Willbenchforcupcakes Member

Meh. I spend most of the week essentially alone in the gym. At the very least I tend not to have too many of my teammates around. So when on Saturdays I get to hang with my bench crew and get hands on work to improve my bench, yes I'm happy about it. Talking shop about bench is my social life and I like it that way.

280 to 125 and back again is nothing. I should have taken a picture of the bar from Saturday because it was a very entertaining way to get to 165kg. I've also max tested with a guy who was 4 sets of plates ahead of me. We just laughed that we were getting more work changing plates than benching.

Eh. Switching weights takes almost no time at all. I've been working in a group with working weights from 75-165kg and it takes seconds to switch around.

The only thing that comes after cardio is core. And that's only when both are assigned. Usually it's lifting only.

Nicely done Matt! @CarlKRobbo - I've been on the injured list for lower body lifts for the last 11 1/2 months, although I've had medical clearance to reload since late November. Just had important competitions that were bench only and therefore reloading didn't make much sense. 41 days and then I get to see what has…

I prefer alone with the sole exception of I love my Saturday morning bench crew.

5kg pr on two board press today! Hit 100kg/220lb for a relatively easy single. https://instagram.com/p/BEWYqHqjL6p/ And all your dips and pull-ups are giving me the sads. The strength is there but my shoulders utterly hate both movements.

Nice lifts! @CarlKRobbo I kinda get the whole weak train after coming back. Nervous for what my squat and deadlift are going to be like reloading late next month.

I keep telling my coach he is trying to kill me or get me to pull off the impossible. He just laughs at me. But in all seriousness, get some gentle movement in. A long slow walk will do wonders.

Awesome job! And I agree, just say "hey, can I work in with you? I need the bar at x" I have yet to meet anyone at any level who would say no. I remember at nationals this year, everyone in the room was sharing the benches, just going for whichever one wasn't in active use when you needed to take your next warmup. It's…

I miss box squats. Always found them at least more mentally challenging than regular squats but the carryover benefits made the challenge worth it. Soon. After my next meet I get to fully reload and then start working with the partials as needed.

Do they help me through a tough training session, at least mentally? Yes. Am I willing to spend money on them for that little at least mental boost? Yup. I don't care if it's all in my head. I get a performance boost coming from somewhere and that's good enough for me.

So much this. Customized programming with hands on coaching will always trump cookie cutter programs. Especially if you have a desire to compete.

Lots of us. I'm more a bencher than a three lifter, but I'm getting back into three lift this summer after 18 months of bench only

Form always and forever. Okay, sometimes on the platform perfect form goes out the window. But no point practising imperfect form in training.

I prefer by myself. But I adore my Saturday morning bench crew sessions. Nothing better.

With the exception of the right axis of my lower cross (hip flexors and hamstrings), as well as my arch, I don't stretch. Being hypermobile means that when I stretch, I have to follow up with stabilization work. Worth it to maintain the balance I've finally achieved in my lower body and to be able to arch the way I do, not…

Some nice easy bench doubles, paused at 95%. Some other fun stuff, but that was the funniest part.

I take recovery weeks after my major competitions. It's a chance to recover from max effort and get mentally recovered as well. Peaking for a major competition is a mentally and physically draining experience. Having a week to recover is paramount to long term success and enjoyment.

Awesome! Love deadlift pr's!

Homemade cheese dip. Popcorn is my saving volume grace during weight cuts.

Whatever your body likes best. I always eat before I train but others find that makes them sick.

Do first what is most important to you. For me, that's always lifting so it's what is always first. Not that there is a lot of cardio in my program to start with.

I do only what my programmer tells me to. For my current training cycle, I have 15 minutes total of cardio a week, and that is toned down to an easy cycle. If I had a large amount of weight to cut, I'd get more cardio. But I keep myself close to my weight class.

Unless you're using a ridiculous amount, nope. It was my go to when I still trained in a commercial gym.

Liquid chalk if you can't use the normal stuff.

Its me. My thing. What I do, and I happen to be pretty good at it. I can't imagine not training, not competing. And therefore, even on the days I'm tired and don't really want to train, I go and train anyways.

I train movements. Current training cycle is - Bench Squat Bench Recovery (deads) Bench Deadlifts on recovery day is an inside joke at this point.

One a week. I enjoyed chasing my girls around the zoo today on my rest day. Another day is easy body weight correctives and prehab that keeps me moving well.

Oh yes! I know you're happy about that one.