Fellow lifters, what is your max bench?

[Longbowman]

Single rep max, no idea. I'm currently on 5x5 127.5kg, which is just a tad over 280lbs if my maths is good. I might be able to squeeze one out at 150kg if I tried but I have no interest in doing so. I've done 130 before, no more than that.

Current weight 80kg/176lbs.

Now 140kg 5*5 (working on), so very confident I could get in the 150s.

[LorenzoSpitaleri]

I don't do single rep max, nor 5x5. This week I did 60kg 3x12, could probably do more by now but I missed chest day like the first 2 weeks of december, didn't bother with push ups at home either.

I'm 1.66m (5'5") and weight 58kg (began at 53kg). Manlet moment.

[Mr.G]

225 lbs x 3 at a bodyweight of about 175 lbs, reasonably lean. A long time ago mind you.

[Turul Karom]

102kg/225lbs x 3 reps, bar to chest, none of that cheating stuff like thrusting the hips up. My bodyweight was 77-79kg/170-175lbs range.

No way in hell I can do that now haha, I worked for a few years to get to that, and never even tried that heavy again.

Nearly identical. I was 2-3 kilos heavier. I hate bench pressing and it took my way too long to get there, and it didn't feel as accomplishing as I thought. I totally had to grind out the last. My best and favorite lift is deadlift which I still perform weekly (at a minimum) to this day. I used to pull for speed on blocks a lot more often on my non-peaking days just because I loved the motion and the pump from it so much (conventional double overhand only, no switch or sumo). Abandoned benching altogether because I was spooked about chest tears I kept reading about and seeing on YouTube everywhere. When a fitness buddy at the time tore his left pec minor completely from its insertion point on a warmup of barely more than 1pl8, he told me that he should have called it quits earlier, too.

Wishing all the benchers out there all the best for the New Year! May your moment arms get ever shorter.

[Mr.G]

Nearly identical. I was 2-3 kilos heavier. I hate bench pressing and it took my way too long to get there, and it didn't feel as accomplishing as I thought. I totally had to grind out the last. My best and favorite lift is deadlift which I still perform weekly (at a minimum) to this day. I used to pull for speed on blocks a lot more often on my non-peaking days just because I loved the motion and the pump from it so much (conventional double overhand only, no switch or sumo). Abandoned benching altogether because I was spooked about chest tears I kept reading about and seeing on YouTube everywhere. When a fitness buddy at the time tore his left pec minor completely from its insertion point on a warmup of barely more than 1pl8, he told me that he should have called it quits earlier, too.

Wishing all the benchers out there all the best for the New Year! May your moment arms get ever shorter.

I always loved bench pressing. And hated the deadlift!

I would still be benching (I do mostly push-ups and elastic band pec fly's nowadays) but I think maybe in life you only get but so many bench presses, and I've exceeded my number. One frozen shoulder and several serious rotator cuff strains later and I am quite pleased to be able to do my push-ups and pec fly's without pain.

Regarding deadlift, I don't seem to be able to recruit my glutes and hams like I should, a lot of the load seem to get directed to an old disc herniation in my lumbar spine.

Glad to hear you are using overhand grip, I've seen those mixed grip biceps rupture videos, you just can't unsee that..

[Turul Karom]

I always loved bench pressing. And hated the deadlift!

I would still be benching (I do mostly push-ups and elastic band pec fly's nowadays) but I think maybe in life you only get but so many bench presses, and I've exceeded my number. One frozen shoulder and several serious rotator cuff strains later and I am quite pleased to be able to do my push-ups and pec fly's without pain.

Regarding deadlift, I don't seem to be able to recruit my glutes and hams like I should, a lot of the load seem to get directed to an old disc herniation in my lumbar spine.

Glad to hear you are using overhand grip, I've seen those mixed grip biceps rupture videos, you just can't unsee that..

Exact opposite about the lifts lol

If you are comfortable with it, how old were you when you made your highest attempt at the bench? I was 23.

I treat the deadlift like a leg press and think of my hips as the parts of a sliding drawer. With my upper body like being in a static hold after taking the slack out of the bar with my upper back, I push away from the ground with my legs and hips.

If you have problems with your glutes and hams, then deload until you can feel them working during the eccentric phase. Works every time.

Also: DO NOT WEAR SHOES WITH HEELS, this is for daily activity, too. I can promise that most boots and shoes men wear have quite the heel stack. Heel lift on shoes shortens the length hamstrings artificially over time and tilts the hips forward. This is why so many men have weak hamstrings: they are never put through their ranges of motion and have atrophied! I wear eastern shoes (barefoot shoes work well too) for this reason.

[Mr.G]

Exact opposite about the lifts lol

If you are comfortable with it, how old were you when you made your highest attempt at the bench? I was 23.

I treat the deadlift like a leg press and think of my hips as the parts of a sliding drawer. With my upper body like being in a static hold after taking the slack out of the bar with my upper back, I push away from the ground with my legs and hips.

If you have problems with your glutes and hams, then deload until you can feel them working during the eccentric phase. Works every time.

Also: DO NOT WEAR SHOES WITH HEELS, this is for daily activity, too. I can promise that most boots and shoes men wear have quite the heel stack. Heel lift on shoes shortens the length hamstrings artificially over time and tilts the hips forward. This is why so many men have weak hamstrings: they are never put through their ranges of motion and have atrophied! I wear eastern shoes (barefoot shoes work well too) for this reason.

I kid you not, I think I was 23 also.

Great advice Turul, thank you very much. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get back that inch in height I'll lose from wearing those flat soled shoes

[Turul Karom]

I kid you not, I think I was 23 also.

Great advice Turul, thank you very much. Now all I have to do is figure out how to get back that inch in height I'll lose from wearing those flat soled shoes

I can suggest some options. If you are looking for shoes that ship to the USA from Europe, I suggest Joe Nimble Toes which is a German manufacturer with distribution in the USA. They have sports shoes and leather hikers that still have zero heel-toe drop while still keeping a good stack height/rock plate and protection underfoot. Their trail boots are particularly nice. My daily eastern shoes are more minimalist that these, but they are great shoes from a great company. They'll also keep you "taller" than minimalist shoes, lol. They currently have a New Year's sale and you can negotiate discounts if you're a trainer.

[Mr.G]

I can suggest some options. If you are looking for shoes that ship to the USA from Europe, I suggest Joe Nimble Toes which is a German manufacturer with distribution in the USA. They have sports shoes and leather hikers that still have zero heel-toe drop while still keeping a good stack height/rock plate and protection underfoot. Their trail boots are particularly nice. My daily eastern shoes are more minimalist that these, but they are great shoes from a great company. They'll also keep you "taller" than minimalist shoes, lol. They currently have a New Year's sale and you can negotiate discounts if you're a trainer.

I never heard of them before, I just pulled up the page, very aesthetically appealing designs. Thanks again as always.

[Zeno]

I have unfortunately stopped for a month now. But my max was at 70 kg, 4x10.