The only place that would appreciate this. . .

[episodic]

I 'finally' benched my body weight 3x5 (175 - my weight is 178) - close enough.

Started back in October with just the bar. I physically could not push up but 80lbs or so the first time I tried my 1 rep max. I'm going to try 190 as my 1 rep max soon and see how it goes.

Onward to 2 45lb plates

 

[ThatsABigOne]

That is pretty quick progress!

I remember that last May I did 170lbs 2 reps. I was 130lbs at the time. That was loads of fun!

Unfortunately, I stopped doing benches, and resorted to exercises that use my body mass. (Pushups, pull ups, abs, and others)

 

[Sixguns]

Congrats! I am getting close to mine. I started benching 185lbs and only need 20 more to get my weight.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

That is pretty quick progress!

I remember that last May I did 170lbs 2 reps. I was 130lbs at the time. That was loads of fun!

Unfortunately, I stopped doing benches, and resorted to exercises that use my body mass. (Pushups, pull ups, abs, and others)

Big mistake IMO. I did that for a little bit and just about lost all my strength. I felt like a bitch when I started lifting weights again. I had it in my mind that I was stronger than I was. The iron don't lie though and I was a shell of my former self.
I'm working my way back up. I can bench 185 3 sets 6 reps. I weigh 185. I don't feel far off from getting 250lbs for a rep. I could probably do 230 or maybe 235. I can squat around 300lb.
At my strongest I was benching 250 and could squat 340.

Congrats OP. Don't forget about those legs. Squats will make a man of ya.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Big mistake IMO. I did that for a little bit and just about lost all my strength. I felt like a bitch when I started lifting weights again. I had it in my mind that I was stronger than I was. The iron don't lie though and I was a shell of my former self.

Yes, I can agree with your statement but, I left USA for Belarus, which does not have the equipment that I used before I left. So I resorted for bodymass type of exercises. After a long hiatus for 5 months(August-January), I am very much on my way on getting to my goal that I had before, and surpassing it.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

dp

 

[Muse]

"Only one in a hundred untrained men can bench press their own body weight." I heard that from a reliable source a long time ago. I subsequently developed that strength and then some. Could do it 6 reps. I suppose I could do it now, but I never go heavy anymore, have elbow issues, don't want to tempt fate. I once went about 25 lb above my usual just to see if I could get a rep and I tore something. It took a long time to heal. I don't try stuff like that now.

It's a bad idea to try benching a weight you can't get several reps out of. Doing that you are risking serious injury, unless you really know what you are doing, and even if you do, your risk of serious injury is way higher than if you don't engage in that kind of stuff. This goes for more than benching, obviously.

 

[highland145]

Grats. Maybe others will chime in but, imo, work your back as well. I really believe that's the cause of the significant problems with my shoulders. I went as heavy as I could when I was younger and did little/no rows to balance out. Now, at 47, the shoulders are shot. 135lbs is my limit. Any more and I suffer for the next few days. :'(

Or I could just be old and broken down.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Very nice

 

[episodic]

Big mistake IMO. I did that for a little bit and just about lost all my strength. I felt like a bitch when I started lifting weights again. I had it in my mind that I was stronger than I was. The iron don't lie though and I was a shell of my former self.
I'm working my way back up. I can bench 185 3 sets 6 reps. I weigh 185. I don't feel far off from getting 250lbs for a rep. I could probably do 230 or maybe 235. I can squat around 300lb.
At my strongest I was benching 250 and could squat 340.

Congrats OP. Don't forget about those legs. Squats will make a man of ya.

I'm on stronglifts - so I'm squattin' too. I'm at 205-225 on squats (depending on how I feel that day).

 

[episodic]

"Only one in a hundred untrained men can bench press their own body weight." I heard that from a reliable source a long time ago. I subsequently developed that strength and then some. Could do it 6 reps. I suppose I could do it now, but I never go heavy anymore, have elbow issues, don't want to tempt fate. I once went about 25 lb above my usual just to see if I could get a rep and I tore something. It took a long time to heal. I don't try stuff like that now.

It's a bad idea to try benching a weight you can't get several reps out of. Doing that you are risking serious injury, unless you really know what you are doing, and even if you do, your risk of serious injury is way higher than if you don't engage in that kind of stuff. This goes for more than benching, obviously.

Are you mainly talking about 'dropping' the bar on myself? I always have a spotter if I do anything over 140-150. I usually start to fail on rep three at the weight I'm at now. I'd be scared to do it alone.

 

[episodic]

Grats. Maybe others will chime in but, imo, work your back as well. I really believe that's the cause of the significant problems with my shoulders. I went as heavy as I could when I was younger and did little/no rows to balance out. Now, at 47, the shoulders are shot. 135lbs is my limit. Any more and I suffer for the next few days. :'(

Or I could just be old and broken down.

I do rows and body weight dips. I'm also doing pullups and chin ups. Hopefully, it all works out. I'm 38, right behind ya buddy on the age thing.

 

[KIAman]

Congrats! I'm a new lifter too only started since early December 2011 and I started with bar on the bench but can only do 3x8x170 right now.

Althought I've never attempted 1RM (no spotter) and if I couldn't bench 3 sets 8 reps with good form, I wouldn't progress myself to the next 5lbs.

This week will be my first attempt at 3x8x175, wooo.

Oh and I'm 190 right now. Ever since I started weight training, I gained weight, lol.

 

[Whisper]

Congrats to ya, great accomplishment. Now you can start working toward body weight x 2, heh.

 

[episodic]

Congrats! I'm a new lifter too only started since early December 2011 and I started with bar on the bench but can only do 3x8x170 right now.

Althought I've never attempted 1RM (no spotter) and if I couldn't bench 3 sets 8 reps with good form, I wouldn't progress myself to the next 5lbs.

This week will be my first attempt at 3x8x175, wooo.

Oh and I'm 190 right now. Ever since I started weight training, I gained weight, lol.

YEA, Im progressing backwards. I've lost 20lbs since I've been weight lifting. That is my goal though. I'm trying to get light, fast, and strong.

I'm down to 175 ish now - I was 195 when I started lifting.

 

[Muse]

Are you mainly talking about 'dropping' the bar on myself? I always have a spotter if I do anything over 140-150. I usually start to fail on rep three at the weight I'm at now. I'd be scared to do it alone.

No, read my post again. A spotter's a good idea if there's any chance you'll drop the bar on your neck, of course. I mean any chance.

I was thinking about injuries like tearing a tendon, elbow injuries, shoulder injuries, you can also tear a pec. Going heavy just to see if you can do it isn't smart. Well, I tried it with 20 lb. more than I'd ever tried before just to see if I could and that was the last time I tried something like that. I used to only increase weight when I could do a certain number of reps at my top weight, e.g. 6 reps, IIRC. I'd work my way up from lighter weight each session doing ten reps and then try to do 6 reps at my top weight. If I could, I upped my top weight at my next chest workout. It kept me out of trouble... until I did what I describe above.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Congrats! I'm a new lifter too only started since early December 2011 and I started with bar on the bench but can only do 3x8x170 right now.

Althought I've never attempted 1RM (no spotter) and if I couldn't bench 3 sets 8 reps with good form, I wouldn't progress myself to the next 5lbs.

This week will be my first attempt at 3x8x175, wooo.

Oh and I'm 190 right now. Ever since I started weight training, I gained weight, lol.

Just want to verify. If you are not in a cage doing this, are you atleast not using collare so you can dump the weights?

Also, you could easily do 200+ for one rep. I bet you that 205+ is doable.

 

[tedrodai]

Good job man. Awesome progress.

 

[KIAman]

Just want to verify. If you are not in a cage doing this, are you atleast not using collare so you can dump the weights?

Also, you could easily do 200+ for one rep. I bet you that 205+ is doable.

I'm just using a normal bench and I have no clue what a collare is. I actually failed late January on my last rep on my last set (I went for it, even though I felt really tired) and I completely embarrased myself by dropping my left side first and having the weight slide off, making a huge crash, then the bar tilting to the right side and hitting the floor.

LOL, people were running over and about to call the ambulance, I told them I was fine but it scared me enough that I dropped by 10lbs for my next workout 2 days later.

I've seen videos on how to fail a bench press but I don't know how they keep so much control over the weight as they gently lay it down on their chest, as if they still had strength left. When I failed, it was like an "off" switch, my muscles just stopped, absolutely no control at all.

 

[tedrodai]

I'm just using a normal bench and I have no clue what a collare is. I actually failed late January on my last rep on my last set (I went for it, even though I felt really tired) and I completely embarrased myself by dropping my left side first and having the weight slide off, making a huge crash, then the bar tilting to the right side and hitting the floor.

A collar is something you slip onto each end of the barbell after the weights. It tightens (or you tighten it) when you put it on in order to keep the weights tightly where you put them, preventing them from shifting off balance or falling off the bar if you happen to tilt too much to either side. You can look up "weight collar" on amazon to see an example.

However, many suggest to NOT use them, especially if solo. As to why, I'll use your case as an example: When your muscles failed you, would you rather the weight crash to the floor and embarrass the hell out of you, or have it all crash into your chest or worse...neck...and have no way of getting it off you? Yup...

 

[Muse]

I'm just using a normal bench and I have no clue what a collare is. I actually failed late January on my last rep on my last set (I went for it, even though I felt really tired) and I completely embarrased myself by dropping my left side first and having the weight slide off, making a huge crash, then the bar tilting to the right side and hitting the floor.

That happened to me at least once.

People have died dropping a benching bar on their necks, FYI. A spotter can be a really good idea. Most bench press systems include a couple of rungs where you can settle your bar in at a lower level if you run out of steam and can't get the top supports. I've used those a time or two. You might be able to call out and get help but if there's any doubt it's best to ask for a spot. I've done that tons of times.