I think you look leaner and wider up top in the shoulders man. Great work and motivating that you’re seeing results with all you have going on day to day! Keep it up brother.
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I admit to my cheating ways, and occasionally take videos of it.
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You’re an animal!
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This is deff a case of the pot calling the kettle.
We are all animals around here, some just growl more than others
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Some very strong sessions lately! Great to see.
Also how are all you guys so strong on the seated press, haha? Makes me want to try them but I don’t think Paul will program them in.
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You know you want to.
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Lift in a basement or garage where you would hit the ceiling if you didn’t sit. That’s where I did them.
But if I have room to stand, I do standing presses.
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Haha true that.
Because the bench is on an angle and by the time you get some good back arching it is an incline bench press. LOL
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This is essentially true, although you won’t be pressing nearly as much as you would on a proper incline. It is clearly activating more shoulder muscles than your average incline bench. It has a shorter rom than standing, which makes it easier to rep. It also gets rid of the mechanical disadvantages of strict standing OHP (the difficult starting position and the fact that your head and chest are in the way of the ideal bar path), plus it lets you brace and push against the floor, which you ironically cannot do while standing.
I am not arguing that it is better, not at all. I think it is just another variation that has some pluses and minuses.
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Cheers dude, have to agree with Simon here:
It’s the great thing about this place inspires and drives us all forward.
Thanks, I’ve been pleasantly surprised, I’ve been in a deficit for most of the year - and I’ve not lost significant amounts of strength, looking forward to gaining again!
I’d love to see what you’d put up on a seated press, given your already putting massive weight above your head!
Counter point:
Yup, I have some arbitrary goals to hit by July next year, including 100kg overhead - seated seems in reach, so I’m starting with that, once that’s ticked off I’ll press harder (pun intended) to get standing. I’m not dropping standing I’ll get some log presses and standing barbell presses along the way, keep the skills up but seated is where I know I can win, hit the low hanging fruit.
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Whilst I’m lounging in the sun thinking about my goals, it occurs to me that one of the big reasons my seated press is bigger than my standing is the support from my back, or lack thereof when standing.
Long story short I think my entire back needs a lot more work, that will benefit both my ohp and deadlift, plus I think massive backs actually impress me more than any other muscle group.
So on my return the added side quest will include adding significant back work, I’m thinking I can probably get away with adding it in every session, particularly in a surplus. It’s such a big area and you can hit it from multiple angles. Plenty of options as well heavy rows and weighted pull ups, for when I’m fresh and rested, cable rows and lat pulldowns for when I’m feeling more beat up. Start incorporating some shrugs and grow some traps as well.
I can’t see that really taking away from my main goals, should be pretty complementary.
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I think the different positions we press from tend to emphasize different things, and it also depends a great deal on your grip and elbow position. For me, it is like this (I think):
Standing OHP: Very narrow grip, a lot of emphasis on the lats and front delts
Seated BB OHP: Very wide grip, emphasis on front delts
Seated DB OHP: Fairly wide, and I deliberately point elbows out…full shoulder emphasis, and upper back
BtN press: Wide grip, emphasis on rear delt and upper back
HSPUs: Everything.
So whatever, do them all.
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Seated is always the weakest for me since I don’t lean back and emphazise my core as much as with standing. For example my strict log press is somewhat good actually because I lean back excessively and yet my incline press is very weak.
The only seated press I regularly do is the seated btn (full rom) with no back support. I think that is a great and very honest variation for overall shoulder and upper back development. I would recommend it.
At the end of the day I don’t care that much for my strict press strength these days. I think it’s value for my pressing with leg drive is not that high. Although I did a ton of strict pressing earlier in my career. So that fundament probably plays a role.
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It really also depends on why we are doing it in the first place. For me it’s “I just want to be a little bit good at everything”. For others, it is probably just to get big looking shoulders. Or to compete. Or just because it is badass to lift heavy things over your head.
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This was Operation Planet Mongo for me. Along with what you’ve mentioned, some grease the groove chins or daily pull aparts can go a long way.
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Yes, but not HSPU, they’re a circus move, aka I don’t want to do them so I’ll mock them.
This is probably where I land these days as well.
That seemed to be very successful for you, I particularly like the suggestions, pull parts probably need to be in my mix anyway due to my slightly dodgy shoulder, and more chin ups are always a good thing!
But for now, deloading to the max!
And lots of greek yogurt, the authentic stuff is incredible.
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And lots of greek yogurt, the authentic stuff is incredible.
I think they just call it “yogurt” there, haha.
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Haha, indeed I suspect they do! It’s funny because only today I (playfully) chastised my teenage daughter who’s Cornish, we have a local meal know as a pasty (pass-tee), everyone who isn’t Cornish, calls it a Cornish pasty, as did she, but I reminded her that she’s Cornish and as such it’s just a pasty.
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Lol, I get it, but in some ways I think they are the best real test of shoulder strength. You can’t really cheat them in any way. Either you can do them or you can’t.
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