Interesting bench press data

[dylanvb]

Damn, dude. adding 25 lbs to your bench with those numbers is impressive. I know at that level, progress slows ways down.
Over the years, I have noticed that around 275 lbs is a hard wall for many people as the programming becomes so critical. You can get to 275 lbs a bunch of different ways, but you'll only get past that with a handful of programs and almost nobody will get past that just bench pressing when and what they feel like doing.

Something was in the water this past month at the gym, IDK what's going on. It feels like I was grinding out to get 315 comfortable not to long ago but now I am able to rep it for 5. I am not on any program or following anyone's guidelines but I have been making progress almost weekly which is nice because yes adding any weight at this point sometimes takes a while. I am also 30 which i feel like I am getting to that muscle maturity point of my lifting life but these PRs are nice. Also natty.

 

[Matt G.]

It is an interesting statistic. I haven't done the barbell bench in 5 years after local gym closed. With kids being young focus on body weight and things i can do in basement. In my early 30s was at 315 and 200 lbs.

Sent from my SM-S921U using Tapatalk

 

[omicron1792]

Bench can be an awkward exercise for many. Even guys who regularly work out and bench press don’t have the body type and/or supporting muscles to be well above average at the movement.

Then you have a farm kid who’s first time benching is freshman year football practice and he benches 230 lbs haha. Or the guy who seems to be in decent shape and struggles a bit with just the bar.

I usually saw the opposite. Farm country boys had weak bench presses but could whip you in wrestling or knock your jock off in football. Bench for most requires consistency benching imo.

 

[omicron1792]

If you look at world class, olympic level sprinters, the vast majority probably bench press quite a bit. Granted, they aren't specializing in the distance of a mile, but the ability to run or jump explosively fast is often hinged on a high degree of neuromuscular recruitment: these athletes are able to recruit as much as 96% of the muscles in their bodies to contribute to a single effort. When you watch a sprinter sprint, you can literally see their upper body muscles working/contributing to their speed:

There was a study a while back that took men and had them only squat for a period of time. No other lifts. At the end of the time period their bench press had gone up a considerable amount. Working large muscle groups definitely causes anabolic growth for th whole body.

 

[Balderdash]

There was a study a while back that took men and had them only squat for a period of time. No other lifts. At the end of the time period their bench press had gone up a considerable amount. Working large muscle groups definitely causes anabolic growth for th whole body.

Very interesting.

 

[Mtnmilsurp]

One day I was lifting at a Norwegian base in Afghanistan and some local interpreters asked me if I would teach them how to bench press. None of the three 16-20 year old afghans could get the 45lb barbell off their chests.

 

[bucksnbirds]

325 at 190lbs before getting into hunting out west. Getting around the mountains in that kind of condition was physically impossible in any meaningful way.

I'd venture to say most people are capable of hitting 225 with a decent frame at 175+ within 3 years of consistency with the right technique. I've seen a big shift in the last 10 years in my area of everyone wanting to be strong to people wanting to be more functional.

 

[Watrdawg]

My PR was 315 for 2 reps and I was at 175lbs. Theenn 2 weeks later I tried to go for 320 and tore a Pec. That was 10 years ago. I was 50 then. I don't do flat bench anymore. However, I do dumbell bench presses instead 3x8-10 at 100lbs.

 

[fngTony]

One day I was lifting at a Norwegian base in Afghanistan and some local interpreters asked me if I would teach them how to bench press. None of the three 16-20 year old afghans could get the 45lb barbell off their chests.

That’s interesting. Got me thinking about other countries and cultures, is weight lifting very common outside of the U.S.? Still seems strange to not be able to lift the bar.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Add me to the I am at my max and just trying to hang on crowd. Easy to lose it, impossible to add to it!

 

[fngTony]

Add me to the I am at my max and just trying to hang on crowd. Easy to lose it, impossible to add to it!

Just because you act 25 doesn’t mean your body isn’t over 40

 

[MuleyBuck]

I’m 205lbs and my best is 12 reps at 225lbs. I always felt weak because my bench started falling off around 275lbs. I saw guys doing 315lbs and definitely had some gym envy when I was younger, think I got one rep once at 315.

Now in my older age, I do more reps at lighter weight/body weight. I’ll still hammer out 5-10 at 225 just to prove to myself I still can. 225 seems like it was always the benchmark for a strong gym guy.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Just because you act 25 doesn’t mean your body isn’t over 40

I think that was a compliment.

 

[Speaks]

well 1/4 of the worlds population is under 15, close to 20% is over 60, and 10% is malnourished. Of the remaining 45% half are female so we are at around 22% that would be males between 15 and 60 that get minimum required food. Statistically around 1/3 of those have another chronic health condition.

So of the remaining 15% this would be 1/20 benching 225, looking around me I totally believe that.

Wait until you see the percentage that could slowly jog a mile without stopping, Im betting its not even double this number...

 

[fngTony]

well 1/4 of the worlds population is under 15, close to 20% is over 60, and 10% is malnourished. Of the remaining 45% half are female so we are at around 22% that would be males between 15 and 60 that get minimum required food. Statistically around 1/3 of those have another chronic health condition.

So of the remaining 15% this would be 1/20 benching 225, looking around me I totally believe that.

Wait until you see the percentage that could slowly jog a mile without stopping, Im betting its not even double this number...

Very true. Speaking of jogging do we special consideration for altitude….asking for a friend

 

[Speaks]

Very true. Speaking of jogging do we special consideration for altitude….asking for a friend

So I was in CO last summer hiking up a moderate 14er, I think it was 7 miles each direction and it was taking quite a bit out of me. There was a maniac that past me going both ways running it. I chatted with him for a minute and he said he runs up and back a few times a week to train for Iron man competitions. '

Ive done a half Iron man (just trying to finish not win) but have trouble imagining running even a few miles on flat ground over 10k feet.

 

[Hnthrdr]

So I was in CO last summer hiking up a moderate 14er, I think it was 7 miles each direction and it was taking quite a bit out of me. There was a maniac that past me going both ways running it. I chatted with him for a minute and he said he runs up and back a few times a week to train for Iron man competitions. '

Ive done a half Iron man (just trying to finish not win) but have trouble imagining running even a few miles on flat ground over 10k feet.

Many such cases in Co… personally I’ll save my knees for other stuff but there are a bunch of freaks running around them hills