After winning all of my lightweight strongman competitions last year. (Under 200 pounds weight class) I decided I wanted to push myself this year and move up to middle weight. (Under 231 pounds)

The athlete list that's come out for my February comp is really stacked in my new weight class. In fact, there are multiple professional athletes attending. (Aka, they get paid to be there, unlike me who's paying to compete, hint hint if you want to help me pay)

The lightweight class is almost empty. A few people I've beaten before, ready for me to win again. I would just have to fast for a day to make weight for that class and mop up with another trophy, but that wasn't the point. The point was to lose.

WHAT? TO LOSE?

Yes, I know. Usually we don't strive to lose, but I don't really see it as losing. I'm going to be going up against some of the best athletes that have blessed this world. If I can find the podium in the top 3 by chasing these studs around all day then that's saying something about my ability. That's a huge win in my books. Even if I don't place well, learning and competing with people stronger than me will only in return make me stronger.

Maybe I place at the bottom of the field, maybe with some luck (and a lot of hard work) I pop into the top 3. All I know is that I'm by far faster and stronger now at 205 pounds than I was at 195. It's going to take some time losing before I'm strong enough to win. That was the whole point. Push myself to a new level that I wouldn't have been able to obtain before.

Recent Personal Records:

A 500 pound back squat that was so easy I could have taken it for multiple reps. Believe my new personal best is probably closer to 520 pounds. Currently a 25 pound PR, possibly a lot more in there.

A 385 pound bench press. Up 20 pounds from my last personal record. I've become a bit stronger since then too and think I can finally cross the 400 pound bench mark. A long term goal of mine.

The most impressive, 265 pound strict overhead press. I know that sounds like the lightest lift, but you are considered to be a world class elite at that lift if you press 260 at 210 pounds. I pressed 265 at 205 pounds! That's by far my best lift.

Obligatory me getting chubby picture