Who bench presses more then they can squat?

[StandingO]

I read the average untrained man benches more then he squats. Not the case for woman.

This is true for most men in the gym.

[Emilia]

I was thinking about exactly the same thing yesterday in the gym. It depends on whether it's front squat or back squat. I can bench more than my front squat but about the same as my back squat.

[mark982]

since the only thing i can do is hack squat(shoulder issues)i ain't qualified to give a accurate answer.

[Chocolat]

I read the average untrained man benches more then he squats. Not the case for woman.

This is true for most men in the gym.

 

 

That's probably because too many guys do nothing but bench press and biceps curls... at least, this is the case at my gym. I love it when I see a guy squatting (especially with a depth of more than 4"!) or deadlifting!

[Emilia]

That's probably because too many guys do nothing but bench press and biceps curls... at least, this is the case at my gym. I love it when I see a guy squatting (especially with a depth of more than 4"!) or deadlifting!

 

You are right, they look at me like I'm some kind of a freak because they are doing arms and chest while I'm doing my squats and lifts haha

 

Every day is an upper body day for that lot

[EasyHeart]

I find that really hard to believe. I squat about twice as much as I bench.

[IcedEarth]

Me, because I don't do squats

 

(I have terrible knees)

[AlexCross]

I bench 405. And my knees are also not the greatest so I don't squat alot.

[IcedEarth]

I bench 405. And my knees are also not the greatest so I don't squat alot.

 

405 is impressive. At my best (in my younger days) I think I only got to 350, and it took a while.

[Hawaii50]

Are you accounting for the fact that when I do a squat I'm also lifting my 175lb frame?! then no, I don't, nor do i ever intend to.

[Hawaii50]

ALSO... this CANNOT be compared between genders. no way, no how. Which is why sports are separated by gender.

[AlexCross]

405 is impressive. At my best (in my younger days) I think I only got to 350, and it took a while.

 

Thats my max bench, maybe 3-4 times. I dont do sets of 405. Im out of comission for another month so when I get back into the gym I have to take it easy.

[KungFuJoe]

Unfortunately, I'm one of those. Tore my achilles last year and been kinda scared to work out my legs...but just started doing squats last week. Struggled to do 135, but I can easily bench over 250.

[johan]

I see guys at the gym with upper bodies of Army Rangers and the legs of total couch potatoes. It's great that they go to the gym, of course, but they are not athletes. It looks like it would be really easy to get them off balance.

[StandingO]

When I read that it made me feel more normal lol.

I too am one. Not proud of it but being over 45 and never into the legs it's too late for me. I have knee, hip issues and had a few hernia scares. Still I bench over 270 but only do goblets squats now. When I can join my GF, her GF and husband at the gym I will occasionally try a back squat where the girls love the rack. The husband of my friend mostly does the cardio stuff. I still like the upper body workout by far and aim to keep my upper body physique but at least I don't ignore my legs anymore. In our group I am by far the strongest in the upper body but when it come to doing a back squats or the leg press I am the weakest of the four and have the least developed legs. I notice though I am not the only male there who is ripped up top but gets out leg pressed by the woman in our group.

[IcedEarth]

Thats my max bench, maybe 3-4 times. I dont do sets of 405. Im out of comission for another month so when I get back into the gym I have to take it easy.

 

Yeah I have to take it easy anytime I do it now, I messed up my lower back and left shoulder. If I try to push myself I can make it worse.

[fucpcg]

Every guy in your gym benchs more than they squat? You're not going to a gym, you're going to a health club. You should see what we squat and deadlift in my gym, let alone bench.

[johan]

When I read that it made me feel more normal lol.

I too am one. Not proud of it but being over 45 and never into the legs it's too late for me. I have knee, hip issues and had a few hernia scares. Still I bench over 270 but only do goblets squats now. When I can join my GF, her GF and husband at the gym I will occasionally try a back squat where the girls love the rack. The husband of my friend mostly does the cardio stuff. I still like the upper body workout by far and aim to keep my upper body physique but at least I don't ignore my legs anymore. In our group I am by far the strongest in the upper body but when it come to doing a back squats or the leg press I am the weakest of the four and have the least developed legs. I notice though I am not the only male there who is ripped up top but gets out leg pressed by the woman in our group.

 

I think women can have really strong legs. My ex I think could beat me on the leg press, too. Her legs were not even big. I don't ignore legs in the weight room, either. But women can be surprising that way.

[Sauron]

My bench sucks, shoulder impingment and partially torn RC 225

low bar back squat 415 w belt and wraps

conventional deadlift 505 w belt and wraps

 

The bench press is over rated unless your a competiting powerlifter, Squats and deads rule for muscle and strength development.

 

I should add mid 50's been lifting off and on for years. 6" 217 lbs, 14 % BF

Edited September 5, 2012 by Sauron

[StandingO]

I am amazed at people that have such strong legs. Partly because I don't.

 

When I was first into lifting weights as a teenager I just did not think of legs. I remember in high school gym weight training class how good I was at the bench press etc. I notice most of the girls were not lifting much. Most just playing with the machines. Except for this one chick with bigger thighs. She was out lifting me on the leg extension, leg curl and leg press. A few years later I started to go to the gym with some buddies. Again I was a much stronger in the upper body. Then I would see how much some of my buddies could leg press and saw that most could out press me. I strayed away from what I was poor at. Never stayed at the local gym but did pumped the iron at home. My job involved upper body strength and I was filling in and away I was developing bigger muscles and loving it. The chicks liked it and rarely did anyone talk about my legs. The chicks just care about my chest or biceps. I never had proper training nor did I seek it. In my thirties my knees started bother me. Today I look at it differently and try to do something for my legs.

 

My GF does sets of knee to the floor lunges with 135 pounds on her back. (Former bodybuilder, figure model). Her/our friend she can do sets with 115. She has been at it fairly consistently for 3 years. Her husband who rarely lifts weights could do the these same lunges with 115. I tried and could not do one proper rep. GF back squatted 255 ass to grass the other day. The other two can squat 205 (again her husband with no training). I can't. I having been doing goblet squats with dumbels but I failed back squatting 175 (but got 165 up). I admire you people with strong legs. You guys who can squat 400 and up make me sick lol.

[Emilia]

My legs are not as strong as your gf's, I only started lifting heavy about 3 months ago but I can already see that my gym isn't set up for strength training, the guys there are mainly body builders. There isn't even a rack for back squats, I'll have to change gyms.

 

I was doing my deadlifts and front squats yesterday in the weights area and I was amazed by how unfit a lot of the guys looked with their massive chest and arms. They had very small lower back and no legs to speak of. One of them was doing deadlifts but much lighter weights than mine. They didn't even understand the importance of warming up, etc. I suppose if I spent that much time building my body, I would want to know more about it and I would want to balance my build more.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Emilia

[Sauron]

I am amazed at people that have such strong legs. Partly because I don't.

 

When I was first into lifting weights as a teenager I just did not think of legs. I remember in high school gym weight training class how good I was at the bench press etc. I notice most of the girls were not lifting much. Most just playing with the machines. Except for this one chick with bigger thighs. She was out lifting me on the leg extension, leg curl and leg press. A few years later I started to go to the gym with some buddies. Again I was a much stronger in the upper body. Then I would see how much some of my buddies could leg press and saw that most could out press me. I strayed away from what I was poor at. Never stayed at the local gym but did pumped the iron at home. My job involved upper body strength and I was filling in and away I was developing bigger muscles and loving it. The chicks liked it and rarely did anyone talk about my legs. The chicks just care about my chest or biceps. I never had proper training nor did I seek it. In my thirties my knees started bother me. Today I look at it differently and try to do something for my legs.

 

My GF does sets of knee to the floor lunges with 135 pounds on her back. (Former bodybuilder, figure model). Her/our friend she can do sets with 115. She has been at it fairly consistently for 3 years. Her husband who rarely lifts weights could do the these same lunges with 115. I tried and could not do one proper rep. GF back squatted 255 ass to grass the other day. The other two can squat 205 (again her husband with no training). I can't. I having been doing goblet squats with dumbels but I failed back squatting 175 (but got 165 up). I admire you people with strong legs. You guys who can squat 400 and up make me sick lol.

 

Hey man, if your kness bother you on squats, check your form. Dave Tate is an american powerlifter that has written extensively on squat form and technique, maybe a google search. I can't squat heavy without knee wraps, it makes all the difference, especially at my age. Run you about $ 40 US, and takes less than a minute to put them on.

[Sauron]

My legs are not as strong as your gf's, I only started lifting heavy about 3 months ago but I can already see that my gym isn't set up for strength training, the guys there are mainly body builders. There isn't even a rack for back squats, I'll have to change gyms.

 

I was doing my deadlifts and front squats yesterday in the weights area and I was amazed by how unfit a lot of the guys looked with their massive chest and arms. They had very small lower back and no legs to speak of. One of them was doing deadlifts but much lighter weights than mine. They didn't even understand the importance of warming up, etc. I suppose if I spent that much time building my body, I would want to know more about it and I would want to balance my build more.

 

Its all about posterior chain development which carries through to your over all lifting. I don't understand the guys you describe, the reason most people lift is to look good for the opposite sex, it's like you missing half of it. And the other thing is squats and dead are work and not easy. I admire you for front squating, I bet you look great naked!

[fucpcg]

You have to have the right mindset. Powerlifitng IS pain. If my knees are bothering me, I don't stop doing legs, I research ways to deal with knee pain. But I guess that is the difference between some of us hardcore mental cases, and normal gym goers. I've been powerlifting and bodybuilding for 27 years, and I have endless aches and pains from it, but whatever. No plans to stop. You either decide to push yourself and break barriers, or you just settle in for average exercise enthusiast. I DO NOT mean average in a bad way, or insulting way. In fact I don't know that I would even recommend what I do to people. It is HARD on the body, no doubt. In that way I guess its like joining the Marines, or SEALs, you have to have a certain mindset for it. If you don't have it, you aren't going to fit in or enjoy it. But if you DO have the mindset, you are always, always trying to push yourself stronger, further, faster.

 

Last leg workout I squatted 315x20 reps my last set. Moved on to deads and pulled 365x8 reps last set. I typically weigh 180-190ish, but compete at 165lbs. That makes me pretty middle of the pack for my gym, and makes me a freak at Ballys. Like I said, if you don't see these kind of weights at your gym, then you just aren't at a bodybuiler/powerlifter gym.

[Imported]

Pretty much the only lifting I do anymore are deadlifts...and then lots of pull-ups, dips using just body weight as well as weigthed down..and running and swimming. Lots and lots of running and swimming. Using big ass hand paddles while breaststroking. When I use to actually lift, I diffinently squated more lbs than I could bench.