Heavy Bench

I had to stretch out my shoulders, pecs, legs, quads, glutes, hips and lower back a lot - being sick all week I felt really stiff.

Bar x reps x 2

95 x 5

115 x 3

135 x 1

185 x hold for 3 secs

Shirt on

225 x 1 (no touch)

255 x 1

275 x 1

295 x 1

305 x miss x 2

I got 255 to touch this week; I was more patient at the bottom and pushed up harder to the bar to get it to touch.  

I took 275 down perfectly but pushed straight up at the press call instead of back, then had to tilt it backwards to save the lift.

Last week I did 285 then 295, this week I just wanted the 295 so I jumped right to it.  It felt pretty good in my hands and I felt aggressive (I don't like using that word but I basically really, really wanted the lift - I was determined).  Ross said, and I felt, that I was more in control of the weight and at the press call I sailed it back and up to lock out.

The first attempt at 305 I held it for a while and was surprised that it didn't feel so bad.  I loaded my shirt, touched and pressed - it came off my chest really fast and it scared me so I slowed it down and got stuck.  I knew what I did and wanted to have another try at it.  The second attempt I loaded my shirt but Ross said I hovered about an inch away from my chest, then touched a little too high and didn't get any pop out of my shirt.  I could also feel my feet completely flat on the floor as I was trying to push up harder.  I was done after that.  Really excited to get 295, and really excited that 305 feels "manageable"!  

It was a good bench night, and I needed it!

Leo Tili came in to bench, on his birthday, and tried a bench shirt out for the first time and did a beautiful 625 bench!  Congrats Leo!  Chris Skoda showed some great mental strength on the bench; he failed on his second work set of 475 then came back and finished two more sets with perfect bench form!  Great energy in the gym....as usual.