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How much do you bench, bro?

moonbogg

moonbogg

Lifer
Last week I tried for 255lbs on my last set of flat bench and failed. I did 245lbs for 1 rep but 255lbs just came down and didn't go back up. Yesterday though I did it! Its cool to set a specific goal and to see it be achieved. I was like, "holy crap I actually got stronger". So I guess I'll go for 265 next. Pretty soon I'll be calling myself HULKBOGG. 😱


HULKBOGG!!! 😱
 
There is definitely something satisfying about setting a quantifiable goal, working towards it, and then when you're ready loading the bar up and getting it done. PBs are always good feeling. Even the interim progress is rewarding.

*edit* I forgot to say congrats. CONGRATS!
 
I dunno. My olympic weights only go up to 300. I can do that 3 times. A calculator on the internet says that means my 1 rep max should be 318. Call it 315 I guess since I've never seen 1.5lb plates.
 
My biggest lift was a 485 @ 222 lb bodyweight... this was a gym lift, so it might have not met meet standards.

My most impressive was a triple @ 465 at around the same 222 lb bodyweight

both done in my mid twenties; which is starting to feel many many many yrs ago.

now, I might bench low, maybe mid 300's. this is off an estimate of my workout weight. I can rep ~250 at least a dozen times. I really don't bench that often anymore. maybe 1-2 times a month of actual barbell presses. getting into my late thirties I need to save what's left of my shoulders. 15+ yrs of heavy bench press are definitely being felt. Oddly enough, since I have laid off the flat bench I am feeling better/stronger/more comfortable with incline press. when I was benching heavy, I had serious issue getting full range of motion with an incline press
 
Jesus you guys bench a lot. WTF?!😱😱😱

Zivic, did it hurt? You know, the surgery? The one where they replaced your limbs with hydraulic pistons? JESUS DUDE. That's terminator strength.
 
moonbogg said:
Jesus you guys bench a lot. WTF?!😱😱😱

Zivic, did it hurt? You know, the surgery? The one where they replaced your limbs with hydraulic pistons? JESUS DUDE. That's terminator strength.
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I'm built for bench press... Built like Kirby Puckett (or a barrel). I did a couple power meets when I was in high school. My biggest lift at one of those was around 330 at somewhere around 195-200 lb bodyweight. Back in the 90's that was some serious weight for a kid in highschool 😉.

When I reached my 30's I could still handle 4 plates for a few reps, but not too long after that I strained both bicep tendon in my shoulders so I had to take it down a notch.

I always joked, I actually have benched more that you will lie about benching.
 
Zivic said:
I'm built for bench press... Built like Kirby Puckett (or a barrel). I did a couple power meets when I was in high school. My biggest lift at one of those was around 330 at somewhere around 195-200 lb bodyweight. Back in the 90's that was some serious weight for a kid in highschool 😉.

When I reached my 30's I could still handle 4 plates for a few reps, but not too long after that I strained both bicep tendon in my shoulders so I had to take it down a notch.

I always joked, I actually have benched more that you will lie about benching.
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LOL yeah, thats for sure. That's awesome man. I bet that was a great experience for you being so strong in high school. Amazing. Strong like a truck.
 
Zivic said:
but not too long after that I strained both bicep tendon in my shoulders so I had to take it down a notch
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Same here. Most I ever did flat bench was 245lb but messed up bicep tendon on my left arm. I only use dumbbells and my gym only has them up to 100lb so that's where I am at now.
 
Nowadays I can probably put up a 330ish 1rm on a really good day but I've been taking it easy on bench for the past couple of months. I usually wrap up with a 5X275 ish and I haven't really focused on improving chest too much. Just looking to maintain that area for now.
Focusing more on core\legs and back with attention to balance among the muscle groups to improve overall posture and joint health.

Once I get my 10K times back into the lo-mid 7 min mile area, then I might do a revision to my routine and start adding weight to my bench. However, I don't see it being a priority.
 
moonbogg said:
LOL yeah, thats for sure. That's awesome man. I bet that was a great experience for you being so strong in high school. Amazing. Strong like a truck.
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it got me a lot of attention,... there was a couple kids 3-4 yrs after me that were benching quite a bit more, but at my time (11th and 12th grade) I think I was the biggest fish in that small pond.

a big bench is still cool, but I am getting old now and want to wake up in the morning and feel healthy and mobile... or eat least healthy
 
I have absolutely no idea. All I do is workout at home with a set of Bowflex Selecttechs (the ones that go to 90 lbs). I don't think I've done a bar bench press in 15+ years at this point.
 
Right now, around 300 paused at 198. My best is 320 paused or 335 touch n go. I've had some rotator issues in the right shoulder due to a fraying labrum. I ditched the T n' G reps and only pause now - it's much easier on the shoulder and elbows. If I was a bench only specialist I could probably get to 350-405 range but don't want my squat and deads to suffer in order to stay in this weight class. Remember bench is heavily influenced by weight, the heavier you are will usually translate to your bench if you've been benching for awhile.
 
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I'm old and fat, but am on target for 500 before I turn 50 in 2.5 years.

I haven't done a PB in a long time, but chest day starts with:
1x just the bar x20
1x one plate x12
1x two plates x12
1x two plates and a quarter x12
3x 3 plates x 6-8
2x two plates x12-15
3x one plate x12-15

Starting in May I will a quarter to the 3 plates and reduce the reps to 3-5, working my way back up to 6-8 reps and then add another plate.
 
Ever since I took it easy on squats to work on my form, flexibility and depth, I've never attempted to squat over 225.

With that, I found I have tons more energy for upper body lifts including the bench press. I recently hit 255lb x 3 and I weigh in at 185lbs. However, my OHP has been stuck at 185lbs for a few months but I think it's mainly a core issue.

I'm still very discouraged at my squat and deadlift. It never was the same since I pulled my hamstrings even though there isn't pain. I dunno, it's starting to piss me off.
 
Today is chest day again. I'll see if I can do that 255 again. I don't expect to pass it for a little while because I barely made it. It was the last set though, so maybe if I just warmed up and then went for the max lift...I duno.
 
SNC said:
I'm old and fat, but am on target for 500 before I turn 50 in 2.5 years.

I haven't done a PB in a long time, but chest day starts with:
1x just the bar x20
1x one plate x12
1x two plates x12
1x two plates and a quarter x12
3x 3 plates x 6-8
2x two plates x12-15
3x one plate x12-15

Starting in May I will a quarter to the 3 plates and reduce the reps to 3-5, working my way back up to 6-8 reps and then add another plate.
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500 is a an astronomical amount of weight. when I was at my strongest I thought I had a chance at it, but sadly never got it. outside of a power meet, I've never seen anyone bench 500.

500 would be beyond impressive and really put you in an elite class of lifters
 
Zivic said:
500 is a an astronomical amount of weight. when I was at my strongest I thought I had a chance at it, but sadly never got it. outside of a power meet, I've never seen anyone bench 500.

500 would be beyond impressive and really put you in an elite class of lifters
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I think the next year will be the tell. Next month will start working sets with 340 with a bump to 380 in Sept. and 430 in Jan Feb area. One shoulder injury last summer, a pec pull in November and a painful back due to an idiot rear-ending me a couple weeks ago have slowed me down, but I'm still confident.

430 x 7 calculated should give me a ORM of 518, so there will be a bit of a buffer.

I have been asked if I will compete but I doubt it. I will not ORM until I can calculate it will be at least 500. Doing competitions will just increase my chance of injury.
 
SNC said:
I think the next year will be the tell. Next month will start working sets with 340 with a bump to 380 in Sept. and 430 in Jan Feb area. One shoulder injury last summer, a pec pull in November and a painful back due to an idiot rear-ending me a couple weeks ago have slowed me down, but I'm still confident.

430 x 7 calculated should give me a ORM of 518, so there will be a bit of a buffer.

I have been asked if I will compete but I doubt it. I will not ORM until I can calculate it will be at least 500. Doing competitions will just increase my chance of injury.
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I'm not sure you can count on a linear progression all the way up to 500. In my experience you hit a level where you're approaching the limits of your body's ability and the progress slows WAY down past that point. When I was lifting heavier regularly (I had partner I was working out with who wanted to lift as heavy as he could all the time), I got to about 350 1rm and my progress got extremely slow after that. It took me as long to get from 350 to 365 as it did for me to get from 275 to 350.

I've never been that strong on bench. I guess I'm not really built for it. Even getting to 365 was pretty incredible for me. In the same time frame my workout partner got to the low 400s 1rm. I remember he could press 405 for a triple, so I guess that puts him at around a 415-425 1rm. Even though we were doing essentially the same workout right up to where his strength surpassed mine, I never manage to gain any ground on him.
 
SlitheryDee said:
I'm not sure you can count on a linear progression all the way up to 500. In my experience you hit a level where you're approaching the limits of your body's ability and the progress slows WAY down past that point. When I was lifting heavier regularly (I had partner I was working out with who wanted to lift as heavy as he could all the time), I got to about 350 1rm and my progress got extremely slow after that. It took me as long to get from 350 to 365 as it did for me to get from 275 to 350.

I've never been that strong on bench. I guess I'm not really built for it. Even getting to 365 was pretty incredible for me. In the same time frame my workout partner got to the low 400s 1rm. I remember he could press 405 for a triple, so I guess that puts him at around a 415-425 1rm. Even though we were doing essentially the same workout right up to where his strength surpassed mine, I never manage to gain any ground on him.
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I'm still hopeful. I've never hit my limit so I don't really now where its at. I was doing 380s in my teens and I never felt like a struggle. Time will tell, like I said. Next years bump to 430 will be the go or no go I believe. I am really confident about the next bump up not being an issue getting back to 6-8 reps, I really think I could do that now with very little in the way of more effort. It just feels like every session is over that I left a lot on the table. The next day its like I never hit the gym and I have to hold my self back from going or upping the weight to soon. Realizing I am not a young pup anymore, I am sticking to my plan regardless of how strong I am feeling today. That's why no ORM or competition lifts. Only time will tell. All that said, my lower back is KILLING me!!!

On a side note: I just took a measurement and I now have my 20" upper arms back!! WOOHOO!!!!!!
 
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