Melanie shatters expectations; deadlifts 180

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--In what is being called an historic day at Health+, intermediate weightlifter Melanie shattered coaches' and competitors' expectations and deadlifted 180 pounds for three reps.

"I just looked at the weight all stacked up there and thought to myself, 'Yes We Can,'" she said.

Melanie started off with her traditional 25 swing kettlebell warmup before moving on to deadlifts with 2 sets of 5 at 45 pounds and then 2 reps at 135. She then jumped up to 3 reps at 160, 170 and 175 each.

Showing the inexperience often discussed by her critics, Melanie then accidentally did another set of 3 at 175, forgetting to add five pounds for 180. Shrugging it off and keeping the cool demeanor she's exhibited in previous contests, she added the five and got her needed 3 reps.

"I have three words for Melanie," coach and husband Chris said. "Way to go."

"I'm not a bit surprised," Sam, the architect behind what many are calling the smartest campaign in history, said. "Melanie's worst enemy has always been Melanie. Once she had hope, and believed in change, she was easily able to reach her goal."

Others have their doubts.

"Melanie's feeling cocky right now, and it shows," champion weightlifter Mean Christine, sidelined due to a broken coccyx, said. "She's got a lot of heavy lifting ahead of her. The real work has just begun."

Melanie rounded out the workout with sets of 3 overhead presses at 45, 50, 55 and 60 pounds, 3 sets of 3 chinups displacing 78 percent of her weight, and 3 sets of 5 turkish get ups on each side using 10, 15 and 20 pound kettlebells.