My new outlook on Bench Press

Seeker

Veteran
SI Founding Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2013
Messages
8,859
Reaction score
10,718
Points
333
Many of you ( not all ) know I've been working out since I was young. Pretty much mostly focused on bodybuilding. Only recently have I switched, and to be honest, really cared about increasing my overall strength.

Of course everyone wants to be strong, myself included! But it never was as important as creating a muscular physique with attention mostly going to isolation type movements. Sure I squatted, hell yeah! I didn't have those massive tree trunks when I was younger from doing leg extensions.

Bench press was never a priority for me. I built my pecs mostly from doing incline presses, dips, and flat dumbell presses. Bench press was a once and a while exercise.

So jumping into this recent new realm of strength focused style training, Bench Press is one of the 3 lifts that will be needed to focus heavily and improve on to compete in a meet.

Haha I had no idea the technique that goes into benching powerlifting style. It was definitely and still is my weakest movement.

I had 99 problems and Bench Press was definitely one of them! I'm really enjoying the progress I've made since I started! I've been practicing my bench for over a year now and I'm ONLY now able to use my lats to drive the weight up. I have finally found the right foot placement, and feeling comfortable keeping my shoulders pinned and pinched on the bench. My arch sucks and probably always will.

I still have much to learn and improve but boy have I improved a lot this past year. My max is nothing to brag about. I went from a 325 max to a 375 max and I'm hopeful to hit 400 by next fall. I'm happy, loving, and enjoying my progress.

Most of you know my age range. I am a prefect example that it's never too late for GAINS! I remember a guy making a post asking if it's possible to continue gains after 40. I'm stronger now in my...well... Haha..then I've ever been.

Thank you Pillar of Briliance for your confidence in me. I'll be there next fall with you by my side.
 

snake

Veteran
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
12,338
Reaction score
19,819
Points
383
I'm with you all the way seek! And yes, I remember that post about being over 40. A 400 lb bench is a great bench at any age and 375 is nothing to take lightly. God bless you in staying health. I always felt it's not the strongest or fastest guy that wins, it's normally the healthiest.

Kill it brother!
 

ECKSRATED

UG BENCH KING
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
8,629
Reaction score
9,007
Points
283
Nothing better than a thread about benching. Everyone wants a big bench if they admit it or not. It's usually the first movement kids do when getting into lifting.

Congrats on the progress seek. Stay healthy and strong brother.
 

HydroEJP88

Elite
Joined
Jan 9, 2015
Messages
2,598
Reaction score
1,296
Points
113
Hey man I'm only 31, so without getting into your age group, I would say that you are doing damn good.

I'm nowhere near that weight on my bench yet, hopefully soon I will catch up. You know how we young bucks are lol

Jenn, quit lying to everyone already gosh. We can all clearly tell that you are only 28, so stop saying that you're old.
 

Tren4Life

Elite
SI Founding Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Messages
5,065
Reaction score
4,422
Points
238
I'm glad to hear that you found a new love. Making gains is what it's all about even if it's just 5 pounds a month it's still progress.

Keep us posted about to his meet, I'd love to be there.
 

stonetag

Elite
Joined
Dec 2, 2013
Messages
7,405
Reaction score
6,283
Points
283
I'm with you seek, I can say our age group kicks ass. The bench is a beautiful thing, I'm glad you're sinking your teeth into it. Talk about a feeling of power when you push that kind of iron, gives me serious adrenaline. Carry on my man!
 

AlphaD

Elite
SI Founding Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2012
Messages
8,085
Reaction score
3,331
Points
238
Many may not know this but Seek is one Big boy, and he is strong as F#*^. I seen vids of this monster lifting and he is no joke. Seeks, I agree with you on the learning process especially in the Bench with the powerlifting style of lifting. My technique is not 100 percent on the bench but the things that I have learned and remember when I set up is what took my bench up about 80 pounds, but hell Im still learning it all. One thing I will still stick by is how drastically my body has grown and changed, it is insane. And Im no youngin anymore either, but I have made more gains in the last year then I have with 20 plus years of lifting. Good stuff Seeks thanks for sharing again.
 

gymrat827

Elite
SI Founding Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
6,771
Reaction score
1,902
Points
198
Many of you ( not all ) know I've been working out since I was young. Pretty much mostly focused on bodybuilding. Only recently have I switched, and to be honest, really cared about increasing my overall strength.

Of course everyone wants to be strong, myself included! But it never was as important as creating a muscular physique with attention mostly going to isolation type movements. Sure I squatted, hell yeah! I didn't have those massive tree trunks when I was younger from doing leg extensions.

Bench press was never a priority for me. I built my pecs mostly from doing incline presses, dips, and flat dumbell presses. Bench press was a once and a while exercise.

So jumping into this recent new realm of strength focused style training, Bench Press is one of the 3 lifts that will be needed to focus heavily and improve on to compete in a meet.

Haha I had no idea the technique that goes into benching powerlifting style. It was definitely and still is my weakest movement.

I had 99 problems and Bench Press was definitely one of them! I'm really enjoying the progress I've made since I started! I've been practicing my bench for over a year now and I'm ONLY now able to use my lats to drive the weight up. I have finally found the right foot placement, and feeling comfortable keeping my shoulders pinned and pinched on the bench. My arch sucks and probably always will.

I still have much to learn and improve but boy have I improved a lot this past year. My max is nothing to brag about. I went from a 325 max to a 375 max and I'm hopeful to hit 400 by next fall. I'm happy, loving, and enjoying my progress.

Most of you know my age range. I am a prefect example that it's never too late for GAINS! I remember a guy making a post asking if it's possible to continue gains after 40. I'm stronger now in my...well... Haha..then I've ever been.

Thank you Pillar of Briliance for your confidence in me. I'll be there next fall with you by my side.

Congratulations you old fukk. I'll be there next fall when it's time. After we will hunt Latina big booty hoes.

Seek, i feel ya. My shoulders are fuked from an hockey injury and ive never been able to really bench all that much for 12/15 yrs, ive never pressed/benched much at all, especially compard to my friends.

once i really focused on fourm, tech, total body movement....... pressing wise it made a huge diff. All the power lifters here kinda morphed me into one from a BBer. also hearing everything pop, click n crack while doing it gives you that more much self praise/confidence. knowing your beating age/injury/genetics is such a mind over matter type deal it does huge things for you.




but all i really heard here was big booty latina hoes. ~~~~~~~~~ still love ya jen
 

New Threads

Top