black Cats – بلک کتس – جون خودت a newer song.

The same video on VIMEO here (in case you can’t access by Youtube) I made some errors on the labeling for the sequence of Cleans, they are 60kg (132 lbs), 61kg (134 lbs), 62kg (136 lbs) and 63kg (138.9 lbs )

Dec/Jan/Feb 2013 Training Videos & a few updates

Posted by liftingc on Feb 24, 2013 in Blog, News & Updates, Training, Training Videos | 1 comment

*For those in countries where Youtube is banned, I have the video uploaded on my Facebook page here.*

Its been almost 3 months since I put together a training video, and due to the delay, this will be a montage of clips from December 2012 till February 2013 with major editing, such as my rests in between repetitions. I am still working on technique, building confidence and as usual, fighting the demons! There are two PRs (personal records) in this video. Usual disclaimer: this is not intended to be an instructional video.

I am using only Pashto (my mother tongue) music in this video. These are the songs that appear (Lyrics and/or translations included in the Youtube video links):

1. Za Sta Pashan Na Yam (translation: I AM NOT LIKE YOU!) by Naseer & Shahab
2. Bibi Shireen by Zeek Afridi
3. Za Pukhtoon Yam (translation: I am Pukhtoon [Pashtoon]) – by Naseer & Shahab – Awesome video here on Youtube & Facebook - This is Naseer & Shahab’s Facebook fan page

November/December Training Video & Updates

Posted by liftingc on Dec 13, 2012 in Blog, News & Updates, Training, Training Videos | Comments Off

*This Video will not play on MOBILE phones, here is an alternative video link: http://youtu.be/FCPDqrddiHY
Future videos will not have this issue, as I have identified the problem with Youtube.*

I am continuing with volume training, more days a week, but less reps on each day. I have hit a few PRs, and have made some comeback PRs on my lifts. My video shows some of the PRs (personal records) I have hit, plus some other lifts I am training with.

November: A 60 Kg Power Clean was a PR (personal record), PR for Power clean from the hang position with 60kg, a comeback PR of 70kg Front Squat for 3 reps, and 3 single 60kg split jerk from the blocks. December 3: I matched my PR from over one year ago at 47kg. I attempted 49kg, I was close, but hopefully another time I make that plus more. I also hit a Muscle Snatch PR at 35KG. December 9: 105KG PR on an exercise called a lockout, Top Presses with 60kg, these are assistance, overloading exercises to help with the split jerk.

I have used a variety of music and iMovie editing functions for entertainment. Same disclaimer, I don’t do everything correctly, so don’t use this video as a learning guide. I am improving and learning, and the purpose of the video is to show my progress and have some fun! Check my blog and/or Youtube for past videos.

Ivanhoe Broadcast News
This news package was filmed this past March 2012 by Ivanhoe Broadcast News so a few of the facts are old (such as representing Pakistan).  Video embedded below (and also on their Youtube link)

State Department Eid ul Fitr reception Sept. 13, 2012, travel & the American Open 2012

Posted by liftingc on Sep 10, 2012 in Blog, News & Updates | Comments Off

Invitation to the State Department Eid ul Fitr reception Sept. 13, 2012

Article in The Friday Times (Pakistan newspaper)

MPA Event in Houston, Texas, Thursday, September 20, 2012

American Open Weightlifting Championships 2012

State Department Eid ul Fitr reception Sept. 13, 2012, Thursday evening:

I have been invited a second time to the Eid ul Fitr reception hosted by the The Secretary of State at the Department of State in Washington D.C.. Last year was the first time I was invited and I had the honor of being one of the speakers. After consulting with friends and family, I knew I had to go again this year. This time, I get to crash with my sister Shabana, who now lives in the area and works at BLH Technologies, Inc. We are planning to take Amani and Zalan (my niece and nephew) to the National Zoo. Hopefully other places if we have time, and for food, a place I have been told that is great and serves grass-fed zabihah/halal burgers:

Elevation Burgers

DROOL!

In my usual manner, I will take a lot of pictures and some video during the trip, then share them on the website and my Facebook page.

How Ramadan 2012 went & Eid Mubarak!

Posted by liftingc on Aug 19, 2012 in Blog, News & Updates | Comments Off

In Atlanta, Georgia (and other places) Eid ul Fitr is tomorrow, Sunday, August 19th, 2012. Today is the last day of Ramadan & fasting. For Eid tomorrow, we will attend the Eid salat (prayers) at the masjid and go out to eat

I wish everyone a blessed Eid Mubarak/Kareem! Please remember and pray for those who are suffering this Eid, here and in other parts of the world.

This month I was able to get some down time, not completely as it seems I always find something to do or feel the need to work on something as you can see by the contents of this blog post below:

My Academic Research

News, Press & Blogs

Saudi Women at the Olympics

My Interviews and mentions this Ramadan

My Facebook Page

Training & Coaching updates