*** The 2014 Gym Rats Thread ***

Which is arguably better for you anyway

Unless you're form getting it to that position is terrible :p

No, they were using the bar used for squats, all the shoulder machines were free and they just set a bench up underneath the rack and used the bar.

Sounds like a good way to be doing seated BB press? Lot safer than trying to get your mate to hand you a loaded BB over your head.....
 
Obviously :p

I dont mind people using the bb in the rack for seated press to be honeat although we do have machines and a plate loaded shoulder press now.

I don't care what people do in the squat rack, unless I want to use it then I don't care what their doing I get rage.

Big jessies. Clean and press those weights. :rolleyes:

;) :D

Bro, please do you want me to snap. But I do, because no other way :/

Have spoke to the PTI and been assured were getting some lifting platforms in. O yes, please do. Please. Though the same PTI told me to use the smith machine to bench as it's safer, so who knows what she'll do with the budget. :/

Incoming machines! :( I wish she would crossfit, so could get decent kit!
 
Last edited:
I am really struggling with incline barbell benchpress....you guys have any tips how to improve it at a good steady increase? increase weight by 2.5kg-5kg every 2-3 weeks or so? doing pushups 3 times or so a week will help?
 
Dont be set on increasing weight, that's only ever a guide if your new starting out but you will find that you will reach a peek often and have to work more on different exercises that help the muscle groups concerned, to then be able to advance a bit more.

Look to do some dumbell work to strengthen the arms, standing dumbbell forward raise is my preference in aiding in bench work, but anything like that will help. even switching to an incline dumbell press every one in a while will 'shock' the muscle group a bit and certainly helped me in the early days.

Also dropping weight and increasing reps can prove useful. All of it depends on your work style, what else you do, what your lifting atm etc...so experiment and see what works.
 
Last edited:
I am really struggling with incline barbell benchpress....you guys have any tips how to improve it at a good steady increase? increase weight by 2.5kg-5kg every 2-3 weeks or so? doing pushups 3 times or so a week will help?

Apologies for the really dumb question, but is your bench or stress press affected, or is this a size thing?

I don't personally get incline pressing, but as an assistance exercise for a primary lift (I.e. Flat bench or strict overhead press) weight isn't really the goal, here... Generally speaking, sure...
 
Apologies for the really dumb question, but is your bench or stress press affected, or is this a size thing?

I don't personally get incline pressing, but as an assistance exercise for a primary lift (I.e. Flat bench or strict overhead press) weight isn't really the goal, here... Generally speaking, sure...

I do not quite understand heh but i am definitely doing it correctly it's just the weight seems to increase real slow compared to flatbench and also my chest seems to be my weakest area i guess i should strengthen it more with more cable machine work?

I am not too fussed about lifting heavy weights but my shoulderpress is more than my incline benchpress at the moment though i started incline about 6 weeks ago....people have told me it's a lot harder than flat bench not sure if that's true though.
 
Not a fan of barbell incline work myself. I get on better with DB incline work but very rarely do either.

I do find incline barbell bench much much harder than flat, working at about 70% of what I do on flat and struggling even then. Probably explains my delt to pec ratio :p
 
Felt tired and like I could be bothered when I got to the gym after my usual cycle home from work. Manned the hell up and squatted 120 kg for the first time. 110 x 5 also felt good! I think this has a lot to do with front squatting and improved technique increasing my confidence. Suddenly my goal of three plate squats doesn't look a million miles away :D
 
2 questions
1:Is it just diet stopping my belly going down or do I just need more cardio or something? I've gone from 38 waist to 34 but still have the belly, which may look bigger than it actually is as I've lost fat on thighs/bum.

2: is their anything I can do to strengthen my wrists a bit, or will this just come from other lifting etc.? I'm having to limit the weight on my bench press and curls because the wrists give in before the muscles. (bike crash and two broken wrists in the past)
 
1. Presuming you're a bloke the reduction in your wait size is probable as a result of losing visceral fat (on the inside surrounding organs). Getting the visible belly fat down is usually harder and takes longer. Diet is key here, look at international front row forwards for an illustration of this - they're fit, fast and strong but also carry a lot of weight and high body fat because they must be constantly be eating.

2. Make sure your wrists aren't flexing back when you're pressing. You can also get hold of wrist straps.
 
Not a fan of barbell incline work myself. I get on better with DB incline work but very rarely do either.

I do find incline barbell bench much much harder than flat, working at about 70% of what I do on flat and struggling even then. Probably explains my delt to pec ratio :p

Most people do incline for upper chest, however IIRC the typical 45 degree incline bench ends up using more delt than chest (may as well OHP dat) so what people like Jason Blaha recommend is using a slight incline and doing things like neutral grip DB pressing.
 
2. Make sure your wrists aren't flexing back when you're pressing. You can also get hold of wrist straps.

For clarity, you want the bar stacked over the radius/ulna bones. Or in laymans term how you throw a punch should be the position of your wrist. You don't (or shouldn't!) punch someone with your wrist bent back in full ROM, so don't press like it either.

upper chest


upper chest


upper chest


upper chest

U wot m8?

:p

In fairness incline work is only back on my agenda due to a specific hypertrophy day in my program. Makes a nice change to have variation from flat presses.
 
What's wrong with doing incline benchpress? my chest has shaped pretty well over the last few months but if flat is a lot better to do then i do not mind switching to it.
 
The bro'science is that you can't work a muscle in different areas, it contracts as a whole.

The pec minor/major are the only two muscles within the chest itself. Both are activated to differing degrees in different pressing positions.

The 'lol' factor behind working 'upper/lower' chest is that it's like saying I'm going to work my upper quads today or upper bicep, as if they're different muscles that exist.
 
Back
Top Bottom