Any FEMALES here bench there weight?

[justanotherchik]

Or close to it? All my other lifts are pretty decent (for my weight anyway) but my bench isn't that great imo. I know girls have comparitively weaker upper bodies then guys but still. So am I exspecting too much or am I doing something wrong? Anyway if anyone can do it, how long did it take you to get there? Also if you could post up whatever chest routine you use that would be awesome. Thanks in advance

[deawalsh]

for me, i'm 115 and i can bench 100 for about 3 reps....consistency and patience is the key to get there, i didn't do it in a week, it took months. I've been working with a compound split (chest/triceps) for about 6 months and 2-3 month ago i've changed for an antagonist split (chest/biceps), and this one worked way better with me. I ALWAYS start my chest routine with bench press, if i wait 2-3 exercises or at the end, i'm not strong enough to do it with what i usually put. i do also lots of cable crossover (from top, middle and bottom cable), flies and db presses (incline,decline,flat) and sometimes pec-dec machine (but i hate this one )

Good luck with your bench press!

[swindled]

Before I hurt my shoulders I used to be able to bench press 10lbs above my body weight, although it was my 2rep max. I was 125 and I could bench 135, it took me about a full year of serious training to get to that point. I really dont recall my full training at that point, I was doing full weights, swimming and running, 2 workouts a day, except for Sunday.

Dont get discouraged, it takes a while and if you keep pushing yourself your bench press will eventually come. Keep working hard

[mommalu]

I'm 127 and can bench 95#. Tomorrow is chest day so I'll try for 100
I prefer flat DB bench press to BB bench press. I can press using 45's with DB's

[Bluelinersgirl]

I college I weighed 145lbs and maxed 145lbs (I actually did the lift too, it wasn't just an estimate), one of my main goals right now is to be able to bench my own weight again. I've been back in the gym for 4 months now after taking about 2 years off! But I'm getting closer to it now Right now I weigh 138lbs (I'm 5'9") and I think my estimated max is 126lbs, I do most of my sets at reps in the 95 to 110 range right now, but I'm slowly working my way up to reping with more and more weight... so hopefully in a few weeks my last set will be at 115, then 120, etc.

[motovilova]

Originally Posted by justanotherchik

Or close to it? All my other lifts are pretty decent (for my weight anyway) but my bench isn't that great imo. I know girls have comparitively weaker upper bodies then guys but still. So am I exspecting too much or am I doing something wrong? Anyway if anyone can do it, how long did it take you to get there? Also if you could post up whatever chest routine you use that would be awesome. Thanks in advance

I have the same problem and I figured I was the only one. I can't seem to lift any heavier than 95lb x 5 on the incline bench press. I've been around that weight for a while now. I may try the flat bench press next workout to just see if I can do more on the flat one. I flat DB press 45's for 6 reps. I am 150, however, so I have a lot of work to do before I can bench my own weight.

Irene

[lopaw]

I'm 150 lbs and can press 180.
Hang in there!

[PremierGirl]

I max out 110 at 128 lbs(and also when I was 124)... was stuck at 105 for a while. I think my main problem is form but no matter how much I learn on it, I still feel like I'm doing bad form. Anyways I got 115 half way up but didn't quite make it few days ago :/.
I usually did just incline, flat, and decline... and the one honestly if I were to choose has helped me the most were pushups..... The first time I ever maxed i did 95 lbs, and previously really the only chest I did was pushups

[PremierGirl]

Originally Posted by lopaw

I'm 150 lbs and can press 180.
Hang in there!

wow... thats great...... how long did that take?

[grace_ou]

Yeah I'm 150 I recently hit 215 on my bench..

I have pl routine .. westside I have 1 day of ME bench and 1 DE bench a week. My accessory exercises change every couple weeks.

[justanotherchik]

wow.... thats awesome. great work!

[Amanda76]

It took me...several years to be able to bench my bodyweight. And I'm always stronger when bulking. I can't say any one routine got me there but noticed the greatest increases in strength doing Max-OT (when I first started doing it), DC training (the first time I did it) and with what I did this year following a scheme where I did 5x5 on my opening "big" lift and 2-3 x 8-10 through the rest of my workout. Every third workout, I'd open warming up to attempt a new max lift and then do a drop set from wherever I failed. Worked great for my legs so far as strength went, too. My back didn't really go anywhere with it.

At 130 - 135 pounds, 155 is my 1 rep max. Seems like once I start getting under 130, my strength begins to suffer on everything. Not sure what my max bench is right now (nor can I give you a real accurate bodyweight atm--I'm between 125 and 130), but my last attempt at 135 required a heavy spot to get past 4 reps. Not only do I get weaker as I lean up, but according to my chiropractor the months I lean up are the ones I'm more prone to injury. Damn it all. LOL

Anyway, aside from lifting heavy trying to stimulate your body in different ways and constantly trying to "beat last week's lifts," the greatest piece of advice I can give you is to EAT if you want to get strong.

[Amanda76]

Originally Posted by lopaw

I'm 150 lbs and can press 180.
Hang in there!

Originally Posted by grace_ou

Yeah I'm 150 I recently hit 215 on my bench..

I have pl routine .. westside I have 1 day of ME bench and 1 DE bench a week. My accessory exercises change every couple weeks.

You guys kick butt!

[justanotherchik]

Originally Posted by motovilova

I have the same problem and I figured I was the only one. I can't seem to lift any heavier than 95lb x 5 on the incline bench press. I've been around that weight for a while now. I may try the flat bench press next workout to just see if I can do more on the flat one. I flat DB press 45's for 6 reps. I am 150, however, so I have a lot of work to do before I can bench my own weight.

Irene

well at least we're not alone. hang in there. but yea you should definately be able to lift more flat benching. I've never met anyone who can do more incline than flat so hopefully you'll be able to put a bit more up

[justanotherchik]

Originally Posted by Amanda76

It took me...several years to be able to bench my bodyweight. And I'm always stronger when bulking. I can't say any one routine got me there but noticed the greatest increases in strength doing Max-OT (when I first started doing it), DC training (the first time I did it) and with what I did this year following a scheme where I did 5x5 on my opening "big" lift and 2-3 x 8-10 through the rest of my workout. Every third workout, I'd open warming up to attempt a new max lift and then do a drop set from wherever I failed. Worked great for my legs so far as strength went, too. My back didn't really go anywhere with it.

At 130 - 135 pounds, 155 is my 1 rep max. Seems like once I start getting under 130, my strength begins to suffer on everything. Not sure what my max bench is right now (nor can I give you a real accurate bodyweight atm--I'm between 125 and 130), but my last attempt at 135 required a heavy spot to get past 4 reps. Not only do I get weaker as I lean up, but according to my chiropractor the months I lean up are the ones I'm more prone to injury. Damn it all. LOL

Anyway, aside from lifting heavy trying to stimulate your body in different ways and constantly trying to "beat last week's lifts," the greatest piece of advice I can give you is to EAT if you want to get strong.

wow thats actually great to hear. I'm used to doing 3x8 on bench and actually just tried out 5x5 for the first time today. Just finished my workout like an hour ago lol hehe at least i know it worked for somebody now.

[Amanda76]

Originally Posted by justanotherchik

wow thats actually great to hear. I'm used to doing 3x8 on bench and actually just tried out 5x5 for the first time today. Just finished my workout like an hour ago lol hehe at least i know it worked for somebody now.

Just remember a lot of it has to do with what you're eating. 5x5 with plenty of fuel to grow will work a lot better than 5x5 when your body is struggling to keep mass on to begin with. Remember, I started to get WEAKER doing the same program that brought my bench up about 20 pounds, simply because my nutrition changed from a calorie surplus to a deficit and I changed my macros up a bit.

Good luck!

[punxnotdead309]

I've never benched before, as I have no one to teach me, but if I ever get the opportunity, I'll share my weight with y'all
For dumbell flys on a decline bench, I do 35lbs on each side and for the cables, I do 40lbs each side (10 - 12 reps).
I don't know what that traslates to in benching.

[KyleAaron]

Just a note from the boys here to keep it up, well done!

I wish my own gym would have some women come to the weights side other than the Dumbbellinas - the ones who do 1,000 reps of 2lbs while standing in front of the mirror checking out the guys. Probably they can't bench 1/4 their weight

punx, if you can do decline DB flies of 35lbs then you could probably bench over 100lbs. Try it and see! Don't you have an instructor at the gym to teach you?

[punxnotdead309]

Ooo, okay! Thanks
I'll definately give it a try - might bring a friend along to spot me.
Oh, yeah, I do have a personal trainer, but she doesn't like women to bench, so I didn't get the opportunity.

[Beefcupcake]

No way! Chest is my weak area and I know it will take me a couple of years to bench my bw. I'm at 90x6x3 right now

[medjen]

Originally Posted by punxnotdead309

...she doesn't like women to bench...

If a trainer EVER told me this, they would be fired instantly.

Is there a reason behind this prohibition?

[iKoniConSciencE]

You CAN become able to bench your body weight... and maybe even above! For a little while, I was 125 and could bench 130. I felt fairly strong, but my goal was 135. I never made my goal. Now, I can only bench around 120 and I'm 131-132 pounds. I'm not working on my 1RM because I'm cutting for a competition. Getting to that strength point for me took around 8 months.

Amanda is right, nutrition also has a lot to do with how strong you feel.

[strong kathy]

I weigh 150 and can bench 150lbs for 1 rep

[KyleAaron]

Originally Posted by punxnotdead309

Oh, yeah, I do have a personal trainer, but she doesn't like women to bench, so I didn't get the opportunity.

As medjen says, why?

This is like a chef who won't send out a steak well-done. "But I don't think people should have it well-done." Yeah, who asked you, chef? Burn that steak!

If it's what you want to do, your PT should help you achieve it - of course considering your particular conditions like how advanced you are, any old injuries, etc.

However, do be cautious - if someone hardly ever teaches people to do X, they may not be exactly brilliant at teaching X. Around your gym there must be some qualified person... I mean, the bench is nowhere near as easy to stuff up as the deadlift or squat, but still.

Best wishes for the women lifting lots of weight!

[grace_ou]

Originally Posted by Amanda76

You guys kick butt!

Thanks!


Benching bw wasn't to hard for me to get to but over stuck there forever! I don't think it was any routine that got me past it,, I brought in a pro (a lifting coach) to teach me proper form, leg drive and arching, that's when my bench numbers really started to move. Bench press is takes alot of techs it's not all about muscling it up.

I have the same problems with leaning out,, I'm become more prone to injury, my strength and energy levels drop.. LOL I usually get about 2 weeks into the diet and drop it! I start to think God lose a little bf isn't worth all that!

[Donica]

Originally Posted by justanotherchik

Or close to it? All my other lifts are pretty decent (for my weight anyway) but my bench isn't that great imo. I know girls have comparitively weaker upper bodies then guys but still. So am I exspecting too much or am I doing something wrong? Anyway if anyone can do it, how long did it take you to get there? Also if you could post up whatever chest routine you use that would be awesome. Thanks in advance

I can bench more than my weight. Just remember a strong bench involves not just your pecs, but your entire upper body (as in, to be your strongest you must be balanced and not ignore training other bodyparts and whatnot). It took me about a year, maybe, after putting down my little Neoprene dumbbells and hitting the Olympic weights before I could bench my weight, but everyone is different. Don't despair, with consistent and intelligent training and a good diet and proper rest, you'll get there!

[lopaw]

Originally Posted by PremierGirl

wow... thats great...... how long did that take?

It's taken me about 2 years. I started off only being able to press 65 lbs. or so in the beginning. Push ups REALLY helped me develop my chest area.

Dang! I got a bit of work to do to catch up with grace_ou !!
215!
You're my new hero!

[queenofhartz]

Six months ago I managed 60kg, dumbell bench press, but after i was out for 6 months, then came back to it I find I have to build it all up again, so started on 40kg and after 2 weeks managed to get to 45kg, it will take time, unfortunately we dont have the facilities to do a barbell press, probably do more, and when you work on your own theres no one there to help spot on the heavier weights, its just persistence and confidence.

[lauren921]

Ummmmmmmmmm....nope. I can't even get a 25 pound DB in the air.

[08vistabluegt]

Originally Posted by grace_ou

Yeah I'm 150 I recently hit 215 on my bench..

I have pl routine .. westside I have 1 day of ME bench and 1 DE bench a week. My accessory exercises change every couple weeks.

Wow, that is great!