Bench Pressing Weight Question

Mars Bar

Hi,

Silly question alert.

The bench press bar in the gym is 17kg and I find that very heavy so I lift dumbbells. I'm lifting 7kg in each arm so my question is, am I lifting 14kg with the two dumbbells together or am I lifting 7 kg?

LuckyLloyd

14kgs

But tbh, if you can successfully manage 7kgs Dumbbells a balanced 17kgs bar is well within your capabilities. If you stick at it a few reps each time it will become light before you know it.

endacl

And check your form. A good technique will make it all work better. If you have barbells (non-olympic) on a rack in your gym, perhaps start with an 8-10kg bar to practise? You'll get it in no time.

Mars Bar

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

14kgs

Great, thanks! I just wanted to make sure that I really wasn't selling myself short.[/quote]

But tbh, if you can successfully manage 7kgs Dumbbells a balanced 17kgs bar is well within your capabilities. If you stick at it a few reps each time it will become light before you know it.

I can do it but only just and not without a spotter. Anything more than six reps and I'm really struggling. I do this in a bootcamp environment so the trainer can't always be helping me spot.

endacl wrote: »

And check your form. A good technique will make it all work better. If you have barbells (non-olympic) on a rack in your gym, perhaps start with an 8-10kg bar to practise? You'll get it in no time.

My technique is pretty good (despite my silly question, I actually have an ITEC Gym Instruction cert ). I can bench press 10kg no problem. I did three sets of 12 reps at 12kg no problem today too.

endacl

Mars Bar wrote: »

My technique is pretty good (despite my silly question, I actually have an ITEC Gym Instruction cert ). I can bench press 10kg no problem. I did three sets of 12 reps at 12kg no problem today too.

just a matter of working up to it so, a kilo or two a time, either side. As you'd tell anybody you're instructing!

Bench is my weak link, but only on my right side, due to an old injury. My shoulder joint says 'no' when I'm at about 70% of what my left side can push, if that makes sense? My bench is only 60-70% of what my other lifts would suggest it should be. Frustrating as fcuk. Working up slowly, but I do have to check myself with free weights and the bar. No problem at all with machines.

Ah, we'll get there. Patience....

power pants

7kg +7kg =14kg

you are lifting 14kg

Desmonddoyle

Mars Bar wrote: »

My technique is pretty good (despite my silly question, I actually have an ITEC Gym Instruction cert ). I can bench press 10kg no problem. I did three sets of 12 reps at 12kg no problem today too.

How much do you charge for private sessions ?

Mars Bar

Desmonddoyle wrote: »

How much do you charge for private sessions ?

I don't work in that field at all despite my certificate.

Alf Veedersane

Mars Bar wrote: »

I don't work in that field at all despite my certificate.

I think Des just likes the idea of a life-sized Mars bar.

power pants

to be honest, I think everyone does

Alf Veedersane

power pants wrote: »

to be honest, I think everyone does

Well, maybe Moro.

LuckyLloyd

Mars Bar wrote: »

I can do it but only just and not without a spotter. Anything more than six reps and I'm really struggling. I do this in a bootcamp environment so the trainer can't always be helping me spot.

Well just do the six reps so each set. And when that starts feeling more comfortable, up it to 7 and then 8. At a certain point, you can add some fractional plates each side and repeat the process.

Baby steps, but if you can do six reps it is definitely appropriate for you to be using that weight.

guile4582

i somehow find 2 x 35kg db presses easier than 60kg barbell lift.
I would of thought the opposite

anyone know the reason why? just curious

Alf Veedersane

guile4582 wrote: »

i somehow find 2 x 35kg db presses easier than 60kg barbell lift.
I would of thought the opposite

anyone know the reason why? just curious

You definitely bringing the DBs down as far as you would a barbell that toouches your chest?

guile4582

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

You definitely bringing the DBs down as far as you would a barbell that toouches your chest?

yeah definetly, added to the fact i take them from the floor lie down and then get them above my chest I would of thought it the harder exercise

would it be a case that the Olympic bar is heavier than 20kg on the bar?

COH

Barbell and dumbbell pressing are not the exact same movements. You will be better at the movement you have more exposure to (but in general people will end up stronger at barbell variations)

guile4582

so am not a freak!

People tend to get sh1tty if you are doing a split set of deadlifts with one bar and then going over to use another barbell to bench press which is why I usually use db

power pants

Tar.Aldarion

COH wrote: »

Barbell and dumbbell pressing are not the exact same movements. You will be better at the movement you have more exposure to (but in general people will end up stronger at barbell variations)

So you recommend moving to the bar straight away? I just started and use 10kg DBs in each hand, lying flat on my back. I think the bar is 20kg so I should just move to that?

Mellor

Mars Bar wrote: »

I can do it but only just and not without a spotter. Anything more than six reps and I'm really struggling. I do this in a bootcamp environment so the trainer can't always be helping me spot.

My technique is pretty good (despite my silly question, I actually have an ITEC Gym Instruction cert ). I can bench press 10kg no problem. I did three sets of 12 reps at 12kg no problem today too.

12 reps at 12kg is prob a bit easier than 6 reps at 17kg. So it makes sense that you find it a struggle past 6 reps.
You just need to get stronger tbh.

Mars Bar

No doubt it's a bit easier! I'm gonna give the bar a try this evening.

endacl

Mars Bar wrote: »

No doubt it's a bit easier! I'm gonna give the bar a try this evening.

That's the spirit. Nothing a few pints won't fix!

Mars Bar

The bar wasn't on the menu this evening. :mad:

Mars Bar

I did 3 sets of 8 reps on the bar and that was with renegade rows in between as a super set! Delighted with myself. That final two reps on the last set were so frickin' hard.

Nervous Wreck

Tar.Aldarion wrote: »

So you recommend moving to the bar straight away? I just started and use 10kg DBs in each hand, lying flat on my back. I think the bar is 20kg so I should just move to that?

You'll be able to move more weight with a barbell. And it's much more fun.