Should I be concerned about my max?

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davidjr74

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Today I benched 135 pounds, 9 times a new record. Part of this was because my trainer showed me the correct form on the bench (which I previously had wrong: my grip was to narrow, shoulders not pinched in, and my elbows were inside my wrist instead of under). This is a new record for me and I'm happy with it. However, last month (when I can only do 135 Pounds, twice) my max was 155.So, today I figured I could bench 160 but I couldn't do it. Online calculators say that my max should be 174...

So I'm wandering if I should be concerned about this; and why couldn't I do it? I know theres plenty of factors (like nutrition and rest) but that was a day I was feeling really good.
 
calculators, charts, estimates...all = crap.

Besides, it's a lot better to have good form. Your body probably wasn't used to benching correctly anyway.
 
There are a few possibilities that come to mind:

The condition you were in as you made your attempt might have been different. Given different form, nutrition, training, hydration, etc. leading up to and during the attempt, you would of course get differing results.

As a relative beginner, you're able to handle much higher %'s of your 1RM for high repetitions. As such, the conversion table may not necessarily apply when considering your maximal lift.

You might have simply psyched yourself out.


Even if one or all are true, or all are false, I wouldn't worry much. Just try it again later.
 
AJP said:
calculators, charts, estimates...all = crap.

Besides, it's a lot better to have good form. Your body probably wasn't used to benching correctly anyway.
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I guess you're right. I am too concerned on my numbers and I find myself maxing out too much.

My trainer told me that with my correct form that I should be better off in the long run.
 
Derwyddon said:
Stop maxing out so much, and stop using calculators. :D
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May be that your not maxing enough. Calculators r crap that is true, but your body may not be use to maxing with explosive power. Some people are good at maxing and suck at repping just the opposite.
 
May be that your not maxing enough. Calculators r crap that is true, but your body may not be use to maxing with explosive power. Some people are good at maxing and suck at repping just the opposite.
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I agree with THBench. The only way to be good at maxing is to max. A well rounded athlete will be able to max or do reps.

Being concerned with numbers is only natural. That is the only real measure to show that you are improving. Yes you always need good technique. You also need to show consistent progress.

Since you changed your technique I would expect that your max will go up a bit within the next few weeks. Many times better form leads to a drop in your max followed by an increase.

A calm before the storm. :D
 
Yeah, maxes tend to vary by day, really (at least for me). Some days benching something like 275 is a snap, other days, getting 255 up takes all I have.

I agree, don't worry too much about 1RMs. While they are great talking points, what you really need to fix and keep fixed, is form. As far as maxes go, maybe try for one once a month or so.
 
maxing out doesn't realy do anything for you
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This is one of the most inaccurate statements I have ever read.

The maximum effort method is an extremely useful tool in the weight lifting toolbox. It teaches you to strain, has a tremendous positive effect on your nervous system, and will train your body how to handle bigger weights.

Maxing once a week is a safe and effective method of training. Here are some guidelines -

1) Max 1 upper body and 1 lower body exercise per week
2) Max a different lift each week to prevent overtraining
3) Do your max exercise first in your workout
4) A max is not the most weight you can lift, but, the most weight you can lift with good technique.

With this in mind do not neglect other training methods. The repeated effort method, the sub-maximal effort method, and the dynamic effort method all need to be included in your workouts each week. This gives you variety in your training as well as keeping you from having one dimensional strength.

You are young, So incorporate all training methods into your workout each week. Use basic exercises and good technique.
 
1) Any techniques I have listed are definitely not "Advanced Athlete Techniques." They are basic training methods. Methods that are important to learn early.

2) These "advanced methods" of using proper technique when doing a max and then doing assistance with other methods are used in high schools all over the country with great success.

3) Maxing 2 lifts in a week is not repeatedly nor regularly.

Injury will only happen if the basics are not followed. Staying with good technique and stopping before form breaks down is hardly advanced. Maxing a lift is also not advanced.

These are basics that, when learned early on, lead to greater results and less injury.

This forum is about education. It is never too early to learn more.
 
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Derwyddon said:
Not maxing out enough? maxing out doesn't realy do anything for you, and as I recall you're pretty young right jman? Maxing out isn't going to help you reach any goal faster and can be rough on you.
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In the words of Louie Simmons, "If you are training with 85, 90, or 95%, you are really only using 85, 90, or 95% of your muscle potential, not 100%. Your technique must be built by singles".
 
THBench said:
In the words of Louie Simmons, "If you are training with 85, 90, or 95%, you are really only using 85, 90, or 95% of your muscle potential, not 100%. Your technique must be built by singles".
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? Seriously? Awful example.
Louie Simmons is an advanced powerlifter, not a high school student.
 
Yeah, something tells me that I shouldn't be lifting to heavy. My trainer has me on periodization or something like that. He showed me the program hes goign to have me on; and its like this:

Month 1- Basic Strength/Endurance/Form technique Reps- 12-20
Month 2- Hyperstrophy Reps 6-12
Month 3- Strength Reps 1-6
Month 4- Power ??
Month 5- Peak? ??

Its similiar to that. I only have a week left with Month 1. Like I said earlier; my new technique on all my lifts is doing wanders right now. I can't weight lift this week though; I pulled my middle back (around my right lat) bad when I tackled this kid.
 
THBench said:
In the words of Louie Simmons, "If you are training with 85, 90, or 95%, you are really only using 85, 90, or 95% of your muscle potential, not 100%. Your technique must be built by singles".
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Quotes taken out of context. As AJP said, Simmons, Tate, Wendler, Vogelpohl, Coan, etc are way elite compared to high school athletes. They have decades and decades of training over high school athletes. And even with the Westside crew, they do tons of working up to 2 and 3RMs and working up to heavy singles, doubles, and triples. They don't just simply pull 1RMs every single workout. Also, how many singles of your true 1RM do you think you're going to push out each workout?



Athletic training has a lot of considerations within pre, post, in-season, peaking, intensification, etc etc etc

Do I think a high school athlete needs to hit a 1RM weekly? No. I think a 3-5RM is more appropriate.

JMan...with technique change comes a change in what your max might be. Be patient, and watch you bust through your old maxes.
 
jmanjman47 said:
Yeah, something tells me that I shouldn't be lifting to heavy. My trainer has me on periodization or something like that. He showed me the program hes goign to have me on; and its like this:

Month 1- Basic Strength/Endurance/Form technique Reps- 12-20
Month 2- Hyperstrophy Reps 6-12
Month 3- Strength Reps 1-6
Month 4- Power ??
Month 5- Peak? ??

Its similiar to that. I only have a week left with Month 1. Like I said earlier; my new technique on all my lifts is doing wanders right now. I can't weight lift this week though; I pulled my middle back (around my right lat) bad when I tackled this kid.
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I hate that type of periodization. Tell him you want your program redone using a concurrent method.
 
mreik said:
Wow, I don't even want to get started in this thread.
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Don't...just don't..it's hard to resist, I know the feeling, I already gave in
 
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