Who bench presses more then they can squat?

[Star Gazer]

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

 

You must not have good friends.

[Star Gazer]

I squat almost twice what I bench.

[IcedEarth]

You must not have good friends.

 

I've seen that picture, and goddamn there's something wrong with his legs. Seriously, I don't even work out and my legs are like 3x the size of his.

[StandingO]

I am not as out of balance as the guy in that pic. I see guys like that all the time. I am leaner, and not so massive. I have a very obvious difference between my upper body muscle development and legs but even my calves are a touch bigger then this lol

 

Hey I know what it is like. Guy with muscular arms, chest shoulders challenged for fun by your GF's friend in a Indian leg wrestle. She got the legs (very hot legs) but has like 10 arms, petite shoulders and can bench like 65 pounds once. She destroyed me at Indian leg wrestling. She figured she would win since she already could out leg press and squat me.

[Sauron]

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.

 

 

Much respect to you brother! 315 X 20 is a MANBEAST SET OF SQUATS!

[IcedEarth]

i can bench a hundred. you all doing two hundreds and three hundred and four hundred and wackos. do you spend every waking moment benching? i'd have to do that to get to 200 and i'm a decent size guy.

 

When I was able to, yes. It took daily gym visits and basically obsessing over it.

 

I would eat bacon and eggs, go to the gym for 2 hours, come home and drink a protein shake. I'd do that every day, upping the weight by 5-15lbs depending.

 

I would start at my highest possible weight I could do a single rep at, do the one and then systematically lower the weight by 5-10lbs and do more reps, all the way down until I was down to just the bar.

 

Now I have too many chronic pain issues, there's no way I could get back to that. Frankly, I don't want to anyway. It's too much work and the obsessiveness it requires is creepy to me now. Looking back I was an obsessive nutjob then!

 

I only go up to 40lb dumbells at home now. I do need to return to a gym eventually but mine shut down.

[Ninjainpajamas]

I've worked out since highschool off and on, I've always squatted more than I benched...I've benched about 385 ish or more...honestly never maxed up but I could rep about 315 about 20 times and then I had other life issues to give attention to so I'd stop working out.

 

Naturally it doesn't take me an insane amount of work to get to benching a lot of weight or squat, my body remembers the weight it seems like, so plopping under a bench or squat machine takes me about 6 months to get back to where I was at my max or further, maybe a bit longer.

 

I'm 31 and about 215pds...I have no plans to shove 500 pounds back on my knees, I've already had ACL, MCL and cartilage tears in both, none from lifting weights, all unrelated. As far as bench it's one of the easier exercises as I have a wide back and large torso, it just feels right and good to do it, but honestly I'm looking for full body workouts at my age...even a lot of exercises that require no weights like plyometrics or calisthenics which I don't care what you lift that crap always breaks a man down to see what he's really got in terms of physical fitness.

 

I've always found it very motivational and a challenge to push my body in power lifting as I was skinny growing up, as I got older I just wanted to make sure I was giving the same treatment to every portion of my body instead of just the macho man exercises...now I'm just trying to retain a good physical physique, with health by eating right and exercising more outside the gym to keep it interesting as I've already spent plenty of time in one...I'm interested in something new.

[StandingO]

I meant she has 10" arms not 10 arms lol. Correction, I saw her bench 85 pounds for 2 reps. Not bad considering she don't work at the bench too hard and could barely bench the 45 pound bar a while back.

 

Her and my GF still do those one legged squats to the floor very well. I can't do them the same way.The signal from my brain to my legs and gluts does not register. I have to lean forward and parallel is has low has I can go if I want to get back up. That exercise blows me away how they can do those.

[Star Gazer]

I've seen that picture, and goddamn there's something wrong with his legs. Seriously, I don't even work out and my legs are like 3x the size of his.

 

You must have naturally nice legs, because I see a TON of guys who are built like this. He's the epitome of the guy who lifts to develop muscles that he thinks look good, not to be a fit, well-balanced person.

[tman666]

I sort of agree with brahmabull here... Squat/deadlift strength is not necessarily a linear relationship with leg size. Granted, size generally follows increases in strength, but you can't just look at someone and determine exactly how strong or weak they are. Some people are more genetically inclined for explosive strength and power, while others tend to put on size more easily.

 

As far as my own lifts go, I definitely squat more than I bench press (and my slight shoulder impingement isn't helping that any at the moment, haha). It's taken lots of practice though... Heavy squats are one of those exercises that, in my opinion, form tends to be what makes or breaks your ability to move past your sticking points. I suppose this can be said of any exercise, but I think it's especially true when it comes to the big 3. Lots of people train with crappy form and get strong up to a certain point, and then either get injured or otherwise stop progressing because they're not able to utilize the most mechanically advantageous positions to lift the weight.

 

If your squat sucks, I would definitely recommend (in addition to free squatting with a barbell) box squats. Not only will they help develop power out of the hole, but they teach you to sit back and activate your glutes. A great training tool, in my opinion.

[StandingO]

I am the only one in our group of four that benches more than I squat.

GF- bench 115, squat 255

her/our GF- friend bench 90, squat 205

her husband- bench 135, squat 205 (into cardio not weights too much)

myself- bench 270, squat 165

 

but I estimate half the guys who go to the gym (our gym) who have worked out enough to develop some good upper body strength and physique don't do squats or rarely and only occasionally the leg press. I would say on average they bench 185 to 225 and I rarely see them squat reps more then with 185. Yes the smarter trained squat more.

 

I am going to try and add light box squats with my goblet squats and see if I can't get my back squat up without screwing knees.

[FryFish]

I squat more than I bench by a good amount... but only because the army/infantry packed 30 lbs of muscle onto my legs in basic.

[IcedEarth]

I squat more than I bench by a good amount... but only because the army/infantry packed 30 lbs of muscle onto my legs in basic.

 

Really? I was at Parris Island after my friend finished marine boot camp and everyone there was so skinny as to be nearly malnourished.

 

He's just not a year later putting on the muscle he lost. Does the army do things that differently? He's a grunt too.

 

You must have naturally nice legs, because I see a TON of guys who are built like this. He's the epitome of the guy who lifts to develop muscles that he thinks look good, not to be a fit, well-balanced person.

 

My legs aren't *that* muscular, they're just bigger. His legs are tiny, way smaller than normal sized calves. If you're saying big upper body, smaller legs I get that. The guy in that picture has very, very, very small calves though. They look like a 10 year old boy's!

 

I'm an upper body only lifter when I go to the gym too, which might lead people to talk **** but I have the worst knees you can possibly have. They are not strong enough for squats, leg presses or anything. Just easy cardio, I can't even run on them without pain.

Edited September 12, 2012 by IcedEarth

[FryFish]

Really? I was at Parris Island after my friend finished marine boot camp and everyone there was so skinny as to be nearly malnourished.

They probably WERE malnourished

He's just not a year later putting on the muscle he lost. Does the army do things that differently? He's a grunt too.

Our meals were more tailored to us... The fat guys got low cal meals and guys like me were always full...

[IcedEarth]

They probably WERE malnourished

Our meals were more tailored to us... The fat guys got low cal meals and guys like me were always full...

 

I know his answer would be "Army is for pussies, Marine boot is way harder" so I won't ask him

[AlexDP]

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 thA bese kind of weights at your gym, then you just aren't at a bodybuiler/powerlifter gym.

 

It really depends, man. You can hit a 400 deadlift and a 300 lbs squat without it being hard on the body. In fact in many sports lifting weights actually helps RECOVER the body. I play soccer and I do deadlifts and squats to recover. The weights don't mess me up, the sport does!

 

That being said, I really don't like powerlifting. They use wide stance squats for example, which have virtually no carry over to sports. I'd chose olympic squats any day of the week. Also: kind of weird that you do 20 times 315 on squats when you pull 365x8..

[fucpcg]

What does your post have to do with my post? The observation that I am a powerlifter and you are not? And also: that NOT powerlifting doesn't cause the aches and pains of powerlifting? Kinda weird.

[Emilia]

And also: that NOT powerlifting doesn't cause the aches and pains of powerlifting? Kinda weird.

 

I think what he means is that his sport is high impact while he finds powerlifting low impact and helps him recover because of the additional strength it provides.

 

I'm the same. The jarring from boxing wears my body down sometimes. Yoga, deadlifts, squats and planks help to recover and deal with the high impact a lot.

[eMGunslinger]

I squat twice what I bench, I always have I wish it were the opposite lol

[StandingO]

Seems true though. I can't recall seeing a woman bench more then she could squat (I know they are out there but rare) but many men do. Mostly it is about his training habits. Woman are much stronger in their legs compared to upper body (lower body strong upper body weak) and often love training legs because it is a focus area. Like myself and many casual men gym goers, with a history of neglecting legs become upper body strong and comparatively lower body weak.

[Emilia]

It's harder for us to build upper body strength and we use our legs more as a result. Just look at climbers, a female climber will push herself up using her legs, a male (especially if he isn't experienced) will pull himself up.

 

A lot of women are also scared of having bulkier arms and bigger shoulders. I know from experience that it doesn't necessarily get to be the case but I get stared at even though I'm not bulky by any means. My shoulders are approximately as wide as my hips and people notice it. Not every woman would feel comfortable with that.

[StandingO]

Another runner, biking hiking fitness crazy friend of my girl friend pointed this out too me.

 

NSCA reports that women often produce higher relative lower body strength and power outputs, due to having wider hips, and the fact that women store most of their weight in their lower bodies.

Read more: How Much More Muscle Mass Does A Male Have Than A Female? | LIVESTRONG.COM

 

She is a woman at first glance you would think she is weak due to a small slim upper body and noddle skinny arms. Yes, her upper body strength is poor but she could squat 165 for 6 reps. More than I can at the moment.

[BassWalker]

My bench is pretty weak. My upper body is naturally small. Where as my legs are

naturally big and thick. Same with my calves. I had to put a lot work just to even out my proportions.

[rocketman122]

dont do barbell bench press. too much movement for my long arms. only dumbells and machines and always supersets for chest.

 

I do the mike mentzer high intensity training and it works great for me. I train twice a week and very few sets but all out to muscular failure each one. extremely heavy and clean. pain stays for at least 3 days and since I dont recuperate so fast it gives me time to heal. I also noticed when I train very heavy with few reps 6-10 vs 10-12 then I get thick and hard/dense. I also notice im more vascular.

 

people love doing arms and chest but IMO need to focus on legs/back/shoulders and the rest will work out. its what will give you size and the nice shape we men want. work on getting wide AND thick.

 

the training program has you working twice legs for every time upper body.

I invest a lot in legs (and lower back) because I have long legs and you need symmetry if you want to have a nice physique. besides, how does it look when you undress in front of a woman? get that V that goes down to your salami and then the quads curve out from the hips. it looks very impressive with a nice pair of underwear.

 

you also look like youre going to topple over because you have such a big upper body and toothpick legs.

Edited October 31, 2012 by rocketman122

[1slobalt12]

I back/front squat double what i bench, and my overhead squat is higher then my bench also. I have been an Ice Hockey player all my life so i naturally have what they call Hockey ass/thighs. haha