Can you bench your own weight?

[wateengedoe2]

Can you benchpress your own weight, and how long did it take you to learn this? I'm very curious to know what I can expect.

I have only been weightlifting for 5 months now, may it be possible to benchpress my own weight (then prob. about 130 lbs, now 127 lbs with a bit too much fat (20%)) once by the end of this year? Now I do sets of 8 with two 33 lbs dumbells, so that's 66 lbs (don't know my 1RM on that), but I've heard dumbells are much harder to balance than barbell, that I haven't tried yet. Anyway, I'm already much stronger than in the beginning, then I couldn't even press sets (8 reps) with 2x18lbs dumbells properly.

 

[JJFigure]

Just barely, now that I've lowered my bodyweight. Did I mention I suck at bench? I also use PL form, and my strength in the bench increased when I switched from bodybuilder form to PL form. I also just started benching again after a long layoff, so I can't tell you how long it took me to bench bodyweight. I know, I'm not being very helpful...

 

[Temple]

I also use PL form and can bench a good bit above my body weight. I don't think I could bench my weight with dumbells.

 

[chvl67]

I also use PL form, and my strength in the bench increased when I switched from bodybuilder form to PL form.

What's PL form, and what's the difference between that and bodybuilder form?

 

[wateengedoe2]

PL is powerlift, so in stead of minding about how much you engage your pecs and how big the ROM is (for max. growth), you try to press as much weight as possible. Includes using a hollow back, doesn't it? For BB-benchpressing this is bad.

And no-one of you knows how long learning to press your own weight (whether the PL or BB way) took? Mmm, well, in the BB way probably will be never for me )

 

[2Shy]

I've heard that PL style is easier on the shoulders, but have never seen it explained. Is hand position different? What else?

 

[wateengedoe2]

I've heard that PL style is easier on the shoulders, but have never seen it explained. Is hand position different? What else?

I think it engages the shoulders more, not less than BB-style. People who perform BB-style in a bad way, use to develop huge shoulders and not too much chest. Really I don't know the rules for PL-benching, but I could imagine me lying there, trying to push that b*tch up and curving my back and involving my shoulders, abs and lats as much as possible.

 

[chvl67]

PL is powerlift, so in stead of minding about how much you engage your pecs and how big the ROM is (for max. growth), you try to press as much weight as possible. Includes using a hollow back, doesn't it? For BB-benchpressing this is bad.

I'm sorry, I'm still not sure I understand. While I've been training with weights for about a year and a half consistently, and consider myself an intermediate bodybuilder, I don't know the difference of a powerlift.
For example, when I am flat bench pressing, I use a slightly wider than shoulder grip, lift the bar off the pins, with my back flat on the bench, and feet flat on the floor. I use a 3-0-1 tempo, with a 3 count on the negative, pause, then 1 count on the positive.
What does a powerlift consist of? Simply lowering the weight and pressing it back up as quickly as you can, for as many reps as you can?

 

[2Shy]

Wow. Thanks for the clip, Spatts. I'd been trying to visualize the differences. I did mean to say rotator cuffs earlier. I tend to equte them with shoulders and use the words (wrongly, I know) interchangeably.

I read your post about leg drive over on the Training Board today and wondered if the entire posterior is engaged (including glutes). You said something about the drive pushing the head forward (but shoulders stopping the actual movement). Just curious.

Also (I feel so ignorant sometimes) since it engages the back and shoulders more (and legs, etc., etc.) would you still include it in a chest workout?

 

[makedah]

My pecs continue to develop just fine, despite the fact I NEVER isolate them.

I've been trying to find this out online and can't find an answer. Do you think back squats help strengthen/develop the pecs? I certainly feel it there when I'm straining with the weight on my back.