Posting fitness progress here.

[Thebestthereeveris]

Life is like climbing a mountain. Soon u

OP, you should compete. You'd place well.

Lifting Database

usapl.liftingdatabase.com

I will admit my forms not the greatest but it will definetly pass and I feel it. I’m not here to make this about me those numbers are outrageous for my bw (175) (5’10) but it’s real and I’m not faking. I can get 455 on a GOOD day but usually bench 405x6 consistently. You would be surprised how far you can go if you mentally believe it can happen. I’m also ****ing insane in every tk int I do

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

Great, another

I usually do dumbbells, 100s for bench, I have pics and videos. But a guy weighting in the 190s being 6ft tall benching 5 plates, sure, another Razor Rambo guy in the forum. For extraordinary claims you should have extraordinary proofs.

Sure maybe one day I’m not trying to fight and put others down just trying to share progress and info with others. I got nothing to prove to you guys I got nothing to lie about what do I get impressing anonymous strangers on sosuave

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

You're confused. Almos 5 plates on each side with that physique is damn impressive, we are skeptical here when people come, that's why we are asking for proof, you don't have to give any, but we don't have to believe you. Its like " Hey guys I bough a Bugatti, you don't believe me, fvck you"

Haha fair enough I guess. I’m trying to post another photo but it’s saying it’s too large. I get it those numbers are ridiculous. Take it as you will.

 

[sangheilios]

I've been around gyms for 40 years now on and off, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of men I've actually seen benchpress 500lbs (and that's seen not just claim). In each case, their physique was radically different to yours: more bulky, shorter levers; greater BMI.

It's difficult to tell, but I'd be surprised if you could bench 300lb with your physique - and 300lb is a significant bench BTW once you get past all the hype and lies you hear from bodybuilders in particular. Benching 300lb in true form is not to be sneezed at, especially if you're lean.

And it's also going to take steroid use as well, not something you are going to see if you are naturally trained. Hell, how many times have you seen someone do a legitimate 400 bench? A lot of these guys I've seen that claim all of these numbers often are using a shortened range of motion or have a spotter helping with the bar. For quite a while now I also see tons of guys that use that slingshot while they bench press, it's fairly similar to using a bench press shirt and allows you to use more weight than you would raw.

Julius Maddox has the raw bench press record right now of close to 800 pounds. However, at 6'3" he is slightly shorter than me and weighs well in excess of 400 pounds, I think like 430 or something like that. He's also clearly a steroid user and in addition to him being that obese he is at a huge risk for health issues. I can't imagine weighing carrying that kind of weight around knowing I could die of a heart attack within 20 years lol. I'd actually be surprised if he hits 60 years old.

 

[Westminster]

And it's also going to take steroid use as well, not something you are going to see if you are naturally trained. Hell, how many times have you seen someone do a legitimate 400 bench? A lot of these guys I've seen that claim all of these numbers often are using a shortened range of motion or have a spotter helping with the bar. For quite a while now I also see tons of guys that use that slingshot while they bench press, it's fairly similar to using a bench press shirt and allows you to use more weight than you would raw.

Julius Maddox has the raw bench press record right now of close to 800 pounds. However, he is slightly shorter than me at 6'3" and weighs well in excess of 400 pounds, I think like 430 or something like that. He's also clearly a steroid user and in addition to him being that obese he is at a huge risk for health issues. I can't imagine weighing carrying that kind of weight around knowing I could die of a heart attack within 20 years lol. I'd actually be surprised if he hits 60 years old.

Yep. All good points well made - and you're right, you're not making 60 walking around at 430 lbs full of gear. Maybe not even 50.

 

[sangheilios]

Yep. All good points well made - and you're right, you're not making 60 walking around at 430 lbs full of gear. Maybe not even 50.

I honestly never really understood the obsession with hitting some huge one rep max type stuff, but particularly the fixation on big bench pressing. A lot of the guys I've seen at the gym over the years that are obsessed with bench pressing are honestly overweight or even obese. I just don't understand the point of something like this and it seems like it's more ego and impressing other clueless men. These guys aren't even in shape but can bench press a lot. If you were to take them out for a long hike or some other physical activity they'd very likely struggle, as they are effectively functionally obese.

 

[Westminster]

I honestly never really understood the obsession with hitting some huge one rep max type stuff, but particularly the fixation on big bench pressing. A lot of the guys I've seen at the gym over the years that are obsessed with bench pressing are honestly overweight or even obese. I just don't understand the point of something like this and it seems like it's more ego and impressing other clueless men. These guys aren't even in shape but can bench press a lot. If you were to take them out for a long hike or some other physical activity they'd very likely struggle, as they are effectively functionally obese.

Well, yeah, benchpress is perhaps the biggest ego lift.

Personally, I was never a good benchpresser, I never had the right mechanics for it. I could squat and deadlift a bit, but frankly I was never that strong on one-off max lifts.

 

[sangheilios]

Well, yeah, benchpress is perhaps the biggest ego lift.

Personally, I was never a good benchpresser, I never had the right mechanics for it. I could squat and deadlift a bit, but frankly I was never that strong on one-off max lifts.

Yeah, I'm 6'4" and have a relatively long wingspan and have issues with bench pressing, particularly with my shoulders. I personally did much better with dips, overhead pressing and certain types of incline work or using dumbbells with the palms facing inward. A standard bench press with a wider grip has always given me a lot of shoulder inflammation. Even with dumbbells I have to be careful, a full range of motion puts me at a very deep angle with my arms and shoulders.

 

[Westminster]

Yeah, I'm 6'4" and have a relatively long wingspan and have issues with bench pressing, particularly with my shoulders. I personally did much better with dips, overhead pressing and certain types of incline work or using dumbbells with the palms facing inward. A standard bench press with a wider grip has always given me a lot of shoulder inflammation. Even with dumbbells I have to be careful, a full range of motion puts me at a very deep angle with my arms and shoulders.

I'm not as tall as you but I've got long arms, wide shoulders and a pretty shallow torso, so benchpressing was never my thing. Dumbell press suited me more than the barbell and, like you, I was good at overhead pressing. A lot of it's biomechanics they reckon.

 

[sangheilios]

I'm not as tall as you but I've got long arms, wide shoulders and a pretty shallow torso, so benchpressing was never my thing. Dumbell press suited me more than the barbell and, like you, I was good at overhead pressing. A lot of it's biomechanics they reckon.

Yeah, I'm similar to you, as I have wide shoulders, long arms and a broad chest but not deep if that makes sense.....kind of more like a swimmer. My overhead press has consistently been almost as strong as my incline bench press for instance, which is very similar to what I could flat bench press. As you mentioned, it's all biomechanics. I'm very strong with anything to do with pulling or gripping and also my hips and lower body are incredibly strong. I basically just suck at bench pressing lol. I'm not a powerlifter, so I honestly don't really focus on it anyway so it makes no difference.

 

[Westminster]

Yeah, I'm similar to you, as I have wide shoulders, long arms and a broad chest but not deep if that makes sense.....kind of more like a swimmer. My overhead press has consistently been almost as strong as my incline bench press for instance, which is very similar to what I could flat bench press. As you mentioned, it's all biomechanics. I'm very strong with anything to do with pulling or gripping and also my hips and lower body are incredibly strong. I basically just suck at bench pressing lol. I'm not a powerlifter, so I honestly don't really focus on it anyway so it makes no difference.

Sounds like we're a very similar shape and, yes, I was good at pulling movements too - rows, chins, curls, etc. But benchpressing is just all wrong for me. I don't have that deep Herculean torso you need to be a big benchpresser. But then neither does the OP by the look of it.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Well, yeah, benchpress is perhaps the biggest ego lift.

Personally, I was never a good benchpresser, I never had the right mechanics for it. I could squat and deadlift a bit, but frankly I was never that strong on one-off max lifts.

Why is it such a big ego lift? I’d much rather have a huge squat. I’m 5’7, 160 lbs, 10-15% body fat tops. I’ve never in my life benched more than 250 lbs. Was much more proud of squatting 3 plates full depth for reps . Few guys in any of my gyms Ive ever seen actually do that. Also, I naturally have a good deadlift. Long skinny arms.

 

[Westminster]

Why is it such a big ego lift? I’d much rather have a huge squat. I’m 5’7, 160 lbs, 10-15% body fat tops. I’ve never in my life benched more than 250 lbs. Was much more proud of squatting 3 plates full depth for reps . Few guys in any of my gyms Ive ever seen actually do that. Also, I naturally have a good deadlift. Long skinny arms.

Not sure, but "How much can you bench?" seems to be regarded as the ultimate marker of strength.

 

[sangheilios]

Why is it such a big ego lift? I’d much rather have a huge squat. I’m 5’7, 160 lbs, 10-15% body fat tops. I’ve never in my life benched more than 250 lbs. Was much more proud of squatting 3 plates full depth for reps . Few guys in any of my gyms Ive ever seen actually do that. Also, I naturally have a good deadlift. Long skinny arms.

@Westminster

It's just some gym bro cultural thing that has been around for a long time. I personally think it's because many meatheads have a tendency to heavily train their mirror muscles (chest, arms, etc.) whilst neglecting everything else. Naturally, a bench press is one method of developing big pecs and arms so they focus on that particular exercise and use it as a means to compare to other guys like them lol.

I think another big factor is that it's honestly not all that hard in terms of perceived effort. Doing a big workout with lot of bench pressing and arms feels good, you get a crazy pump you can see in the mirror and all that but it's not all that difficult. In contrast, do a bunch of conditioning work or something where you hit your lower body really hard and you actually can feel wiped out by the end of it lol. Again, there's a reason why most guys tend to focus on their show muscles while neglecting those that are far more difficult to train.

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

Why is it such a big ego lift? I’d much rather have a huge squat. I’m 5’7, 160 lbs, 10-15% body fat tops. I’ve never in my life benched more than 250 lbs. Was much more proud of squatting 3 plates full depth for reps . Few guys in any of my gyms Ive ever seen actually do that. Also, I naturally have a good deadlift. Long skinny arms.

dont be like me id much rather have a big squat. I just like lifting heavy

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

Not sure, but "How much can you bench?" seems to be regarded as the ultimate marker of strength.

OHP and deadlift is a true marker. And pullups for relative strength.

 

[Thebestthereeveris]

The gym shows you if you half ass your body you will get half ass results. Same with life. Go all out.

 

[sangheilios]

The gym shows you if you half ass your body you will get half ass results. Same with life. Go all out.

Bro, a lot of that is just genetics. There are people who can put a ton of consistent work and effort into their workouts, nutrition, etc. and still not be all that impressive. Meanwhile, there can be people who half ass it and still look better or even be in better shape than the majority of other guys at the gym. When you have a person with good genetics AND puts a lot of effort into training, nutrition, recovery, etc. is when you have a very impressive package.

Also, you don't get anywhere by going all out except for burn out or snap city lol. You can't be a tard with your workouts if you want any sense of longevity in the game.

 

[Obee1]

I benched 455 yesterday but i hit 475. I want to hit 500 end of this year I know I can.
running full body everyday while focusing on a specific muscle group each day.

A couple observations as a longtime coach (Certified USAPL) and as a former 500 lb. bencher. I'd be careful about forming an opinion based on a picture. A heavy bencher has several characteristics though. Short wing span relative to height. Long and mobile upper torso (Good arch). Relative short forearms, (not to be confused overall short arms). This has to do with the optimal lever. And legs relatively short below the knee compared to overall leg length. Next is predominately fast twitch muscle fibers in the chest shoulders, back and triceps. I can tell from the picture that you have some of these attributes as well as over developed front delts which most good benchers have. Careful though, this can cause reduced range of motion, shoulder instability and rotator issues. When you walk I'll almost guarantee your palms face behind you as opposed to facing your legs.

Most good strength athletes peak and meet their genetic potential between 28 and 38 years old. I believe the tendons and ligaments take longer to catch up. The Golgi tendon is key. It takes years of heavy lifting to desensitize. Desensitizing this is a must to reach your potential. The other key is staying healthy which means don't overtrain. This goes for the nervous system too. The journey to 500 probably won't look like the journey to 400. Besides being slower, it's easier to overtrain and your chances of injury increase as you approach your body's max potential. Once you get near your genetic potential, you'll be happy to gain 5-10 lbs. on your bench in a year.

When you say 500 are you talking touch and go or pause? 500 raw or with a bench shirt or Slingshot?

I hope you are being truthful. If not, the only one you're fooling is yourself. I don't know what it is but even strong people feel the need to add 10-20 lbs to their lifts when in conversation and away from the gym. I've heard 400 benchers tell people they bench 430. Like there is something wrong with 400. But, the best way to shut people up (If you care) is to just post a video of you repping 365 or 400. Kind of a scatter brain post but you get it. Good luck to you!

 

[Manure Spherian]

as a former 500 lb. bencher. I'd be careful about

I believe you. How much did you weigh?