seems everyone can bench 300lb and has big arms on this forum

[WANNABEAFREAK]

I've gone through so many forum posts... I'm amazed by the number of people starting first cycles who claim they can bench over 300lb and have 17"+ arms at 5'9 etc...

I look at my 7 week body after 8 years off, and I am starting to see some shape and size. People in my gym start looking at me like I'm on steroids... as I've gone from 85kg to 108kg in 7 weeks (actually did it quicker but plateaued now).

Now I'm 194cm tall so my bones are long and thin. However, I have arms just over 16" but for some reason they look bigger than half the 17-18" arms I see on these forums. Also my strength appears to be double those of people with bigger arms... and I consider my form pretty good.

So, looking at the various gyms I've trained at - I see no more than 1% of guys who can bench 300lb+, but why on this forum everyone seems to be able to bench it

I can dumbbell bench 110lb each arm full ROM which is probably much more than that of a short guy (even though my chest is tiny as you can see on the pics), I can military press 225lb on smith machine for 6 reps, barbell curl 115lb for 4 reps and skull crush 120lb for 4 reps....


Seriously, are people exaggerating their lifts or arm sizes here?????

I'm so ashamed that my arms are 16". I must have the shittiest genetics.

 

[Zeek]

Pretty much most steroid users can bench 300 lbs at least once. I benched over 300 lbs at age 16 on no gear at all. It's not a big number at all. The ranks really thin out at 500 and above.

 

[cashout]

Scientific observation provides support for the conclusion that self reported data is the least reliable form of informtion.

 

[balboa270]

Your arms look 14 to 15 I was in the 300 club in teens as cashout said there's alot shit floatin around too on internet so wear rubber bootsis but alot of us didn't just start lifting either

 

["200lbs is 200lbs" H.L.R.]

I tell you what bro, who gives a shit what people bench. You want chest you stick with the dumbells...barbell bench uses alot of shoulders. Besides, just work for your personal records and you will be fine. Ive seen guys bench 550 that look smaller then I do and there is no way im putting that kind of weight up. I dont care how much a guy can bench. I can put up 450 but when people ask me I tell them 225..I hate it when people ask me how much I can bench...its people that dont know weight lifting that ask that question. Squatting would be a better question

 

[DuRsT]

When you say you can DB bench (I'm assuming flat) 110, do you mean two 55's or 110 lb. DB's?

 

[WANNABEAFREAK]

When you say you can DB bench (I'm assuming flat) 110, do you mean two 55's or 110 lb. DB's?

110lb each arm. I warm up on 60lb each arm.

Hmmmm... My arms look small because they are long. Bloody monkey arms.

 

[WANNABEAFREAK]

Your arms look 14 to 15 I was in the 300 club in teens as cashout said there's alot shit floatin around too on internet so wear rubber bootsis but alot of us didn't just start lifting either

Depressing. I hate being tall.

 

[essays]

In photos, your arms look really thin. I have 16.5" arms right now, but they look a LOT bigger than yours do, probably because of the size of my triceps. Build more muscle and cut more fat, the most "muscly" you look, the bigger you look, even if you don't grow in inches.

 

[bigherm2121]

Ya to me is not how much I can lift!! It's what I look like in the mirror. Unless a power lifter I would say more people are interested in appearance then strength. I'm in to both. I can almost do 400 and I'm happy with

 

[WANNABEAFREAK]

I added a picture of my back.... I'm not that thin. I'm 108kg - but my arms and chest are like far far behind my traps for example.

 

[DuRsT]

That is really interesting, just shows the difference between people I guess.

I can bench 315x3 but can't work out with more than 90lb. DB's yet.

 

[essays]

I just came to the realization that you just started working out 7 weeks ago, presumably for the first time ever.

That's why you look small. Patience man. Shit doesn't spring up over night.

 

[3rdGroupSF]

That is really interesting, just shows the difference between people I guess.

I can bench 315x3 but can't work out with more than 90lb. DB's yet.

Opposite for me. I'll do 5x5s with 100's. But I probably wont get 315x1

 

[OmegaReign]

Word of advice, don't try and do super heavy sets less than 10 for curls or skull crushers, will destroy your elbows over time. Save the low reps for the main lifts, try to keep it to 8-12 reps for any arm exercises.

Set personal goals, don't worry about what everyone else is doing. You'll get there over time.

300lb bench isn't that awesome anyhow.

 

[China_Wall]

Scientific observation provides support for the conclusion that self reported data is the least reliable form of informtion.

most factual statement on this site and on the whole net for that matter

 

[DNR]

Your whining about your arm size after an 8 year lay off....seriously? Wtf do you expect? It took me 5 years of hard training before I could put up 300 and it took another 5 years after that to hit 400. Stop comparing yourself to everybody and just be happy with your own improvments.

 

[China_Wall]

I added a picture of my back.... I'm not that thin. I'm 108kg - but my arms and chest are like far far behind my traps for example.

dude... u are nearly 6'5" and under 240lbs... to get some size/strength ur gonna have to get ur bodyweight up over 300lbs at your height... there's a reason 90% of pro bodybuilders are under 6'... it's not just a fluke haha

 

[Zeek]

Be happy with what you have to start with. I want to be younger damnit! but that isn't happening so I'm happy with the cards I was dealt.

You can get bigger and stronger over time. In the end other guys are impressed with heavy lifts in the gym but women are impressed with the look. Who do you want to impress?

 

[Long_2010]

Ya to me is not how much I can lift!! It's what I look like in the mirror.

good post

so many people lift heavy with bad form and they look like a sack of shit, its all about keeping the muscle under constant tention, controlled positive and negotive movements and even a slight pause in the static position helps build the lactic acid up well too.