My Progress? - Bodybuilding Discussion on Bodybuilding.net Training Forum

venomousbird · 05-03-2007, 09:28 PM

ok, I'm wondering about something here. . . most of the references I see on this site refer to the idea of actually bulking up. I weight 165 pounds, and although I wouldn't mind building some muscle mass, I really don't want to go over 180 at any point. My legs are pretty strong for my weight, I'm doing legpresses at 400 pounds for three sets of 8 reps. I'm satisfied with my abdominal strength too, doing a lot of bicycle and raised leg crunches is easy enough. However, on the bench press I'm lucky to get 3 sets done at 145 pounds, and I'm having similarly poor results for shoulder presses.

I'm just wondering what kind of results I should be going for to match the strength of my arms with the strength of my legs. I feel that if I were to get to the point where my upper and lower body strength were about proportionate, I would be satisfied with that level of strength, and then I would focus more on my endurance and doing more reps to get more solid. Anyone have any idea what level of arm exercises I should be doing to balance myself out? Right now when I walk carrying groceries or something, I feel like a weak man riding on a strong horse, if that makes any sense!

Skeetopunk01 · 05-03-2007, 11:14 PM

Check out the DFT 5x5 program....its pinned. It's worked wonders for me. I promise you will not be dissapointed. If your diet is in check you will have impressive gains.

Scorcher2005 · 05-04-2007, 08:47 AM

Leg press strength isnt a good indication of real leg strength. I can press 600 for 5 reps on the press, but I'm squating under 200lbs for 5 reps. Honestly, do the 5x5 and once you reach your goals, stop raising the weight you lift and just maintain. Although I know once you reach your goals you will want more...

widdoes2504 · 05-04-2007, 09:05 AM

The 5x5 program with particular emphasis on the big 3 (squat, deads and bench) will strengthen your whole body and get you where you want to go.

venomousbird · 05-04-2007, 07:27 PM

thanks, I get a gym pass next week, so I'm going to have to take a serious look into that routine and try to understand it better so I can put it into action

this site is a good resource, people really seem to know what they're talking about a lot more than most of the athletic forums I've found on the net
it amazes me how you guys actually take the time to explain things to rookies too

05-03-2007, 09:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
venomousbird Rank: New Member Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC! Posts: 33 Gender:	My Progress? ok, I'm wondering about something here. . . most of the references I see on this site refer to the idea of actually bulking up. I weight 165 pounds, and although I wouldn't mind building some muscle mass, I really don't want to go over 180 at any point. My legs are pretty strong for my weight, I'm doing legpresses at 400 pounds for three sets of 8 reps. I'm satisfied with my abdominal strength too, doing a lot of bicycle and raised leg crunches is easy enough. However, on the bench press I'm lucky to get 3 sets done at 145 pounds, and I'm having similarly poor results for shoulder presses. I'm just wondering what kind of results I should be going for to match the strength of my arms with the strength of my legs. I feel that if I were to get to the point where my upper and lower body strength were about proportionate, I would be satisfied with that level of strength, and then I would focus more on my endurance and doing more reps to get more solid. Anyone have any idea what level of arm exercises I should be doing to balance myself out? Right now when I walk carrying groceries or something, I feel like a weak man riding on a strong horse, if that makes any sense!

05-03-2007, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Skeetopunk01 Rank: New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Danville. CA Posts: 21 Country:	Check out the DFT 5x5 program....its pinned. It's worked wonders for me. I promise you will not be dissapointed. If your diet is in check you will have impressive gains.
	Skeetopunk01's Sig:ASG squat max: 435lbs Bench: 300lbs Current Weight: 193lbs BF% 9.5 Age: 25 Height: 5'9

05-04-2007, 09:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
widdoes2504 Rank: Lightweight Experience: 10+ Years Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 1,216 Country: Gender:	The 5x5 program with particular emphasis on the big 3 (squat, deads and bench) will strengthen your whole body and get you where you want to go.
	widdoes2504's Sig:Height: 6 foot Weight: 240 pounds Bench: 415 (1x1) Deads: 565 (1x1) A2G Squat: 425 (1x1) Cardio sucks

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05-04-2007, 08:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Scorcher2005 Rank: Member Experience: 2-3 Years Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 490 Country: Gender:	Leg press strength isnt a good indication of real leg strength. I can press 600 for 5 reps on the press, but I'm squating under 200lbs for 5 reps. Honestly, do the 5x5 and once you reach your goals, stop raising the weight you lift and just maintain. Although I know once you reach your goals you will want more...

05-04-2007, 07:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
venomousbird Rank: New Member Experience: > 1 Year Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC! Posts: 33 Gender:	thanks, I get a gym pass next week, so I'm going to have to take a serious look into that routine and try to understand it better so I can put it into action this site is a good resource, people really seem to know what they're talking about a lot more than most of the athletic forums I've found on the net it amazes me how you guys actually take the time to explain things to rookies too

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