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| Training Learn proper form, techniques, & routines. Post questions about weight training as it relates to muscle building.
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#1 |
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Registered User
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Veterans, Help Me Design a Chest Routine!
Ok, I’ve been working out hard for about a year now, and although I’ve seen lots of progress, its slowing down as of late. Now, I know your body adapts to routines, and you need to switch things up, but I'm such a hardheaded fool, I really don't want to change unless I know its going to work. Otherwise I'll feel like I've lost headway in getting stronger on a crappy routine. I'm 6'2 165lbs. I also run twice a week, a little over 3 miles each run, not to mention other muscle group lifting throughout the week as well.
Just to get a few things out of the way, I'm probably not eating enough, or eating correctly, so I'm trying to change these things, but as I work on that, maybe you can direct me in the lifting area. I’ve been struggling to bench 225lbs. I’ve only gotten it 3 times in my life, and I really want to move on, but it's like I've hit a wall. I lift on Mondays and Thursdays. Focusing on Max weight on Mondays and reps on Thursdays. Should I just forget about the rep day? Monday bench looks something like this: 95lbs 10-12 reps (warm up) 135lbs 10 reps 165lbs 8 reps 185lbs 2 reps (I usually jump to max @ this point. I’ve tried new things @ this point, but I can never make up my mind what I like better. I used to do 195lbs once instead of 185 twice thinking it would wear me out less and wake up my muscles for heavier weight better. Other times I'd do 185 once and then 205 once, when I was shooting for 225max.) As of late I'd then do: 215lbs 1-2 reps (whatever I can muster) 205lbs 2-3 reps 185lbs 7-8 reps 165lbs 8-10 reps 135lbs 12-16 reps (depends on how worn out I am that day) Thursday: 95lbs 12 reps 135lbs 20 reps (this really seems to kill the rest of my workout, but is that a good thing?) 165lbs 10 reps 185lbs 1-2 reps (I’m usually much more worn out on rep day, so I surely would NOT attempt 225lbs, and usually wont even touch 215 either) Usually Ill continue to 205lbs 2-3 reps 185lbs 6 reps (not because I choose to stop, but usually because I’m so burnt on rep day. On the way down I usually do as many I can to failure) 165lbs 8 reps 135lbs 10 reps ----- Regardless of day I then to 3 sets of incline dumb bells. On Thursday day I usually do 45lbs 10-12 reps 50-55lbs 10 reps 45lbs 10-12 reps On Monday: 45lbs 10-12 reps 60-65lbs 10 reps 50-55lbs 10-12 reps. PHEW! that was a lot of typing, I hope some of you are still with me. What do you think? I wanna get bigger and stronger. Mostly concerned about stronger though. |
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#3 | |
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Registered User
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Quote:
I forgot to mention, I have pretty much never in my life done weight training on my legs. I only run twice a week, usually on Wed, and Sun. |
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#5 | |
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
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i'm guessing you're going for strength rather than size and aesthetics. take a look at Westside Barbell (WSB) training. if done correctly you're bench will sky-rocket. i did it awhile ago and i got my max bench up to 235 from around 185 (i think). at the time i only weighed about 150 on a good day.
however, since i stopped doing WSB, my max bench has fell back down to around 205. a few things got in the way of my training though, like football, school, and work. |
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
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here are some links i found in my bookmarks:
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/article-...de-barbell.asp (great article) it seems my other links aren't working. just search on google for it. but the above link is a good start. also, search the forums here. i got a lot of information off of this site as well. |
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#8 |
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Registered User
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Well, I tried something a little different tonight, I'll let you guys know how I think it works.
Instead of what Ive been doing, I tried to stick with heavy weight. 135lbs 8 reps 185lbs 8 reps 205lbs 1 rep 225 fail, plus 2 negatives 215 1 rep plus 2 negatives 205lbs 2 reps plus 2-3 reps 185 6 reps ---- Incline on bench (IB) instead of DB's 135lbs 8 reps (IB) 135lbs 9 reps (IB) DB's 60's 8 reps 95 lbs 8 reps (IB) |
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#9 |
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Registered User
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1) Flat barbell press
2) Incline dumbell press 3) Close grip flat press 4) Dips That is a good combo and works for many people! |
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Age 19, Weight 132lbs , height 5'4", 8% bodyfat, 100% natural.
Deadlift - 274lbs (NEW PB 9/8/2005) Squat - 274lbs (NEW PB 19/8/2005) Bench press - 154lbs Total - 702lbs @ 132lbs My Website Full Body Pictures 26/9/2005 My Journal! - Progress pictures 28/8/2005 Paint bodybuilder "Bodybuilding is a marathon not a sprint". Originally Posted by P-funk: "eat for size, train for strength". |
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#10 |
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Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 12,544
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Ok first rule.............Dont f-ing max every week
Next I would never do less than 5 reps on any lift unless I was a getting ready for a Power lifting or Olympic meet. So try this workout if you like.use whatever weights needed, this is just an example. Monday: REP DAY BP: warm-up 135x15................not to failure 135x15................not to failure 135x15................to failure Trceps: some type of pushdown 2x15....last set to failure only Thursday: Heavy BP: .warm-up 1. 135 x 10 2. 155 x 8 3. 185 x 6 4. 185 x 6 5. 185 x 6.....adjust weight on all exercises as needed.set 4 should be very hard to get 6, set 5 it should be impossible to get 6 DB or barbell incline press 4 sets of 6-8 reps Dips 3x 8-10 skull crushers ( lying triceps ext) 3 x8,8,6 To have a great bench you need: strong deltoids, triceps chest, lats and core...plus you have to do squats and lower back. |
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#11 | |
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#12 | |
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Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 12,544
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Quote:
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Canada
Posts: 326
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squat, squat like your life depends on it and quit the godamned runing do supersets if you need cardio. your not going to see any real upper body gains unless you workout your lower body in proportion. think of it legs hold the most blood that get enriched with hormones when you work them out right wich has a spillover effect to the ret of your body.
I actually never saw any good upper body gains until i started squating like my life deppended on it. p.s. leg press isnt a substitute it doesnt effect the body the same and dont forget the quads, hams and calves. |
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#15 |
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Registered User
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Cool, thanks everyone for their 2 cents.
I'm going to try something and see how it goes. I figure I can work out to 100% exhaustion and still give my body plenty of time to re-coup with this routine. I'm going to try this: Mondays : Bench, Stomach Tuesdays : Pull-ups, & Back Wed: Legs, Stomach Thurs: Arms, Shoulders, & Weighted Dips. I can't figure out what day I want to work delts. I was thinking Tues @ first, but maybe Thurs might be better? I haven’t decided yet Fri Sat Sun REST DAYS! I hope I don’t get too bored with this, seein on how I love to bench, but I'll @ least give it a try. BTW, I did legs today, and man did the squats kick my ass. I’m looking forward to getting stronger. Last edited by myMUSICveins : 08-03-2005 at 10:27 PM. |
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#16 |
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Fueled by Testosterone
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 15,428
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I would stick a rest day in the middle of those 4 workout days. I usually suggest natural lifters go no more than 2 days without a day off from resistance training.
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The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing...
CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos |
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#17 | |
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Patrick
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: AZ
Posts: 30,625
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Quote:
I agree. |
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http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind!
Ivonne's Blog on Health and Wellness! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book |
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#18 |
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Registered User
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Yeh been said already but i have to agree with Cowpimp too.
2 days on , one day off, two days on etc works best for me too |
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Age 19, Weight 132lbs , height 5'4", 8% bodyfat, 100% natural.
Deadlift - 274lbs (NEW PB 9/8/2005) Squat - 274lbs (NEW PB 19/8/2005) Bench press - 154lbs Total - 702lbs @ 132lbs My Website Full Body Pictures 26/9/2005 My Journal! - Progress pictures 28/8/2005 Paint bodybuilder "Bodybuilding is a marathon not a sprint". Originally Posted by P-funk: "eat for size, train for strength". |
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#19 | |
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Registered User
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Quote:
It will help me from getting bored off my ass, I was worried 3 days off in a row would kill me. |
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#20 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
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WESTSIDE BARBELL! i'm telling ya man, it works if you do it right.
i'm not saying these other methods don't work, but i know WSB worked for me. |
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#21 | |
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Registered User
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#22 |
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Fueled by Testosterone
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 15,428
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I just realized that you were probably maxing out every week. I think this is a bad idea. If you max out on the same lift every week, then your CNS may eventually become overworked. I would suggest taking a couple weeks off from any 1 rep max attempts.
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The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing...
CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos |
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#23 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 49
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Quote:
some of the exercises it has in it i had never heard of before. you just have to look them up somewhere to figure them out. |
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#24 |
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Registered User
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Ok, tonight was my first changed bench. Im thinking I'll like it. It went like so:
135lbs 6 reps 155lbs 10 reps 185lbs 6 reps (strained, felt heavy) 185lbs 6 reps (slightly less strain) 185lbs 6 reps (barely got the 6th) 185lbs 6 reps (barely got the 6th) 165lbs 10 reps (wanted 11) ---- Incline: DB 45lbs 10 reps DB 60lbs 10 reps Bench 135lbs 6 reps Cant rememeber, either 50 or 55lbs 6-8 reps Anyways, Im really happy with the new bench, Ill work it until this gets too easy and move to maybe 195lbs, and shoot for the same 6,6,6,6. Thanks for the advice guys! Last edited by myMUSICveins : 08-09-2005 at 05:06 AM. |
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#25 |
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Registered User
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Progress report:
Flat Bench Barbell 95lbs 12 reps 135lbs 10 reps 165lbs 8 reps 185lbs 6 reps (easy) 185lbs 6 reps (last one was hard) 185lbs 6 reps (6th rep easy enough to go for & fail @ a 7th) 185lbs 6 reps (6th rep easy enough to go for & fail @ a 7th) 205lbs 1 rep and a couple negatives (I figured its ok since max is 215-225) Incline DumbBells 45's 15 reps 60's 10 reps 60's 10 reps Back to Flat Bench Barbell 165lbs 6 reps & a couple negatives ----- Maybe I should try 190-195 instead? I already progressed from last week. |
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#26 |
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Lightweight, Ya Buddy!
Elite Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Philly
Posts: 6,633
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4 working sets of bench press.
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#27 | |
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Registered User
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Quote:
I do the 95 and 135 and 165 to warm up my muscles. If I jump right to 185, it feels heavy as hell. I did 205 because I wanted to make sure I still had something after those 185 sets, and I always burn out after my inclines to make sure Ive wasted myself 100% |
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#28 |