What Did You Start Benching?

Training Powerlifting
1

Hey everyone, I was wondering what T-Nation members current maxes are on the bench press versus when they were a young kid 13-14 or when they started lifting.

The reason i am asking this is because i read in joe Defrancos site that when he was in the 8th grade he bench pressed 225 lbs!! (and i believe hes PR is 400+) Just trying to compare to other members if i ever have a chance of benching a big weight.I started in highschool with a max of 100 lbs :(.

Just drop by telling us what you started benching, how long it took you to bench 200, 300 etc.

2

105 at 14, 350ish paused at 16

3

Getting those higher numbers will be a lot harder or easier depending on your bodyweight.

4

[quote]Uber N3wb wrote:
105 at 14, 350ish paused at 16[/quote]

Very nice. impressive

5

When I first maxed out at 12, i could only do 85 lbs. Not at 200 yet, but I think i may be able to do 190. Maxing again in Marcj. I am still 14.

6

At 16 I was able to do 185 for doubles. I think my deadlift was about the same.

My little brother started (first day) with a double for 205 with a shoulder width grip. He also pulled 275 first time. Bastard.

7

At 15 I did 200.

8

At 18, I did the bar for 15 reps. Now at 20, I can do triple that for 15 reps.

9

Started out around 14 and I was doing around 60lbs for 10 reps or so. BW of about 130ish. Wasn’t able to hit 200lbs until I was around 18 I think and that was for a single. Of course I have relatively ‘average’ genetics and didn’t know how to train or eat at that time. If I could go back now I bet I would get there within two years…

Everybody starts somewhere, just keep adding weight to the bar and get your training and nutrition in check.

10

at 21, 95 lb. for 5 reps

bwahah no lie.

11

135lbs at 14.
315lbs at 16.

12

135 at 14 (I don’t remember if I locked it out, I just remember my fat ass strugglin really hard).
~275 at 19. Makin’ a lot strength gains in my assistance lifts and spring workouts are startin’ so that should be up real soon.

13

13 yrs old 125lbs. at 18 315. at 21 415. I think I might of started lifting even earlier like 12 or 11. but i remember this moment.

14

Weights

15

I started just before I turned 15 and could only do 105, now im 16 and can do 205(should be more but i got injured in football:/)

16

When I was 15, I benched 95 (pounds-not kilos) for a double, the third rep fell on my face. I’m serious. I fucked up some teeth and cut my lip half-way to my nose.

Fast forward to age 26. I started working out in earnest. I think I got my first 225 sometime around then. I got my first 315 three years later. I reckon I could get 405 shirtless now, though probably not much more- but I’ll never know for sure because I put on a shirt for 405.

17

I remember I used to dream of doubling 110lb when I was about 16 or 17. I’ve now done 315lb at 21, raw. And 400 in the gym in a single ply F6.

18

14, Hit 125, 15 hit 275, trained like shit and plateued for a good 9 months, got on the right track and hit 300 at 16, turned 17 and am hitting 325raw shooting for 400 this summer.

19

50 lbs for 3 sets of 12 on a universal at 15, when I was 16 I think I could max out at 180. By the time I graduated highschool I could do 275, now at 23 I can do 405.

20

80 at 13 or 14
315 at 19