I ended up putting a clock with a second counter in my garage to make sure I take the 60-second pause between sets. As it turns out, 60-90 seconds seems like quite a long time if you're standing/sitting around doing nothing much except wait for the next set because you're using the same weight .... I can't imagine having to wait an entire 5 minutes, but from what I understand at the higher weights, the extended waiting times become mandatory, so ya best get used to finding something to do (not so easy for us more fidgety people). :bigsmile:

Having said that, I highly advocate doing some stretching between reps also. Gets the time by and is also beneficial. :drinker:

It's just that I read so many "I hate this at the gym" and I don't want to be one of "those people" even by accident.

Those are horrible threads. 97.68% of the stuff in those threads is total bullsh!t. You pay for your membership just like anyone else and your workout is just as worthwhile as the guy who is squatting 1000lbs. Don't go out of your way to be rude but if you're using the bench you're using the bench. If someone asks to work in between sets you can choose to let them do that.

Bottom line, don't look at those threads that are people b!tching about all the jerks at the gym. Go in, do your thing, have fun, don't worry about the *kitten*.

what the heck am I supposed to do standing around for FIVE minutes?!?

Soon enough you will get to the point where five minutes flies by and you dread having to go do another set because you STILL feel like you're dying. Just my squats or deadlifts alone take me around an hour from start to finish. Sometimes longer!

^ That.


And speaking of bench fail, that pretty well describes my day.

LOL

Thanks -- tonight was a "where is everyone" night in the gym so i was able to do stuff inbetween my sets and there was no failure tonight :glasses: It was squat/ohp/deadlift day though so we'll see what happens when I go back to bench.

Awesome, good luck with the benches!

I try not to focus on the fact that I'm not lifting heavy beacause I'm lifting heavy *for me* and that counts. And besides tonight I found itty bitty baby muscles :happy:

Those are NOT baby muscles, and you look fantastic!! And I'm with the others. Screw anyone who's a jerk about you sitting and resting between sets. If they don't understand the need for it, they don't work out hard enough. :oP

I feel your frustration with bench, though. I made good progress during the first week and it's been excruciatingly slow ever since. Meh.

Well, it took longer to get back up there but ... today I did it! 65lb 5x5 bench press. Thank you all so much for your support and advice!

Outstanding!

You didn't ask for advice, but pro-tip: don't put the clips on the barbell when doing bench. It's not an enormous amount of weight, but if you need to bail you can always tip the bar and drop the weights off. As the weights get heavier this becomes more important.

You didn't ask for advice, but pro-tip: don't put the clips on the barbell when doing bench. It's not an enormous amount of weight, but if you need to bail you can always tip the bar and drop the weights off. As the weights get heavier this becomes more important.

But what if I spill the weights? How embarrassing!

You won't. I've never had the weights move more than an inch or two, ever. Hell I never secure them for any exercise, OHP, squat, deadlift, etc. And I wobble plenty, believe me.

Even if you do spill them somehow, it's better than dying when you can't get a heavy bar off your chest or neck. It happens. Maybe not with 65lbs but it's definitely a risk. A surprising number of people die each year due to bench press injuries.

I'm a safety nut, as you can tell