It’s a consideration. But I can’t do milk / whey. I end up with digestive issues.
I might try it with a beef protein shake.
Low 400’s is where I would say the 50% line is.
Drug free - 20 years of hard work and dedicated smart work. Just over 4 plates.
350 lbs Bench Possible for Everyone?
Absolutly NOT :
It´s easy to answer this, just go to “Strenght Level” website and you can see the stats.
For example, if you weight 198 lbs (90 kg…this is extremely heavy guys in most countries) and are between 24 and 39 years old and can do ONE REP with this weight you´ll be stronger than 87% of the lifters!! (and they have tracked MILLIONS of lifts). Imagine also this is not checking out use of roids…, etc. AND THIS IS THE STRONGEST GROUP
Then, most males IN THE WORLD are much less than that weight, and how about the age?
SOME MORE NUMBERS:
If you have the same weight but 40-49 years old: you´ll be stronger than 91 % of men (of your weight and age).
If you have the same weight but 50-59 years old you´ll be stronger than 97% of men (of your weight and age).
If you have the same weight but 60-69 years old you´ll be stronger than 99,71 % of men (of your weight and age).
You are looking at the results of what men did, not what is possible. How many of those pursued a 350 lb bench using established strength gaining methodology early enough in life to have a chance?
Who here has seriously pursued this goal and fallen short?
In most cases it is what men wish they could do. It is fun to put numbers in to see how you rank if you could do them. The website then uses those numbers as actual lifts. The site is flawed in that way.
Your point about most not actually seriously training the bench is true, and it seems as those that have done the lift think most should be able to do it, while those who are a ways off don’t think many can do it.
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This pattern emerged in the deadlift thread as well. Those that did it could look back and conclude that it was obviously attainable if you did x, y and z to make it happen.
I’m sure there are some men who did everything they could have to attain this using established methodologies with good coaching and still fell short, but chances are they were still ridiculously strong people who I’m sure had plenty of feats to hang their hat on if they pushed their bench as far as they could and failed to reach 350.
If someone fits this bill, I think it would be interesting to hear where you ended up when you took your bench as far as it would go.
To put it another way, would any accomplished lifter feel it is good to advise a new lifter that a 350 pound bench is unlikely to be attained? There’s obviously a cut-off where numbers become unrealistic for most men, but a 350 bench isn’t it. Maybe you walk that rookie down from thinking about a 700 raw bench, but 350 is a number any strength-focused lifter should agree is realistic to attain.
I remember starting some goofy thread when I first started lifting wondering if I was strong or not, specifically mentioning a 400 bench, 500 squat and 600 dl as lifetime numbers I’d like to hit. I remember one of the internet experts advising me that those lifts were many years away and not likely for most lifters.
It turned out they were only like three years away for me, except for that 400 bench which probably won’t happen unless I make it a priority in my 40’s.
Luckily for me I found a good process and ran it for years when I still had a window to attain big lifts naturally, which is really all it takes for most men.
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Lulz. How many on this thread can do it? Post vids if so. Guaranteed it’s less than 50 percent.
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Not me. I only ever managed 335 before my old shoulders fell out of love with benching and took up BJJ.
Maybe I’m being unrealistic, but if I started lifting in my teens or twenties instead of my mid 30s I think I could have gotten that extra 15 on the bar.
Maybe I still will. I won’t know unless I get back under the bar.
I think you could do it with some form tweaks, or maybe switching to reverse grip. You’re big enough and have the mindset to push through stuff.
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I could certainly do it before Covid, no bench available atm. It’s not a big number for big guys. It’s the 140 lb guys that are going to find it impossible.
We count dead bench?
Edit: actually, turns out I have done it for a double at one point
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Absolutely. Strong pressing. What do you weigh?
I was around 200lbs in those videos. I am 180 now.
And that’s why I think anyone can do it. I only had to weigh 200lbs. Get your bodyweight up to 300 and it should be stupid easy.
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It is interesting how people that have done it feel anyone can do it. I think that’s true for anything, because the more you have accomplished the more humble you become (at least for many).
What about this? Is a PhD in Chemistry or Physics possible for everyone? I would knee-jerk say yes, because I have done it, and don’t think there is any specific barrier in the process that cannot be overcome. However, from teaching at the college level for two decades, I realize that even smart kids who have excelled up to that point often really, really struggle (and often fail) at organic chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, or the math required. But could everyone do it given the proper support system? I actually don’t think so, just as I don’t think a 350 BP is possible for everyone.
Even though I am unimpressed with myself, I say no from experience at trying to get others to grasp the necessary concepts and depth of learning. Likewise, things T3hPwnishner can do strength-wise so many others just cannot. Even though you cannot fathom why it might be a barrier, it just is for many.
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Haha. That falls in line with my 1.5xbw bench statement. Think those who are naturally built to bench can hit 2x bw, and a select few can go past that, but tossing out blanket numbers just isn’t realistic.
Hate to admit it… but you make a good point
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I still contend that I’m not unique. I’m average, if not below average. The difference is simply how much I’ve dedicated toward my goals, and what I’m willing to sacrifice. It’s why I keep bringing up the bodyweight thing. I think people severely underestimate that impact.
The PhD is a sound analogy to be certain but, in that regard, I see a 350lb bench as not nearly as challenging. I can’t get a PhD by eating a lot of Big Macs, but I can get a 350 bench that way.
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Would having the mental fortitude you have not be something that makes you unique? Not everybody has that, not everybody has a lot of things I’d consider normal, like common sense lol
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It’s something I developed: no different than the strength or muscles. Not something I was born or blessed with.
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But can everybody develop that? I don’t think so. I think some mental qualities, like the ones mentioned, can’t be learned by all.