Gearloose wants to bench 315!

Gearloose · 21-Jan-06, 07:01 PM

I've not kept a regular journal here before. I've occasionally posted progress photos, but that's about it. I think it may help in my goal to bench press 315 lb if I make periodic progress reports here.

Today, I achieved a new PR in my bench press. It's a small step, but its a step in the right direction. I benched 230 for 2 reps. That's a first for me.

the whole session was:
185 x 6
205 x 5
230 x 2

I accidentally made a new PR in my decline bench today also just because I can't add!

I intended to load 210 lb. (45+35+2.5) My previous PR was 205. I pumped out 6 reps on the first set, thinking to myself that the extra 5 lb sure felt heavy! When I got up from the bench, I realized I had used a pair of 5 lb plates instead of a pair of 2.5 lb! I started to pull them off, then thought "What the heck!"

The session went thus:

215 x 6
215 x 6
215 x 4

I'll post more when I make important gains in either reps or pounds.

My goal to squat 405 may not happen so fast. I hurt my left knee when I missed a step while leaving a restaurant at night right before Christmas. It's been very slow healing and I've not been able to regain my previous level with squats. I stayed completely away from the gym for over 2-1/2 weeks to allow the knee to heal, but it's stubbornly refusing to completely get better. I'm probably going to go get it looked at by a professional as it is beginning to look like more than a simple sprain.

CF-OC_gal · 21-Jan-06, 07:36 PM

Go for it Gear!

Gearloose · 21-Jan-06, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brat

Go for it Gear!

Thanks, I certainly shall! I forgot to mention in my first post that my wife, Wanda, also made a PR in her own bench today--80 lb.

:

**Lady C** · 21-Jan-06, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearloose

Thanks, I certainly shall! I forgot to mention in my first post that my wife, Wanda, also made a PR in her own bench today--80 lb.

:

Way to go Wanda!!! My PR happend by mistake (put the wrong plate on the bar): 120 x 2

**maverick** · 21-Jan-06, 09:59 PM

Who doesn't want to bench 315?! Whats your plan of attack?

Gearloose · 21-Jan-06, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick

Who doesn't want to bench 315?! Whats your plan of attack?

I intend to take as long as necessary, but hope I can do it in a year. I know that is going to be difficult, especially at my age. I intend to work on building reps in each set and add weight at each set every 4 to 6 weeks. I need to raise my max an average of just over 7 lb a month to meet the goal of 315 lb in one year. I am hitting all my other exercises equally hard in order to build strength in all muscle groups and maintain balance. I will mix in some other chest exercises along the way to keep the pot stirred, so to speak. The 315 bench goal will just be icing on the cake. I've been paying less attention to weight loss the last 3 months and am eating a lot more protein. I'm still keeping the diet pretty clean though. I've went from a low of 204 lb back in the early summer to a current weight of 216-218. My waist is still 38" and my BF% is still around 14%-17%.

**threenorns** · 22-Jan-06, 08:20 AM

i think it's emininently doable - you've got the frame for it: wide, square shoulders. i think, though, that you might have to consider switching forms to protect your shoulders once you get to serious weight just to prevent flirting with shoulder injury.

crossing fingers that your knee's not an ACL injury... :s

Gearloose · 22-Jan-06, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threenorns

i think it's emininently doable - you've got the frame for it: wide, square shoulders. i think, though, that you might have to consider switching forms to protect your shoulders once you get to serious weight just to prevent flirting with shoulder injury.

crossing fingers that your knee's not an ACL injury... :s

I don't think it's ACL. My symptoms did not appear immediately, but showed up about 24 hours after I took the misstep. There was no "popping" noise and I had no problems walking and continuing my activities the rest of the evening and next day. There was swelling and soreness, but none of the other symptoms. To compound and confuse the issue, I got up this morning with the right knee feeling extremely stiff and painful, similar to the left knee. The kicker here is that yesterday was an upper body workout with no leg exercises at all. I cannot recall any incident in the last couple of days that could have caused injury to my right knee. The knee is sore on the back side, not in the joint, and there is no swelling-yet. :confused:

tim_mcf · 22-Jan-06, 10:44 AM

Maybe your knees are like a barometer, telling you that it will snow in a couple days.

Would be nice if it had nothing to do with an injury...

Gearloose · 22-Jan-06, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim_mcf

Maybe your knees are like a barometer, telling you that it will snow in a couple days.

Would be nice if it had nothing to do with an injury...

Maybe. There is rain in the forecast.