Help with bench

[Graffiti]

Ok, I need help. I have been doing weights since 13 and I am 36 now. Or as my 14y/o son says I am so old that dirt calls me grandpa. Love kids. Anyway, I am stuck at 420. Today I had a hard time with 405. So I have gone to hitting chest 1 time a week now.
I looked up a Russian routine were you did:

1-3 warmup 60%
4-7 work up to 1 rep max
8-9 Max -40lbs 3 reps
10-12 Max 25 2 reps

First week I did this was
245x8 245x8 245x8
315x1 365x1 405x1 420x1(that hurt)
365x3 365x3
380x2 380x2 (these were forced reps)

Before I did this, I made sure to warm up shoulders and rotator cuffs and make sure the blood was flowing. Mainly bands for resistance.

Also did
Low Incline Smith 225x8 225x8 225x8 (to work on sticking and explosion)
Low Incline DB Fly 25x10 25x10 25x10 (for stretch mainly)
Shoulder S/S front and side delts 15x10 15x10 15x10
Rear Delt Pec Dec machine 40x8 40x8 40x8
Rear Delt DB on incline bench 20x10 20x10 20x10
Pull over for stretch DB 100x8 100x8 100x8

And alittle arm work to finish it off. I didnt hit chest till the following monday. August 12th

Did my normal shoulder warmup and got ready for bench.

1-3 warmup 60% 225x8 245x8 245x8
4-7 315x1 365x1 405xya right
8-9 couldnt find anyone to spot for forced reps
10-12 couldnt find anyone to spot for forced reps

So day was kind of done with. Did some range of motion for shoulders and chest and stretching. Was disappointed and embaressed that 405 won the battle today.

So on all my lifts, bench is my trouble spot. My deadlift is in the low 600's. Squats are in the mid 500's. Cleans are at 315 for reps. Shrugs are who knows. Shoulder press 225 for reps. I have a good solid base and knowledge of what I am doing, but the knowledge for the higher weights I am getting stuck. I dont use wraps. I dont use a shirt or suit or whatever its called. I rarely use a belt. I am stuck. Could do forced negatives but no one I trust to spot. I cant do forced reps because no one in the gym I trust.

I have logs of what I have done for the past 6 years that I can find. So I can give more information if needed. Oh ya I am 5'10 well 5'9.5 and shrinking thanx to uncle sam. Weigh 270-275. I got the size to be doing alot more then what I am doing. Any help or point me in the right direction. Also I have read and done research. Looked at westside, bill star, mark rippatoe, looked at russian, german, bulgarian training. I am sure its something little that I am over looking but I am stuck.

Thanx

 

[mbag012]

dunno when something doesnt go up for me i do pause reps to reall muscle up the weight up to 90% of my 1rm. if i get desperate enough id put all lifts on maintenance and do smolov jr

 

[stevesmi]

you are 36 and you are stuck at 420.

its not like you are 19 and stuck at 200 lol.

its time for you to consider performance enhancing hormones. they will get you over the top. if you don't want to run something suppressive then i would grab a bottle of T stack rx. see the banner in my sig and use the coupons to save money. that will help you push through without suppression

 

[RickRock13]

LOL@ "stuck" at 420 bench

Do you realize how many guys never see that weight even with juice for years? As you get closer to your genetic limit (which you are probably at), further gains become next to impossible without superphysiological hormone levels. That's just the way it is

 

[Graffiti]

So other then having old man syndrome and trying to be happy were I am at, and other hints or tips? Before I post in the other forum to ask for help in the other area of hormones.

 

[stevesmi]

So other then having old man syndrome and trying to be happy were I am at, and other hints or tips? Before I post in the other forum to ask for help in the other area of hormones.

when it comes to strength you still have the potential to improve into your 50's.. the strongest dudes at my gym are all late 40's/early 50's btw. but they are balls to the walls powerlifters, not caring about their 'physique' if you know what i mean.

but like rick said i would say 420 is a lot of weight dude for a natural guy.. ya ya i know you are 260 pounds but still.

gains from here are gonna be slim pickings unless you want to gain more body weight which doesn't sound like is a good idea. you will need either the supplements i said or you will need hormones for help.

if you lose 5 pounds of body weight you would sacrfice strength.

another thing to consider not to throw a curveball your way is your health. do you really want to be benching 500 pounds+? if so its gonna potentially strain up your tendons and ligaments as well as your joints. my boy at the gym is 52, benches 500 pounds but he looks like King Tut and he tells me he takes anti-inflammatories before the gym.. so you can imagine the trauma he is putting his body through

i speak to you as someone who was a former competitive powerlifter and who currently judges powerlifting competitions. its an awesome thing to push that kind of weight but it also is a killer on your body, thats why you are 'stuck' at 420.. your body knows if it gets strong that it will also hurt itself. now when you run hormones and start inching up to 500 your body is gonna allow you to get stronger but remember your ligaments and tendons are gonna lag so BE CAREFUL and tread carefully from here.

 

[johnh4]

Very very impressive lift