On New Year's eve, I made this bet with my girlfriend. At the end of March, I have to get my bench press result close to what it has been (200 lbs). Then at the end of May, I have to make a new record (more than 220 lbs). If I fail either goal, I have to pay her 150 dollars cash. Her challenge is to lose weight, nine pounds until March, then five more before May and so that she can't gain weight between the weigh-ins. The bet is the same, 2x150 bucks to me if she fails. Because of my job I didn't do any training during the whole autumn season and the first three times back at the gym were nightmarish. Now it seems that the March goal should be easy, but after that it gets tricky. And yeah I know these results suck, I am just here to give hope for others
Ugo, handstand pushups will give your shoulders fantastic strength, and I've often found it was the deltoids that held a person back. Even doing partials at first will help you big time. Also, on the way down, you need bicep and back strength to lower and stabilize the weight. Chins and rowing will power up your back considerably. If you really want to win this, we should talk periodization, grease the groove, and bodyweight exercises that will strengthen your entire torso. Let me know.
How is that? I don't think this is among the weirdest New Years resolutions ever, plus this would be a pretty crappy made-up story. Not everybody's resolutions include chest-shitting
Average strength standards based on the observation of Mark Rippetoe and Bill Star: http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/BenchStandards.html Untrained <dl><dd>An individual who has not trained on the exercises before but can perform them correctly. </dd></dl> Novice <dl><dd>An individual who has trained regularly for up to several months. </dd></dl> Intermediate <dl><dd>An individual who has trained regularly for up to a couple years. </dd></dl> Advanced <dl><dd>An individual who has trained regularly for multiple years. </dd></dl> Elite <dl><dd>An athlete competing in strength sports. Keep in mind, the standards shown in the tables do not represent the highest level of strength performance possible. </dd></dl>
So it takes an average 165lb man around a year to hit a 200lb bench press and an average 181lb man 3-6 months. Untrained dudes usually can't unless they're massive. Sounds about right. 300lb bench presses are only common on the internet.
Working at golds gym for years it was not that uncommon there. However even the gym rats and regulars at golds is a small VERY small population compared to everyone
I always sucked at and hated bench. Lying down to exercise also seemed kinda queer to me me. Much prefer presses and weighted dips
Yeah squats are fun. Presses and chin ups are my fave though. And snatch grip rack pulls. you should buy some fat gripz & try fat grip chin ups - hard!
so you got this couple. a gangly twerp and a slovenly skeezoid. walking down the avenue looking like the number ten
The deadline of March was easy as I expected but it is getting trickier. For some reason getting from 210 lbs to 220 lbs has always been really tough for me, though it shouldn't. My other results have gone up steadily. There is still time left though so there is a chance that I'll make it. Is there any trick btw how to get the maxim result. Should I rest the last week, or should I try to lift big weights in the last exercises before the deadline?
Is the end of may the deadline? Maybe try doing partials/lock outs with heavier weights like 240/250 to get you used to going heavier? Even just unracking it and holding it arms length and reracking it. You might be better resting for at least a week before the deadline though.