Lifting thread- Who here lifts?

[NoStickers]

Just gotta bench 5 more lbs and I'll be in that 1% @ 19yrs old. I don't understand why most people don't exercise more. My work outs are fairly easy and don't even take that long.

[analcarowner]

NoStickers: What 1% are you talking about? I am 19 too, is this like the pen15 club or something?

[NoStickers]

I also had limited my leg work leading up to the heavy lifts, just to be sure that I kept my weight at a level where I could double it. That was the whole goal- to bench press 200% of my body weight. I read about it in a magazine that about 10% of men can bench press their body weight one time, 2-3% can bench press 1.5 times their body weight, and that less than 1/100 of 1% can bench press twice their weight. I wanted to be in that 1/100 of 1%.

[phenryiv1]

Just gotta bench 5 more lbs and I'll be in that 1% @ 19yrs old. I don't understand why most people don't exercise more. My work outs are fairly easy and don't even take that long.

It is not one percent- it is one one-hundredth of one percet. One percent is 0.01- one out of one hundred. This is 0.00001, or one in ten thousand.

[NoStickers]

My bad, misread. Wow, thats crazy and hard to believe.

[analcarowner]

oh ic, benching twice your body weight. Screw that, I don't want to be big agian.

[phenryiv1]

My bad, misread. Wow, thats crazy and hard to believe.

I find it hard to believe that even that many people can do it. Think about going to a mall or sporting event...how many "average" people are around...and how many fall short of the 1x bodyweight threshhold? Now how many do you think can double their bodyweight on the bench?

That estimate counts all males- not just lifters/athletes.

[NoStickers]

Ya I guess its pretty close to being true. Why is it important though? I could lose a lot of weight if I didn't do lowerbody and still retain my ~315lbs bench which would then be more than twice my body weight but I would then be weaker overall. You even said that you limited your legs. I don't understand why this would be impressive.

[supra brit]

5'6, 120lbs, 18 yrs, lift 10lb barbells, haha! :pface

[rousie13]

If you guys have seen Spiderman, I'm going for the body Toby has in that movie. I don't want to be huge, just cut and built nicely.

*edit* Whats a decent body fat caliper for home use? I heard the Accumeasure Body Fat Track 2 was good.

[phenryiv1]

Ya I guess its pretty close to being true. Why is it important though? I could lose a lot of weight if I didn't do lowerbody and still retain my ~315lbs bench which would then be more than twice my body weight but I would then be weaker overall. You even said that you limited your legs. I don't understand why this would be impressive.

Well, optimally one would be able to do it on a regular lifting regimin. I just did rep work for legs (as opposed to lower reps) when I was trying to make it to 2x. As long as I could still squat as much as I benched, I was fine.

It is just a feat of strength, just like running a 4-minute mile or a 2-hour marathon, or any other benchmark in athletics. It is just a goal that I decided to go for, and I was able to accomplish what very few can.

[NoStickers]

As long as I could still squat as much as I benched, I was fine.

Sounds good to me.

I'm gonna lift and see what I can max out at this evening. When you bench do you arch your back?

[Rockenreno]

I don't understand why most people don't exercise more. My work outs are fairly easy and don't even take that long.

1) Lazy.2) It is annoying and unenjoyable to many.3) Frustration/embarassment.4) Lazy.

Just off the top of my head.

[NoStickers]

Ok I'm not in that hundreth of a percent. I weighed in at 163.5 w/ clothes and did 1 good competition quality rep of 315. I was like damn that was easy so I put 325 on but that extra 10lbs felt like 50. I barely got it halfway up before it started comin back down. I took off 5 lbs and then couldn't even get that off my chest. Oh well, one day I'll get there...

[phenryiv1]

Sounds good to me.

I'm gonna lift and see what I can max out at this evening. When you bench do you arch your back?

Not at all. As a matter of fact, when I am doing rep work, I bring my legs up to force my lower back into the bench. This eliminates arching. When I do low-rep work I keep my feet down for balance and stability, but I still keep my lower back pressed.

[phenryiv1]

Ok I'm not in that hundreth of a percent. I weighed in at 163.5 w/ clothes and did 1 good competition quality rep of 315. I was like damn that was easy so I put 325 on but that extra 10lbs felt like 50. I barely got it halfway up before it started comin back down. I took off 5 lbs and then couldn't even get that off my chest. Oh well, one day I'll get there...

Still, you are probably in the top fraction of a percent as far as benching body weight percentage. you are off by 5 lb. at most, if 315 went up the first time. Had you gone straight to 320-330, you would be much more likely to have gotten it.

While I respect virtually ALL lifters, I feel a special respect for anyone who benches 100 lb.+ over their bodyweight, or over 315 (as long as they are 200 lb. or less).

[NoStickers]

I was taught to arch my back for competitions. Hope you aren't getting it confused with lifting your butt b/c I definitely keep it planted and find it hard to even try to lift it off the bench. When I bench you could probably slide your hand under the middle of my back.

[phenryiv1]

I was taught to arch my back for competitions. Hope you aren't getting it confused with lifting your butt b/c I definitely keep it planted and find it hard to even try to lift it off the bench. When I bench you could probably slide your hand under the middle of my back.

Ahh, gotcha- I was thinking that you were speaking of the arch-your-back-like-you-are-doing-a-backbend kind of arch- the "lifting your butt."

I do what you described when I go heavy, though for day-to-day workouts I try to keep it as flat as possible.

[Benedict]

just to add to the mix I guess.

I'm 18, senior in HS, 119 lbs varsity wrestler with 6% body fat, 5'6" and I bench 205. I'm lucky because I don't train regularly enough on bench to make a big impact. Season starts next week! Going all out this year since it's my last.

Hopefully I'll reach my goals once practice picks up; to bench double(240) and to squat triple(360) my body weight. Impressive enough for me.

[vicki]

In the event that i want to shoot the $h!+ with some guys about the gym, i want to know who else is a gym rat.

Go ahead, brag a bit.

Post your height, weight, age, and reasons for lifting. Other info is optional.

Haha. I lift weights but not as guys do. :p

5'1, 105-110ish, stronger hucks and throws (I play ultimate) and also for more definition and bodytone.

[driftercs13]

i'm 6', 192, 22 years old, and bench 225 for reps. i don't max out and work up to the 225 but itis not bad see that when i started the gym i benched 180 like five times and thats it.

i see the gym five days a week and workout about two hours a day (with cardio). i don't try to rush in to more weight just every couple weeks i go up in weight. but also i don't believe in just working upper body every day is a different body part and it works for me.

the only reason i work out is to stay in shape for construction work that i do. it is hard when you see i 120lb mexican pick up 5/8 12ft pieces of sheetrock and carry it from one room to another.