Heavy Lifts w/Dumbells

[Longhorn85]

What is the most efficient/safe way to get the dumbells into position to do chest presses when you prefer to work out alone? Right now I bring them up to rest on my knees, then recline back onto the bench.

I am just getting to the point where I am using heavy ones that are hard to manage. (90lbs). Okay, that is not a lot, but I expect to be using 100lbs in a month or so.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I routinely go over 100 and there is one way I have found that I can do it without risk of injury.
Have the dumbells sitting on your knees in their upright position. Rock forward slightly about an inch or two, than rock backward into your lifting position. When you rock backward use your knees to simoutaneously thrust the dumbells up to your starting position. If you are using a weight you can handle, you will be able to power the weight up. If you are using a weight that might be a challenge than you may want to have a spotter there just to make sure that you can get the first rep out of the pocket. I hope this helps ttpkg. How you doin' man?

 

[Longhorn85]

I'm doing fine, thanks, and you? You say that as if getting the weights to your knees is easy! Actually, the way you described is exactly how I'm doing it now. The hardest part this morning was getting the heavy sets up to my knees while sitting down. Maybe if I stand up with the weights and then sit down...

 

[jerkbox]

yeah, standing up, rest the dumbell ends against the front of your thighs, position yourself in front of the bench, so you can just sit down, then lie down and bring the the dumbells up in one continuous motion....works for me.

be careful!

 

[jesus 2]

stand up in front of the bench, hold the dumbbells in front of you so that the end is against the very top of the front of your thigh. sit down on the bench. the bells should be sitting on your thighs and right next to your upper body. all you need to do is slowly rock back into a laying position. since the bells were right next to your upper body, they go from sitting on your thighs to laying on their side on your abdomen. all you need to do now is press.

 

[st8k_lover]

Now getting up when the set is done.... Thats another story. I just drop them to the floor rather than sit up with the heavy b@stards. I have floor mats so no damage occurs.

Peace :fro

 

[Mystical]

Yeah working out at a gym that frowns on weight dropping can make it a bitch to end your set.

 

[AustinTX]

Everyone using the big DBs drops them, or at least a controlled drop to the sides.

Also, it seems to be mandatory to moan and groan really loud when sitting down and while leaning back into position so everyone knows you're doing big weights

 

[st8k_lover]

The force of 200+ lbs, added to the momentum of your body falling to a flat position, stops suddenly when meeting the bench...10$ Pressing out 8 good reps 20 $ Someone standing with their mouth wide open as you are pressing those 100 lb'ers Priceless!!

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I'm doing fine, thanks, and you? You say that as if getting the weights to your knees is easy! Actually, the way you described is exactly how I'm doing it now. The hardest part this morning was getting the heavy sets up to my knees while sitting down. Maybe if I stand up with the weights and then sit down...

I grad the dumbells off the rack and place them on the floor. I then roll the dumbells into a position about shoulder width in front of me. I squat down and grab each dumbell and perform a squat to a standing position. Then I sit down controling the dumbells and thrusting them on top of my thighs/knees. From there I do what I already said.

lol

Sorry I left the above out ealrier.

 

[needsize]

I go up to the 120's for incline press, I just stand in front of the bench, grab the dumbells and swing them up to my knees as I sit down. I only do inlcine press with the heavy dumbells though as there is no way I can sit up from a completely flat position with those, but it's easy from a 30 degree incline

 

[gettinlarger]

I was flat pressin 90s a while ago, and I dropped the weights down to my sides when I was done, and this dude who works at the gym said to me something about how I'm gonna fuck up my shoulders if I continue to do so.

Is this true?

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I dont flat press with dumbells, only incline....lemme' clear that up.

 

[Jxaxsxe530]

its a lot safer to drop the weight when ur elbows or wrists give out when doing chest dumbell presses. unfortunately the freeweight room of my gym is on second floor and dropping a 100 lb dumbell can cause an earthquake or two. it sucks having to bring those heavy bastards back up at the end of a heavy set.

 

[Longhorn85]

All of that advice was good, I appreciate it bros. Up until now I have been able to lift the weights up to my knees while sitting on the end of the bench. I will start using the standing method next week. By the way I was referring to flat bench presses.

No problem dropping the weight at my gym, just have to look left and right as there are benches/lifters on either side.


Looking to join the 100lb club in a few weeks!

 

[Bullit]

I know exactly what you're talking about ttlpkg.

Here's what I do:
My gym has a wooden 'step' cube about 18 inches high and 2 feet wide. I move that infront of the bench seat and put the DB's on there.So now when I want to get em' to my knees i basically slide em off the step and onto my knees.. only gotta lift em a couple inches.

Kinda bad explanation.. but maybe u get the idea.

 

[Longhorn85]

Kinda bad explanation.. but maybe u get the idea.

Makes sense to me. I think I can manage the stand up technique until I reach 150lbs dumbells.

 

[Longhorn85]

Tried the stand-up technique this am, it worked great, Thanks!

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Did you squat to get them up? Back straight like a good boy?

 

[Longhorn85]

Yeah, but they were only 85's so it wasn't that bad. More than I could have managed the old way I was doing it though. Next session will be 90's...

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Nice........Keep going up TTLPKG.........

 

[Lincoln Hawk]

I have a similar problem with this. I routinely press 100 lb bells and sometimes have difficulty going from my thigh to the chest. I've just learned to control my momentum on my way back and seems to work.

Side note: I once witnessed a guy doing this same thing, and on his way leaning back towards the bench his balance must have been off or something because he slid right off. Could be dangerous...

 

[Longhorn85]

Side note: I once witnessed a guy doing this same thing, and on his way leaning back towards the bench his balance must have been off or something because he slid right off. Could be dangerous...

Got to make sure that ass is on the bench. I've never had that problem, I guess my ass is big enough, LOL.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

ttlpkg,
I did incline dumbells tonight and I had an audience asking me how I got the 130's to starting position. I actually performed a set, and then taught a group of older guys how to properly pick up and handle weights into a starting position, perform the exercise, and the proper release so injury is least possible. I did say older guys btw. lol.
Feels good to teach someone something that will help them.

 

[Longhorn85]

Feels good to teach someone something that will help them.

Good deal, I know it helped me.

 

[Longhorn85]

90s today with no problem. Felt pretty good too, got 5 slow, clean reps for my max set.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Good! Did it feel better handling the dumbells this week dude?

 

[Longhorn85]

It felt great, a little heavy on the left wrist about half way down, but I think I can handle 95's on my next workout with no prob

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Nice, the ball keeps rolling.