Bench Press challenge - 2x body weight, 1RM

[thomez]

Who's in?

I'm starting at 172lbs and a max bench of 275 or so. I'm hoping to drop to 160ish and bench 320.

This could take me quite a while because it's hard to gain on the lifts very quickly while simultaneously dropping weight, but that's all a part of the challenge.

If you are in, post your current stats and what you hope to weigh and bench when this goal is completed.

We can also keep track of our chest workouts here if you would like. I don't do the SL 5x5 but sometimes a similar 5x5 workout is a part of my training.

LET'S GO!

[thomez]

This was my chest workout today.

flat bench:
warmup with 135
225x5
245x5
255x4
265x2

incline bench:
225x5
225x4
205x6 or 7

db decline bench - 3 or 4 sets with the 90's until failure

pec dec and bench press machines superset

flat db bench with 65's for 2 sets getting a good squeeze on the pecs by finishing with dbs parallel

[thomez]

anybody?

[rere]

Who's in?

Just a small note
2 x bw means?
i am 87kg at the moment does this mean i have to bench 174kg for 1 rep?
or is this the bodyweight i will be at when i actually lift this much?? sorry did i make myself clear or not

[thomez]

It means that on whatever day you complete the challenge you will bench press twice your weight at that time.

If I woke up weighing 75kg on that day, I would have to bench press 150kg. For one repetition.

[rere]

It means that on whatever day you complete the challenge you will bench press twice your weight at that time.

If I woke up weighing 75kg on that day, I would have to bench press 150kg. For one repetition.

oh cool thanks thomez.
Glad someone understood what I meant
I'm in then

[thomez]

sounds good

what do you weight now and what do you bench press?

[LiftingNerd]

I'll run with yall.

BW: 181lbs
1 RM - 275 lbs

I've never done a true max day on bench. I just do my regular routine then at the end I'll do single rep sets until I fail. Using this method 275 is the most I've put up. By the way 225 for reps on incline is most impressive my friend.

[rere]

sounds good

what do you weight now and what do you bench press?

I weigh 87kg and i bench 62.5kg. my 1rm is 80kg. I am a long way off but at least it will keep me motivated and plus its the taking part that counts.
So if i get there will i have to post a video?
Think that makes sense.
Good luck on your journey

[thomez]

sure, a video would be fine

I guess I could see if I could get a friend to video my attempt when the time comes

we've never done it before though, so not likely

[thomez]

today's chest session

incline - 225x5 for 3 sets
flat - 275x2 (with some spotter assistance on a 3rd) then 245x3 for 2 sets and repped out 135x20
cable flys
db chest press
fly machine

275x2 impressed myself, maybe I could do 295x1 now .... working my way up there to the 300 club

[LiftingNerd]

Are you working a split routine? Those incline sets are impressive by the way. I could never get more than sets of 5 with 205lbs on incline. I'll be pushing myself on Friday to let you all know where I currently stand.

[thomez]

thanks, incline has been a work in progress, I used to do my reps with 185, then moved up to 205, then got up to 225 .... keep at it and you'll get there

yeah we do this split

mon - chest
tues - legs (includes squats)
weds - shoulders
thursday - back (includes deadlifts)
friday - arms

[LiftingNerd]

I stopped doing incline 4 months ago when I decided to give 5x5 a shot. That is a lot of iron that you are moving in a week. You do dips at all? Or clap push ups to work on explosion?

[kuucman]

haha... I have about as much chance of winning this as I do of the 405 Squat, but I'll do this also. Like Rere said, its really just about participating and having another motivating factor.

I am ~255 lbs. Before doing SL 5x5, I recently did 225 lbs x 20 and 245x15. I started SL bench at 225, but my wrist was hurting, so I dropped the weight a bit. I'll be back at 225 in a few workouts, and then try to continue to go up from there. Hopefully I'll drop some weight during this time too so that I'm not trying to go for over 500 lbs (although its not as if 450 will be that much easier... :p)