What's a bigger deal 300 or 315 bench?

[bignate73]

I agree with Nate in how difficult it is to break through barriers on the bench. I hope one day I can surpass the 300 mark, but for now I am in a rut at the 225. I just can't seem to get passed it. Any advice would be helpful. The thing that frustrates me the most is that I feel my triceps are strong, which most people say is the main problem with a weak bench. It could possibly be my lats since I bench with a "powerlifter" arm position (close to my body). I've improved on dumbells, incline/decline bench, pushuos, dips, but my flat bench just won't budge. Any advice? (sorry for getting off-subject)

start rowing more. you'd be surprised how opposing muscle groups are involved in a lift, for stabilization. Also it helps to maintain joint balance with opposing muscle groups as well. overly strong quads are limited by weak hamstrings, bicep to triceps etc. also, focus on where in the bench stroke you are weak. down low, midrange or top end, all have specifics that you can focus on to improve your overall bench stroke. also do some speed work at to push through that stick point.

 

[letsrun4it]

Just to ammend my original post, today I benched 280! It barely went up but I did it. Somehow after that I did 11x215 which I think is the equivalent of a bigger max and hopefully a sign of better things to come.

 

[bigcountry61]

That is good shit. Try lowering your your reps with heavier wieght. I also like doin the 225 test but i dont think that will help ur max.

 

[Whiskey]

I voted 300. You are already at 275, congrats btw. BUT, as I see it, a better milestone right now is 280, 285, 290, anything above 275.

Yes it is a good feeling to put up six plates, BUT, right now i'd say that you need to worry about your "next" PR and not future ones.

Easy to say and hard to do, I know, but keep working on your next pr and hopefully before you know it, you'll be putting up what YOU think is a good goal. ;-)

Live hard, lift harder

Whiskey

 

[maldorf]

For me its always been the psychology of seeing myself add a pair of those big plates. So for me 315 on the bench was a big deal. 495 on the squat was a real big deal too. On the squat my goal now is 585 (6 plates a side), and 405 on the bench.

 

[bigcountry61]

For me its always been the psychology of seeing myself add a pair of those big plates. So for me 315 on the bench was a big deal. 495 on the squat was a real big deal too. On the squat my goal now is 585 (6 plates a side), and 405 on the bench.

And once u have hit those u will look to bench 495 and squat 675 ....Its wha tkeeps us intense and busting our ass in the gym

 

[djpurpose]

I voted for 300, I'm in the smae boat as you, I just put up a PR of 265 so I have a little ways to go. I have my goal at 300 for this semester (taking weight class). Keep us informed of your progress.

 

[Behemoth]

I hate the argument about how much you weigh compared to how much you are lifting. It's a valid argument. But I hate it because it discounts the weight that some of the larger guys are pushing.

If you are pushing up 425 or 450, I dont care if you weigh 175 lbs or 375 lbs...I'm not gonna walk up and give you crap about what you are lifting.

 

[letsrun4it]

I hate the argument about how much you weigh compared to how much you are lifting. It's a valid argument. But I hate it because it discounts the weight that some of the larger guys are pushing.

If you are pushing up 425 or 450, I dont care if you weigh 175 lbs or 375 lbs...I'm not gonna walk up and give you crap about what you are lifting.

I couldn't agree more...its what little people say to discredit big people.

What matters to me is where you started and where you're at now because of training. If you started at 200 pounds and bench 450 I'm hella impressed, if you started at 95 and now bench 185 I'm impressed by that too.

btw..just cranked out 10 at 225 yesterday, 300 has got to be just around the corner.

 

[Behemoth]

You ought to be close to 315. When I got 225 for 10, I knew I had 315. I got it that next week.

I'm getting 315 for about 10-11 reps now. I weigh 289 lbs however.