Bench press - do you guys count the weight of the bar or not ?
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[quote name='BartMan'][quote]The synaptic facilitation power plan can be summed up as lifting heavy weights as often as possible while staying 'fresh as a cucumber' (Russkies have a thing against daisies, you wouldn't understand). Contrary to what some snobby pantywaists believe, this heavy, high volume approach is not an iron fossil but one of the most scientific approaches to strength training there is. "Chain yourself to the squat rack and call me in a year." Words to live by. [/quote]<br />
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The last paragraph - sums it up. All about keeping fresh - in mind also. The Bulgarian programme is lift heavy and lift often, and rest in between. Easy for professional athletes attached to steroid drips, not so easy for we mortals. But it worked for me all those yearsa ago.[/quote]<br />
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Well if I'm hanging round home getting bored I can always pop out for a quick set so that side of it appeals to me, like I said not so applicable if I was to shoot down to the gym every couple of hours. Will definitely give the joints a rest every few days though, that would appear to be the sensible thing to do ! -
[quote name='davidav']Of course you count the weight of the bar. It's weight. You're lifting it. So it counts. An olympic size bar is 45 lbs or exactly 20 kgs.[/quote]<br />
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I'm using a bar that I estimate to weigh 0.00000000001 kg, I also have an olympic bar for deadlifts that would be 10 of 15kg but is 7 feet long and I prefer the other one for benching ( although it has a slight bend due to strain from the weights ) <br />
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As discussed previously my weights set up in the garage goes against lots of health and safety rules so I'm not too concerned about a slight bend ! -
MN5, mine and Prop curils olympic bar had a massive bend in it - from dropping off our home built squat rack onto our home built bench. Was fine for everything, but for putting the bar back onto the rack after doing squats, with the bend, I could hardly get it back onto the pegs!! Had to do calf raises!!
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[quote name='BartMan']MN5, mine and Prop curils olympic bar had a massive bend in it - from dropping off our home built squat rack onto our home built bench. Was fine for everything, but for putting the bar back onto the rack after doing squats, with the bend, I could hardly get it back onto the pegs!! Had to do calf raises!![/quote]<br />
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OK my previous bar is bent beyond recognition now so have switched to the 7 foot one while benching and I have to confess it feels a lot more natural and easier to grip tightly, I chucked it on the scales and it is exactly 10kg yet feels easier to bench with 80kg on there ( ie 90kg all up ) rather than 90kg on the other bar. Perhaps its all in my mind..... eusa_think -
[quote name='Hooroo']Slight tangent here, but I'm doing all my Bench press on a swiss ball and with dumb bells and the difference is amazing, when I do go back on the hard bench. So much easier and you can do a lot more weight as well.[/quote]<br />
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May give that a go dude, always keen for a bit of variety and all of that. My one gripe would be that the wider ROM tends to fuck up my shoulders quite a bit ! xzxmad -
[quote name='Hooroo']Slight tangent here, but I'm doing all my Bench press on a swiss ball and with dumb bells and the difference is amazing, when I do go back on the hard bench. So much easier and you can do a lot more weight as well.[/quote]<br />
How much do you trust the ball? Have you checked the max wieght it can take? You must be what 135kg plus? eusa_whistle and then add to that whatever you are lifting..<br />
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Anyway it's a very quick way to break both forearms if you get it wrong<br />
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Personally I barely do any flat pressing anymore. I get very few results with it.. Incline however seems far more suited to me and I put on more muscle and gain strength faster.<br />
Anyone else find the same thing? -
[quote name='Duluth'][quote name='Hooroo']Slight tangent here, but I'm doing all my Bench press on a swiss ball and with dumb bells and the difference is amazing, when I do go back on the hard bench. So much easier and you can do a lot more weight as well.[/quote]<br />
How much do you trust the ball? Have you checked the max wieght it can take? You must be what 135kg plus? eusa_whistle and then add to that whatever you are lifting..<br />
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Anyway it's a very quick way to break both forearms if you get it wrong<br />
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Personally I barely do any flat pressing anymore. I get very few results with it.. Incline however seems far more suited to me and I put on more muscle and gain strength faster.<br />
Anyone else find the same thing?[/quote]<br />
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Yeah if you're fairly big and also doing some big weights then the thing may be in danger of exploding which wouldn't be too fun if you had the weights in mid air at the time ! ok maybe I won't try unless I do more homework. -
Hasn't popped on me yet!!! <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> It was my instructor that suggested it and, so far, so good.<br />
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I'm gettting fit rather than trying to build muscle bulk per se so the weights aren't huge. The ball would be bearing a weight of around 150kg's give or take (Although that isn't allowing for the weight my legs take on the ground) -
[quote name='Hooroo']Hasn't popped on me yet!!! <img src='http://www.daimenhutchison.com/invision/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> It was my instructor that suggested it and, so far, so good.<br />
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I'm gettting fit rather than trying to build muscle bulk per se so the weights aren't huge. The ball would be bearing a weight of around 150kg's give or take (Although that isn't allowing for the weight my legs take on the ground)[/quote]<br />
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Well after an enjoyable drunken lunch at the brewery bar I got home at about 7 and in my drunken state decided to pop out to the garage to potentially give these a go. I grabbed a couple of dumbells, eased myself back ( had had a few beers so estimate my weight would have been 100kg bang on, usually 99 or so ), take away the legs, add 70 kg for the dumbells......hmmmm in any case my balance was slightly off so I wisely thought better of it placed the dumbells back in the corner and went back in to watch Shortland st with the wife.....( man I hope Ethan gets shot tonight ! eusa_whistle ) -
Did my first bench (on a Smith) on Saturday after a long lay off (work has been mental).<br />
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Have lost around 9lbs since my summer high of 15 stone 2lbs and definitely feel less effective in contact (although i am looking for it less as well in fairness). SO i am back in the gym with a vengeance.<br />
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Most i could manage on saturday was 95kgs, but the fact that i don't have a spotter makes me loath to start pushing the limits too much.<br />
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Anyone interested in gymming in East Finchley, let me know. -
[quote name='Fullermorg']Did my first bench (on a Smith) on Saturday after a long lay off (work has been mental).<br />
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Have lost around 9lbs since my summer high of 15 stone 2lbs and definitely feel less effective in contact (although i am looking for it less as well in fairness). SO i am back in the gym with a vengeance.<br />
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Most i could manage on saturday was 95kgs, but the fact that i don't have a spotter makes me loath to start pushing the limits too much.<br />
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Anyone interested in gymming in [b]East Finchley,[/b] let me know.[/quote]<br />
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Thats a bit far for me but anyone keen on membership at my "gym" ( weights in my garage eusa_whistle ) in Welly is welcome to pop up to visit for a free trial. Subsequent workouts will cost a sixer of Macs or Monteiths ( which I'm happy to share with ya xzxdrinks )
