how long?

teednab-el

How long will it take a person to go fr om benching 60kg to 80kg? At the moment I can only bench 60kg two times before running out of steam. I can bench 55kg multiple times. It's only my third week benching really. Want to get up to 80kg but feel I may not get there.

cgpg5

teednab-el wrote: »

How long will it take a person to go fr om benching 60kg to 80kg? At the moment I can only bench 60kg two times before running out of steam. I can bench 55kg multiple times. It's only my third week benching really. Want to get up to 80kg but feel I may not get there.

By 2 times do you mean 2 reps? If you can only get two reps of 60 now I'm afraid to say it'll take a very long time before you start getting near 80. To get the best out of benching you need to do about 3 sets 6-10 reps, depending on your goals. Its not about how many you can do in one set.

Also many (falsely) believe that the more you can bench the stronger you are. It's all about technique more than anything. I like to switch between incline/flat, dumbbells/barbells to keep the body guessing. This will help work the chest better.

O.P.H

A year to 18 months I'd say

teednab-el

cgpg5 wrote: »

teednab-el wrote: »

How long will it take a person to go fr om benching 60kg to 80kg? At the moment I can only bench 60kg two times before running out of steam. I can bench 55kg multiple times. It's only my third week benching really. Want to get up to 80kg but feel I may not get there.

By 2 times do you mean 2 reps? If you can only get two reps of 60 now I'm afraid to say it'll take a very long time before you start getting near 80. To get the best out of benching you need to do about 3 sets 6-10 reps, depending on your goals. Its not about how many you can do in one set.

Also many (falsely) believe that the more you can bench the stronger you are. It's all about technique more than anything. I like to switch between incline/flat, dumbbells/barbells to keep the body guessing. This will help work the chest better.

I want to give up already, I don't have a hope but will keep at it.

Cant get over the difference 5kg can make on bench. I can do 55kgs 6-7 reps comfortably. Only 2 reps with 60kg before struggling to get 3rd rep up and I cant go any further. Can't understand it, my technique had been corrected by the two lads I gym with who are experienced but still developing it. I only started benching 3 weeks ago. I am tall 6 foot 2 but am very light weight at 75kg. Setting a target for 80kg to bench. I want to exceed my bodyweight. I will do anything to achieve this. Started doing other weights too.

Even on the shoulder press I can do a combined weight of 70kg. That includes a 20kg, 10kg and a 5kg weights on both sides of the shoulder press machine. Different muscles obviously.

teednab-el

cgpg5 wrote: »

teednab-el wrote: »

How long will it take a person to go fr om benching 60kg to 80kg? At the moment I can only bench 60kg two times before running out of steam. I can bench 55kg multiple times. It's only my third week benching really. Want to get up to 80kg but feel I may not get there.

By 2 times do you mean 2 reps? If you can only get two reps of 60 now I'm afraid to say it'll take a very long time before you start getting near 80. To get the best out of benching you need to do about 3 sets 6-10 reps, depending on your goals. Its not about how many you can do in one set.

Also many (falsely) believe that the more you can bench the stronger you are. It's all about technique more than anything. I like to switch between incline/flat, dumbbells/barbells to keep the body guessing. This will help work the chest better.

I did 5 sets yesterday. 1 set at 50kg 6 reps warm up, 1 set at 60kg, 2 proper reps, 1 aided by spotter. 3 sets at 55kgs 6-7 reps.

UL_heart_throb

Why are you getting so demotivated and dis-encouraged so easily?

What are your training goals? Do you want to get stronger? Bigger muscles? The numbers on your bench are really only important for ego (but it's a bit silly putting some much emphasis on such a minor exercise within the scheme of things) and for competitive powerlifters.

I mean, who cares if you can't bench more than 60kg?

If you want your numbers to go up, learn how to bench properly, as I discovered today, there is actually a lot technically to a bench press. DOn't rely on your gym bros, they are probably doing it wrong, you will need to teach yourself or get someone who actually knows how to do it teach you proper technique.

Anyway, drop down to 50kg, start banging out 5 sets of 5 comfortably with good technique. then go up in small increments until you reach a plateau. Fix your technique at that weight, keep banging out 5x5s and then try and go up the weight again.

I'll leave it to the people that actually know this kind of thing better that me to explain but if your goals are strength and size and not just numbers you'd need to give your full program and then take it from there.

The Guvnor

There is no correct answer to this - genuinely it could be a few days to a few years.

I've seen people go from benching 70kg to 140/150kg in a year - granted they were 20 at the time and perhaps still growing but it is possible.

It is IMO relatively easy to get to say 80% of your max ability it is that last 20% you will struggle with.

If you are just starting just take your time and forget low reps.

Anything less than 5 is a waste of time at this stage imo.

Maybe try some dumbell work to see if you have imbalances etc.

Stay focused - giving up so soon is simply not an option IMO & IME.

The Guvnor

Just an FYI - IMO milestones on the bench would be:


60kg
135lbs

100kg
225lbs

140kg
315lbs

180kg
405lbs

The variance above comes from whether the plates are 20kg or 45lbs.

You are already at 60kg so good on you there. 100kg will just take a bit of time but if you train well and eat well then it will be yours just be patient.

DylanJM

teednab-el wrote: »

Even on the shoulder press I can do a combined weight of 70kg. That includes a 20kg, 10kg and a 5kg weights on both sides of the shoulder press machine. Different muscles obviously.

Don't compare a machine to free weights, a machine will make an exercise much easier. Your chest muscles are quite a bit stronger than your shoulder muscles.

Other posters have already said it but the easiest thing to do is to drop down a bit and do 5x5 and try to add weight each workout, about 1.25kg.

You could look at a beginner strength program either, something like starting strength or whatever, to allow yourself to get a good all round strength base.

teednab-el

UL_heart_throb wrote: »

Why are you getting so demotivated and dis-encouraged so easily?

What are your training goals? Do you want to get stronger? Bigger muscles? The numbers on your bench are really only important for ego (but it's a bit silly putting some much emphasis on such a minor exercise within the scheme of things) and for competitive powerlifters.

I mean, who cares if you can't bench more than 60kg?

If you want your numbers to go up, learn how to bench properly, as I discovered today, there is actually a lot technically to a bench press. DOn't rely on your gym bros, they are probably doing it wrong, you will need to teach yourself or get someone who actually knows how to do it teach you proper technique.

Anyway, drop down to 50kg, start banging out 5 sets of 5 comfortably with good technique. then go up in small increments until you reach a plateau. Fix your technique at that weight, keep banging out 5x5s and then try and go up the weight again.

I'll leave it to the people that actually know this kind of thing better that me to explain but if your goals are strength and size and not just numbers you'd need to give your full program and then take it from there.

Basically because I get annoyed with myself when I don't make progress in anything I do. I cant explain it stupid really on my behalf.

UL_heart_throb

Well I fully recommend you go with Starting Strength or Strong lifts. I think both programs are built around the principle of continuous improvement and serves people well who are motivated by that.

The programmes are probably the most widely tested and 'proven' to give progressive improvements.

You're doing 60kg for reps right? that's 80% bw. Which is fine for a novice. I presume at 6'2" you've probably got long arms, so if you've got inefficient technique the bench press much be particularly draining for you, so i'm not surprised you're cutting out mid session.

Anyway, drop to 55, do 5x5, then do 57.5 the next bench day, then 60kg. It probably won't be all up hill but it will be fairly progressive.

I would still like to konw what you're doing with the rest of your time

Mellor

teednab-el wrote: »

Even on the shoulder press I can do a combined weight of 70kg. That includes a 20kg, 10kg and a 5kg weights on both sides of the shoulder press machine. Different muscles obviously.

The muscles are quite similar, just in different ratios. You can lift heavier on machine for lots of different reasons. The load is probably a lot less than 70kg. Try with a free bar and 40-50 will be tough.

As for benching. Try do a few sets of 5 rep at 55kg. Full range of motion, bar touches chest. Next week work up to 57.5kg. Forget about 60 until you can get 5 full reps at 57.5kg, smallest increments possible only incresing when you get 5 reps.

O.P.H

Dude you are trying to run before you can walk! Sure jaysus you said you only started benching 3 weeks ago, come on like! And you seem very uneducated with regard to weight lifting as you say you have started to recently do other lifts, which leads me to believe you were focusing just on the bench with the aim of getting a better bench, this is very wrong, as you need to be doing other compound lifts like squat, dead lift, military press, pull ups etc to build overall strength which will help with your bench in turn.

Best thing to do is know what you wanna do and find a personal trainer or someone at the gym to help you make up a training and diet routine and also show you proper technique on lifts OR if ya wanna do it yourself definitely give Starting Strength a go, excellent program for beginners to weights and a program that will give you probably the fastest results with regard to what you can lift. Here's a link, the basic program laid out on page 7 and 8. If you wanna start benching more, you better start squatin

http://media.ar15.com/media/viewFile.html?i=2311