Question about bench press max vs. weight, how am i doing?

[ckboxer]

I have been benching for a year and a half now. I was maxing around 225 in the beginning. My max last year was 275 (about 8 months after I started lifting) and is up to 320 now. I am shooting for 350 by the end of the year (or this summer if things keep progressing as well as they are). I am 32, weigh 215 with 20% body fat (all fat in my stomach and below chin, not in legs, arms or chest), and will be down to 205 in the next 4 months. I mix a lot of boxing and getting ready to add running to my post workouts to try and burn fat. Also, I probably only take in 2500 calories a day. I am sort of disadvantaged because I am trying to build mass but lose fat, so I add the cardio and diet to maximize the fat loss (with an obvious hit to my gains). My question is, how good is my max (irregardless of age) relative to my weight? My only comparison is my sister's husband that started at a weight of 155 and is now 210 after 6 years and maxes 250-60. My frame is larger than his and he is 3 years older so I feel comfortable knowing that I can move up to 350, but compared to his size and strength, I feel pretty far off (a lot of the inferiority is due to his 6% body fat). THe other is at the school gym (University of Florida). Most of the guys in there are 130-180 lbs, so I can't really compare. My excitement grows about every few weeks when I see some 6'2", 250-260 guy who looks like he should get 400+ struggles with 275-300. The problem I have is there is no one with my size (5'11", 215). Like I said, my fat is on my stomach but nowhere else, so if I were the right clothes (tight in the shoulders, lose in the stomach), I look really big. My chest is 44' (flexed) while my stomach is 39' (relaxed, not tighten at the bellybotton), 35.5' on the waist. My thighs are 27' (I use to race bikes and have always had muscular legs) and biceps 16' (flexed) . I do my curls with 40-45 lbs (sitting, weights at my side, no momentum, no back). I just want to know from guys who are my size or bigger if my bench is good, impressive, or better? I think it is good, but then there is a guy in the gym who is doing 355 and weighs 175 and is 45!!! So basically I would like to hear from the 275-400 bench press guys. 405 is my goal, but at my age, I probably won't get there (but I will definately shoot for it). Also, I know I should be taking in more calories but until I lose my stomach and I am still adding 5 lbs a month to my bench, I am content. I was down to 1500 calories/day but my bench started decreasing. Thanks for any comments you can provide.

[Deciever]

im like 148 and puttin up 215 at least

and since your doing cardio and lifting, i think its safe to say to up your cals a bit

[BadBoiKilla]

im 5"9 155lbs 18 yrs and im working out with 185 4 x 10, is that good , been lifting 3 yrs

[Apothes]

i like to work it out this way. Take the max weight you can lift. divide it buy your body weight, the higher the number the stronger you are. compare that number to others, to give u an indication of your strength. Example, im 70kg and can lift 100kg, that makes my ratio 100/70 = 1.42. if you weigh, 300lbs and can lift 700lbs then 261kg/111kg = 2.35, which is mofo strong. I think a perfect 3 is herculean...go bust a WR or sommit! and 1 is about avg, ie you can lift your own body weight...hope this helps

[Marciano]

from what i've read if you can bench either 100 pounds over your weight, or your weight 10 times (which seems the easier of the two) you're pretty strong. in order to be powerlifter strong, as in you can do well at a local competition, i think you need to bench 1.5-2 times your weight.

[ROCK CRUSHER]

dude at 32 don't even worry about it! my old workout partner was 42
6' 240 20%bf put 415-430lbs raw

my new partner 33yrs 6'1 218lbs 8-95% bf 450lb bench raw.

if you don't get 405 it's not because of your age!!

[Deciever]

I think that it is 1 out of every 100 people can bench they're own bodyweight.. so if youa re over that, you are strong