posted March 14, 2000 09:05 AM         

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This is a reply to all the people that are impressed by a bench press. Please note to all power lifters...this is not to put you down, I respect your sport and your strength, so don't take this the wrong way please.
First off, a bench press to me is not that impressive because most people who have strong presses are people with higher bodyfat levels and thick waist lines. Drop the bodyfat on these people and they become skinny weaklings. Thats why most people who are stronger cant get lean because they just can't except that it is not muscle enabling them lift the poundages. Most of the people I see in the gym press with their guts and back, and rarely isolate. I am impressed if a person is skinny, long armed, and has a 28inch waist and can put up weight that is incredible compared to their own weight. Someone who is a 5' 8" mesomorph with a 34-36 inch waist line is going to probably, in most case, have a strong bench, but someone who is 5' 8", skinny ectomorph with a 26-28 inch waist is going to have a weaker bench. This is not always the case, but for the most part, it is. Same goes for taller people. In bodybuilding, just putting up the weight means nothing. I am an ectomorph with a 28inch waist. I weigh about 170-175 right now and can almost bench 335lbs. Because my bodyfat is low, I look pretty impressive for my size even though I am not all that large of a person, and their are a lot of guys my height who can press more, but they don't look very impressive. Next time you are in the gym, watch these so called power bench pressers......Usually they are not that impressive looking in comparison to a bodybuilder(looks I mean). Mainly, the thicker the waistline, the heavier the bench. Of course, thick joints and big bones help. I think for a powerlifter, high bodyfat and a thick waistline is necessary for heavy lifts, but for bodybuilding, NO WAY! So the next time you see a shredded guy throw up some pretty impressive weight....understand how much harder that is than for someone of the same weight with higher bodyfay levels and a thicker waist to do it. THERE ARE ALWAYS EXCEPTIONS, BUT FOR THE MOST PART....I'm not impressed by most people who can bench a lot IF THEY ARE COMPARING THEMSELVES TO A BODYBUILDER, because most of these individuals are not bodybuilders or POWERLIFTERS for that matter, and are no where near the catagory of either. Again, I respect all the powerlifters, but too many people are uneducated behind the principles of bodybuilding vs. powerlifting.

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posted March 14, 2000 03:59 PM            

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Yeah I hear you thought that myself for along time
I'm 5'9" and 185 pounds and am benching in the same range. 275 - 315 work out on some good days.
Size does matter! More mass more weight.
I just wonder if i will ever be able to bench over 400 without using roids.

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posted March 14, 2000 05:09 PM            

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5'7 200 lbs. 32inch waist 600lbs+ bench- world and national champion/record holder here. Was all natural until January. Now on Andriol, and parabolon...Not much strength increrase yet. Bench press along with deadlift and squat are the ultimate measures of strength. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

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posted March 15, 2000 10:36 AM         

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I GOTTA GO WITH GRIP. HE IS DOING SOME SHIT.
EVERY FOOTBALL COACH I KNOW WANTS TO KNOW HOW MUCH DO U BENCH, DEADLIFT AND SQUAT. SO SHIT THOSE ARE MY FOCAL POINTS IN ALL OF MY WORKOUTS.MOST PEOPLE THAT DOWN THESE EXERCISES USUALLY CAN'T DO THEM TO SAVE THEIR LIFES.

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posted March 15, 2000 01:59 PM            

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I also gree, Im 6'1" 205 and bech only 340, I have a 32" waist and since Highschool, I could always bench 225, the last year has been great or maybe it was the army. who Knows. but I have always been extreme when it comes to incline bench I do right aroiund 300, max their.Abs can be a bitch.

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TSSA- twisstin steel and sex appeal

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posted March 15, 2000 02:05 PM            

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6'0, 200 lbs, 10.7% bodyfat, yesterday's last set on bench: 345 X 4 with help only on last one.......and I smoke weed too.(occasionally)

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posted March 15, 2000 04:32 PM            

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Yeah I can press 315 / 335 for a couple reps.
My things is what will I have to do to break the 400 mark. Is 500 a reality.
I work out at home no spot / no cheat.
Either you do it or you eat it.
Maybe I over training!
I'm all natural never touched anything other than a supplement. Yell at I want some input.

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posted March 15, 2000 04:46 PM            

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Hey guys whats with the bench press...I am new to this board and may not know much about steroids, but lifting is my knack...Bench press is very useful, but it all comes down to your goals. The barbell bench press is a great tool to use if you want to lift poundages. But if your going for muscle growth and stimulation...don't matter how much you can lift on the barbell. The real test of strenght and development will come from the dumbbells. My heaviest bench was 415 (no drugs) when I was about 18, but could only handle maybe 75lbs d/b's for about 8 reps. but it was when I started focusing on d/b's did I notice great gains in chest development. I couldn't get up maybe 350 on the press now, but my d/b's can be up to 110 for 10 reps. And size, well, my chest is MUCH more developed now. I do barbell, maybe...mabye once every 4 to 6 months. Just to stay fresh.

Like I said, it all depends on your goals. There is no use comparing a sprinter and a long distance runner. So no use comparing a person lifting for astethics (bodybuilding) to a powerlifter.

If you want to impress yourself and others with how much you can lift, then stick with the barbell max lifts, but if you want muscle development, let d/b's be your mainstay in lifting. Goes for shoulders too.

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posted March 15, 2000 05:09 PM            

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Sounds about right to me, I don't like those "fat" guys that walk around my gym and think they look like the shit! Now if I was going to the gym to powerlift then I would say "wow that guy is strong" But I am in the gym to look good, be all over cut and big, not just strong! If I could only bench 2lbs and my chest looked good, I would be happy! I am all about bodybuilding not power lifting! But some pepole like that stuff, so I say "have fun" but don't walk past me in the gym and think you look better than me! It took me a long time to lose the gut and find my abs and round out my chest, and I am proud of that!

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Don't just dream you dreams, live them!
LOWE254

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posted March 16, 2000 01:09 AM            

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I agree with X. I started with powerlifting, but realized that bodybuilding is kind of a combination. If I truely isolate I get a lot less reps, but better development for bodybuilding purposes. Leaner you are, the weaker you are, so the idea is to get lean and stay strong and thick. Oh yeah, d-bells, good, but most people who only train with dumbells have noticeable size or symetrical differences between the left and right arms. Barbells help keep this more equal. Gotta do both if you are bodybuilding...d-b and b-b.

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posted March 16, 2000 01:56 AM            

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all i know is ive seen more people get injuries from benchpress, squat, deadlift than any other exercise in the gym. As far as im concerned they all suck. Unless your training sport specific there are tons of excercises than will build just as good strengh and better devolpment.

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posted March 16, 2000 04:29 AM            

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The famous line is "How much do you bench?"
People like to measure strength by benching. Most of the people in my gym, bench more than they squat or deadlift. Something is wrong with this picture. You legs are the foundation.

Hey Joe! you're pretty big, can you move this 300lbs object for me?
Wait a minute, let me get on my back first!!!

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posted March 16, 2000 09:13 AM         

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While we are on this subject what is the best exercise for chest fullness thickness and development im not worried about strenght, my chest is my only weak point its kinda flat what should i do to bring it up ive tried alot of diffrent things.

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