Ladies, how much do you bench?
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To be fair ladies, you should probably state whether your benching is true touch the chest stuff or the half benches I see all the time in the gym (women and men). Not saying anything wrong but if you are going to be strutting your 1RM, best to compare apples with apples!
I touch my chest. :grumble:
Me TOO!
So do I.
I didn't realize so many people were allowed to touch Rae's chest! :laugh:0 -
Wow! If a trainer told you to use the Smith machine I would seriously question everything else they are having you do, just my opinion.
If you have a power rack or squat rack at your gym set up the bench inside of it to do your bench press. Some people think the squat rack is "holy ground" that should only be used for squats, the way I see it I pay the same everyone else does for my gym membership so if you ain't squatting in it I'll use it to squat, deadlift, bench, do chin-ups hell if I'm feeling extra spunky I might do a heavy set of curls in it!!! The biggest thing is whatever lift you are doing make it a priority from day one to learn perfect form even if it means you have to use a little less weight. The majority of machines out there do not let you use good form so do some research.
Oh and to get back to your original topic, don't worry about how much someone else is lifting, if it feels like the correct weight to you and you can eek out about 10 reps with it it doesn't matter if the girl next to you is lifting twice as much she may have been lifting for a while to get to that poundage. Good Luck!!! :drinker:
All of this 100%.0 -
You'll get there!! I felt super weak at first, too. My progress is slow but I'm at 60# now. Haven't done a 1RM. I'm following Rippetoe's Starting Strength program.0
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To be fair ladies, you should probably state whether your benching is true touch the chest stuff or the half benches I see all the time in the gym (women and men). Not saying anything wrong but if you are going to be strutting your 1RM, best to compare apples with apples!
I touch my chest. :grumble:
Me TOO!
So do I.
I didn't realize so many people were allowed to touch Rae's chest! :laugh:0 -
Yeah, I'm following Jamie Eason's program, and she said to use the Smith for the incline press. So I just did both on it. That, and I wanted to get a feel for it before going all out and using the normal bench press
Start with free weights. Machine bench is nothing like free weights. It doesn't incorporate stabilizers. Let's pretend you worked up to 120lb bench on the smith, then switched over to free weights - when you unrack it's going to cause a wreck because of massively underdeveloped stabilizers.
For a bench to count you have to bring it down and touch your lower sternum, then bring it straight all the way up. If anyone but you touches the bar in any way, it doesn't count.
I agree you are cheating yourself if you don't let it go all the way to your chest but to say it doesn't count if someone touches it is just flat wrong, your best benefit is when you pushed past your capacity and someone has to provide a little help as you exhaust the very last little bit of glycogen to get that last rep up even if your spotter is carrying half the load.0 -
props to all of you. i'm still a big scaredy pants about venturing onto that side of the gym, not to mention accidentally trying to lift more than i can handle. you're far ahead of me!
The first time is the scariest, but once you are past that, it's fabulous. You should do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And just take it slow. Ask someone to spot you if you are worried about doing too much.0 -
Definitely a weak point for me. I've started adding the bench every week and am starting to add it in twice a week to work on it more. I'm at just 75 so far.0
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started in the beginning of June @ 45, 5x5.
now i'm at 70, 5x5 -- plan on upping to 75 next week.
yes, the barbell touches my chest.0 -
Currently at 85 and progressing slowly. And I touch my own chest, so does my husband. Oh, I also bring the bar all the way down to my chest, if I need to clarify.
I don't touch Rae's chest though, I haven't been invited to the party! :drinker:
Edit to say that is my working weight, 5x5. I'm going to be pushing it higher next week because I am switching over to RPT.0 -
To be fair ladies, you should probably state whether your benching is true touch the chest stuff or the half benches I see all the time in the gym (women and men). Not saying anything wrong but if you are going to be strutting your 1RM, best to compare apples with apples!
I touch my chest. :grumble:
Me TOO!
So do I.
I bench barely 65 pounds. It is really my weakest lift
*eyeroll*
Sounds like someone is intimidated by all these awesome female lifters.
I also touch my chest...
***edit to say that I'm guessing most of these weights are working weights, not 1RM.0 -
80# total, two 40# dumbells, for 8 reps. And for the record, I touch my chest.0
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To be fair ladies, you should probably state whether your benching is true touch the chest stuff or the half benches I see all the time in the gym (women and men). Not saying anything wrong but if you are going to be strutting your 1RM, best to compare apples with apples!
I touch my chest. :grumble:
Me TOO!
So do I.
I didn't realize so many people were allowed to touch Rae's chest! :laugh:
LOL. What can I say? I'm kind of a "free spirit".0 -
My one-rep max is one plate. I'm hoping to one day surpass two.0
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I can bench a 300lb douchecanoe... All the way down to my chest and back up. Does that count, Dave??0
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To be fair ladies, you should probably state whether your benching is true touch the chest stuff or the half benches I see all the time in the gym (women and men). Not saying anything wrong but if you are going to be strutting your 1RM, best to compare apples with apples!
I not only touch my chest, 105 isn't even my 1RM. That's what I do for 3 sets of 6 reps. Don't hate me because I'm strong AND beautiful and you wish you COULD touch this chest. Hmph!0 -
95 this week. I was up to 110 at one point.0
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I started with the bar on bench. I can do 5 x 5 at 80 lbs now. I don't know what my 1 RPM is. Yes, I bring the bar down to my chest.
P.S. I've been lifting since January. Progression on the bench press is really really slow for me0 -
I just did 100lb, 3 x 8 this week. All the way down to my chest, thank you very much. Very proud to have hit that goal.0
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Just hit 115 lbs. Haven't been going as much as I used to. Not sure what my one rep max is though.0
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I did 65 lbs last night in my basement with my hubby cheering me on. I love lifting!0
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