Can I do this?

[James3shin]

I've always been a runner, and utilized my speed and endurance in sports. I have a new goal for my winter break. I want to gain some muscle and add size and power to my game a little bit. Ideally, I'd like to weigh ~160lbs at the max, and be able to bench 225lbs 5 times. My question, is this realistic? I currently weigh 145lbs and can't imagine doing this, but it's my goal after seeing the speedster, Reggie Bush, currently 6' tall, 203lbs, but he benched 225 I think 25 times at his combine workout.

Moved from Off Topic
moderator allisolm

 

[RapidSnail]

Definitely, but you will have to apply yourself.

 

[Tylanner]

How tall are you?

 

[James3shin]

Originally posted by: Tylanner
How tall are you?

5' 8", 145lbs

 

[zanejohnson]

yeah that's totally reasonable, when i was in high school powerlifting i was ~200lbs and benched 265x3 when i maxed out...and i wasnt the strongest in my weight class.

 

[Tylanner]

@5' 8", 160lbs you would be quite ripped, you shouldn't have a problem.

Gaining the 15lbs, thats another story.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

 

[Connoisseur]

FYI there is now a "Fitness and Exercise" forums where this belongs. But just some ideas: How much can you bench now? While it's not outside the realm of possibility, 225 is a pretty lofty goal for a guy your size. I don't think it's feasible just over the winter (at least if you want to do it properly) unless you can already bench something like 180 without too much issue.

 

[James3shin]

I'm trying to design a workout / weightlifting plan, but i've never done such a thing. I've always designed running plans.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: James3shin

Originally posted by: Tylanner
How tall are you?

5' 8", 145lbs

Shorter limbs are technically "better" so you don't have to worry if you think you're short.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

Few years? no, more like 6 months of continuous, hard, work out.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

like i said it not hard. but not something thats gonna happen over winter break.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: Tylanner
@5' 8", 160lbs you would be quite ripped, you shouldn't have a problem.

Gaining the 15lbs, thats another story.

Fifteen really isn't much weight if you're a newbie. I went from 5'9"/120/10 to 5'9"/170/14 in about a year as a newbie. Eat.

 

[hypn0tik]

Check out the sticky at the top for information regarding the Health and Fitness forum.

 

[James3shin]

My max bench was 150lbs when I started lifting weights early this fall, but haven't been back to the gym with my buddy due to school.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

This advice is wrong. Two plates really isn't that much weight and he could realistically achieve his goal in a year or less if he applies himself.

 

[TallBill]

Wrong forum Come into our new forum!

But to answer your question, yes you can. It will take a while though. Don't just bench, bench, bench. You need to work your back, triceps, and deltiods sufficiently as well and mix up your bench routine constantly. Having a good training partner/spotter really helps too.

 

[shoRunner]

yes, easily someone in that weight class could do that. When I did work out I weighed 170-175 and my max was 290lbs and I am 6'3 but that was after 3yrs of working out 5x a week for 1-2hrs.

 

[Judgement]

When I was weight training I was benching ~240lbs and weighed 175lbs; I had been lifting for roughly 10 months and started at about 155lbs (I wasn't doing any lower body stuff while on my way to 175). It seems like it could be done but wont be easy or quick.

 

[Special K]

First of all, I wouldn't be comparing yourself to Reggie Bush in terms of expectations from any type of training program. Pro athletes have amazing genetics, and no amount of hard work on your part can change certain physiological properties of your body that will prevent you from achieving what pro athletes can do.

That said, most people can still stand to make quite a bit of progress from their untrained starting point.

Rather than cutting and pasting my long-winded post on "bulking for beginners", I will instead refer you to the board in my sig - go there, register, make a post introducing yourself, and read the stickies in the different forums. There are a lot of knowledgable people there who would be more than happy to help you.

My one piece of advice to you is this - if you want to gain weight, you need to EAT. The number one mistake made by guys who are new to lifting is that they don't eat enough. Many think they do, but then are quite surprised to find that they are only consuming 1900 calories per day when they actually calculate it out.

I have found Fitday invaluable for tracking calories. You should use it too once you get started.

Seriously though, visit the board in my sig.

 

[Flash1969]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

This advice is wrong. Two plates really isn't that much weight and he could realistically achieve his goal in a year or less if he applies himself.

There is no way an average 145 lb guy is going to be able to bench press 225 lbs 5 times after only a year of training.

 

[RapidSnail]

Originally posted by: Flash1969

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

This advice is wrong. Two plates really isn't that much weight and he could realistically achieve his goal in a year or less if he applies himself.

There is no way an average 145 lb guy is going to be able to bench press 225 lbs 5 times after only a year of training.

As if he's going to remain at 145lb.....



Edit: If anything it's improbable, not impossible. It all depends on his genetic makeup and current fitness level. I know one guy about 5'6"/150 that can rep 225x8 or so and other bigger guys that struggle at that weight. If he concentrates on a bench pressing strength routine, he could realistically achieve or come close to his goal in a year's time.

 

[Flash1969]

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: Flash1969

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

This advice is wrong. Two plates really isn't that much weight and he could realistically achieve his goal in a year or less if he applies himself.

There is no way an average 145 lb guy is going to be able to bench press 225 lbs 5 times after only a year of training.

As if he's going to remain at 145lb.....

Doesn't matter. The fact is, he is starting at 145 lbs. I am curious to know what his max bench is now. 225 lbs 5 times is quite a feat to most people.

 

[JAG87]

Its not impossible, but I am 5'10 and 160lb, which is very close to what you want to be. I have been working out for 2 years, 5-6 days a week steadily. I have yet to bench more than my own weight. If I were you I wouldn't expect to bench much more than your own weight, unless you have a really powerful chest, or very rapid chest development.

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: Flash1969

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: Flash1969

Originally posted by: RapidSnail

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven
ok short answer YES.
long answer NO with a unless.

No you can't unless you work your ass off (about 3 hours workout time a week) for a few years.
i started weight lifting in august. i had trouble lifting the bar (45lb) 10 times. now after working out only 2 hours every week i can do 95 lb 10 times and my max is 135. so yeah you can but it'll take time. not something that'll happen over winter break.

This advice is wrong. Two plates really isn't that much weight and he could realistically achieve his goal in a year or less if he applies himself.

There is no way an average 145 lb guy is going to be able to bench press 225 lbs 5 times after only a year of training.

As if he's going to remain at 145lb.....

Doesn't matter. The fact is, he is starting at 145 lbs. I am curious to know what his max bench is now. 225 lbs 5 times is quite a feat to most people.

I agree. And I believe he said he maxes 150 right now....there is no way he's repping 225 in a year. If the OP is seriously though it can be done. However 225x5 at 160 pounds is pretty dang strong for that size.

You should have a shorter term goal of max bench of 200 within a year or something. 50 lbs a year should be doable if you are new to lifting.