How much should I be able to bench?

[twoodcc]

The reason i gave the 150-180 range is that for free weights she does 150, on the machine its 180.
I should also mention that the 350lbs is NOT on free weights but on machine. At that weight you need two spotters for safety.
From the world record I am off by way more than 115 lbs when this is taken into account. 115lbs is a huge amount of difference in my opinion.

Your point about the drugs involved could be valid but not in my case - if anything the hydromorphone and beta-blockers are going to hinder performance.

I agree with your comment different people = different results - which is exaclty why you cannot compare height/weight to actual performance.
I have good genetic background for strength and on the flip side I am a very poor runner, for me a getting below a 7.5 minute mile was a real, real challenge, which for you might be really easy.

And how do body builders come is as the strongest? sure they lift alot of weights but they focus more on appearance.

as for seeing to believe. I can understand that. It is unusual but not that unusual.

30 pounds is still a big range. i usually stick to just free weights (the only real max you can have, in my opinion, and most people i've seen). everyone i've seen that is really serious with lifting uses free weights, especially for their max. the only benefit i see in the machines is that you don't need a spotter.

actually you said you did 350 x 10 x 3, so you wouldn't be that far off the record.

i wouldn't be so sure about the drugs. they might not have an immediate increase in performance, but after a few months i bet it would help you out. (at least to my understanding, which could be wrong)

yes, different people equal different results, but only to a certain extent. to measure your actually performance, you calculate it by your height and weight. running really doesn't come into account with you (it does with me only b/c i'm running all the time, which is breaking down my muscles. )

the person i listed set the record for female bench press in 2004. that means that she is the strongest. (or was in 2004)

clearly it is that unusual. it's unusual to see men doing 350 pounds 10 times. yeah, i've seen my friend do like 500 pounds, but not 10 times. (and he weighs over 250 pounds)

and as far as the person who said they saw a woman doing 285 or whatever, did you actually add up the weight? i'm not saying i don't believe you, there are women out there that can do that, just not many of them

 

[Leareth]

If you want to be fit for practical applications, try www.crossfit.com

I was on the program once. Intense! Was probably in the best shape of my life after a couple months on it. Still can't complete most of the exercises as Rx'd even then.

I'm currently on Rippetoe's Starting Strength program. It's designed to make beginners stronger with core exercises (squats, bench, deads, etc). I'll see how it goes.

That site is awsome!

yep that the shape I want to get back in.
I love the videos of the girls beating the guys in the pratical application.
and none of the women look overmuscled.

 

[Poopface Morty]

Thank you, at least someone has seen it in real life.

You ought to come to my gym.
Most of the people there are in either police, fire, military or SAR techs. and surprisingly a lot of nurses. Maybe because the services get such a steep discount - a year membership is only $69.
And the gym is huge plus open 24/7 which is nice when you have a weird schedule.
A lot of the women in that gym look like normal fit people but are doing really heavy weights, one reason I like going there is the refreshing lack of ego and posing.
The overmuscled types that look showy generally do not last long in the services. They are not that strong and their endurance is crap.

Wow, $69 a year? Sounds like a sweet deal. I pay about $40 a month, and that's the new reduced 20-29 year old rate. It's a tennis facility with a fitness loft that overlooks the tennis courts. Unfortunately, it attracts the very very casual fitness crowd. The "walk on a treadmill for a half hour and call it a day" group while watching soap operas on the fitness TV (I always make a point to be the first in the cardio room if at all possible).

Oh yeah, it's hours are not so nice either, closing down like at 1 o'clock in the afternoon on weekends, 7 o'clock on weekdays. And there's a lot of ego at this place too, among the younger and older members, so I tend to stick with myself. I wish there were other options around here.