bench press beginner question

sengalissa

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

jimmmer

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

kaaaaylee

You can also find a spotter.

sengalissa

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

Safeties... Yes. Phew, somehow it still scares me to have the barbell over my neck!

emtjmac

STRONGLIFTS 5x5

ew_david

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

Safeties... Yes. Phew, somehow it still scares me to have the barbell over my neck!

It should be over your chest

ChampCrucial

You should use bodyweight and start with push ups, and supple net them with inverted rows until you get stronger. If you can't do push ups, do walk push ups and incline push ups.

MagnumBurrito

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

Safeties... Yes. Phew, somehow it still scares me to have the barbell over my neck!

It should be over your chest

Rack and unrack the barbell only if your elbows are locked. Otherwise like dracarys said, the barbell should be over your chest.

Read Starting Strength for every little nuance of benching (and other great lifts).

http://amzn.to/1qB8N7A

steve0820

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

Safeties... Yes. Phew, somehow it still scares me to have the barbell over my neck!

It should be over your chest

Took the words right out of my mouth hahaha

"So you think you can Bench? " by Elite FTS is a great series to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHx1gYTA-Rw

sengalissa

I don't feel cimfortable holding heavy weights over my head. I don't have a bench rack thing (appartment complex gym), only a bench. So I have been doing bench presses with the heaviest dumbbells I found in there - two 15lbs ones. I am ready to progress but don't know how without spending a fortune or getting hurt.

Ideas?
I should mention that there is a squat rack. Can I pull a bench underneath, or is that nonsense?

I drag my bench into a squat rack. It's totally safe to push yourself if you've set the safeties at the right height(!).

(Obviously you'll have to ditch the dumbbells and use a barbell to make that work, though...)

Safeties... Yes. Phew, somehow it still scares me to have the barbell over my neck!

It should be over your chest

Took the words right out of my mouth hahaha

"So you think you can Bench? " by Elite FTS is a great series to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHx1gYTA-Rw

Thanks. Will watch once my kids are in bed...