Bench press - Do you do it?

[Vicki1989]

I bench. I'm not good at it, mind you, but I do it. I'm so weak right now though, I'm still using the pre-loaded barbells because I can't even lift the bar alone. Currently working on 12.5kgs/27.5lbs. Weak.

BUT, I will get there. I like it because it makes me feel like a real lifter, and that makes me happy. I hate machines, hate cardio, but give me a bar and I'm happy as anything.

[Sarah97]

I agree with everyone else saying when they bench, it makes them feel like they're doing something important lol. I was hesitant to bench at first as well, but like previous posters said, it was only out of fear, not because I wasn't interested in the actual workout. I was hooked after the first set though. My only problem is that I always need a spotter because my arms are too short to reach the grooves to hang the bar up.

[whatevergirl]

Benching used to be my nemesis. Now, I've grown to really love it. Like anything...do the very thing you're weak in, instead of avoiding it...and you'll get better at it.

[2ndfloor]

That is exactly what I did when benching heavy a few years ago at my old gym. A middle-aged gentleman saw it happen and came to my rescue during my fail, lol.

Lolz. I tend to fail when benching light b/c I rarely do light weight/high rep ranges (I'm on a strength program), so I overestimate how many reps I can do when I switch it up on these rare occasions. I failed a lift over the weekend doing just that and saved myself by "crunching" up and bouncing the bar off my abs. I hate failing on bench. :/

[ashleyj989]

I love benching! Funny that older guys are arguing in our female section....

[Simpy]

I pretty much only use DBs for benching now because I have better ROM and they don't bug my shoulder, but bb benching was always one of my favorite exercises and I miss it.

I agree with Ro - learn to fail on the lift. I've been caught with weight that should NOT have been heavy and suddenly I just could not for the life of me get the weight back up. I've also been caught with weight that should have been heavy and I didn't use a spotter. Either way, it's good to know how to save yourself. Most of the time I've lowered it and someone was near enough to pull the weight off of me. Once, some ass sat and watched me roll the bar down my body. I wanted to dump the weight but it would likely have hit him. So I rolled it when he didn't offer to help me. I was bruised up pretty good from that. His ego was, likely, a bit bruised too when I told him that if he ever sees someone struggle like that it is NOT okay to sit and watch.

[Tom156]

Lolz. I tend to fail when benching light b/c I rarely do light weight/high rep ranges (I'm on a strength program), so I overestimate how many reps I can do when I switch it up on these rare occasions. I failed a lift over the weekend doing just that and saved myself by "crunching" up and bouncing the bar off my abs. I hate failing on bench. :/

You bench without a spotter? You're very brave, maybe you should try doing it with a rack and safety pins?

[Laaaren03]

Some strong women here. I love it! I love lifting heavy. I feel like I am accomplishing something. And each week when I can press up just a little more weight up I feel liberated. I haven't done a 1RM in a while because I'm training for something specific right now but last I hit was 115 pounds. I can lift a pound over my body weight!!! sweet!!!

[BlowFarAway]

I do it. It makes me feel small and weak, but it just makes me work that much harder on it lol.

[2ndfloor]

You bench without a spotter? You're very brave, maybe you should try doing it with a rack and safety pins?

I've thought about doing that, but there's only 1 rack in the gym I go to, and someone is usually squatting in it.

[Ma110W]

I bench, I'm not a fan of it yet though. I like the exercise, I don't like that it's my weakest big lift. I especially don't like it when I see skinny little guys come in and rep 135 like it's nothing, and I struggle to push 100lbs =/ But I continue to do my measly 100 (for four reps) so that one day I can rep 135 like it's nothing.