Progress.
As previously mentioned, I set a new PR (exercise lingo for "personal record") on the bench every other week because I add five pounds to the bar every 14 days, but this week, well, I reached a different kind of milestone . . . .
As previously mentioned, I set a new PR (exercise lingo for "personal record") on the bench every other week because I add five pounds to the bar every 14 days, but this week, well, I reached a different kind of milestone . . . .
I'M BEGINNING TO BEND THE BAR! For you non-lifters out there—to quote the impeccable Ron Burgundy—this is kind of a big deal because, as the saying goes, "If the bar ain't bending, you're just pretending," and this coming from none other than Wolverine himself.
(And, yes, as my wife has so graciously pointed out, my fly is open. ~smh~)
This achievement is mathematically cool as well: I currently weigh 165 (three pounds shy of where I should be at this point). By pressing 185, I'm benching 112% of my body weight. Not too shabby considering six months ago I could only muster 78% (110 lbs. at 140 body weight). For all intents and purposes, this means I've progressed from being a novice to an intermediate lifter.
(And, yes, as my wife has so graciously pointed out, my fly is open. ~smh~)
This achievement is mathematically cool as well: I currently weigh 165 (three pounds shy of where I should be at this point). By pressing 185, I'm benching 112% of my body weight. Not too shabby considering six months ago I could only muster 78% (110 lbs. at 140 body weight). For all intents and purposes, this means I've progressed from being a novice to an intermediate lifter.
I can do three reps at 185. In theory, this means I should be able to get 195 above me once and only once, but I'm not going to tempt fate, i.e., risk injury.
If I keep at this pace, I'll be right on schedule in the 225-range by Halloween, which will have me benching 122% of my body weight if I tip the scales where I should—185 lbs. Should this happen, and here's where the coolest math comes in, I'll be pressing over double what I was 12 months before!
If I keep at this pace, I'll be right on schedule in the 225-range by Halloween, which will have me benching 122% of my body weight if I tip the scales where I should—185 lbs. Should this happen, and here's where the coolest math comes in, I'll be pressing over double what I was 12 months before!
To see exactly how far I've progressed, the average male weighs 195 and can bench 135, which is 70 percent of his body weight. By contrast, the average fit male can press between 90 - 119 percent of his body weight, which balances out to 104.5 percent. If you click on the table on the right, you'll see that this makes for some interesting differences: Even though the gap in the percentage of weight being lifted remains the same (104.5 - 70 = 34.5), as body weight increases, so does the amount a person can bench. The fit 140-pounder is pressing almost 50 lbs. more than his unfit counterpart while the 250 giant is nearly 100 lbs. over his buddy. |
What does this mean? Progress is relative the same way that stronger doesn't necessarily mean strong. For example, Bob just started weight training but, at 300 pounds, he can already bench 200 lbs. Even though that's more than me, a person who's lifted for half a year, Bob's only able to get 66 percent of his body weight above him, whereas I've worked my way up to almost double that percentage. Thus, on paper, Bob is stronger than I am but, on a personal level, he isn't nearly as strong. See the difference?
Curious what percentage of your body weight you're able to bench? It's easy to calculate: Simply divide the amount you can press by your weight then move the decimal point two spaces to the right.
Curious what percentage of your body weight you're able to bench? It's easy to calculate: Simply divide the amount you can press by your weight then move the decimal point two spaces to the right.
Side note: For all you beginners out there, I strongly suggest not second-guessing yourself in respect to what you will be able to lift over time. When buying weights, save yourself the money and purchase a 2-inch Olympic bar (which can handle up to 300 lbs.) right off the bat because, as you can see, you'll max out a 1-inch standard bar (rated at 200 - 250 lbs.) in no time. And, as you might have guessed, as of this week, I'm the proud owner of a brand new Olympic barbell . . . and a set of 2" plates. On the bright side, with two barbells to my name, I no longer have to take the bar off the bench in order to do bent-over rows.
#ThorChallenge #BeYourOwnSuperhero #Bodybuilding #PR #PersonalRecord #BenchPress #BendingtheBar #Wolverine #BodyWeight #Fit #Strong #ProportionalStrength #StandardBar #OlympicBar
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