benching strength question.

How much should you be able to lift (bench), according to body weight, in order to be considered strong or fit. Is there a chart or something someone has. Because I'm 114, and put up 160 on Monday, however my friend who weight 186 put up 180, who is "stronger"? And is there a difference between strength and fitness? ( lifting fitness, not running etc.)

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/BenchStandards.html

lucky for you, it has your exact weight

But that won't tell you who is "stronger".  It just tells you how much weight you can push over your head while laying on your back.  Whoever has the better deadlift is the stronger person.

Thanks, i think he deadlifts more then me:(

is tht table 1 rep maxes???

My 5x5s as of November 2nd 2008.
Bench 150
Squat 150
Deadlift 175
Connelly's 5x5s as November 2nd 2008
Bench 115
Squat 145
Deadlift 165
BodybuildingNovice's 5x5 as November 2nd 2008
Squat 155lbs
Bench 155lbs
Deadlift 155l

twistedlink


haha with my weight they dont even have my max, im below "un-trained" despite training for 4 years ahahahahaha

Well then, you could see how you stack up with the women   hahaha kidding, but no seriously what is your weight and 1RM?

craziness

twisssssssssted?  how can you only lift 110 lbs on a bench press, when you're almost 200 lbs bodyweight?   do/did you have some sort of injury holding you back?  i'm somewhat in awe of high low that is in comparison to your deadlift.. b/c i know that number is off the chart.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

you should post up a vid andrew of your benchpress form sometime.  i'd like to see it... especially the bar positioning.    not saying you're doing it wrong... but maybe you learned improper form and it's holding you back.

i have no idea, but a vid would definately help.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

you're designed for both push AND pull andrew...

you're being pessimistic, and trust me.. i understand.  i used to say the same thing about my legs, and gave up on them

keep training your chest.  hard, and heavy.

find a spotter, and start doing some heavy negatives on the benchpress, 3 times a week.  3 sets of 5 reps. (i'm assuming you know what negatives are)

i'm fairly certain that if you do this, your chest wwon't know what hit it, and will be forced to deal with the large amount of weight.


are you doing any heavy tricep work?   heavy dips?  any dumbbell work?

i think you can get stronger.. but you have to change your mentality to "i can do this, it's just gonna take some hard work, and time" instead of "i'm designed to do only pull movements, so i'm not even going to try".

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

I agree thats crazy.. such a low bp for 200 pounds of pretty much muscle.. I truly cant believe that either... I mean I weigh 165 and do 3x5 with 175 and i feel like a little girl.. I wonder how you must feel...joking joking??   haha.. but yeah thats pretty low, i gotta agree with foxy.. Seem very weird 

It is not the years in your life, but the life in your years.

twistedlink


thatd be difficult i go to the gym by myself...I might have an old video somewhere.

Im not trying to sound ****y, but im pretty sure my benchpress form is correct, pinkys on the rings or thereabouts, arms in line with nipples, bar touched nipple, and raise up, only keep a slight arch in the back and dont lift off your ass.

If it was 220lbs or 250lbs id say it was form or something i could fix, but 200lbs bodyweight for a max nearly half my weight, thats wrong, no matter how bad my form is that max is way ****ed up, it should not be happening.

Im having scrawny 120lbs teenagers out-bench me, some come in and can rep 175lbs for reps, and im there 80lbs of muscle heavier doing 65lbs less for 1 rep.

same form, its dumb.

The annoying thing is it doesnt appear to be injury, the only time i get pains or problems is when i bench or shoulder press.

Personally im just designed to pull, and not push, sucks, but life deals out **** cards sometimes, i dont think its much of a problem, just frustrating, im not terminally ill or anything, if id ask for one design **** up on my body, id ask for something as trivial as a low benchpress LOL, know what i mean?

Its just annoying that all training methods i use increase my strength, apart from bench, doesnt matter what i do it just goes down or stays the same, and when i do increase it its hard work, the only time i ever did increase it was when IBB got me doing like 25 sets every other day on chest, and it hurt, a LOT.

Id rather not do it again, but it does work admittedly.

Just wondering if you ever tried the bench routine I PMed you?   If you do that routine for a few months or so and still don't increase your bench strength then you might want to consider going to a sports med doc and getting checked.  

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

but what about negatives?? negatives help BIG time.
 
wish i could train with you for just 6 months andrew.  i'm sure we could get your bench up there.  almost certain of it.  that'd be saaaaWeeet.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

twistedlink


ehhh...negatives are just heavy weight with someone helping you silverfox, it wont get my body used to a higher weight because its not using a higher weight, im using the same weight because the spotter is doing the extra 45lbs i cant do, which is why i never see the point in negatives, not just that but ive never really done negatives, i wouldnt know how to perform them properly, and if i ask a gym member theyl start lecturing me on what im doing wrong when they just do cable curls all day long which id rather not have LOL

Twisted, from your responses it seems you've simply given up... If that's the case then you're probably right and will never make any progress on your presses.  

You mentioned in your post in response to me that you were unable to add 5lbs each workout.. if that's the case then it's obvious you're not following my instructions.  You should be starting out your routine at approximately 70% of your ?Rm   if you're max for 15 reps is 100lbs then you should start the routine at 70lbs and not 100lbs.   It's fairly obvious most people on here believe that it's impossible to gain strength doing high reps, lighter weight and that's simply not the case... do the routine for 8 weeks and I can almost promise you that you'll add 20-40lbs on your current press.

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

twistedlink


10 rep max (to failure) is around 85lbs as you know smound

65lbs i can do 15 reps to failure

45lbs (the bar) i can do 15 reps at the 70% point...

Uggggh this sucks...

Well I do admit it's going to look horribly funny seeing someone dead 300 Plus and then rep the bar.. LOL but hey, so what....

I think the biggest problem with your imbalances are greater chances of injury, even on your strong lifts.. the body functions as a whole and anytime an imbalance is that great... It's only a matter of time before you end up with some type of serious injury...

don't do it for the sake of lifting big weight on presses.. do it for the sake of keeping your body healthy and functional... You can do it!!

There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing

 

you can do it andrew.   just try.. TRY it for 6 months.  regardless of whatever you think... or feel, just give it a solid 6 months effort.

and as for the negatives thing, i'm a firm believer that it can help you get out of slumps.  but to each his own i guess. 

smoundz gives great advice, and his method WILL work. i've used it myself many times.  it takes a lot of time, hard work... and patience.  i say give it a go, and don't give up.  even if your numbers start to go down 3 months in.. who cares.  just keep trying. 

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

2skinny it also depends on your age but i'd say your lift is alot more impressive..

Goals by end of 2009:
Bench 205
Squat 255 ATG
Squat Clean 185

"There is no elevator to success, you must take the stairs."

Technically he is stronger but in ratio you are stronger, becuase for your size, you can lift more he can. YOu can lift more then your bodyweight and he cant so if you were to be same size and weight, you would be stronger.