What is my max bench?

BulgingKingFlair

New Member
Hey fellas,
Have a question and need some feedback. I have been trying to use online benchpress calculators to figure it out, but my reps are too high and something is out of whack with my body. Today I benched 225 for 34 reps, but have been struggling with 405lb for 1. The trainers and everyone say I should be WELL over 405 considering my reps at 225.

What am I missing? My form has been described as 'picture perfect' - so what is wrong with me ????

-KBF
 
Well on paper you shouldn't be lifting 405... You should be able to throw that several times 225 34 is insane your max should be above 450 without a doubt how many times can you lift 315?
 
Hard to say 'Fresh'......today after I warmed up, did the two plates for 34, I got 405 with a healthy spot for two. Then I backed off to 315lb and failed on rep 8. I am assuming that fresh, 10 wouldn't be out of the question. I mean, looking at the NFL combine numbers, 34 reps at 225 would be beyond impressive. Don't get me wrong, I'm 35 and my football days are well behind me.....but the trainers made me feel like 34 reps was freakish. I probably could have gotten a couple more with a 'ghost spotter' behind me.....really the only reason I stopped was a lack of spotter and not wanting to blow something out when I had a lot left in my workout.

-KBF
 
You should try 315 off the bat next time you max but regardless on paper your max should be between 450 and 500
 
Yeah, I think it must have to do with my sequencing. Quite frankly, I don't care about how many times I can put up 225. Its all about the big numbers to me. I usually do a warmup set to get the blood flowing, 145 for 20. So should I still do that, then jump to 315 for one? Then where, straight to 405? And yeah, the trainers were saying I should be able to do AT LEAST 450. So even at 405, I should be able to get a few reps I would think.....
 
You should try 315 off the bat next time you max but regardless on paper your max should be between 450 and 500

no way i did 225 30 times 8 sets in and still couldn't do a 405 i was stuck for 4 months , i am at 455 now and it takes a long time to get there if its one of your trouble spots .
 
Really? I guess you're weird like me than, pal. Cause multiple trainers say it should be at LEAST 450. My chest is big and thick, not to mention my tris. So my 'bench muscles' are all big, thick and strong.....its gotta be the sequencing, OR the fact that I can't do any powerlifting with my legs because I have 2 bulging discs in my back. I know previously, my bench jumped up over 50 pounds in 10 weeks once I started pushing big weight with my legs. Who knows, maybe I'll up my Anadrol to 3 a day, lol. I'll be trying the recommended sequencing late this week, then I'll jump on here and let you know what happens.....or what doesn't! The frustrating part is that I WAS doing 455 before I hurt my back 9 months ago. What happened to muscle memory ???
 
Okay, so a trainer has been helping me bust this plateau for a couple weeks. Mission accomplished! He has me doing chest twice per week, one day is a "speed day" the other is max effort day. On speed day, I took 50percent of my one rep max, and did 12 sets of 3 super-quickly each minute. Then moved on to tris. Had my power-day yesterday, got 425 four seperate times. Started with 10 reps at 145, 5 at 225, one at 315, and one at 425. Plateau DOWN!
Posted from my BlackBerry Bold II
 
1 at 440. This bench program has be going up 10-15 pounds a week! Message me if you want me to describe it. I never would have thought of doing it this way.
Posted from my BlackBerry Bold II
 
The bench press begins by lifting the bar off the rack, and lowering it until the bar is motionless on the chest before being pressed under control to the start position. I know previously, my bench jumped up over 50 pounds in 10 weeks once I started pushing big weight with my legs. I usually do a warmup set to get the blood flowing, 145 for 20. So should I still do that, then jump to 315 for one?
 
Hey fellas,
Have a question and need some feedback. I have been trying to use online benchpress calculators to figure it out, but my reps are too high and something is out of whack with my body. Today I benched 225 for 34 reps, but have been struggling with 405lb for 1. The trainers and everyone say I should be WELL over 405 considering my reps at 225.

What am I missing? My form has been described as 'picture perfect' - so what is wrong with me ????

-KBF

How many reps you get with one weight doesnt mean you SHOULD be getting a max. I know a buddy who can deadlift 315 for 25 and cant pull 405 to save his life. I on the other hand can only deadlift 315 for 9 but i can pull 460. Everyones different. I benched 420 @ 205lbs. And i could only rep 225 for 24.
 
Just because you have stamina with a lower weight does not mean you should be able to lift the additional 200lbs. You need to work your way up to that weight.

Stop doing 30 reps with 225 and try a pyramid or something to break you plateau. If you want to lift heavy weights, you need to get working with those heavy weights.
 
Just because you have stamina with a lower weight does not mean you should be able to lift the additional 200lbs. You need to work your way up to that weight.

Stop doing 30 reps with 225 and try a pyramid or something to break you plateau. If you want to lift heavy weights, you need to get working with those heavy weights.

That's about where I was going with that. I tripled 455 in the past at the end of workout and I don't think I could ever have hit more than 12 or 15 reps with 225. Hell, I get bored after 6 reps. :p

They're two totally different measures of strength.
 
That's about where I was going with that. I tripled 455 in the past at the end of workout and I don't think I could ever have hit more than 12 or 15 reps with 225. Hell, I get bored after 6 reps. :p

They're two totally different measures of strength.

You usually need a beer after more then 10 reps so who are you kidding.
 
well wtf. maybe i need ur trainer cause i can bench 300lbs.19xs and i cant get over 435 so wtf. maybe im a fuckin nut to and this shits been pissin me off for about 3months and seriously 225lbs. i dont even count how many xs i can do that im not being smart either this shit has been makin me upset for awhile im 5ft8in i weigh between 227 and 230 all my lifts are pretty damn good everybody tells me i should be able to hit close to 500 but i cant man literally dude i never say i cant but i really cant and it drives me crazy help me out dude
 
well wtf. maybe i need ur trainer cause i can bench 300lbs.19xs and i cant get over 435 so wtf. maybe im a fuckin nut to and this shits been pissin me off for about 3months and seriously 225lbs. i dont even count how many xs i can do that im not being smart either this shit has been makin me upset for awhile im 5ft8in i weigh between 227 and 230 all my lifts are pretty damn good everybody tells me i should be able to hit close to 500 but i cant man literally dude i never say i cant but i really cant and it drives me crazy help me out dude

rule number one... Fuck what "everyone Says" you either CAN or CANT...
rule number two... If you want to increase strenght... LOW reps... HIGH weight...
rule number three... If you want to increase your bench... PUSH THE BAR HARDER!

simply put... your max bench is the most weight you can push up... PERIOD...
 
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