Why can't I lift that much??

Question

I weigh 135lbs and I'm 5'9. I can't lift that much...I'm weak. I don't know how much my bar weighs....it's not that thick..but it's kinda long. Anyways, the weights I have on the bar are 25lbs on each side, and 10lbs on each side..that's 70lbs.....so if the bar weighed 45lbs that would be 115lbs in all...which still isn't that much.

Also, sometimes when I'm about to lift the bar off the bench the right side comes up but the left doesn't....the bar is plain, so it doesn't have anything on it to make my hands even with one another. Should I get a new bar??

Answer 1

well, if u havent lifted before or have taken a layoff from lifting ur obviously going to be weaker than some people. getting stronger is a progressive thing. work out hard, feed your body, rest and recover and when u are ready to lift again...u lift again being a bit stronger than the last time.

also look at the proportions of ur body. ur 5'9 so ur kinda tall. some people (taller ones) have a problem with bench press not so much because of the wieght, but that their arms are a little longer than a shorter guy. which means a longer distance for the weight to travel up and down. ive known a few guys who's arm length made it very difficult for them to really put on a lot of poundage on the bench press. (in the same instance, it might be more difficult for a taller guy to do full squats all the way down also)

maybe bench press isnt ur best lift for whatever reason. possibly u can lift a lot when ur doing dumbbell curls but something like bench press is tuff for u. it happens.

also check ur form on the bench press. sometimes people keep their elbows into close to their body while doing the movement. this positon puts more emphasis on the triceps muscle (a smaller muscle) as opposed to the chest. if ur triceps get tired before your chest does, u wont be able to do much work on bench press or any other pushing movement.

Answer 2

If it is an olympic standard bar it is 45 lbs.

It's ok to start small weights as long as you are progressing. Progress on your bench should be small, about 5 lbs whenever you feel that you can add more weight.

If you are not progresing that much, it is: you are not eating enough, not resting enough, or both. If you are stuck at that weight, I suggest doing a weight 10-20 lbs lighter than the weight that you have now and build it back up again(this applies to all exercises, not just bench).

Answer 3

The bar probably weighs more like 10 or 15 pounds, but anyway. Just keep doing reps with what feels comfortable and after a while you will be able to do more and more and increase the weight. It is a progressive thing, don't expect to get buff in a couple weeks!

Answer 4

Well, at mt school, we have 45 lb. bars that are nice and big. At home, I have a crappy 25 lb. bar. A bigger bar would most likely make it easier because the weight is distributed more. I can bench 50 lbs. more using my school's bar. So I'd say yes get a new bar and keep working at it.