Jerome Dinh's Pec Tear Journal

[jeromedinh]

All is going well as usual and nothing really of importance to be updated. My upper body is growing despite the light weight and high reps and in fact i've already shoveled the drive way twice since it began to snow here in MN. I felt no pain, no discomfort in doing so...it feels absolutely normal.

Today i trained HAMS and was curious to see what my legs were pumped and after 1 hour of grueling torture my;

LEGS pumped measured a nice 28 1/2"!!

My friends make fun of me because my legs have grown so much that blue shorts i train in look like daisy dukes LOL. Thats absolutley ok because seeing my legs makes me more and more motivated in the gym. One of my friends who havent seen me in a couple months approached me today during legs. He was talking to one other guy i know, who said (not knowing that he knows me) that there was a guy in the gym who had a pec repair and that he said his legs were his weakest bodypart and that hes going to be training them to bring them up. He said he seen me in the other day and said my legs look like they exploded. Thats good to hear and motivating! I hope to make a serious impression at the National level in a year or two. I know if i can compete as a Lightheavy weight that i will do some damage..even with my disfigured chest LOL. You can see that its not 100% but i'll make it work. Today i trained in my tank and no one has really got a good look at my repair. My friend Chad said that it doesnt look bad at all. He said he has seen much worse... which was refreshing to hear.

For every one who has a pec tear..its not the end of the world TRUST ME! You have to see the glass as being "half full". Life, there is no controling it so make the best of what ever is thrown at you. I learned that young...senior year in high school to be exact. You'll have to make sacrifices but in the end it will pay off.

[jwr5150]

I tore my pec eight years ago when I was 31, and it sucks! I feel for you, and be prepared to be really weak when you resume lifting! I could barely curl 10 pounds with my left arm, embarrasing!

I tore mine completely off the bone, very severe and pec-tears were fairly uncommon when i did it, so my Orthapedic Doctor had to have a specialist assist him during surgery. Afterwards, he told me I had two blood clots which needed to be removed, scared the crap out of me. Funny thing was, as soon as I came to in my hospital room, I was starving and ate a big meal. Then the nurse thought I was nuts because I would not take any pain pills? I guess my pain tolerance is high, and the pills would make me loopy anyway?

I am still lifting today, but have never benched more than 295 since and usually stay at 225 for reps. My left shoulder is starting to bother me, hope it is not rotater cuff related, but will have to take it easy and see. My advice to you is to do what your doctor says, be very patient, and enjoy everyday you have in the gym, because you never know what can happen?

Oh, I forgot to mention I had to sleep in a lazy boy chair for two months and I gained 15 pounds!

Good luck to you, I hope everything works out for you and you have a healthy recovery.

[jeromedinh]

I tore my pec eight years ago when I was 31, and it sucks! I feel for you, and be prepared to be really weak when you resume lifting! I could barely curl 10 pounds with my left arm, embarrasing!

I tore mine completely off the bone, very severe and pec-tears were fairly uncommon when i did it, so my Orthapedic Doctor had to have a specialist assist him during surgery. Afterwards, he told me I had two blood clots which needed to be removed, scared the crap out of me. Funny thing was, as soon as I came to in my hospital room, I was starving and ate a big meal. Then the nurse thought I was nuts because I would not take any pain pills? I guess my pain tolerance is high, and the pills would make me loopy anyway?

I am still lifting today, but have never benched more than 295 since and usually stay at 225 for reps. My left shoulder is starting to bother me, hope it is not rotater cuff related, but will have to take it easy and see. My advice to you is to do what your doctor says, be very patient, and enjoy everyday you have in the gym, because you never know what can happen?

Oh, I forgot to mention I had to sleep in a lazy boy chair for two months and I gained 15 pounds!

Good luck to you, I hope everything works out for you and you have a healthy recovery.

LOL i feel for you to! I've been out of my sling and training upper body for the past 5 or 6 weeks. When i did my first bicep workout i believe i only trained with 5lbs for 40reps and now i'm up to 12lbs for 40reps. I've really focused on the stretch and contraction per exercise...great mind to muscle workouts! It seems so light but burns like hell. I've gained over 1 1/2 inches on my arm since. It has taken me this long for me to have confidence in training with a tank-top.

Good lord, sounds like you had a simular situation as me. I had two surgeries due to this pec tear. The first one was to attach the tendon back to the bone. Sometime after, the muscle belly tore, which resulted in a giant hematoma. Unfortunately they couldnt repair the muscle tear so i only have 1/3 of my muscle and tendon connected. I believe the muscle tear is 4cm long..which is the average length of pec tear from what i've read. I was on pain killers for a day or two, i still have a lot saved up LOL The worse pain was the hematoma i developed after my 1st surgery and pain killers didnt do much as far as helping with the pain. A week after it developed, in my sleep it POPED and blood gushed out every where. I had to wake the wife up and help me squeeze out the oozing blood....then the pain was gone!

I know i probably wont be as strong but thats fine with me as i'm a bodybuilder. Its all comes down to how you execute the movements. It doesnt take a lot of weight to break down the muscle. HEY as long as i look like i can bench 500lbs ...its all good LOL.

My doc really had zero feedback as far as my rehabilitation, in fact i didnt even see a PT. I HAVE ALL MY ROM back already and it was all accomplished through careful weight training and stretching. Basically, the more i worked my arm the more ROM i got.

HAAHAHAHA oh man i forgot what it was like to sit around for months. I was just thinking about that last weekend, how i would sit and watch Ondemand and read books while everyone was away. It was nice at first but got so borning after several days. I lost probably 4lbs but i lost muscle in my upper body and gained more overall fat.

Good luck with your shoulder, you know what would probably help is doing more rotator cuff exercises if your not doing so already. I would lay off any compound movements like dumbell bench/shoulder presses, bench presses until you've worked on your rotator cuff for a couple months. Hopefully by then it will have gained some strength?? I injured and probably tore my left delt when i was 14 and managed to work around it all these years. It started acting up several years ago and i implimented rotator cuff exercises and it helped a lot. Just some food for thought.

Thanks for your kind words, I'm sure it will all workout in the end!

[adamnflorida]

well,im back..somewhat..lol..had the surgery friday and man do i hate this medication.and the whole not being able to use my left arm sucks..especially being im left handed.haha..but everything seems to be fine..the doctor told my roommate that it was a clean tear so it was easy to reattach.

here are a few pics.

[jeromedinh]

well,im back..somewhat..lol..had the surgery friday and man do i hate this medication.and the whole not being able to use my left arm sucks..especially being im left handed.haha..but everything seems to be fine..the doctor told my roommate that it was a clean tear so it was easy to reattach.

here are a few pics.

LOL yep i'm right handed but you'll get use to using your right arm, like i did with my left. you'll adapt quick and become pretty good with it too.

looks like the doc did a better job with your repair then mine. my doc didnt use staples but sutures, which were weak..plus my cut is longer. i'll have a nasty scar and yours looks like it will heal nice.

keep me posted and feel free to ask any questions you have because i know i had a lot with not much feedback or hardly anyone to turn to.

[adamnflorida]

LOL yep i'm right handed but you'll get use to using your right arm, like i did with my left. you'll adapt quick and become pretty good with it too.

looks like the doc did a better job with your repair then mine. my doc didnt use staples but sutures, which were weak..plus my cut is longer. i'll have a nasty scar and yours looks like it will heal nice.

keep me posted and feel free to ask any questions you have because i know i had a lot with not much feedback or hardly anyone to turn to.

i sure hope so..i actually had to take my sling off to take a final exam monday..which really wasn't a good idea,but i can't write for anything with my right hand.lol.yeah,it seems like he did a pretty good job..he has done quite a few pec tears from my understanding,so he wasn't new at it..i sure hope it turns out well..not looking forward t getting these staples pulled out though.haha.

i will definetly keep in touch bro..im sure i will have questions later for you.

[jeromedinh]

Quick exciting update, I just measured my right arm cold and its now:

17" right arm (COLD)

So within the past 6 weeks since getting out of my sling and very very light upper body weight training, I've gained 1 1/2inch on my arm!

I'm on track and its looking like i'll be competing in Fall 2009 but i might just do a regional show...why, well i really wont have an idea on what i need to work on until i'm contest shape. By then it will give me an idea on what exercises i need to concentate on to bring up lagging bodyparts. For example i know my chest will not look the same and i figure i'll need to work on my lower outer chest once the time comes as well as my front delt. I'm confident at this rate i'll be competing as a LHW fall 2009...i hope!

[adamnflorida]

congrats bro!! good to hear.

[jeromedinh]

congrats bro!! good to hear.

thanks, i wonder if my gains are the norm? if so, i hope this is a reminder to you on how quickly you gain muscle back via muscle memory. i didnt think it would be this quick, all i've been doing is keeping cals high, cut out all cardio with exception of warmup & cool down walk and light weight/high rep training. i think the biggest mistake was doing cardio, i think that set me back a couple more weeks of muscle gain.

get R&R dont be concerned about training..i know its hard but in 4 weeks you'll be feeling a lot better, sling comes off then you can start PT and you'll get your ROM back between 6-8weeks and you'll start to grow while losing fat!

[ROSEVILLECA]

Yah it is crazy how fast the size comes back... I in some sick way think this might have been a good thing for me!! My left arm has gone from 15.25" at its low point after surgery to 17.75" with a pump, and my legs have gone from 22" to 25.5" cold, I am way more diciplined now that I can workout again. I don't ever want to take my training for granted again... Your journal has been a great motivation bro, I am glad you chronicled your ups and downs, it has been helpful

[jeromedinh]

Yah it is crazy how fast the size comes back... I in some sick way think this might have been a good thing for me!! My left arm has gone from 15.25" at its low point after surgery to 17.75" with a pump, and my legs have gone from 22" to 25.5" cold, I am way more diciplined now that I can workout again. I don't ever want to take my training for granted again... Your journal has been a great motivation bro, I am glad you chronicled your ups and downs, it has been helpful

dude thats AWESOME! yeah its amazing bro. I agree i would have NEVER trained leg like i do now..splitting quads and hams on different training days. as a result my legs have grown a ton..not quite as much as you have gained but i'm happy. everything happens for a reason, its how you make the best of every situation...and you're kicking ass man!

[adamnflorida]

yeah,it is definetly going to be hard to not do anything for that long..especially for me..but i just have to keep saying to my self it will only hurt me if it don't...he gave me some exercises that i need to do..mostly for flexibility purposes..did you have to do those too?i have also noticed i have slowed down eating as much..kinda like how i used to be.i am having to force myself to drink protein shakes already..not that they taste bad,but just that im not hungry.

[jeromedinh]

yeah,it is definetly going to be hard to not do anything for that long..especially for me..but i just have to keep saying to my self it will only hurt me if it don't...he gave me some exercises that i need to do..mostly for flexibility purposes..did you have to do those too?i have also noticed i have slowed down eating as much..kinda like how i used to be.i am having to force myself to drink protein shakes already..not that they taste bad,but just that im not hungry.

Its not just you bro, its everyone! YEP you just keep telling yourself, better yet read the horror stories about it..that will scare the crap out of you.

No my doc didnt tell me jack...basically when i was in the sling, he said I could move my arm up and down at the elbow and bend over and rotate my hand in a circle using a straight arm but no stretch movements until i was out of the sling. Dont worry about your ROM, the more you use the arm when its out of the sling, the more mobility you'll gain...at least for me. I use to sleep with my arm stretched while laying on my back or if i was driving, i would put my arm on the arm rest and keep it pushed back.

I had the same exact problem..DONT WORRY about it, its a good thing believe it or not. Your not using the same amount of calories and your body recognizes it so you have less of an appetite. But once you start training on a reg basis it comes back. Luck for you, you didnt have a sore and swollen throat like me. I had that for 10 days and it HURT to swollow anything...pain meds only helped a bit, i DREADED when it was time to eat, even to take down a protein shake killed.

[adamnflorida]

well,i had my doctors visit this morning..and with some pretty good news,i guess..well,they took my staples out and told my that it is healing great..they said that i am healing up faster than they thought i would..haha..and he was amazed with the difference from there being a big hole in my armpit from where my muscle tore and now it looks normal again.he said that the muscle actually tore mostly from the bone and was pretty simple to put back,hardest part was digging the muscle back out from where it balled up in the top of my pec.he was upset apparently at the mri people,b/c they were the ones saying the muscle tore from the tendon..so he wants me to bring in a copy of the disk my next visit for him to look at it. he wants my to stay in the sling for another 3 weeks though,but i don't have to wear it if i am just chillin at the house.which is great.lol.but everything feels good,and i stopped taking my pain meds earlier this week.so im not loopy in the head anymore.haha

[adamnflorida]

here are a few pics

[jeromedinh]

well,i had my doctors visit this morning..and with some pretty good news,i guess..well,they took my staples out and told my that it is healing great..they said that i am healing up faster than they thought i would..haha..and he was amazed with the difference from there being a big hole in my armpit from where my muscle tore and now it looks normal again.he said that the muscle actually tore mostly from the bone and was pretty simple to put back,hardest part was digging the muscle back out from where it balled up in the top of my pec.he was upset apparently at the mri people,b/c they were the ones saying the muscle tore from the tendon..so he wants me to bring in a copy of the disk my next visit for him to look at it. he wants my to stay in the sling for another 3 weeks though,but i don't have to wear it if i am just chillin at the house.which is great.lol.but everything feels good,and i stopped taking my pain meds earlier this week.so im not loopy in the head anymore.haha

good to hear man i'm jealous LOL dont go and fu@k it up and get cocky i'm glad you went in and i agree with the doc, it looks a hell of a lot better then mine. the doc said the same thing about me too...he said it was hard pulling the muscle back..probably why it tore in the first place! i hated wearing that sling, i took it off when i went to bed and kept my arm over my stomach with a tight shirt to help keep it in place when i slept.

[adamnflorida]

haha,yeah,im definetly still taking it easy..and i won't be doing anything to mess it up over the holidays..the hardest part is me sitting at the house trying not to eat..my roommate has been baking all these christmas things and she wants me to taste everything and it is SO hard to say no.haha.just as long as i don't put on too much weight,i will be alright. i have been wearing my sling to bed since the surgery,it is hard to get used too,but so far so good.i still hate it though.lol

[jeromedinh]

haha,yeah,im definetly still taking it easy..and i won't be doing anything to mess it up over the holidays..the hardest part is me sitting at the house trying not to eat..my roommate has been baking all these christmas things and she wants me to taste everything and it is SO hard to say no.haha.just as long as i don't put on too much weight,i will be alright. i have been wearing my sling to bed since the surgery,it is hard to get used too,but so far so good.i still hate it though.lol

LOL well its x-mas season how can you resist. i would be all about food tasting but i remember when i was on lazyboy/bed rest i didnt even have an appetite. i would encourage you to indulge while on bed rest because when you get the green light to train, its game on and none of that good eating applies.

[jeromedinh]

I'm noticing now that i'm training delts, that my front delt is reacting but i still cant flex it while doing a most muscular? I did read that some electro-therapy helps stimulate it so i might try that if this continues. At this point I believe it atrophied much worse that i could ever imagine..but slowly and surely its growing.

Upper body training has been very good, i've been increasing my LBS progressively with each workout. My rep range isnt as high, now its between 15-30 reps with an additional 5 forced reps. I'm not even doing 1/2 the weight i use to do but the muscles are being stimulated. I fill my shirts out big time now, granted my right arm doesnt have the nice shape and separation as it once did but over time i'm certain it will. My back and delts are noticably bigger...i'm much more broad these day and i'm starting to feel like a big man again LOL.

Yesterday I trained Triceps and since day 1 post-surgery upper body training, anything i did with my right arm i did exactly the same with my left arm BUT that theory didnt pan out like i thought it would. My right arm is being stimulated more so then my left arm for the past...what 7 or 8 weeks of upper body training? My left arm hasnt grown that much since training commenced. My right arm has grown at an unbelievable rate!

After training triceps yesterday...WITH A PUMP my arm measurements are as follows:

RIGHT ARM (pumped), 18"
LEFT ARM (pumped) , 17 3/4"

My left arm didnt feel that pumped but my right arm felt like it use to after a hard workout. I COULDNT BELIEVE the measurements, so i did it 3 more times and its right on. MY right arm which was 15 1/2" about 7 or 8 weeks ago was now bigger then my left arm!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say, i need to start increasing the weight training in my left arm and stimulate it on the same level as my right arm. Its good that i've been doing measurements as frequently as i have, now i have a chance to even out the playing field with my left arm vs right arm.

I'm sorry i have been very bad at posting pics in the past several weeks, i keep forgeting to bring the camera to the gym. The only time i have a chance to remember is on the weekends and i only train 1 day then. I'm training with my good friend & his fiancee on Friday so we'll have her take pics after QUADS!

[NEVERSCARED]

i hope you are doing well man!! I did tear my left Pec Minor four years ago and it took me 6 monthes to recover and hit the heavy weight agian, and i think i almost tore the right one couple weeks ago!! let me ask you, what kind of exercises and stretching do you do during your therapy and recovery?

[ROSEVILLECA]

Jerome-

As I had said earlier it seems that I am definitely smaller on my injured side of my chest, and it seems like something wasn't quite right, and it still hurts a little... I went to the doc on thursday last week, and he agreed. He thinks something almost certainly tore, and he is taking me in for an MRI next week... He thinks I am going to need surgery again! SOB!!! Another 6 weeks in a sling!!! It sux, but no need to get all upset, so I will find out in a couple weeks if I go back under. I figure things could always be worse, so I will just take it all in stride!

[jeromedinh]

i hope you are doing well man!! I did tear my left Pec Minor four years ago and it took me 6 monthes to recover and hit the heavy weight agian, and i think i almost tore the right one couple weeks ago!! let me ask you, what kind of exercises and stretching do you do during your therapy and recovery?

sorry to hear that bro, i hope its not torn! basically i did all isolation movements for everything except chest thus far, i dont do any stretching either. since having my sling removed i was doing basic exercises like one arm dumbell curls, cable tricep pushdowns, side laterals, one arm seated cable row...as a few examples. I didnt do any more then 9 sets at 20-40reps per exercise. my reps were very slow and controlled, using 100% mind to muscle connection. today, as of last week, now that my right arm has caught up to my left arm as far as measurements is concerned I'm doing a few compound movements and progressively increasing my weight and lowering my rep range.

i hope that helps and gives you some insight.

Jerome-

As I had said earlier it seems that I am definitely smaller on my injured side of my chest, and it seems like something wasn't quite right, and it still hurts a little... I went to the doc on thursday last week, and he agreed. He thinks something almost certainly tore, and he is taking me in for an MRI next week... He thinks I am going to need surgery again! SOB!!! Another 6 weeks in a sling!!! It sux, but no need to get all upset, so I will find out in a couple weeks if I go back under. I figure things could always be worse, so I will just take it all in stride!

DUDE! i know exactly how you feel!! That happened to me but they were unable to repair it. If you can, MAKE SURE you're admited as outpatient and at a surgical center or the HOSPITAL WILL RAPE YOU OF CHARGES! My 1st surgery which was very extensive was about 7K, which took place at a surgical center, my 2nd surgery was over 13K to REMOVE A HEMATOMA, being they couldnt repair my chest and that was in the hospital, i was admited as INPATIENT but i left as OUTPATIENT.

**** happens man, just make the best of it! I'm glad all that **** is behind me so i truely feel for you because i know what you're going through. Hey just be lucky you didnt get a hematoma like me...thats more painful then post-surgery!

Keep me posted and good luck bro and STAY POSITIVE.

[pc1071]

I have been reading your injury journal and was wondering if it is possible to completely tear a pectoral and it not bruise. Did you tear your minor or your major? Sorry if i missed it. I just injured mine about 5 or 6 weeks ago lifting a person in jujitsu and it bothers me not when i move, but when i cough, or exhale deeply. It's the upper left (outer) part of my left pectoral. The pain seems to switch locations on my left pec as the weeks move on. I was wondering if you had any input on why this happens and maybe if it could be my pectoralis minor that is injured.

[jeromedinh]

I have been reading your injury journal and was wondering if it is possible to completely tear a pectoral and it not bruise. Did you tear your minor or your major? Sorry if i missed it. I just injured mine about 5 or 6 weeks ago lifting a person in jujitsu and it bothers me not when i move, but when i cough, or exhale deeply. It's the upper left (outer) part of my left pectoral. The pain seems to switch locations on my left pec as the weeks move on. I was wondering if you had any input on why this happens and maybe if it could be my pectoralis minor that is injured.

YES, it happend to Layne Norton and another friend i meet on here. My was a major tear of the sternum muscle but 80% of my tendon completely tore away.

I'm no doc but i would assume that you strained your chest. When you push outward, does it hurt, are you weaker then previously, is there disfigurement, can you lift your arm straight up, above your head without discomfort? If so, I'd go see a doc, have them send you somewhere to get an MRI and see the extent of your injury. That is the only way to be certain how damaged it is. Trust me, you know when you tear your pec...its constant pain for 24 hours, discomfort, you hear it when it happens and use lucky folks get some nice coloring LOL.

[pc1071]

i appreciate the response. Coming from someone who has been through it all allows me to decide on the next course of action. If just a partial tear, how long am i lookin at off the weights? I can lift my arm without discomfort but something as small as clearing my throat can send a sharp pain in the outside upper pec. It's above the arm/chest junction closer to my shoulder but definitley chest. Anyway, lookin forward to what else your forum brings, and thanks a lot.

[jeromedinh]

i appreciate the response. Coming from someone who has been through it all allows me to decide on the next course of action. If just a partial tear, how long am i lookin at off the weights? I can lift my arm without discomfort but something as small as clearing my throat can send a sharp pain in the outside upper pec. It's above the arm/chest junction closer to my shoulder but definitley chest. Anyway, lookin forward to what else your forum brings, and thanks a lot.

No prob but i would first get the opinion of a doctor and have it checked out..better safe then sorry. I would do NO chest exercises for at least 1 month too. The discomfort to your outside upper pec doesnt sound good.

Good luck and be sure to get the opinion of a doctor.

[jeromedinh]

Its been a while since I've done an update here. Last Monday i went to see the doc 8 weeks post-sling removal. He said everything is looking good and he does have any need to see me any further unless i wanted him to check me out in the future. My ROM is very good, i would say 100%..the doctor concured. I can flex my front delt but for some reason i cant flex it when doing a crab most muscular? I'm hoping in time that will change. Besides that everything looks great, beside this nasty long as scar..which is pretty evident.

Today i did some biceps and very light chest. I have been increasing my weight progressively since training upper body. Now i'm curling 25lbs for 20 reps....really not much but i make it hurt. After biceps i did some seated cable presses & flies...very light, 10lbs for 40 reps...just for stimulation. While training chest i can really tell the difference in the way it feels when i contract. I'm thinking that will pass over time and it will feel normal once again.

For the past 2 weeks my weight has been dropping but strength is going up. I really dont have much of an appetite and dont crave junk/fast food at all. I'm pretty content with my diet but now and again i'll grap several burgers post workout.

Its been a while since i did pics so i took one...NON-PUMPED at home and then yesterday did a pic showing the measurement of my legs.




I do have to admit, my legs dont feel as full as they use to for some reason. In addition, my legs arent very sore after training which is really weird because after training i can barely walk! I'm in pain every set too...go figure?! I do love this game...i think its time to switch all my routines up. My arms have been getting stronger but measurements have been the same (18" pumped=both arms same size now).

[jeromedinh]

from ur pics it looks like u juice.. or used to...
everyone on juice should stay away from the bench..its a deadly trap.

hope u learned ur lesson...

I also tore my pec doing cabel crossovers ...a bull**** exercise anyway...

all the best

thanks i'll take that as a compliment. on the contrary based upon several studies "JUICE" in fact strengthens the tendons.

i tore my pec because i was being cocky, over zealous and over confident. i went into compound movement before giving my chest a proper warm-up. in the past i always started out with isolation movements to pre-exhaust my chest and warm up the muscle and tendons... but i was a fast moving training not willing to slow down around the bend. its all good because good did come out of it and i will be a better bodybuilder in the future.

i hope your doing well.

[tentyler]

this is why I stick with a callesthenics routine

[jeromedinh]

I think that juice makes the muscles hard...and tight and therefore the tendons are is a no way out situation and tear easier....

specially under specific angels like the bench...

I recommend being a trainer for over 20y and earning my money that way and never ever had any injuries with my clienst to stay away from the bench..

The bench should only be used at the end of a workout to pump it out... thou Id have my client use the dumbbells...

Ive seen to many guys like you who have fallen for the xercise cause of number of reasons... with tons of excuses why it happened...

Just like deadlift, bent over rows, front raises etc...
dont need them - its just gunne make you unhappy one day.

your friend

I agree, bench should be a finishing movement, kind of like squats..ok exactly like squats in my opinion. Bench press, even dumbell presses you're susceptible to injury. Another point, NEVER go over 90% your max ie keep rep range 6-12 reps. I was doing the smith machine and was in a fixed position with a closer grip so at the bottom of my rep my chest was stretched out as much as possible. It wasnt natural in the stretch i was in but LIVE AND LEARN AND PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE.

Benching is a cocky movement, it has no place in bodybuilding...it should be just for the powerlifters. After all these years i still get a good kick out of people asking me how much i can bench LOL