Just out of interest for anybody that cares.
I'm 6 4" with long arms. When I first began weight training at 19 yrs I remember trying to incline with just an Olympic bar and on the first rep almost dropping it because it was too heavy - I was exceedingly unathletic as I was growing up. My arms were around 12/13 inches at the time.
After 1 year of training I was able to bench around 225 pounds for a few reps. After two years I was routinely able to bench 225 for sets of 15-20 reps.
After 5-6 years of natural training I was able to bench 300 for 6-8 unassisted reps.
Then I did a few - and I stress a few very moderate cycles and my bench went to 350 for 10 reps (totally unassisted). I could also bench 225 for 40-50 reps and 300 for 15-20 reps.
However when I tried to bench 405 I failed completely on the first rep and never tried benching heavier than that since.
After a lot of years off training I am now back in the gym (started again earlier this year - I'm 37 now and been training for the last 5 months). I have just in the last two weeks managed to put up 225 for a set of 4 (last week) and this week managed 5 reps with 225. Have not used gear in 7 years and have not trained prior to this year for 4 years.
225 feels solid, not exactly heavy but when it comes to the 4th or 5th rep I just can't push it up anymore. progress is slow but I'm starting to get my old shape back minus a hell of alot of muscle. But in my old age I appreciate just being able t olift again (so far injury free) and am loving it, love the challenge, love getting the pump, and now starting to really appreciate the cardio I'm doing too - after 10 or so minutes on the treadmill I start to egt that real endorphine rush. Anyways - enough of me.
