Me lift big heavy things

[ajva]

I thought I'd try to do a new maximum bench press just before my holiday - also to get a little session in before a week-long recess. I was very nervous about it this morning and was dreading it a bit. The bit I hate most, to be perfectly honest, is looking for a suitable prospect for spotting me, freshly each time. That is to say, if you are lying down on a bench and lifting big heavy thing above your chest, you need somebody to stand behind you to help you if you get into trouble. It's OK to approach other gym users (and I have done this), but it's a bit like catching a waiter's eye. Today, everybody was busy and just a little bit far away to reasonably ask, it seemed.

But it was a good job really, 'cos I ended up asking one of the blokes who works there, and he helped me loads and loads, the end result being I lifted more than I was planning to.

So my new max is 57.5kg (15% improvement already). Hurrah! There may yet be a Grand Final with my name in it... :o)

Comments

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Do you want to go jogging with me in Amsterdam?

[ajva.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid jogging doesn't agree with me. :o) I'm planning to go on a cycling tour around Amsterdam on Thursday, though; fancy that? I might hire a bike for a couple of other days too. We'll see...

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! I have the Rough Guide to Amsterdam, so we should be able to get a good bike hire deal.


J

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

The spotter thing is odd. Surely they could make a bit of equipment that allowed you to do the bench press in such a way that it couldn't go horribly wrong?

[ajva.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a bit tricky, because you do actually have to bring the bar down to touch your chest before lifting it up, so any, say, metal "safety net" might get in the way. It's an interesting puzzle, though...

The other thing is that the spotter can give partial support if necessary. In fact, it's quite nice to have someone there to rack the bar after you've just expended an enormous effort.

Anyway, I'm up to nine stones now, hurrah! :o)

[jhg.livejournal.com]

No. You can use fixed weight machines which work the same primary muscles, but you lose the extra benefit which comes from having to *control* where the weight goes.


J