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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: TrapsMcLats on May 26, 2011, 07:53:02 PM

Title: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on May 26, 2011, 07:53:02 PM
Right now I'm stuck on 80's for overhead DB press. I can bang out about 20 reps though.  We don't have a set of 85's, we just go from 80's to 90's. obviously, i could do 90's if i had help getting it up. If I can't get the weight up on my own, should I have someone help me, or should i just wait till i can get it up on my own?  I've always felt that one shouldn't lift it unless you can get it up on your own... but maybe i'm wrong.  
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Yev33 on May 26, 2011, 09:24:33 PM
I have been able to get  90's and 95's for seated db presses without help, haven't tried the 100   's yet. I train alone so I know that I will eventually run into the same issue you are having. I have considered getting power hooks. Basically they hook onto a barbell and you can hang the db's from them.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: CalvinH on May 27, 2011, 07:39:34 AM
Right now I'm stuck on 80's for overhead DB press. I can bang out about 20 reps though.  We don't have a set of 85's, we just go from 80's to 90's. obviously, i could do 90's if i had help getting it up. If I can't get the weight up on my own, should I have someone help me, or should i just wait till i can get it up on my own?  I've always felt that one shouldn't lift it unless you can get it up on your own... but maybe i'm wrong.  


Put one up on your shoulder yourself then have someone you trust hand you the other one at the same shoulder level.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: jpm101 on May 27, 2011, 08:41:04 AM
Might try one arm DB presses standing, bracing the free hand against some sort of a support if needed. All the while training on cleaning two DB's together, which seems to be a very weak link here. Benefits of cleaning DB's (for reps & sets...becoming a regular part of the workout) is power, timing and increased trap, delt & forearm/bicep size. Which can become quite impressive, giving a look of power.

Standing one arm DB overhead presses seems to offer an extra boost over the sitting version, for size and power. Just a personal view, gathered for experience with working with others & myself. There is also the DB side press, which is a little different from regular overhead DB pressing. But a outstanding exercise by it's self.

Also (as suggested above) have done sets of one arm Hi-pulls and cleans with great results. Can start the pulls from the floor , DB rack ,bench, etc.  We use two short heavy duty boxes at out gym. Heavy DB's  training can give an extra feel to serious training. Good Luck.

Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on May 27, 2011, 03:04:31 PM
For the record, these are the seated version of overhead DB Press... Its the kick up to the shoulder that's giving me problems. 

I will definitely try the everything suggested, thanks!
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: local hero on May 27, 2011, 04:34:09 PM
ive always found the clean to the shoulders pretty easy with db's, flick them up and sit down in same movement, i always get push off with spotter on my elbows for propper sets tho..
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Maddy on May 27, 2011, 05:26:02 PM
Right now I'm stuck on 80's for overhead DB press. I can bang out about 20 reps though.  We don't have a set of 85's, we just go from 80's to 90's. obviously, i could do 90's if i had help getting it up. If I can't get the weight up on my own, should I have someone help me, or should i just wait till i can get it up on my own?  I've always felt that one shouldn't lift it unless you can get it up on your own... but maybe i'm wrong.  

you can bump up 80's and hit 20 reps but you can't bump up the 90s?

youre not trying hard enough
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on May 27, 2011, 06:45:26 PM
I have a helluva time getting the 80's up, but once they're up, its easy.  I hit those nineties, and I can't get'm up to my shoulders for the first rep... annoying as fuck.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Yev33 on May 27, 2011, 07:56:18 PM
Im assuming that you are kicking them up with your knees, thats what I do at least.
One of the things I have found to make a difference is which side db you kick up first, I know that I have a much easier time when I kick up the right one first.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Maddy on May 27, 2011, 09:57:46 PM
I have a helluva time getting the 80's up, but once they're up, its easy.  I hit those nineties, and I can't get'm up to my shoulders for the first rep... annoying as fuck.

Technique.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: local hero on May 28, 2011, 03:45:48 AM
both at same time, clean and sit down at same time, its very easy, i could do this with weights far heavier than i could press
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: JasonH on May 28, 2011, 04:00:57 AM

Put one up on your shoulder yourself then have someone you trust hand you the other one at the same shoulder level.

This, ^ if just for safety's sake.

When I'm doing dumbell presses, I can clean the dumbells myself up to about 95-100lbs, anything after that I need a spotter because the amount of energy required to clean anything heavier would detract from getting the most out of the exercise itself.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: tonymctones on May 28, 2011, 02:45:47 PM
you can bump up 80's and hit 20 reps but you can't bump up the 90s?

youre not trying hard enough
LOL doesnt seem right to me either you can rep out with 80's but you cant even get the 90's up?

you should be able to man handle those things

Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on May 28, 2011, 04:52:55 PM
LOL doesnt seem right to me either you can rep out with 80's but you cant even get the 90's up?

you should be able to man handle those things



I would assume you're right, but I just can't roll my wrists under to get it to my shoulder after kicking it up.

I'll try standing and cleaning it, but I did that once and kinda sat down on a nuticle...it hurt.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: wes on May 28, 2011, 05:02:23 PM
Get help,it`s not a disgrace!!!

Getting stronger and using bigger and bigger dumbells can and usually causes this problem.

To clean the 90`s or 100`s is a chore in itself and saps power before you even beging your set.......thus,your set suffers.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: tonymctones on May 28, 2011, 10:16:06 PM
I would assume you're right, but I just can't roll my wrists under to get it to my shoulder after kicking it up.

I'll try standing and cleaning it, but I did that once and kinda sat down on a nuticle...it hurt.
it doesnt sound like youre doing it right...

when i kick up dbs they come up to my shoulder i dont have to work more after kicking them up to get my shoulders under them....

if youre kicking up your dbs and still having to work to get them up past your shoulders, id say your doing something wrong.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: wes on May 29, 2011, 12:18:50 AM
I never mastered the "kicking them up" technique............at 165 pounds,I clean the 100`s by myself for DB Inclines..........well over my bodyweight.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: tonymctones on May 29, 2011, 11:38:22 AM
I never mastered the "kicking them up" technique............at 165 pounds,I clean the 100`s by myself for DB Inclines..........well over my bodyweight.
whatever works best for the person I guess, I think i would hurt myself trying to clean 100's but I can kick them up no problem at all.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Meso_z on May 29, 2011, 09:39:43 PM
If you cant get up the dumbells on your own, they are clearly too heavy for you..
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: wes on May 30, 2011, 03:02:50 AM
whatever works best for the person I guess, I think i would hurt myself trying to clean 100's but I can kick them up no problem at all.
I wish I could.....cleaning them is a bitch,and as I clean them I flop back on the incline bench at the same time,sometimes a bit crooked and it`s not too much fun!!!   ;D


Could never "kick" them up........guess I`m an uncoordinated fuck!  LOL  :)
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: tonymctones on May 30, 2011, 08:13:01 AM
I wish I could.....cleaning them is a bitch,and as I clean them I flop back on the incline bench at the same time,sometimes a bit crooked and it`s not too much fun!!!   ;D


Could never "kick" them up........guess I`m an uncoordinated fuck!  LOL  :)
LOL I still get crooked too though from time to time when I kick up DB's.

I once worked out with a dude who kinda swung the weights, like he was doing a shoulder raise and as he was laying back on the bench at the same time...

it was pretty damn impressive to me as he was using 100's
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on May 30, 2011, 03:16:33 PM
I wish I could.....cleaning them is a bitch,and as I clean them I flop back on the incline bench at the same time,sometimes a bit crooked and it`s not too much fun!!!   ;D


Could never "kick" them up........guess I`m an uncoordinated fuck!  LOL  :)

But i'm not on an incline bench, i'm seated fully upright. 
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: wes on May 31, 2011, 01:42:29 AM
LOL I still get crooked too though from time to time when I kick up DB's.

I once worked out with a dude who kinda swung the weights, like he was doing a shoulder raise and as he was laying back on the bench at the same time...

it was pretty damn impressive to me as he was using 100's
That sounds like kinda` what I do.....................s ometimes you don`t land quite straight on the bench and it`s a bitch to recover positioning.  :(
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: Dr Dutch on May 31, 2011, 03:41:56 AM
Do one arm at a time, better concentration, higher weight, more growth..
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: jpm101 on May 31, 2011, 06:58:32 PM
I would seriously doubt that even 5% of any BB'er does DB C&P's in a regular workout. Doing 3 to 4 sets, of 6-9 reps, in the DB cleans can go a long ways to adding size, thickness and power to the traps, biceps and delts. After awhile this can make setting up a pair of 120's + for overhead presses a piece of cake.. So hard for some to get the weight on the shoulders for presses because they only  do the clean to the shoulders for one rep, of one set per overhead DB press set. Practice the lift, in regular workout, to get good at it. You will be happy with the results. The cleans, with the overhead DB press, can get you to buying a larger shirt/jacket size before you know it. And,of course ,broader shoulders.

Can start with DB rack, bench, off the floor or even kneeling DB cleans to the shoulders. Use one arm at a time (as I mentioned before) , which seems to work best when standing. Works extremely good for me.Can also do DB Hi-pull as a aid to DB cleans. I usually favor one arm at a time, but two is good too.

Might do what Local Hero says, that's been the standard for years. Crouch, pull and you take a seat on the bench, all at the same motion. A good method that will require a little practice. Came to my attention, many years ago, that a lot of BB'er are not the most coordinated people in the world. They just have to train a bit harder to get the balance and timing down on a few movements.

A little hint; Use a lower height bench when doing C & DB presses. This also help's  greatly with DB flat or inclines bench presses. Another hint, try BB cleans & press for some impressive mass gains. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: TrapsMcLats on June 01, 2011, 01:03:02 PM
I would seriously doubt that even 5% of any BB'er does DB C&P's in a regular workout. Doing 3 to 4 sets, of 6-9 reps, in the DB cleans can go a long ways to adding size, thickness and power to the traps, biceps and delts. After awhile this can make setting up a pair of 120's + for overhead presses a piece of cake.. So hard for some to get the weight on the shoulders for presses because they only  do the clean to the shoulders for one rep, of one set per overhead DB press set. Practice the lift, in regular workout, to get good at it. You will be happy with the results. The cleans, with the overhead DB press, can get you to buying a larger shirt/jacket size before you know it. And,of course ,broader shoulders.

Can start with DB rack, bench, off the floor or even kneeling DB cleans to the shoulders. Use one arm at a time (as I mentioned before) , which seems to work best when standing. Works extremely good for me.Can also do DB Hi-pull as a aid to DB cleans. I usually favor one arm at a time, but two is good too.

Might do what Local Hero says, that's been the standard for years. Crouch, pull and you take a seat on the bench, all at the same motion. A good method that will require a little practice. Came to my attention, many years ago, that a lot of BB'er are not the most coordinated people in the world. They just have to train a bit harder to get the balance and timing down on a few movements.

A little hint; Use a lower height bench when doing C & DB presses. This also help's  greatly with DB flat or inclines bench presses. Another hint, try BB cleans & press for some impressive mass gains. Good Luck.


There are a number of  how to" vids on youtube of all the various exercises you mentioned, can you post a few that are decent examples? 
Title: Re: Being able to get the weight up on your own vs help with this.
Post by: jpm101 on June 01, 2011, 06:45:17 PM
Most any video should explain cleaning, it's a pretty basic function in lifting. Use any video you want.

As far as DB cleaning goes, make sure the knuckles are facing somewhat forward & the DB close to the leg(s). The wrist will twist as you pull the weight up, with perhaps a little knee dip. The ideas is to get under the DB and "catch" the weight on the shoulders. All providing that the DB is raised high enough to do all of this. Same idea with a regular BB clean. In either case, keep the DB/BB close to the body throughout the pull.

DB bench/floor/knees/rack /power cleans follow the same plan. Only difference between the clean & Hi-pull is that you do not flip the DB/Bar onto the shoulders with the Hi-pull.

Hang cleans are started by holding the bar/DB crouched and about mid leg height or a little above the knee cap. Depending on the version that is being done. Any version of cleaning is done with dynamic and quick motion.

Cleans and Hi-pulls can build muscle mass, speed and timing. Football players always include some form of these two exercises in their training protocols. Depending how used, can also build an high degree of stamina (endurance + strength). Good Luck.