Well then Beelzebub I guess its time to focus on speeding up your recovery. You might consider taking large doses of Cissus to aid the healing process. Hope you heal quick.

Sorry to hear about the injury.. That's the worst.. And you didn't even have any warning.. Very scary.. Heal-up quickly...

I totally hate the flat bench as well. Never have liked it, never have made it a core excercise because it just tweaks my already tweaked shoulder...and it scares me with no spotter.

After you drop 235 on your chest once, you kinda get gunshy.lol

Good luck on the recovery Beelz. My prayers are with ya bro.

I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you. I hope you recover as quickly as possible

I don't know if this would help you or not since your a PLer, but I was reading something where Jay Cutler said he won't let the bar come closer than 2" from his chest because any lower and that's where most injuries occur.

-Chris

Originally Posted by natedogg

You're fine. There are certain exercises I'd like to do, but don't because I, a) feel uncomfortable doing them or, b) they're too high risk and not worth injuring myself over.

Drew, where does it hurt when you do wide chins?

It seems to be right inbetween the medial and rear delt. It is ok for a set or two then it goes into **** you mods and I am pretty much done after that. That is just with bodyweight, no belt on either. I used to do enormous amounts of chins. I love them, it just hurts to much now.

Sorry to hear the bad news Beelz. Bench Press is where most injuries occur in the gym. Usually tears happen when the muscle is coming from a stretch position (like when someone goes beyond a 90 degree angle with their elbow) Whenever a muscle is in a stretched position it's in it's weakest state, hence the injuries.


If it makes you feel better I don't bother with bench anyomore either. It puts way too much pressure on my shoulder and personally dumbells are better for you anyways. I also really love the horizontal Hammer Strenth Chest press. It puts your hands in more a natural position and it's also iso- lateral for equal stress on both pecs.

Beez that does suck big time and for some reason it always seems to happen when your feeling real good and strong.Luckily I never tore a pec but my front delts feels like someone took a sludgehammer to them..I like flat bench too when im trying to increase over all stregnth but they just hurt too much..Hope you recover soon..

Pec tears suck, i tore both of mine with submaximal weight on the bench. I think that you should have no problem benching again, if you give up on the idea of high rep, full range raw work. A lot of benchers will agree that the raw strength doesnt carry over to the shirt too well cause of groove differences etc. Anyhow when you get better, do your raw work off boards for less reps and wear a DD shirt and work in it every other week and only do full range benches in the shirt. I have felt no strain on my pecs with the low groove of the DD shirt. Anyhow you can bench in due time just train smart and recover.

Damn that sucks - I hope you heal up fast.

I hope you're mentally tougher than me, because I think I'd be psyched out on any heavy flat benches if I was injured by them 3 times.

I'm still psyched out about doing abs and heavy deadlifts after my hernia surgery. Any little twinge and I stop. LoL. But I also cry watching girlie movies, so don't worry about it.

Good luck!

Beelz,

Along with everyone else, I offer my condolences. But I don't think you should give up benching just yet, because I think you have a lot of potential as a PLer. I know at this stage of the game while you're injured it's tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel, however, with your lifts, it's still there. If anything I think you can learn from this and come back stronger. First, I don't think I would ever bench that heavy (355) for 10 reps. That time under tension for the muscle and tendons is brutal and you really don't need it since you're training for a 1 RM. Second, depending on your relative tricep strength, you may actually want to consider bringing your grip in a little bit in case your pecs are genetically predisposed to tearing. The tris can be an extremely powerful force on the bench and even more important than your pec strength. Third, the lower part of the bench is brutal on the shoulders, and while that currently doesn't sound like a problem spot for you, I think you should incorporate some pre-hab RC and scapular exercises into your routine to prevent future injury. Moreover, these make you a lot stronger at the bottom of your lift.

Regardless of what you choose to do, I wish you the best in recovery.

I knew I stopped by this site for some reason... most of the guys I work out with don't do raw lifts with more than 355, for 4-5, and thats as high as they go (even with a 640lb bench). My suggestion to you would be to stop doing such damned heavy raw lifts, cram your ass into a fairly snug fury or f6 if your elbows are properly tucked, a karen's xtreme if you wanna get freaky, or a ragex if your form is weaksauce, and work up with that. You could even get a slightly looser "training" shirt, that will lighten the load at the bottom a good amount, prevent you from injuring yourself, and also help teach you proper form.

We have the shirts for a reason home slice

for me anyway. another pec injury tonight. with my good pec. i don't understand it at all. there was no warning sign, not even a hint. i had been climbing by 10lbs each week using progressive overload. nothing crazy, was supposed to hit 355 x 10, and at the bottom of 8, i could feel something separate in my upper right pec. i had a good arch, feet tucked, elbows tucked, etc. so ****ing frustrating. this is the 3rd goddamn time that flat bench has screwed me over. it's the only exercise i've ever been injured on. i'm done with it. ain't worth it anymore. if i compete, it'll have to be in deads or squats and that's it. i think some guys just aren't made for flat bench, and i am one of them.

Ah Beelze, that sucks bro. Ice that baby down and get better soon

Bv

Originally Posted by exnihilo

I knew I stopped by this site for some reason... most of the guys I work out with don't do raw lifts with more than 355, for 4-5, and thats as high as they go (even with a 640lb bench). My suggestion to you would be to stop doing such damned heavy raw lifts, cram your ass into a fairly snug fury or f6 if your elbows are properly tucked, a karen's xtreme if you wanna get freaky, or a ragex if your form is weaksauce, and work up with that. You could even get a slightly looser "training" shirt, that will lighten the load at the bottom a good amount, prevent you from injuring yourself, and also help teach you proper form.

We have the shirts for a reason home slice

there's the man i was hoping would say something.
ok, first off, it's been 24 hours and there's no bruising so it must be just a pull....again. so, nothing too serious but just another notch on the 'oh ****' belt. as a few of you have suggested and with good reason, i will immediately stop going heavier than 315 raw on flat. ex, i have a double rage-x 52 ready to roll but i was just waiting to hit 405 raw for a few before throwing it on. apparently, that was stupid and i'm taking your advice to heart. i had a bencher examine my form and he said it's golden. i must say that i've got that arch and elbows in down to a science, lol. damn near turn it into a decline i'm thinking that double rage-x ain't the best shirt for me right now so i'm gonna hold on to it for later and maybe get a single ply something for the time being until i get used to it and more comfortable with bigger numbers, maybe just a single ply rage (no x). although, i've heard good things about fury and F6 also. which do you recommend for arched benchers (single ply)?

Originally Posted by kelsey

well heres his thread,
he is a member of W-side and a while back he tore his pec.
you can read his recovery and rehab.
http://www.midwestbarbell.com/totale...showtopic=1244

or just email (off his site)or call louie simmons (614) 801-2060 ask him anything. I have a few different times,
VERY willing to answer any questions or give advice, nice guy

thanks for that kelsey. lol, i can't imagine calling louie up. "yo, it's beez, wtf is up with my bench?"

thanks all for the comments and support, means a lot. although i'm pissed, i already know i'll be back on flat again. when it comes right down to it, i'll never be satisifed unless i'm lifting heavy weight, on any lift. like a moth to a flame, i must return to flat bench

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

thanks all for the comments and support, means a lot. although i'm pissed, i already know i'll be back on flat again. when it comes right down to it, i'll never be satisifed unless i'm lifting heavy weight, on any lift. like a moth to a flame, i must return to flat bench

Yeah, that 145x14 on DB's is pretty ridiculous. I will never outgrow dumbells; but you already have. Unless you just focus on "pump" training

I'm guessing you'll have to get back on the bar. Unless you can track down a gym with some 200+lb. dumbells.

lol, funny you mention that. talked to the gym owner into getting 155's, 175's, and 205's, should be arriving in 2 weeks. and because a lot of **** talk goes on in the boards, i've got a vid of the 145's on MMI. beez don't lie

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

lol, funny you mention that. talked to the gym owner into getting 155's, 175's, and 205's, should be arriving in 2 weeks. and because a lot of **** talk goes on in the boards, i've got a vid of the 145's on MMI. beez don't lie

Must be nice. Some of the members at my gym went as far as sending a petition around to get bigger DBs and the owner didn't buy any.

the owner is a former PL'er (bench only) so he sympathizes. it's not a commercialized gym by any means, i imagine those would be much worse to convince or persuade. it helps having a national competitive bb'er there too, who the gym sponsors. he's talking about getting a monolift in the near future

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

there's the man i was hoping would say something.
ok, first off, it's been 24 hours and there's no bruising so it must be just a pull....again. so, nothing too serious but just another notch on the 'oh ****' belt. as a few of you have suggested and with good reason, i will immediately stop going heavier than 315 raw on flat. ex, i have a double rage-x 52 ready to roll but i was just waiting to hit 405 raw for a few before throwing it on. apparently, that was stupid and i'm taking your advice to heart. i had a bencher examine my form and he said it's golden. i must say that i've got that arch and elbows in down to a science, lol. damn near turn it into a decline i'm thinking that double rage-x ain't the best shirt for me right now so i'm gonna hold on to it for later and maybe get a single ply something for the time being until i get used to it and more comfortable with bigger numbers, maybe just a single ply rage (no x). although, i've heard good things about fury and F6 also. which do you recommend for arched benchers (single ply)?

Since you tuck your elbows and have a good arch (supposedly ) I would suggest you get a F6. As for sizing, when I was hossed out, I wore a 56 and I could JUST BARELY get it on myself, but I needed someone to help adjust the seams and what not. Depending on how big your arms and chest are (the arms were the really tight thing for me) you should go probably 54, unless your arms are >20" then you should get a 56.

Heck, I will probably never use my 56 fury again, if you're interested I could cut you a good deal on it man. Otherwise go with www.plgearonline, they're fast and the service is good. Definately go single ply as a snug fitting dual ply F6 or fury can take >600lbs to touch.

20 1/4" (chest ain't 56 though, more like 53)

i'm interested

just looking for a little help off the bottom (the danger area)

Hey when do you guys recommend getting into a benching shirt? (like around what max?)

o and btw whats a monolift?

before i would have suggested a 405 raw max. but like they said, unless you compete raw, it's a waste of time and effort. now, i'd say 315 raw, then try a shirt. ex is definately more qualified to answer this though.

a monolift is what is used in competition for squats. no walkout is required. you get under the weight, stand up, the hooks move and you squat right where you stand.

o yea I have seen those just didn't know the name.... Also if you don't mind me hijacking the thread how about wraps for your knees?

Originally Posted by Beelzebub

20 1/4" (chest ain't 56 though, more like 53)

i'm interested

just looking for a little help off the bottom (the danger area)

Yeah, the tricky thing about the fury is that unlike most inzer shirts, if you are loose on the bench and your form is bad you will get **** out of it... But if you are tight on the bench and you keep your arch and bring your arms down with elbows in, it rocks. One thing I've noticed about the inzer shirts I've tried is that they start to pull tight at the top of the bench so the weight feels lighter in your hands, whereas the fury feels heavy in your hands and you need to have the strength to stabilize it near lockout, but the shirt kicks in like a mofo about halfway down the lift.

Do you still have my email address holmes? we can work something out. You need a wide belt when you use the fury too, because you need to pull the front of the shirt WAY down then cinch it in place in order to get the full effect out of it, if you have a narrow (bb style) belt the shirt tends to slide out. The fury isn't the easiest shirt but I'll be happy to help you squeeze it dry man. Just be thankful you're not trying to learn a Karin's Denim, those things are ridiculously hard to use.

Originally Posted by dunimous

Hey when do you guys recommend getting into a benching shirt? (like around what max?)

o and btw whats a monolift?

My group has several 600+ benchers, we usually work up to 355 raw for no more than 4 reps (depending on the lifter) then shirt up, and go up to 405 with 4 boards, and increase weight while decreasing the number of boards, until either a 2 board or full range lift, depending on what we're trying to do.

dunimous......what about wraps? yeah, i use em on my last set of squats.

anyhoo, ex, i haven't even used a shirt yet or put one on for that matter. i was just waiting for the raw strength to peak again, then add it but **** didn't work out. but i definately think starting with a double rage-x is a bad idea. most can't even touch with anything less than 600. would you agree? as for a belt, i have the 13mm lever belt from inzer, and that mofo is tight, have bruises the next day. i've got your email somewhere in my account. incoming

friggin 2 and 4 boards, still haven't gotten those yet.

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