"How much can you bench?"

[Lou Schuler]

Guys, I need a little help for a new project.

Two quick questions:

1. If someone asked, "How much can you bench?" or "What's the most you've ever benched?", would you have an accurate answer?

2. If that same person asked about your body-fat percentage, or biceps circumference, or any other measure of bodybuilding success, would you be able to answer the questions accurately?

My premise is that most of us hit the gym with very specific ideas about how we want to transform our bodies -- smaller waist, bigger arms, etc. -- but very few of us ever measure any of the parameters we're training.

Meanwhile, while few guys go into the gym with the idea of getting stronger, my guess is that virtually every semi-serious lifter has tested his bench-press max and could tell you what it is in a heartbeat.

Do you agree or disagree with the premise? Any other thoughts about how we judge success in the gym?

[BRITISHBULLDOG]

well lou i must say that i could tell you my bench press max straight away which is 125kgs,yes i go to the gym to gain mass and yes you are right i couldnt tell you the size of my biceps or anything,i rarely measure myself i just look in the mirror instead!I would say that people at my gym measure success by pure size.I myself train for strength however i do want to be bigger!hope this helps!oh and as for body fat well i have no clue!

[chris_f]

Lou -

Until I bought scrawny to brawny a month or two ago, I had neither measured my muscles or tested my 1RM's. I knew how much I lifted per x number of reps based on what I did during a workout, but didn't know what the most I could do was.

Personally, I don't give a shit what my bench is. I suck at it and I know it. Deadlifting is my passion!

So to answer your questions - I don't know my bf%, I wouldn't know my muscle measurements if I hadn't bought S2B, and for the same reason I know my 1RM.

I recall my muscle measurements more quickly than I recall my 1rm on a bench press though.

[OldGuy]

Yes and yes. I very rarely am concerned with the weights I am moving, although I do keep a log so I know where I've been. I do take measurements to see what changes I am seeing from the workouts.

My workout partner, on the other hand, probably has no idea what the answers would be. If I didn't come up with the workouts to do he would be in there just tossing the iron.

[gobbla]

yes to both (or more accurately tested within the past month). but I'm the only one that I know personally that does.

without a measuring stick you'd never know if you're making progress...jumping programs every time a new one comes out is popular with this group because they never see any progress with the program they're on.

[PaPaLoAdS]

i could tell you what the most ive ever benched in my life was(250lbs), but i coudlnt tell you my current measurements or bf%.

the way i measure success in the gym is by keeping logs of my workouts (weight used, sets, reps) as well as my weight at the end of each workout.

I have about a years worth of logs and i judge my success by how well i have improved on all of my lifts over time and also by comments from people that havent seen me in a while (they say i keep getting bigger!).

but i will have all of my morphometric measurements taken, bf%, and 1 RM for most of the big lifts soon, seeing as how i will be starting scrawny to brawny in about 7 weeks.

[Deserve]

I have ~18 months worth of stats including BF and 1RM in most of the big lifts as well. Like it was also said above I think we are exceptions rather than the rule. Most people I know couldn't tell you what they ate for lunch.

[Anubis]

I tested out my max bench a month or so ago when I accompanied a buddy to his gym. The last time I measured my bi's was 6 mos. ago. I have no clue about the bf%
The unfortunate thing is I primarily work out by myself in my basement, meaning I have no spotter. I very rarely get to test out my 1RM on the bench press, unfortunately.
Like most of the others though, I keep a log of how much I am lifting, my progresses and so-forth.

[BamaDave]

I could give a reasonable guesstimate of my bench press max, although it has been a long time since I tested it. Nevertheless, I know I could make a close guess, since my strength levels have not changed appreciably for a long time.

I could probably also come close to my bicep circumference and BF%. I have never had an "official" BF% measurement, and it's been awhile since I did any measurements on my own to estimate. I actually don't really care that much about the actual percentage... I just go by the mirror approach to determine whether I am staying lean by gauging how "veiny" I look and/or visibility of abdominal muscles.

[igunick]

yes, just like BamaDave I could make a close guess, But I don't know exactly.
I also use the same methods with the BF%

[Irishdazza]

Never 1RM'ed...110kg for 3x8

BF hovering around 16% at the mo (fell off the track finding it much harder to get back this time)

Your mostly right I think.

[GqArtguy]

Originally posted by Lou Schuler:
Guys, I need a little help for a new project.

Two quick questions:

1. If someone asked, "How much can you bench?" or "What's the most you've ever benched?", would you have an accurate answer?

Itd be based off the last time I maxed, and Id add that qualifier. If its been too long, then Id just say "I dont know."

2. If that same person asked about your body-fat percentage, or biceps circumference, or any other measure of bodybuilding success, would you be able to answer the questions accurately?

Id say I dont know, because I really dont.

My premise is that most of us hit the gym with very specific ideas about how we want to transform our bodies -- smaller waist, bigger arms, etc. -- but very few of us ever measure any of the parameters we're training.

I have a general idea of how I want to look. If I look like that, then I dont care what the numbers are.

Meanwhile, while few guys go into the gym with the idea of getting stronger, my guess is that virtually every semi-serious lifter has tested his bench-press max and could tell you what it is in a heartbeat.

I suppose, if you care about bench.

Do you agree or disagree with the premise? Any other thoughts about how we judge success in the gym?

Size, body composition, strength (usually in a 2-3 exercises), what movements youre doing (seriously).

[FlyinM]

Lou,
My answer is yes and yes.

I have kept better logs in the past, but I know where I am today. I am part of a group that started HGM last year and have kept up the stat reporting as we have migrated to different programs. I have a philosophy that in order to plot a course for the future you must know where you were in the past, and where you are today. My memory is not as good as it was, so I keep the logs for most exercises as well as measurements at that time.

[Mahler]

Lou,
I guess I go against the norm. I keep better track of my bf percentage than I do of my bench press and very rarely have I tested the bench max. I log every workout, and can tell you what I was lifting two weeks ago, two months ago or two years ago.

Mahler

[Lost Dog]

I can tell you my bf%, but as far as benching goes, I can only tell you my 5, 6, 8, etc. rep numbers. I don't really test myself on max lifts.

I'd guess most people at my gym have no idea of body fat %s.

[ninja]

No on the bf% because I am a dummy and can't figure out my calipers.

No on the bench press 1RM. Yes on Bench Press 6RM and every other exercise for that matter.

Yes on the measurements. But I could be an inch or two to either side depending on what bodypart

[Faraz421]

I do keep track of my BF and weight, although its never really accurate, but serves as a reference for comparison. Most of it is done with pictures and a mirror, trying to see progress. I have only a vague idea of my measurments and max bench, although i took measurements 2 days ago(which is why i have a vague idea, and not none at all!)

[Faraz421]

Double post, I suck!