Bench press machine I do 100kg x8 (220lbs) and my 1 rep max is at 130kg (287lbs).
Yesterday during a break I tried normal barbell benching and I could do 80kg (176lbs) very easily. Then I tried 90kg (200lbs) but I was too scared to bench it without a spotter. I only got it off the rack lowered the bar a bit and then reracked it.
I have a feeling that I have to generate way more force to get the barbell up (especially from the triceps) thats why Im afraid to lower it past a certain point. Also lowering the barbell feels very weird and unnatural.
I dont know what my fricking problem is. maybe im weak and the machine tricked me, or maybe i can lift the weight and im just a pussy. What explains the discrepancy in the amount of weight? Its practically the same movement. frickin frick
are you counting the bar
yes of course
do dyels really
>maybe im weak and the machine tricked me
It's this. The machine is balancing for you and it's providing it's own pivot point. I used to fix them for a living; you're objectively doing less work on the machine even if the numbers are the same.
Should I now switch to normal bench if I wanna get big breasts?
I never train with a spotter so I wont be able to go to my limit on barbell bench.
BTW a year ago I was doing dumbbell bench especially because of the spotter problem and then switched to the machine due to shoulder health.
I used to dumbbell press 40kg x5 (90lbs) on each arm and after switching to the machine I could lift 100kg x1 so to me there seems to be more of an overlap between db bench and bench press machine than barbell bench and bench press machine
no sir
when I started out I also did 30kg then rapidly progressed to 40kg but I was an inch shorter than you and 30kg lighter.
so yeah youre naturally weak
>hould I now switch to normal bench if I wanna get big breasts?
>I never train with a spotter so I wont be able to go to my limit on barbell bench
I'm guessing you're new to lifting because these two statements are opposed to each other. Look up strength vs hypertrophy.
are you trying to say that you dont have to go all out, go to failure and get every last rep in order to gain muscle and that it only applies to strength training???
Take plates off and do more reps if you want muscle failure. Keep going until you can't lift the bar if you want absolute muscle failure. Trying to fail at high weight is a moron move.
I think you misunderstood me.
If you try to gain muscle you should go to failure, and if you want hypertrophy you should make sure that you fail within 6 to 12 reps. Never did I say that I only do low rep training.
if im at rep 8 with 90kg on the barbell and I want to go all out and try another rep past my limit it will be very uncomfortable with 90kg on my chest and no spotter if i fail. But those are the reps that matter the most for muscle growth. Usually people stop 1 or 2 reps before it gets critical. THATS why I prefer dumbbell or machine, you can fail without worrying about the weight crushing you.
yes, I was always skinny
>and if you want hypertrophy you should make sure that you fail within 6 to 12 reps
If you're pushing 12 reps on bench then the weight is nothing dangerous and you don't need a spotter.
>so yeah youre naturally weak
Guess so. My sedentary lifestyle probably doesn't help. Also, 60kg at 6'1? You must've been quite thin.
You aren’t ‘naturally weak’ you just have low muscle mass because you don’t lift yet. I’m 6’3 and was 100kg (no muscle just fat) and I struggled starting at 40kg.
Also your form is probably wrong since you are a beginner and bench press is the hardest form to get right. You are probably putting too much of the weight on your shoulders and triceps which are obviously much smaller than your chest
Look up proper form and practice with just the bar
I was the exact same as you when I started but now I bench 100
Thanks for the responses. I'm not worried about it, I was just curious how weak I was lol. I'll keep at it
>Should I now switch to normal bench if I wanna get big breasts?
No. The more stable a movement is, the better it will be for hypertrophy.
hijacking this thread. I'm 6'2, weigh ~90kg, never lifted before in my life, and I struggled hard to bench press 30kg. Am I just naturally super weak or what? People often mistake me for being strong because of my height/frame, but I'm weak as shit.
That's below average for sure, first time I benched at age 16 weighing around 65-70kg I could do 40kg for a few reps. Most of my class mates were around the same level untrained.
Don't worry about it and just lift, you don't know if you're a fast responder or not.
Do you honestly not understand what leverage is?
one word: balance
Because you also have to stabilize the bar.
Same reason why people can leg press like double what they can squat.
Machines are always going to be easier because you don't need to stabilise them. Good machines like the one you posted also get easier the more you go closer to the end of the movement to compensate for the fact that muscle get weaker the more they contract.