Thread: Is 400 the new 300?

Originally Posted by rippedgolfer

Good point. Still a big lift nontheless.

Very true.

Originally Posted by rippedgolfer

When I started lifting in 2001, 300 was the benchmark for flat bench. Seems these days everyone benches 400+ lbs. I'm not sure if it's just a lot of people exagerating their bench press, or that sports training and nutrition have come a long way in the past ten years. Probably a combination of both. Please don't take this thread the wrong way. I'm not calling anyone a liar here or accusing people of lying about their bench press. I am just curious as to why people can lift so much more now as opposed to ten years ago.

I've been lifting for almost ten years (will be ten years in April). I've been a member of six gyms and seen many, many massive men lift extremely heavy weight but only a handful of times have I seen someone bench 400 lbs. I can probably count the number of times on one hand. So what are your opinions on this? Is 400 really the new 300, or are people exagerating, or are supplements, training, and overall knowledge of weight lifting advanced that far in ten years that the new standard for bench pressing increased by a 100 lbs?

Thanks for the responses and opinions. All feedback is welcome.

There were very few people on my college team that could not meet the 300lb bench mark(Kickers, Punters, some DB's). Most of the lineman could easily eclipse 400lbs.

Originally Posted by GMO

There were very few people on my college team that could not meet the 300lb bench mark(Kickers, Punters, some DB's). Most of the lineman could easily eclipse 400lbs.

That's very true. But, if you compare the average gym goers at a normal gym or university gym to ANY college football team the numbers don't even compare. Like, for a football player a 300-400 bench is what's expected but for a non-athlete I think is very good.

I just broke 300 for the first time since I was 19. Fuck yea!!

Hell

Originally Posted by Hell

I just broke 300 for the first time since I was 19. Fuck yea!!

Hell

Nice job bro! You are an official mber of the 300 club.

I think it's safe to say 400lbs is the new 300lbs. 300 is common in my opinion.

I dropped the barbell on my chest last week trying to join the 300 club. Sucks as I think I could have done it (I did 285 warming up). This is at a Marine Corps gym, and there are probably 100 guys up on the wall with a 300 lift. There are maybe 50 with a 400 lb lift, and 10 or so with 500 or 600.

In my normal gym in Thailand, there is only one guy there who can lift more than 300, but he is really over 400.