r/powerlifting • u/FrkElverum Marte Elverum • Jan 15 '16
AmA Closed I am Marte Elverum. Ask me anything!
Hey guys!
So this is my first AMA and very first post on reddit. I am a Norwegian Powerlifter competing in the IPF. I am mainly an equipped lifter, but I do a raw meet every once in a while. I believe I already have been introduced, so lets get started. I'll be in and out all day. :-)
AMA!
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Jan 16 '16
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Advice on improving the deadlift please? I pull sumo around once a week and my max is only 145kg at 78.3. Pls. Desperate for help.
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Favorite song to max out to?
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Door knobs or door handles?
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Favorite hobbies outside lifting?
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Pancakes or waffles?
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u/FrkElverum Jan 16 '16
Make sure your form is good! And get a program so you have a plan of progression. Make sure you think long term and don't go heavy too often!
Lil' Jon - Throw it Up
Handles. Knobs are an american thing.
Drinking coffee and eating food.
American pancakes with bacon, blueberries and syrup!
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u/amine802 Jan 15 '16
Hey Marte!
I recently started equipped lifting, and squats and bench have been going great so far. However, the huge overload on squats combined with a core that's not very strong has left me feeling pretty bad every time I try to deadlift. Extra core work has helped tremendously, but I'm sill trying to get my deadlift to where it was. Knowing all that, I have 2 questions for you:
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What kind of core work do you do and/or think works very well to help with bracing on squats and deadlifts?
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I think I saw somewhere earlier that switching to sumo helped your back pain. Did switching to Sumo help you squat and deadlift with a lot less pain because of a weakness in your core or because of something else?
Also, it might be a few years, but I hope to meet you at worlds someday!
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
I do lots of different exercises to train core. Planks with and without weighs, bosuball pike-out rolls, ab-roll and different stuff in the red cord. Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yim2BWA9aU.
Both weakness in core and because of a diagnosis called spondylolisthesis. Working on my core has really improved the situation and I feel like I have it under control now as long as I keep up the work on core and stretching. Now I don't have much back pain because I know what to do and when I need to take action and go get some treatment.
Hope to see you at Worlds someday, be sure to say hi! :)
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u/SnaKiZe Jan 15 '16
Which school(s) of thought do you usually utilize in your programming/workouts?
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u/tkinneyv Jan 15 '16
I met Marte at IPF Junior world's back in 2013. Super nice person. Didn't talk to her more than once or twice but she seemed down to Earth. I follow her on Facebook and she always amazes. Watching a girl deadlift 450lbs+ for reps is always impressive.
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Jan 15 '16
Wow! Thanks for sharing! I definitely started following you on Instagram haha.... you are very inspirational!
I do not think anyone else asked this (but maybe I missed it): what got you into powerlifting in the first place?
Also, do you train anything in addition to powerlifting?
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Thank you!! :)
I started powerlifting because I was doing martial arts and I felt really weak going against the guys. So I said I wanted to get stronger and people said I needed to squat, bench and deadlift. So I did. I didn't really know that it was a sport when I started :P
I do some running and swimming in addition to lifting.
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u/Jaxper Jan 15 '16
Throwing you a curveball here and asking something not powerlifting related:
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If you could live in a fantasy world, such as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, what one would you choose and why?
Now the PL question:
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Since you can't share your training program per your contract, what training programs did you follow before starting with Dietmar/your contract?
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Narnia!! I've always wanted a lion and me and Asland would be best friends <3
I trained the Philippi program for deadlift once, which was super hard but very effective. I moved my deadlift from 135kgs to 155kgs at 18 years old. Before I made the national team I pretty much trained programs developed by Dietmar but adjusted by another coach. Started squatting and benching 4-6 times a week already in 2010.
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u/madeofstars Jan 15 '16
Firstly, you are so badass and I look up to you so much! You are truly an inspiration to women everywhere.
My awkward question is related to being a woman, and feel free to ignore if it is too personal.
How does being on your period affect your lifting, if at all? Do you or have you ever competed during this time? How do you manage this?
I always have trouble at the gym during my period (feel tired and weak, miss easy lifts) and would love to compete this year. I am nervous that I would get my period the week of the meet and 1. not make weight because of bloating and 2. Miss my lifts because I generally feel weaker during my period. Would love some input! I have considered just taking continuous birth control to prevent it but I have never tried this method before.
Again, I love watching you lift! Keep being awesome and good luck with your career!
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Thank you, madeofstars!!
Well, that was actually a big problem for me for a while. Because of health issues I couldn't take normal birth control that would let me control my period. I often got my period on important meets that fucked it up! So I went to the doctor and now I get birth control injected so I basically never have my period. Effing awesome!
SOrry for the gross girltalk.
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Jan 15 '16
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Hey!
Well, one of the negative (and positive sort of) aspects of equipped lifting is that you need help. I would like to advise you to contact your closets club and ask them for assistance. You could train there every third week or so if you really want to get into equipped lifting. And you still can train with wraps alone I guess :)
It was pretty coincidental actually. I was active in a Norwegian forum (traningsforum.no) and I wrote that I wanted to get stronger because I felt so weak training martial arts with only guys. So I was invited to try out KK-67 and I've been there ever since!
It has helped me to be more organized, set long time goals and work consistently towards a goal - both in life, school and lifting.
Over the years I have been able to identify dangerous pain and just pain from gear, lifting, wraps or whatever. If I am feeling pain I think is dangerous, that is if I think I am about to be injured I step down (if in training). But if its just "normal" pain I just use it to easier get pshyced up. If the pain isn't dangerous there is no reason to get stressed out about it or pay much attention to it.
Thank you! Maybe I'll see you at a meet someday! Make sure to say hi! :)
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Jan 15 '16
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
I am still struggling, hehe. But training a lot of exercises that make you stay more upright ig very good. Wall-squats, pin squats, slow squats, bulgarian split squats to strengthen your quads. Good luck! Still working on mine!
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u/vikingmechanic Jan 15 '16
What is your favourite brewing method and why is it the Hario V60?
Also favourite r/powerlifting moderator?
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Haha, my favorite is the aeropress! ;) And well, of course my favorite is my fellow Viking!
I'll go squat, bench and deadlift some now and get back to you guys after training!
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u/Arve Jan 15 '16
So. #DeathByDietmar. I can understand the rationale for overhead work and wall squats to overcome pancaking.
But why does he have you and others on the team do Bosu ball squats?
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
It is for variation and stabilization, but I'm not sure about its effects :P
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u/jarude87 Jan 15 '16
Firstly: congrats on all you've accomplished! I keep nudging my fiance towards powerlifting-style stuff but she always shies away from it - I think I will show her your IG.
Secondly: I visited Norway as a part of Canada's Ceremonial Guard in 2008 and stayed with HMKG in their base just outside of Oslo. Their drill team is completely INSANE. Great place and I wish I could go back. Did you participate in national service, and, if so, what did you think of it? Did it help you with your mental edge/training/anything?
Thirdly: How important is training culture to you? Like, the gym you belong to, the friends you keep, your lifting crew, the books you read, what you listen to, how you set your life + lifting goals, your personal beliefs/attitude... basically any practice outside programming + diet. I'm guessing it's quite important - would you mind elaborating on anything that you've found that's really enriched your training and life in general?
Thanks!
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u/FrkElverum Jan 15 '16
Thanks! Get her into powerlifting! :D
Unfortunately I didn't go into the military, I really regret that today. I think I'd like a carrier in the military.
Well, that is a pretty big question, hehe. Traning culture is extremely important to me, I am very lucky to be in KK-67, my powerlifting club. Today when I walked down the stairs to train I heard AC/DC blasting on the speakers and when I came in I was just in time to see a very good friend of mine raw squat 2x300kgs. I mean, it is pure magic. It really sets the scene, you could say. Training everyday with people I really enjoy being around and helps me towards my goals is priceless. I would say my training environment is the most enriching aspect in my training. Well, not only in training but in my personal life as well actually. As I've mentioned, most of my friends are in powerlifting and we have a really good crew of girls that stick together in training and get together make food and have fun outside of training as well :)
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u/Krieg1349 Jan 15 '16
Where did you buy them cute pink lifting straps?
also, I have shoulder pains.
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u/dang111 Jan 16 '16
Thanks for doing this; I hope I'm not too late to the AMA! I recently started equipped lifting and I was wondering how often you train in gear. I've heard some coaches recommend only training equipped for a few weeks before a competition. Other people seem to train at least one lift equipped every week. How often do you typically train in the suit or shirt?