quick rant... so sick of people asking "how much you bench"? - George Spellwin's ELITE FITNESS Discussion Boards

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quick rant... so sick of people asking "how much you bench"?

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Author	Topic: quick rant... so sick of people asking "how much you bench"?
madbomber31 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 363)	posted March 12, 2000 06:28 PM how much do you bench? thats the first question from anyone you talk to that starts in about training... what the fuck? i dont bench alot, so when i answer its like "thats all" that shit pisses me off... i like to turn that shit around and say, "how much you leg press?" or "how much you squat?" half the time these fucks either dont know, or dont do the exercise... body building is about building a better body.. not a chest and tri's combo... the entire fuckin thing!!! god damn people. IP: Logged
Socrates Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 42)	posted March 12, 2000 06:42 PM I am in complete agreement. Pressing a lot is important, and at times impresive. However, it pales in comparison to deads and squats, which pale in comparison to power cleans. Find a man that can powerclean 400# and you have a powerfull man!!! ````````````````````````````````````````````` Socrates (and soon to be pharmacutically enhanced) IP: Logged
big_bad_buff Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 274)	posted March 12, 2000 06:50 PM i love that question man, for 2 reasons, 1st i can bench a shit load for only being like 5'7 and 2nd you can always pick out the newbie because that's the first question they ask. hey man how much can you bench? lol just tell them you bench 135 for 3 reps, LOL just to suprise them. you have to say it without laughing though.... IP: Logged
LittleSavage34 Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 23)	posted March 12, 2000 06:51 PM RIGHT ON MADBOMBER! "How much do you bench?" Is the first question anyone asks a weight lifter. Who cares? We all know football players that can bench 350+, but most of them have more fat around their tits than I do around my waist. Bodybuilding is exactly that. Making a machine that looks better than anything else the weight room has produced. Gotta have the look that gets the touch! ------------------ If you racked the bar, then you're lifting the bar. IP: Logged
dogboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 114)	posted March 12, 2000 06:54 PM I disagree, I think that the bench press is a good benchmarch of your strength gains. Your back is firmly seated on a bench and all you have to do is drive with all the power you have. This is a pleasant exercise to try a max on. Now if you try to max out on squats it is an unpleasant exercise. You have to draw on many, many supporting muscles and put an undo amount of stress on the back. Now power cleans are only a good benchmark for explosive power. Deadlifts are a stupid benchmark of strength - "wow, you can lift that much off the floor? wow" So you see I think that bench press is an all around good way to measure raw power. IP: Logged
vdevil Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 276)	posted March 12, 2000 07:07 PM A measure of raw power where? It is only a measure of raw power in your chest and shoulders and triceps primarily. Deads and squats with proper form(maintaining an arch), are a measure of a much larger percentage of muscles in your body. It would seem that they would provide a more accurate meaurement of "raw power". IP: Logged
Meph2K Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 7)	posted March 12, 2000 07:10 PM I'd have to disagree with youu dogboy when you say that the deadlift is a stupid benchmark of strength. Deadlifts require a great deal of strength, and if they were such a bad benchmark....why do PL's and Strongmen continue to be judged on them? IP: Logged
dogboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 114)	posted March 12, 2000 07:13 PM Answer Meph: Cuz it's easy to do IP: Logged
THESAINT Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 58)	posted March 12, 2000 07:20 PM HEY BROS YOU SEEM TO FORGET THAT WE'RE BBers BUT THERE ARE POWERLIFTERS ON THIS BOARD THAT WOULD KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY MAX BENCH. I COULD TELL YOU HOW MUCH I BENCH FOR REPS BUT I RARELY ONE REP MAX. IP: Logged
macrophage69alpha Moderator (Total posts: 844)	posted March 12, 2000 07:21 PM how much you can press, dead or squat is really only relevant for powerlifters and strength atheletes- whom I will say that I have a lot of respect for- it is just not what I am all about. for BODYBUILDERS those amounts are pretty irrelevant. alot of those guys, the pros, use pretty light weights-comparatively to powerlifters- ask them, they will tell you, its all about the pump. BTW- I kind of fall in between these two categories. I have to admit it is nice to throw around a lot of weight- whichever technique or motion you are using to throw it. but its also nice to get a good pump and results from lighter weights without putting so much stress on my tendons and joints. ------------------ MP IP: Logged
E2 Moderator (Total posts: 1351)	posted March 12, 2000 07:27 PM Dogboy i think you're compltely wrong, the bench isn't a great measure of ones strength, while the squad and deadlift are! So what if you can bench a ton? Big deal, exactly what you said you're using a small amount of muscle comapared to a squat or dead which are full body excersises. You have to have a strong BODY in order to perform them well, not just strong arms and pecs, squats and deads require all the supportive muscles and balance to be performed well. I think you're one of those guys who hates to train hard, "Ow it hurts, I should stop!" What the hell are you talking about pleasant excersises and unpleasant excersises. Fuck it, pain is what it's all about, working your whole body is what it's all about. Killing yourself and pushing past your limits. Not laying flat on your back and pushing some little weight. Stand up, stick some real weight on your back and squat it! IP: Logged
dogboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 114)	posted March 12, 2000 07:36 PM well personally I used to love squats, even though they were a bitch at wearing me out, I can't do them anymore cuz of my knees. You are wrong, I love a tough workout. Deadlifts do shit for you. Only for powerlifters. IP: Logged
Capt'n_Crunch Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 35)	posted March 12, 2000 07:39 PM I think deadlifts are pretty dumb measures of body power too. I have seen girls deadlift as much as some guys and even more; Im not talking about little guys or huge fat girls. Im talking about powerlifting competitions.....but the girls couldnt come close to the same bench levels or squatting numbers as the same guys that they were outdeadlifting....I think power cleans are definitely the best measure of raw body power IP: Logged
THESAINT Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 58)	posted March 12, 2000 07:45 PM DOGBOY, BENCHING IS A INDICATION OF CHEST,SHOULDER,TRICEP STRENGTH. SQUATING IS A GOOD INDICATION OF LOWER BODY STRENGTH, BUT DEADLIFTS INCORPERATE LOWER BODY,ARMS BACK AND SHOULDERS. A BETTER MEASURE OF STRENGTH I WOULD SAY. IP: Logged
vdevil Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 276)	posted March 12, 2000 07:45 PM Dont females usually have larger hips than men?? And dont men usually have broader shoulders??I think that it is genetics that favor upper body strength for men and might help women in lower body strength. Just an opinion. IP: Logged
Slim Whitman Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 35)	posted March 12, 2000 08:22 PM I don't think you can judge a persons strength by how much they can bench. You may be able to bench 50 or 100lbs more than the next guy, but that next guy may be able to squat a house!!! A football player friend of mine can't even put up 250lbs on the bench, but the fucker can squat 600lbs!!! Whats more impressive to me is a guy who can bench 250lbs w/30 reps versus a guy who can put up 400lbs once or twice. My same friend witnessed Barry Sanders WARM UP on the squat rack with 550lbs, whipped out 12 quick reps, with his ass touching the floor each time!!! I'll tell you what, I'm not gonna be the one to tell either of those guys their NOT strong. Slim IP: Logged
scourge1 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 122)	posted March 12, 2000 08:33 PM For a body builder, how much you can press is about as arbitrary as how many M&M's you can fit in your mouth. I could care less how much I put up on any routine. The only thing that concerns me as how doing XX weight, XX times affects the way I look. Why don't people ask how much I can tri pulldown? Or cable curl? IP: Logged
macrophage69alpha Moderator (Total posts: 844)	posted March 12, 2000 08:43 PM SCOURGE1 Would those be regular or peanut M&M's? - I mean there is a difference- it would be like comparing freeweight bench to hammer strength bench. BTW- my personal best with the regular M&M's is 136, well 138 with a spot- I don't do peanut M&M's becuase they put to much strain on my TMJ. ------------------ MP IP: Logged
studcj Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 304)	posted March 12, 2000 08:58 PM Bumpage for E2!!!!!!!! Deadlifts don't do anything for BB huh??? They make your fuckin traps big, and give you all kinds of muscles in your back. Raw power on bench??I don't think so. Lets see whats raw power...........a 350 bench.........maybe......a 650 squat.....definitly. Somebody tells you they bench 350 and you think "thats pretty good", then a guy says he squats 650 and you think "Damn, that guy busts his ass day in day out!" Oh I'm sorry, was that unpleasent for you dogboy??? ------------------ "I can, because Im crazzy!" Studcj IP: Logged
dogboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 114)	posted March 12, 2000 09:14 PM OK, this is getting stupid fast. I offer this: Who would you be more scared to fight; someone with a heavy bench, or someone with a heavy squat? I am just going to plain laugh at you if you say lower body becuz we all like to gauge ppl by upper body strength, it's just natural to do so. I could really care less about this issue, I care more about how I look. IP: Logged
DoctorSavage Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 107)	posted March 12, 2000 10:43 PM Macro; 138!? What kind of a pussy number is that. Go back to skittles. I can ram 199 M&M's in my maw and still whistle. ------------------ Dr. Savage, PhD. (I am not a bodybuilder, amature or otherwise) IP: Logged
livinbig Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 160)	posted March 13, 2000 01:21 AM Madbomber, when they ask tell them 75lbs more than they can, as for the others i think that it is easy to see that the powerclean, deadlift and squat. are all good measures of total body power... think about it if you do any of lifts with some real weight it will kick your ass... I cant think of any time that a heavy set of bench made me want to puke.. I now some are think that is just a sign of aeorobic demand... right , that is the body needing O2 to help feed and clean the cell from induced stress....oh well, just my opinon livinbig BTW.. I can bench 75ls more than your max for reps...ha ha ha LOL ------------------ If the bar stops movin push Harder IP: Logged
studcj Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 304)	posted March 13, 2000 01:30 AM Dog boy, I thought we were talking about Body building,not fighting. Who you gonna be more scared of.......a guy with a big bench........or a crazy motherfucker like me who doesn't give a fuck about how big you are and who has a big bench AND a big squat. ------------------ "I can, because Im crazzy!" Studcj IP: Logged
dogboy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 114)	posted March 13, 2000 01:41 AM I can't believe you missed the logic of my statement, Studjc. I really wish ppl would try to understand a point of view rather than try to use it as something to fuel their own argument. Gets annoying. IP: Logged
Capt'n_Crunch Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 35)	posted March 13, 2000 02:04 AM Stud why dont you chill the hell out and quit talkin shit...he is jus expressing his opinion. and no this is not a flame but you can take it any way you want to IP: Logged
Socrates Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 42)	posted March 13, 2000 05:12 AM Gentelmen, It is Extremely important to remember that ones ability to lift heavy weight is not only good for strength but as I'm sure we have all read (Polliquin, King, Star, etc.), it is VERY IMPORTANT FOR HYPERTROPHY. If you don't cycle/periodize strength phases, you are missing out on the golden oppurtunities that a better muscle/nervous system connection may afford. THIS IS BASIC. For bodybuilders do 1RMs really matter? To a degree. Advanced training protocols often work off of percentages of 1RMs. Look at any of the advanced Eastern European Periodized programs (yes they exist fro hypertrophy too). Deads don't build, hahahahaha, if you are interested in having a 3 dimensional look to your physique, that is to say- you dont disapear when you turn sideways, I suggest you do them. And although its a bit off topic a guy who benches lots of weight and has no back strength is fun to tie up with because you can generally toss him around (no base). Bodybuilders can learn from Olympic lifters, who can in turn learn from powerlifters who can in turn learn from body builders, and so on. IP: Logged
Socrates Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 42)	posted March 13, 2000 05:18 AM Oh and while I am at it: Work=Force X Distance Power=Work/Time to execute lift Technically a power clean is a better measure of power than deads or squats. At least as far as I understand. ```````````````````````````````````````````` Socrates(and soon to be pharmacutically enhanced) IP: Logged
WCP Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 339)	posted March 13, 2000 12:00 PM Hmmm this is intersting dogboy..would I be more scared of a guy who can bench more or squat more... Well being a tournement submission fighter my self I would say neither. I personally pack about 320psi in my leg kicks and that leg power is due to heavy squats and lots and lots of stretching. Now seeing as how most punching power comes directly from the lats and hips (if done right) I can easilly see where deads would help in this considering the muscle developed in the lower back from these. Ive fought some dudes with some pretty big chests that hit like girls..but I know if I see a guy step into the ring with tree trunks for legs..I know its going to take me a bit to chop that oak down. But considering that in a defense situation it only takes about 7-9lbs of pressure and the right angle to shatter a mans knee with a low roundhouse that becomes irrelevant also. Just my 2cents, Later, WCP ------------------ "the man who can defeat himself, is truly the greatest warrior" IP: Logged
debo Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 40)	posted March 13, 2000 12:34 PM WELL PERSONALLY I AM A WELL-ROUNDED GUY WITH A BENCH OF ABOUT 500, A SQUAT OF ABOUT 635, SO IF ONE ASKED ME I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TELL HIM. I AM VERY PROUD OF MY FEATS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE GAME SINCE I WAS ABOUT 14, NOW 21 THE SHIT WON'T STOP TILL MY CASKET DROP. IP: Logged
Big Brother Val Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 319)	posted March 13, 2000 12:50 PM WCP and Dogboy, why don't you guys just see who can pack more M&M's in your mouth and see who has the right to talk the smack? Seriously though... everyone will have their own opinion, and will stick by it. It's a pride thing. Personally... I measure myself off of how I look, not what I can lift. I don't really care what I can throw. I care about how I throw it. I measure myself on how big my arms are. Not what I can lift. I'm not a weightlifter/powerlifter. I'm not a shootfighter or boxer or ninja. And I can't pack a lot of M&M's in my mouth at once because sugar hurts my teeth, and it's a handicap I'm learning to deal with. And I'm not the biggest guy out there. But I can maintain my waist at 31 inches, while carrying 18+ inches on the arms, and have a washboard stomach while packing in over 3000 calories a day. I'm proud of it because it takes a lot of work for me to keep my size. I've seen guys who can squat 600. Who look like bears. Sure, they're stronger. But I look better. It's all personal views and opinions. I agree with basically everything said here. Except deads are very important for all lifters in my opinion. Bodybuilding or otherwise. Let's just respect eachothers opinions, and differences, and see who gets the m&m's stuffing championship. IP: Logged
Big Brother Val Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 319)	posted March 13, 2000 12:58 PM PS: My comment on the original topic was: No, I can't stand it when someone asks how much I bench. Or even worse: "Do you workout?" That one sucks ass too. I always say: "No. Just a few pushups in the morning." Lame asses. IP: Logged
madbomber31 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 363)	posted March 13, 2000 01:01 PM wow, lots of responses here... DOGBOY... why the hell would someone be scared of a guy with a big bench? is he gonna push me down? cuz essentially that is the motion of a bench... think in terms of sports and actually using the lifts. bench... who needs it? offensive lineman and DL's and LB's... those would be the main guys.. i mean, warren moon puts up 400, does it show on the field>??? nOPE!!!! squats... who needs it? everyone in every sport known to man. legs are the base of your body, you got weak legs and a big upper body and someone takes a run at you... boom, your down bro. fuck it, i am gonna start asking everyone i see that trains how much they squat... starting me a fuckin trend!!!! oh, and if they dont answer then i will ask how many M&Ms they pack away in one mouthful... by the way,i would be willing to guess over 200 easy!!! hey, one more point.. some of us have torn cuffs and all that good shit, so to us, benching isnt even done... i have flat benched ONE TIME in 3 years... and couldnt train for a week after... so fuck all that.. IP: Logged
big_dan Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 50)	posted March 13, 2000 01:03 PM That is a hell of a way to spot a "newbie". But since I rarely do 1 rep max (well on purpose any way). I don't really Know what I do I just move the weight and log it but it never really sinks in how much I do (I guess that's why we keep logs). hen I went to Bosnia there was nothin to do in our little spare time but lift so there was so many Dumb Ass Corn Holes in there that just were lost and that's all i heard was What's your max? How much do you bench? Keep in mind that most of the people who ask that question ask it for the pure in simple mind that they have no knowledge of any thing else about the lifestye, Or that they are scared to squat, dead lift, or power cleans etc. thats all right when they see you in action they tend to shut up(or ask what supplement they can take to get them that strong). That's why i think you should have to pass a quiz to be allowed in the gym. Or sign a waiver that says you'll never ask a dumbass question lke that. ------------------ big bad dan IP: Logged
Slim Whitman Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 35)	posted March 13, 2000 04:14 PM I like plain and peanut M&Ms both. Skittles aren't bad, but I busted a tooth on some stale ones. Starbursts are good also. But my main weakness are those oatmeal no-bake cookies!!! None of us should be eating this crap anyways. But variety is the spice of life. Big benches, big squats, big deadlifts, big whatever is what all of us should be striving for. Multi-dimensional not one sided. To each his own. Slim IP: Logged
david3 Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 138)	posted March 13, 2000 06:36 PM I GUESS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOPIC FOR SOME GUYS TO GET PISSED ABOUT U KNOW THE TYPE IF THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND ANYTHING U SAY IN CONVERSATION WILL PISS THEM OFF. AS FAR AS OPINIONS,STYLES,METHODS OF LIFTING AND ANYTHING ELSE FOR THAT MATTER TO EACH HIS OWN ------------------ GETTING BIGGER IP: Logged
jocko Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 19)	posted March 13, 2000 07:59 PM Most people that ask about how much you bench usually are co-workers or friends that really don't know anything about bodybuilding.So I never tell them,the people around the gym that see you work-out on deadlifts, bent-over rows, squats, dead-hang cleans etc.bust'in your ass, sweating buckets pretty much know and don't ever ask, cause there still pumping away at the peck deck machine and never do heavy compound movements and when their done maybe will have one sweat bead dripping down their nose! IP: Logged
Capt'n_Crunch Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 35)	posted March 13, 2000 10:47 PM m&m's are for sissies lets see how many atomic fire balls you can put in your mouth and how long you can keep em in....8) IP: Logged