How much did you start off benching?

[Ramsesnyc]

I started at around 95 lbs. That was when I was getting my form correct, and then I started rapidly increasing the weight in the first few months.

Starting off at 95lbs ain't bad man!

[JamesZA]

Bro I have recently started lifting (started 1 month ago). 95lbs to start off with is nothing to be ashamed of, bro! Good luck for the future man

[salmonman78]

This summer when I started I was doing 95(2x 25s) and now I have worked to 115 (2x 35s) and I struggle still on my 2nd and 3rd sets but I know I am making progress. Hang in there, we all gotta start somewhere.

[MichaelCJ]

Um, around 40kg (i.e., ~88lbs) ...

I've tripled that now, however. And still progressing (forever... or as long as possible).

And I know for sure that there are some BIG lifters (inc. benchers) who started with less than that, so there you go: it matters sh!t all.

[xevets]

I started with 40kg 4 years back.
a friend of mine started with just 25kg, its been 3 months since we started his training and hes benching 60kg.

[ZanderClause]

When I first started lifting I was super scrawny at 155 and I started at 65 lbs. The above comments are right, form is key for good solid progression.

65 lbs was years ago and now that I am 180 lbs, I am putting up 265 x 3 with a goal of 315 in a few months. Goals can help you visualize where you want to go.

[orca23554]

Started with 25Kg (that's a grand 55lbs) but then I was a solid 125lbs when I started

Can bench around 120lbs now for 3X5 - sucks but I've gotten slightly better and in the process added a decent amount of mass on my chest. For some of us getting to a bench of 1XBW will take a long time. But we'll get there....

[Juicetin]

I started at about 90 lbs... now 2 months later i am up to 145 lbs max... I only do 120 lbs for my sets though

keep at it bro, we all start somewhere!

[12ozCurlz]

In sixth grade my 1 rep max was 65 lbs.

When I first started tking weight lifting seriously at age 16, my working load was 135 lbs, but keep in mind I've always been an athlete and did some amount of bodyweight type workoutsin my junior high and early high school years.

[xXenkiXx]

First time ever under a bench was when I was 16, I think I managed to fight my way back up with 85 maybe 95 lbs. I was about 120lbs at the time though and almost 6 foot. Im up to 185 x 6 now.

[SmallestGiant]

I still remember the first time I tried to max at 135. I had a spotter on the bar behind me, and one guy on each end of the bar. The worst thing you can do is measure yourself up to what others are doing because when you're the strongest, it only makes you weak, and when you're the weakest it only demotivates you.

Come to think of it, starting off with 95 is great! I don't even think I weighed that much when I started lifting..

[stingray72]

I started at 95 pounds at 109 pound body weight. I am now back at it and doing 230 for a single. The most ive ever done is 250 for 1 at 152 lbs body weight but im working back up to it. My ultimate goal is to do twice my body weight. Im disabled so I do it with my feet up off the floor. Ill get a video of it.

[Dedicated22]

I need some motivation on the bench as doing a good 3 sets of 10 I can go 25 lbs on each side plus the bar (guessing in total, 90 lbs?). At the end, the last couple of reps my muscles are done and I'm pushing myself to finish.

So I'm wondering what others started off in benching and what you are at now and how long it took to get there. Thanks!

I remember I couldn't put up 95 lbs (25 on a side) once back when I was a freshmen in high school.

[jclee993]

At 19 years old, 115lbs, I did a measly 65lbs for 3 sets of ten. Now, still 19, 145lbs, doing 140 for 3 sets of ten.

[bigjoe5574]

my freshman year of high school, a measly 95 pounds for 3 reps lol. now i can rep out around 260-270 on a good day.

[aznrtypes]

I weight 154lbs -ish, before summer I was stuck at doing 135lbs and I would dread chest days but I could manage 12 reps and 4 sets. I got serious over the summer and corrected my form (elbows tucked in all the way) and moved to 95lbs and to 15 reps and 5 sets. After I got more comfortable with the better form, I changed up the workout, I actually super set it with wide grip pull ups 10 reps 5 sets with flat bench 12 reps and 5 sets of 145lbs. I can max bench 235 (2 reps, spotter not touching the bar.)

[Blueee]

Holy crap man, I started out with 5s on each. I did 3 sets of 10 reps with slow negatives. It looks dumb to others but it was needed in order to help me learn how to stabilize the bar. I did this 6 months ago and now I am doing 155 for 6-8 reps for 4 sets. Don't think it's great but it will come in time!

[Decepticon249]

First time 90lbs when I was 270lbs in high school. Got back into lifting a little over a year ago and was doing 135 x 10 at 305lbs. People used to say you're a big you should bench x amount of weight. Screw those people, when you're new you have to build up stability muscles. I workout alone so I'm stuck to a smith machine, so numbers are skewed. But I can put up 280 10 times after a warm up after a year of careful form and adding weight every month.

Bench press doesn't mean anything to me, everyone's favorite question is how much you bench? I haven't maxed out since I started again. Just go at your own pace and strength comes.

[KarmicEffects]

For free barbell bench, 95 lbs (2x25lb and the 45lb bar) for 3 reps @260 pounds and was like 2 years ago. Can count on two hands how many times I touched a weight before that in my entire life. Just did 235x11 a few weeks ago. Slow steady progress brah!

[SickSideSoldado]

flat bar bell bench i sarted off doing 125 ive come along way good memories

[Colo21]

i started with 5kg on each side (the bar alone its 20kg).. now im benching 20kg on each side doing dropsets to 15kg.. trying to reach 25 at the end of this month.. so, the bar+2 plates its 60kg doing drops and my weight its 62kg height 5´6 ^^ my goal its to reach 70 kg lean

[RandomBingeBrah]

Started lifting 3 months ago after living inactive lifestyle forever.

I started with 30lbs bench (not including bar obv) for 6 or so reps. Today I just hit 130lbs for 5 sets, reps were 10,10,9,9,8. Gona try 140 next time. My goal atm is 1.0x bodyweight for 10 reps x 5 sets, almost there.

Probably could have gone there faster...but I don't have a spotter so my increases in weight ive been doing very slowly for safety reasons.

[DeeBee1]

20kg plate on each side. Good luck (bar is 10kg)

[RRJ]

I first began as a 350 lb man benching 85 lb x 3, now I'm a 180 lb man benching 170 x 5. By no means impressive, but a complete turnaround and it's on the rise with my bulk. Just have patience and dedication and make sure to compare your lifts only to your own. Every time you get stronger, you've accomplished something.

[mbranco47]

when i started the bar was challenging enough, i'm currently benching 100 pounds for 8~10 reps. i've always been kinda of scared of benching and i'm trying to overcome that. i will be training with my cousin in a few months and i'm hoping to bench 115 by march and 135 by the end of next year

[cuzzaa]

I started chest pressing 16kg on each arm. I was very skinny and had very little muscle.

Three years later...and two operations later, I can chest press 58kg on each arm.

Stick to good form, eat well and remain injury free and you will surpass that in no time.

Good luck buddy, and ENJOY your transformation.

[azzabazza]

Started off at 88lbs including bar 3 months ago. Now i do 159.8lbs including bar.

Hoping to reach 165lbs next week and 176lbs in 2 months.

[ultralars]

90 lbs for 1 rep srs..

[kingarnold187]

my chest is weak as faurk man..in 8th grade..benched 135..was a point around age 17 i benched 200 at a friends..started getting into working out at age 19-20..now 22 and id say 6 months back whilst on john scotts nitro test..on bb.com..i benched 1rm 260..when i got off t booster my max is staying around 225-240..for my current size..6,4 -6,5 and 234 lbs..that is failure though ive never really done strength or powerlifting excersizes..but while my bench is weak i do leg press 1002 lbs for 3 reps.......feelsweirdman =/

[eight-pack]

Everyone's gotta start somewhere! And my chest isn't one of my strong points either..

Started off at 75 lbs.. and I was struggling to get 5 reps done with that. The hell with what everyone else can do! Do what you can right now and work your way up, never compromising form or half-assed reps.

Right now I'm only up to 180 for about 10 reps.