[YM123]

Why is there this obsession with knowing how much people around you are lifting? Many newcomers to the world of bodybuilding start off on the wrong foot.

Technique is often overlooked and there is just the desire to pile on that weight and push those reps out. Even if this means holding their breath on that last repetition, pulling a face that resembles severe constipation and looking like they are auditioning for the Year 2000 Body Popping Championships.

I have lost count to how many times I have been asked, "How much can you bench press?" It has now got to the stage where just for my personal amusement, I try and estimate a figure that will be more than their bench weight, just to see the disappointment on their faces. The truth is, I am not impressed with how much anyone can lift until I see their technique, because that is the deciding factor for me and should be for you. If you are just starting out or currently train with very heavy weight, do not fall into the trap of just going for maximum weight, with no consideration to anything else. You will put your body at a higher risk of injury.

Use a weight that you can safely lift yourself, without bouncing the weight off your body. On a final note, have a look around the gym and see who is really working out. Is it the guy underneath the bar on the bench press or his poor spotter who is working so hard, he is actually doing a set of deadlifts, to ensure his friend can have an ego boost?

Train strictly with weights that you can lift and if that means reducing weight so be it. In the long run, you'll experience far less injuries (if any) and pack on far more strength and lean muscle

[mabo]

Knowing the kind of weights that other people are pushing gives you motivation and something to aim for. Competition is good, I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to lift more than other people.

Progressively increasing the weight you lift is an easy and effective method for ensuring gains. You don't get big from lifting baby weights.

Lifting weights is what we do and what we care about. It's nice to be able to gloat sometimes.

No, I'm not saying to compromise technique for the sake of bigger weights. But it's just as bad to stay at the same weights for too long. You gotta progress, you can't be afraid of heavy weights.

[chrispghmuscle]

Work within your skill level. Check your ego at the door. Yes man nailed it.. new bb'ers are looking to impress a girl rather than do things right..


very good post!

Chris

[jalmy8]

Great post Yesman. I was an athlete in college and there was always such a disparity between the varsity gym and the regular gym. I'd love walking in on a Friday night around 8pm into the regular gym and I'd never see a dude on the squat rack but instead, benching like his life depended on it, back arched, and throwing the barbell of his chest...
As an athlete, I felt like I never succumbed to this "bench press ego" because I lifted a lot in order to be bigger, stronger, and faster in my sport..I wasn;t trying to impress anybody. However, a lot of the younger guys who come into the sport of bodybuilding do it in order to simply get BIG and do it as FAST as possible. I think theres this strange sense of insecurity, like they will be laughed at for lifting low weight. Many don't have the patience and have not yet read up on lifting smart...instead, they rely on "what is your bench" because I guess, its the only thing some of these guys can relate to.

[Gunny704]

Thats how it is in my highschool weightlifting class. "How much do you Bench or Squat?" I see guys in my class bouncing weights all the time and using the wrong technique. Ive even tryed to tell some of them "hey man you should go lighter your using to much weight." and they would say no man I gotta lift heavy weight to get bigger ..... Well if you cant lift it the right way and with the right technique you shouldnt lift at all because your going to injure yourself and I've seen so many guys come in there thinking they have to lift heavy ass weights and end up injured.
It's Ridiculous

[bbdude]

as Mat Duval would say it: Leave ur ego at the door, its only gonna come and get u. and then u might get injured.

[YM123]

Originally Posted by mabo

Knowing the kind of weights that other people are pushing gives you motivation and something to aim for. Competition is good, I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to lift more than other people.

Progressively increasing the weight you lift is an easy and effective method for ensuring gains. You don't get big from lifting baby weights.

Lifting weights is what we do and what we care about. It's nice to be able to gloat sometimes.

No, I'm not saying to compromise technique for the sake of bigger weights. But it's just as bad to stay at the same weights for too long. You gotta progress, you can't be afraid of heavy weights.

it also nice to gloat when you'v got a torn pec from lifting stupidly heavy weights

[mabo]

Can't say I've torn a pec before. Torn a calf, but not in the weights room.

The current injury I've been nursing actually came from doing front squats with 70%1RM and textbook form. Sure lifting above 90% every workout is more risky, but it's not as though light weights preclude you from injuries.

I'm not in any way advocating dangerous lifting methods or maxing out every session, but if you've mastered safe technique then there's no harm in seeing what you're capable of, and that involves lifting heavy.

[glutestriation]

Totally agree with you bro. I recall a very stupid ad of muscletech on a magazine that goes like '' The only way to get respect in a gym is benching big weights, take aplodan and you'll put weight on your bench in no time'' And that's just bullshit, the worst thing is that the new kids fall into this shit, spending all their money and jeopardizing form and their muscles so they can show that they can lift big... that's just crap.

[johnny b]

i was always told it's not what you lift it's how you lift it getting big is what counts if you get hurt you can't get big simple as

[Beefcake]

As Bob Chick would say: "It's not how much you bench, but about how much you look like you can bench"

[mabo]

Do you seriously want to be weaker than you look, beefcake?