WEDNESDAY'S WORKOUT

There once was a time way back in the day when I hated benching. Why? Because quite simply I sucked at it. Who likes to do things they suck at? I used to be that way with squatting too. Fast forward a few years and benching and squatting are two of my favourite exercises. I'm not great at either mind you, but I'm decent. Or was, as is the case with the bench.

I haven't benched in oh, probably three months now. I've been doing some incline work, some Hammer Strength stuff, etc. Tonight, I thought, 'hey, I think I'm going to reintroduce bench pressing'. I figured, I'm about 10 or so pounds heavier, stronger on all the movements I'm currently doing, so I should be good to go.

Boy, was I ever wrong.

Lied down to warm up with 135 and I had no groove at all. Anyway to make a long story short, I worked up to a sad 245x10. That put me in a bad mood for the rest of my workout. LOL

So one of two things has happened:

1. I suck at benching again and I have lost strength.
2. I simply am out of the groove and have to get used to the exercise again (if so, I should still be able to lift some good weight after a few workouts)

It's #2. Remind me to not cut it out for three months again.

On the plus, I got killer a pump from benching.

Anyway ...

Flat Bench Press
Worked up to 245x10

Machine Shoulder Press
Worked up to 140 x 9 + 4 + 3

Close-grip Bench Press (on a heavy smith)
Worked up to 175 x 8 + 4 + 3

Hammer Pulldowns
Worked up to 235 x 11 + 5 + 3

(I improve on this every time - started out at 195 on this).

Barbell Rows from the floor
Worked up to 205x8

Posted Nov 14, 2007 by Erik Ledin.
This entry is filed under Training Journal.