YANLWT - What are your max lifts? And how much progress have you made?

[TallBill]

I've been regularly lifting since January and have seen huge improvements in my lifts so far. Here are a few of of my lifts and how they improve. Part of the "gain" is due to just getting familiar with the excersise of course. Anyways, I don't do one rep maxes since I dont use a spotter, and dont really find them worthwhile anyways.

Bench Press Dumbells
Started at 3 sets, 10 reps of 55
Just today, did 10x75, 10x80, 8x80!

Barbell Curls
Started at 3 sets, 10 reps of 55
Last week did 3 sets, 10 reps of 75

Barbell Shoulder Press
Started at 3 sets, 10 reps of 65
Last week did 3 sets, 10, reps of 90

Squats
Started at 3 sets, 15 reps of 135
Currently do 3 sets, 8 reps of 205

Deadlift
Started at 3 sets, 8 reps of 185
Currently do 3 sets, 10-12 reps of 225


Anyways, just sharing what 4 months of lifting constantly can improve even in a weakling. I have about 6+ months left untill I get back to the states, so should still see my numbers climb. I started out 6'6" 193 lbs, and am holding steady around 215 lbs now. I can still run 2 miles under 14 minutes and am in generally great health. Maybe someone will get motivated by my success, maybe not.

 

[Spoooon]

Regular bench, I was able to do 8 reps at 285. My absolute max was 315 or so. I think I weighed around 180 or so at the time (am about 5'7 in height). It took me around 1.5 years or so to work up to that from a 185 max bench.

I always hated squats. My 1 rep max on squats was around 305. Anything higher and it was like trying to lift up a building or something. It just wouldn't go.

edit: At the time, I had to eat like crazy to make gains. My workout partner and I tried to keep up with cardio, but between weight lifting, work, and school... So, we cut the cardio out except for once a week.

Now, I just try to maintain my strength with dumbells and stuff. No more squats, I just use the legpress machine. And I try to do more cardio.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Regular bench, I was able to do 8 reps at 285. My absolute max was 315 or so. I think I weighed around 180 or so at the time (am about 5'7 in height). It took me around 1.5 years or so to work up to that from a 185 max bench.

I always hated squats. My 1 rep max on squats was around 305. Anything higher and it was like trying to lift up a building or something. It just wouldn't go.

edit: At the time, I had to eat like crazy to make gains. My workout partner and I tried to keep up with cardio, but between weight lifting, work, and school... So, we cut the cardio out except for once a week.

Now, I just try to maintain my strength with dumbells and stuff. No more squats, I just use the legpress machine. And I try to do more cardio.

Impressive bench. I did 3 reps at 175 the other day after being a tad tired, I'll probably start out at 175 next week and see what I can do. Still got a long ways to go though

 

[bignateyk]

bleh my bench sucks. I had a shoulder injury a while back, and after taking 3 months off lifting, I havnt really been able to get it back.

Deadlift: 8x295
Squat: 8x225
Bench: 10x155

I used to be able to bench 10x205. I just started doing deadlifts a month or two ago, so im a little low in that regard, but its been improving pretty quickly week by week.

 

[K1052]

My biggest gain was on incline bench, went from 60 to a max of 185x3 currently over 9 months.

I can squat 225x4 now also up from 100 though my legs were always strong compared to the rest of me.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: bignateyk
bleh my bench sucks. I had a shoulder injury a while back, and after taking 3 months off lifting, I havnt really been able to get it back.

Deadlift: 8x295
Squat: 8x225
Bench: 10x155

I used to be able to bench 10x205. I just started doing deadlifts a month or two ago, so im a little low in that regard, but its been improving pretty quickly week by week.

Don't worry abou tit dude...focus on your squats and deads and you'll be fine.

Squats & Deads > Bench press any damn way.

 

[Nutdotnet]

What I currently do is not what I've done...took a few years off and have just gotten back into it about 4 months ago.

Squats-
Currently: 365x6
Max: 405x6

Deadlifts:
Currently: 365x4
Max: 405x4 (or so...long time ago)

Bench (Dumbell):
Currently: 90x4 (That's 90x2)
Max: 110x4

Stats: 5'10", lifting weight between 175-190 (I'm hitting 200 before I try to cut this time!)

 

[tfinch2]

I can bench 10x200, but my max is 235, and has been for about 4 months now. Shouldn't it be higher?

My arms have gotten significantly bigger in the past 2 months though, from a bicep circumference of 13 to 15. If I can get to 16.5" with more definition by the end of summer I will be happy. It's hard because I have such long arms. My wingspan is 6'7".

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I can bench 10x200, but my max is 235, and has been for about 4 months now. Shouldn't it be higher?

My arms have gotten significantly bigger in the past 2 months though, from a bicep circumference of 13 to 15. If I can get to 16.5" with more definition by the end of summer I will be happy. It's hard because I have such long arms. My wingspan is 6'7".

You're telling me. I'm 6'6" so all of my lifts are naturally lower.

 

[glenn beck]

Max Bench about 355(could be more but I don't really try to hard with flat bench) 225 X 25
Deadlift 560
Barbell Shoulder Press I guess 225 for about 5 or 6
Best I've Barbelled curled so far is close to 200(think it would just look cool to curl once 225)
I can work out for a good amount of reps with the 130's dumbbell flat bench
Leg Press I can ususally finish my sets of 10 with the plates stacked to the end(9 or 10 can't remember)
Squat I won't max out cause of my right knee but usually work sets between 300 and 400


I think I have gained more strength the last couple of months more with reps then the max


btw 6'1" 215

Trick to get strong that most people don't do is throwing in a light week every 5-6 weeks and to also take 4 or 5 weeks off a year to recoup


I've also only been "really" working out for about 3 years now

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: glenn beck
Max Bench about 355(could be more but I don't really try to hard with flat bench) 225 X 25
Deadlift 560
Barbell Shoulder Press I guess 225 for about 5 or 6
Best I've Barbelled curled so far is close to 200(think it would just look cool to curl once 225)
I can work out for a good amount of reps with the 130's dumbbell flat bench
Leg Press I can ususally finish my sets of 10 with the plates stacked to the end(9 or 10 can't remember)
Squat I won't max out cause of my right knee but usually work sets between 300 and 400


I think I have gained more strength the last couple of months more with reps then the max


btw 6'1" 215

Trick to get strong that most people don't do is throwing in a light week every 5-6 weeks and to also take 4 or 5 weeks off a year to recoup


I've also only been "really" working out for about 3 years now

God damn, impressive. Hopefully I can stick with the program for 3+ years.

 

[bignateyk]

I started lifting about 1.5 years ago.

Height: 5'11"
Weight 130lbs

Bench: 95lbs
Squat: unknown
Deadlift: unknown

After 1 year: weight: 160lbs
Bench: 205
Squat: 225
Deadlift: unknown

After 1 year I suffered a partial rotator cuff tear, which put me out for 3-4 months.

Ive been back lifting for about a month, and im at

Weight: 155lbs
Bench: 155lbs
Squat: 225lbs
Deadlift: 295lbs

My shoulder still isnt 100%, so I havnt been able to really push myself on my upper body exercises to get my strength back.

 

[TallBill]

At the gym here there is a strongman "club" with some silly nickname. Anyways, to get in it you do one max rep for bench, squat, an deadlift. If the totals are 5x your bodyweight then you get in the club.

My estimate one rep maxes are 213, 273, and 321 respectivly, putting me at 807. Only 268 pounds shy of my 5x bodyweight (215) of 1075. Don't think I'll be making the club in six months. Perhaps I'll try actually attaing real world one rep maxes.

 

[jlbenedict]

Back in 2002 (my last year in the Army), I was coming in at about 190 lbs, @ 5'7".
My best lifts were:

Bench (barbell)
Max: 365 lbs
Best Set: 315 lbs x 6

Incline (dumbells)
Pair of 100 lb'ers x 8
Pair of 110 lb'ers x 6

Squat
Best set: 405 x 8
Never maxed out in squats.

Curls:
Got to the point that I could throw a pair of 45's on an Olympic curl bar and pump out 8 reps on a preacher bench..

 

[TallBill]

Well, 2 new PR's today.

Deadlifting I knocked out a set of 10 at 225. My estimated one rep max was 316, so I tossed on 2 more 45's for a total of 315 and knocked out 3 reps! w00t! Then third set did 8 more at 225 and was smoked.

Then moved over to military shoulder press. I was stuck for like 2 months at 85 pounds, and just last week bumped it up to 90 with success. I figured I'd toss two 25's on this week for a total of 95. Well, I barely was able to lift off and was thinking "WTF, this shouldn't be that heavy, its only 5 pounds more". Anyways, I knocked out 6 reps, and checked the weight. Low and behold I put on 35's!!! instead of 25's. So yeah, 6x115, then did a set of 5, then 4 and once again was smoked.

All of this after running 2 miles in 14:20 (real miles, not treadmill).

 

[CKent]

I'm kinda disgusted with myself. Every time I start making progress, I start slacking & not lifting. So far over the last 2-3 years I've had 4 cycles of getting up to around a 275 max bench, then not working out for months at a time and dropping back down to ... 200? 225? dunno, but from working out with a max of 230-250 to a max of 150-190. That's bench specifically, obviously the other stuff is similar... 110 <-> 70 workout weight for shoulder presses, 100 <-> 200 for squats (my quads can handle more, but my knees can't), etc. I've been lifting the past month again.

 

[purbeast0]

There are only a few that I can remember what I started out with, but I will just put what I started with and can do now.

Flat Barbel Bench:
started: 95lbs x 8
now: 235lbs x 8

Incline DB Bench:
started: 30lb x 8
now: 85lbs x 8 (3 sets of these)

Shoulder DB Press:
started: 25lbs x 8
now: 80lbs x 8

Deadlift:
started: 185lbs x 8
now: 355lbs x 6
(haven't done these in a while - back problems)

Curl straightbar:
now - 105lbs x 8

Skull Crushers:
now - 105lbs x 8

I'm 5'11 at around 185lbs currently.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
There are only a few that I can remember what I started out with, but I will just put what I started with and can do now.

Flat Barbel Bench:
started: 95lbs x 8
now: 235lbs x 8

Incline DB Bench:
started: 30lb x 8
now: 85lbs x 8 (3 sets of these)

Shoulder DB Press:
started: 25lbs x 8
now: 80lbs x 8

Deadlift:
started: 185lbs x 8
now: 355lbs x 6
(haven't done these in a while - back problems)

Curl straightbar:
now - 105lbs x 8

Skull Crushers:
now - 105lbs x 8

I'm 5'11 at around 185lbs currently.

Nice, how long from start till now?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: purbeast0
There are only a few that I can remember what I started out with, but I will just put what I started with and can do now.

Flat Barbel Bench:
started: 95lbs x 8
now: 235lbs x 8

Incline DB Bench:
started: 30lb x 8
now: 85lbs x 8 (3 sets of these)

Shoulder DB Press:
started: 25lbs x 8
now: 80lbs x 8

Deadlift:
started: 185lbs x 8
now: 355lbs x 6
(haven't done these in a while - back problems)

Curl straightbar:
now - 105lbs x 8

Skull Crushers:
now - 105lbs x 8

I'm 5'11 at around 185lbs currently.

Nice, how long from start till now?

probably like ... 5 years or so.

thing is, my first 3 years lifting in college, i was doing everything wrong. i was way overtraining. i was getting very very ripped but i was tiny. when i started lifting I was like 155lbs or so. when I graduated, I was probably like 160 or 165lbs. I also was doing a lot of stuff with incorrect form.

when i graduated I got into a better schedule and what not, and I saw much better gains from training less and just doing it properly. since then, I've been up to as much as 195lbs. right now I'm just maintaining my current strength while cutting up, so I'm not expecting to see any gains over summer.

come fall I'm going to bulk up again and try to get up to repping 255lbs on the bench 8x. last summer, I was only repping 205lbs 8x, then over the past fall/winter i've gotten up to 235lbs 8x and I'm pretty much maintaining that while cutting.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
There are only a few that I can remember what I started out with, but I will just put what I started with and can do now.

Flat Barbel Bench:
started: 95lbs x 8
now: 235lbs x 8

Incline DB Bench:
started: 30lb x 8
now: 85lbs x 8 (3 sets of these)

Shoulder DB Press:
started: 25lbs x 8
now: 80lbs x 8

Deadlift:
started: 185lbs x 8
now: 355lbs x 6
(haven't done these in a while - back problems)

Curl straightbar:
now - 105lbs x 8

Skull Crushers:
now - 105lbs x 8

I'm 5'11 at around 185lbs currently.

Haha...I wish I could remember what I started at...it was embarassing I'll say that much...

 

[Q]

I need to start lifting, I'm 18, heading to college next year. 5'10, 115lbs. Yes, I'm skinny as hell. My arms are like sticks. So, my goal for next year is to workout a little to gain some weight.

What should I do to gain some weight/muscle mass? Don't tell me to eat, b/c I eat junk food and stuff alot, I just never gain weight. Just do some dumbells for a while? How long?

 

[jhayx7]

What are you guys lifting on lats?

Pulls and rows..

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: jhayx7
What are you guys lifting on lats?

Pulls and rows..

yah basically some type of pulldown and some type of row. i also do pullups.

my lats are one muscle that don't really stick out or anything. it's always been one of my less dominant muscles. shoulders have always been my biggest muscle.

 

[jhayx7]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: jhayx7
What are you guys lifting on lats?

Pulls and rows..

yah basically some type of pulldown and some type of row. i also do pullups.

my lats are one muscle that don't really stick out or anything. it's always been one of my less dominant muscles. shoulders have always been my biggest muscle.

How many lbs are you lifting? I have always though my lats and legs were the strongest part of my body (chest is very weak).

 

[CKent]

Originally posted by: Quintox
I need to start lifting, I'm 18, heading to college next year. 5'10, 115lbs. Yes, I'm skinny as hell. My arms are like sticks. So, my goal for next year is to workout a little to gain some weight.

What should I do to gain some weight/muscle mass? Don't tell me to eat, b/c I eat junk food and stuff alot, I just never gain weight. Just do some dumbells for a while? How long?

Eat more.