deltaboxxx

iTrader: (1)

i am 5'6 224 and last week i repped 250X5,but i noticed on decline that my shoulders bitch out before my chest as said before,but thats because my shoulders are lacking so bad,thats why im working on them now

jtsangAZ

I tried maxing out last night. I think i fucked up my neck. I needed a better spotter or just needed to be stronger. 225 FTL:tomato :

Cmanuel

Maxing is a whole different game in its entirety. On my max effort days I get a big rush with working with 90-95% of my 1 rep max for 3-4 sets of singles.

Just different strokes for different folks. I'd much rather Deadlift 510 than rep out 405 for 10 reps or whatever, but thats just me. I get a bigger thrill out of big singles.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

Maxing out and doing regular sets of reps can vary day to day (at least for me) mostly on how I'm feeling that day or what I ate etc..

I remember some days I could do 225 9 times then the next time I did bench I could only do it like 2 times...

vanirl

I understand your point, because ideally you would want to be able to benchpress alot of weight for many reps. You can chart your progress by evaluating and comparing the number of times you can lift a particular weight, or by evaluating and comparing the maximum weight you can lift one time. Single-rep max is very informative!

vanirl

I just started working out again three weeks ago. I'm 6'0" and 205lbs. I work out at least five days every week, and my goal is to build some muscle and lose some fat. Ultimately, I would like to stay at or around my current weight, and I'm not chunky or anything but I want to increase my muscle-fat ratio. The last time I checked my benchpress max it was 275lbs, which isn't amazing but isn't shabby either. I'm hoping to increase it to 315 by October, and then 350 by next April.

incredulous1

im not a big fan or maxing. its pretty much just required for us to do in our weights class. I like moving up weight or reps during sets. I feel like i'm progressing more.

vanirl

I don't max out often at all, it's very demanding and can easily limit my workout. I test my max once every few months, and only on days that I am off.

GIBSON6594

Yea, but I'm willing to bet that you getting to that point had a lot more to do with your rep gains than it did continuously maxing out over and over.

Cmanuel

Not really. Look up westside style training, I did that for a few months and made the best gains that way. Rarely deadlifted heavy and it shot up about 80 lbs in a couple months.

mhallon24

I feel the same way I prefer huge heavy singles BUT I very rarely do them. I always work in the 4-6 rep range, and do heavy singles every couple of months to see how much my strength has increased. Seeing how far you have come in strength training can really get you motivated if your routine and diet are starting to get stale. For example I maxed 335 on the bench the other day, and just remembering how I used to struggle with 95lbs motivated me to stay consistent with my stale ass bulk diet.

Josh99CL

Nice lift. I'm 5'8" 152 and I chest press with dumbbells (harder than bench) anyway I do 75 on each arm right now which I'm pretty impressed with 5 sets of 5-6 reps. I consider that pretty good considering I've only been lifting for about 5months.

ASASN21

I really hope you're kidding...

Josh99CL

Same, I've never actually "maxed" myself.

Josh99CL

You think doing the exact same weight with a bar is harder than doing it with dumbbells?

That doesn't make any sense at all but prove my wrong if I'm wrong. You have to stabilize each weight on each arm if you're not tied together with a bar. Not to mention with a bar your stronger arm can help out your weaker arm.

ASASN21

Well yeah obviously it's easier when you're doing the same weight, like if you're doing 75 lb dumbbells then that's 150 on the bench... which is absolutely nothing. My point is is that it is way easier to increase the dumbbell weight than it is to increase the weight with the bar. Once you get to the real heavy weight this becomes more and more prevalent.

Josh99CL

So the same weight on dumbbells is harder than the same weight on a bar yet it's easier to increase dumbbell weight?

.... that doesn't even make sense.

vanirl

For me, it's more difficult to benchpress with single dumbells than with barbells. Stabilizing the dumbells makes that exercise awkward. Good exercise to do, but awkward.

incredulous1

i find dumbbells better just cause they work each arm/side separately and its more convenient when no one can spot you.

ASASN21

Well whatever. I really don't care. Fact is, 75 lb dumbbells @ 5-6 reps is pussy weight. Sorry.

EDIT: Ohh yeah, im the same height as you and 15 pounds lighter

Josh99CL

Lol you say something that makes absolutely no sense and then get upset so you try to insult me.

Funny shit.

ASASN21

I'm not upset at all man. Like I said, I really do not care if it "made sense" or not. All I know is, after I get done maxin out with the bar at 270, I go over to dumbbells and do a couple sets of 100 lb dumbbells at 4-6 reps. So to me, it is in fact easier to do dumbbells.

vanirl

Good point! I'm sure most of us have fallen victim to the dropping bar lol

Josh99CL

So 70lbs less feels easier... really? who would have thought?

GIBSON6594

Stop being a idiot. There are probably a dozen people on here who think your weight is pussy weight.

ASASN21

You realize you're contradicting yourself right now right? Your original post was saying that dumbbells were harder... and right now you're saying that dumbbells should be easier because 2 100lb dumbbells is 70 less than 270 with the bar...??? Thank you for proving my point.

Yeah a dozen people weighing in at like 185+

For a 137 pounder? Doubt it...

Josh99CL

You're talking about TWO DIFFERENT WEIGHTS.

If you push a bar totaling 200lbs it's going to be easier than pushing 2 100lb dumbbells.

You said it was easier to push 200 worth of dumbbells off your chest than a bar weiging 270. Of course the 270 is going to be harder than 200. The stabilization issue isn't going to make up that weight difference.


I'm not calling BS but I'd love to see any proof of this. Pushing 100lb dumbbells at 137 is nuts (not saying it isn't possible). I know being smaller makes it easier to push larger weights.

ASASN21

I really have no reason to make it up man; I mean if you lived close to me I would be more than happy to show you, but seeing as you don't, there's really no way to "prove" anything. I could post a picture of myself if you'd like, I don't look like a normal 135-140 pounder. I've actually been thinking of taking of boxing because of my size and strength comparison.

As far as my strength tho, up until about a month ago, all I did was powerlifting. I would just push myself way beyond what would be regular weight for someone my size. Everytime I would go lift I would increase my weight from the work-out before. I firmly believe a lot of working out is in your head, if you don't believe you can do something and don't push yourself beyond your physical capability, you're not gonna get anywhere (strength wise or looks).

It's funny cuz the guys that have like 40-50 pounds me who see me put up just as much (or sometimes more) weight than them in the gym come up to me and are like "Dude what supplements are you takin?" And everytime I tell them nothing put protein. Of course they give me a look like you're full of shit, but it doesn't bother me. I was brought up not to believe in any of that pussy steroid bullshit. If I don't do it naturally, then I don't deserve to do it.

There's a reason why I have that quote in my signature.

GIBSON6594

That's not the point. This isn't a strength contest. Don't make fun of people for how much they lift.

incredulous1

you're pushing some pussy weight.

but seriously, i find barbell bench a lot easier to move up. why? because if you can get one arm up, you can usually get the other one, which makes it a lot easier. with dumbbell, you have to train both sides equally, so it is impossible for one to do all the work.

UNCTYPE-S

Sounds like alot of the members at bodybuilding.com

1StGenCL

ASASN21 - you're a douche. People come on here to get advice on how to get stronger and be more efficient in their work outs. If this forum was full of people like you there would be no point in it because there would be no legit posts. No one wants to come on here to have a dick measuring contest, especially since it is the INTERNET.

State your opinions and what you claim to lift or whatever and move on.

UNCTYPE-S

Especially coming from someone who's signature says "Personal Trainer" should know all about helping people and not bragging how much they can bench and what's "pussy weight". Grow up!

ib4wegetcalledhatersandarejealous

FiftyFive

Play nice

vanirl

I agree. The man is just looking for tips and to share his experiences just like everyone else is. Don't put people down simply because they aren't as advanced as you are.

burtonblue75

well "maxing out" will help bring on even more weight, which means more reps of more weight.... lol!???
Reps get the tonality yea but maxing out is a good way to see how far your strength has increased... I do it once every two weeks,

I am six foot four, and the scale said 180, I just put up 285, form, music, and
Super Pump 250

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I used to max out all the time to see what I could get at but that was back in college. Now I that I'm working on getting 'leaner' I just do more reps of lighter weights and like it better. Maxing out is overrated

Josh99CL

I thought more reps helped add size and less reps helped add strength.

Whatever weight lets you do 4-5 reps = lift that for the best strength gains
6-9 balanced
10-12+ more for size less for strength.

Has anyone heard the same things?

I'm talking about going to failure with whatever weight puts you in those rep ranges for each set.

imj0257

iTrader: (1)

I've always heard:

More weight + less reps (or as many as you can do but with more weight you can't do as many reps anyways) = get bulkier
Less weight + more reps = get more toned.

Of course both are going to 'build' muscle but using more weight will get you a lot bigger; I know from first hand experience.

vanirl

More weight/less reps will definitely get you bigger. I spend every fifth week doing less weight/more reps to ensure that my muscles will be bulky and defined, and not just bulky.