...and then, I dropped the barbell on my chest!
Radiskull
Posts: 70 Member
Hello fellow lifters! So, just like the subject line said, I totally dropped the bar on my chest during my bench press and couldn't get it off. I should have just tipped it over and dumped the weights on the floor (duh!) but I panicked! Luckily, my husband came around and pulled it off of me. I was so embarrassed and mad at myself that I actually cried. In the gym. Then I got back up and did some deadlifts. It was horrible. I am just struggling so much with strengthening my upper body and I am getting really frustrated. I can deadlift 190 lbs, but then I drop a 65 lb bench press...ugh! Since that happened I am scared to really push the bench press so I have been using dumbbells instead. I feel like I really hit a road block here. Just wanted to get this off my chest (pun intended, haha). Anyone else have a similar situation? Any advice? Thanks!
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I was afraid to increase my bench press without a spotter last week for this very reason! Last week I benched in the squat rack and set the safety bars low enough so that the bar would just clear my chest if I couldn't push it up enough to lock out or get it back on the rests. I could just roll it downward and slip out if needed. Helped me tremendously mentally and was able to hit a PR knowing that I had nothing to lose if I attempted it. Hope that helps!0
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It happens, don't be embarrassed. I've done it myself. If you are going to lift a weight you haven't tried before, ask someone to spot you, most are more than willing. If you can't get a spotter use the safety bars like mx2 pointed out. Using dumbbells to build up some strength isn't going to hurt either. In my opinion, it helps. With the bar you can overcompensate to one side where dumbbells force you to use the strength in both arms independently. I tend to do both.0
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DH was out of town this weeksoI repeated my previous lift for this reason....sorry! I'm sure it sucked.
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Don't worry about it. Your upper body will get stronger too, it can just take a while. Be patient with yourself, and expect a lot smaller numbers/slower progress for upper body than lower. It's totally normal!! Also, see if your gym has a power cage with safety pins you can bench in. I'm shopping for one myself right now. Y'all fierce ladies be safe out there!0
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I am happy to say I have done the roll of shame, it friggin' hurts mind you (think it was 55 kg), but it happened the other week. Thought I had the weight done and dusted, one more rep, down and argh! It would not go back up again. So I rolled it off me. Ha! Ha!
Now I set the power rack at the new gym up with spotter bars. I have the bench in there with the bars set a little above my chest when I am arched slightly. So I can flatten the arch in my back and then rest the barbell on the bars. Mehdi has a video where he fails and shows this very thing. I think I have the bars higher than he does.0 -
Don't worry! I have had to do the roll of shame twice now... The first time was ok, it was just me, but the second time there was a guy actively watching me waiting for the bench.
Like everyone else, I definitely recommend looking for the spotter bars/safety racks. And don't be like me and underestimate the height of your boobs when laying down :noway: Or asking someone to spot you. You can do it!! And you'll feel even more awesome when you finish those weights like the bada$$ that you are!0 -
Awww! Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about....as you can see pretty much all of us have done it! I workout at home and just make sure that the safety chains in my power rack are at the right height for me to set the bar down and squeeze out from under it
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I get stuck under my bar all the time if I'm just starting a new increase. I like to make sure the weight is challenging enough for me that I almost can't do it. Mind you, this is easier with a spotter but when I'm stuck I just sit up, roll the bar to my thighs and get up to rerack it. No one seems to notice.
Bench press & upper body seems to be the slowest gains for everyone. I'm on week 12 of Strong Lifts and I'm just BARELY doing 75lbs (I get stuck on my last few sets).0 -
Oh, wow.. You guys made me feel so much better. I felt like a total failure. I am ready to try this thing again... Thanks everyone!0
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I've been pinned under a 65lb bar on the bench press, and got rescued by a skinny 19 year old. Who still goes to that gym so I see him all the time.
It happens to all of us.
Also I use a bar path that results in the bar tapping down right under my chest instead of right across it. So that way if you do fail, its on your sternum and not pushing into your boobs and it can just roll down your belly (instead of hving to go up and over) when you do the roll of shame.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/bench-press-technique.html
roll of shame:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_OdXKfSp-Y 0 -
I did the roll of shame twice, nothing to be embarrased of.0
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roll of shame:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_OdXKfSp-Y
I finally watched it, and that looks totally doable! My bar path is actually similar to yours, I think, so now I feel a lot better. I definitely do NOT want to end up with the bar on my boobs! I'd rather it go on my ribs below it and then I can roll it off from there if I ever need to.
Also, dude needs to clean his room. Does he HAVE enough books stacked everywhere? :laugh:0 -
I am certainly going to follow that bar path! That actually makes a lot more sense.0
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I am happy to say I have done the roll of shame, it friggin' hurts mind you (think it was 55 kg), but it happened the other week. Thought I had the weight done and dusted, one more rep, down and argh! It would not go back up again. So I rolled it off me. Ha! Ha!
Now I set the power rack at the new gym up with spotter bars. I have the bench in there with the bars set a little above my chest when I am arched slightly. So I can flatten the arch in my back and then rest the barbell on the bars. Mehdi has a video where he fails and shows this very thing. I think I have the bars higher than he does.
I'm totally going to do this!!! Once I got up to 70lbs I started to worry about being able to do the roll of shame. I have done it before but once the bar gets heavy it gets tough to do. . . .Great tip!!0
