Willbenchforcupcakes Member

Bench press. Always bench press

I adore my gym. Access is included in my programming. There are no classes. But there is competition grade equipment. And my coach. And help with my bench shirt. And plenty of people who understand what it takes to be highly competitive in your given sport. It’s worth every penny. And more than that.

I barely ever log my weight in here anymore. I do log almost daily on happy scale, and always what the scale actually says. I know my scale weighs about .5kg off from a calibrated competition scale. I just keep that in mind when I’m getting close to a competition and need to make sure I make weight.

For leggings, lululemon and grrrl are the top. Got some pairs from Nike, under armour, etc but I always wind up pulling them up between sets. Shorts are Nike pro all the way. Just the best fitting shorts for me all around. Tops are a completely random mix of things.

Eleiko rack, bar, and plates. A nice little deadlift platform to. Heavy enough dumbbells for accessory work.

My floor press is significantly less than my bench press. My 3rm for floor press would be around 70kg, where my raw bench 3rm is mid 80kg. I can’t remember ever hitting over 72.5kg for floor press, where my best ever raw bench is 97.5kg.

My program. The competition equipment. My coach (and the other coaches/interns.

When I’m benching, I’m analyzing the video of my last set. Everything else, reminding myself that podium spots aren’t earned by taking it easy.

I can’t have all the cupcakes :( there are always weigh ins to make

Never enough. I don’t squat over 245 for medical reasons, which is 75% of a tested max. Raw bench, I’ve hit 215lb. In my shirt, I did 270lb to a one board. Deadlifts, I’ve hit 375lb, but I don’t push it anymore.

Bench. Always bench

Exactly this. The only time my warm up sets always look the same is when I’m benching heavy singles. Warm ups help get my nervous system primed and ready to actually lift

Finally got myself into a bench shirt. So much fun and can’t wait to learn it and start getting good. It’s a trip but the most fun I’ve had for a very long time. 97.5kg for a double to a 2 board. Need to get a proper bench belt so that the touch point of the shirt isn’t affected by the belt.…

Never enough. 1rm in the gym is 97.5. Bar speeds recently though point to maybe finally breaking through the 100 mark.

Deadlifts are my second love. Bench is forever number one. Best platform lifts are 135kg(297lb) squat, 92.5kg(203lb) bench, and 170kg(374lb) deadlift.

Depends what I’m warming up for. Squats and deads, I just start with the bar and work up from there. Bench, I do some shoulder dislocations until my shoulders feel good and then start from the bar. I don’t do any stretching or real mobility work. It only destabilizes my joints in the long run.

Another lifter here. I rarely ever get sore - usually only the first week back after recovery week from a major competition. As for beat up, it’s a fact of life as I start peaking up towards major competitions. The more I work with my coach (and I have been with him for 3 1/2 years now), the more perfectly we can time it.…

I don’t take weeks off. I do take light easy weeks after my major competitions. When I’ve tried taking a week off, my body just doesn’t like it. The nerve issue in my neck and upper back flares up and takes a month or so to calm down to normal levels. Joints ache from the lack of work. It’s just not worth it for me.

If you’re enjoying lifting, competing in that is the obvious choice. Either powerlifting or weightlifting depending on the exact type of lifting you like. It’s fun, it’s addicting, and no matter what level you wind up competing at, you truly only compete against yourself.

My advice would be to just do it! There isn’t anything I don’t like about competing. Okay, maybe weighins. More specifically, waiting to weighin. The best part is getting to hang out with friends and make new friends. Plus the adrenaline rush can’t be beat. The only one who cares about your numbers is you, and the best…

Exactly this. Bench is a fun, beautifully technical lift. Just make sure you have safeties or a spotter.

Cupcakes are all mine! First time nationals require provincials, regionals and of course the qualifying total. Different provinces have different additional requirements. Once you’ve done nationals once, you just need to satisfy your province’s requirements plus maintain the total.

A couple times. The notable ones are first in nationals this year, silver at the two North American benchpress championships that I’ve attended and a silver at the 2016 world classic bench press championships.

It’s a light, easy squat to secure a total. What I’m allowed to squat now used to be warm up weights

Just had nationals last week. Next meet is 11 weeks out. Bench is life. I’m not allowed to go past 75% for squats, and I don’t have it in me to just take a token squat to do three lift.

To bench 300lb raw and 400lb in a shirt. Nice long term goals.

I technically won nationals on my opener thanks to body weight, this second was just gravy. 90kg at a body weight of 81.6kg https://instagram.com/p/Bfg9WcKhjHu/

I compete in 84kg. Gym best is 145kg, on the platform, 135kg. But since I’m a bench specialist these days, I typically do between 85-100kg depending on how I feel.

Seriously the best 8 day out session ever. Hit 95kg/209.43lb for a pretty little single. https://instagram.com/p/BfHwqRrhNDQ/

Prep for nationals is getting serious. Had some 2 board work tonight and managed 102.5kg/225lb for a single. Excited to see what I pull off on the platform but even more excited to see how a bench shirt treats me afterwords. https://instagram.com/p/Beb4EH-B3E9/