[n88tr]

ok well tomorrow is chest day. I got a shitload of stuff to do tomorrow, exams week this and next week, projects, papers, etc. I'm not trying to hit my back at all, but I want to have more mass and definition for my chest. I have good high pecs [looks funny, I know] but not much else.

I'm kinda scared of benching. I'm not using much weight, just the bar actually but I'm so afraid of it falling on me, I can't deal with another injury. I've done a lot of DB bench presses and pec decks so that's helped me out but I feel like an ass just using the bar... Gotta start somewhere, I know but still it feels weird.

I don't trust any spotters nor do I have a training partner. Any advice for me, clearing my head, etc?

[allstar5461]

just lift sensibly man and be careful and you will be fine

[julio40]

lift light to build up, you have to start somewhere.

[mitbar]

just lift and do as many reps as u can. who cares what others think man ur there for yourself bro. just do it like allstar said and be sensible about it.

[ZackKnight]

look at that bench.

bar is 45lbs

it's not that bad falling on you

i've had 225 fall on me before.

sometimes u gotta take risks to get where u wanna get man. It'll only hurt for a second if it falls, but it won't do too much damage.

just balls to the walls dude!

[Shwitt88]

ask someone in the gym for a spot even if you dont really need it. i almost always do that once i get past my first set on BB bench

[n88tr]

Originally Posted by ZackKnight

look at that bench.

bar is 45lbs

it's not that bad falling on you

i've had 225 fall on me before.

sometimes u gotta take risks to get where u wanna get man. It'll only hurt for a second if it falls, but it won't do too much damage.

just balls to the walls dude!

Wouldn't 225 crack some ribs? ouch.

[Blitzkrieg]

We all started somewhere man.

Don't be scared of barbell.

Barbell is your friend.

[KM]

Pretty much what everyone is saying is...

Man up.

[allstar5461]

why do you not trust a spotter?

[picabloo]

Originally Posted by n88tr

Wouldn't 225 crack some ribs? ouch.

if it was just laying there 225 yeah it prolly would lol, but im sure he was supporting at least 150 of the 225 so it wasnt too bad

n88tr: just go with what everyone is saying, start light. Once you start light you'll build up your stabilizer muscles, then you wouldn't worry about the weight falling on you When i first started i never thought i'd ever hold 205 over my body, but it ended up being really light

[monkeybiker]

If you use a sensible weight and have control over the weight i.e not throwing it about and wrap your thumbs around the bar it should never fall on you. The only risk is getting pinned under the bar if you reach musclular failure so a spotter is useful.
You say you do db bench press. You can get just as good results with db's as you can with a barbell.

[ZackKnight]

it hurt a lot, but it didn't crack anything. just gave a good bruise for a while. Nothing too bad. Sides, with my stubby arms falling from that low of a height it wasn't too bad haha

but c'mon man, u gotta do what u gotta do. You can grow without it, but it's an essential exercise nonetheless