Video from this morning's session... critiques welcome, as always. That's 3 reps at 100 lb.
I still feel like a bench press beginner, but after completing the first 4 weeks of bench pressing on this Plan Strong plan, I'm already feeling a lot of progress in a number of ways:
I still feel like a bench press beginner, but after completing the first 4 weeks of bench pressing on this Plan Strong plan, I'm already feeling a lot of progress in a number of ways:
- I can feel both the back arch and the lateral arch (between the shoulders)
- My back doesn't freak out when I arch it. When I first started getting in this position on the bench it would be all tightened up to where I had a hard time even getting up from the bench. Now I can tense it and relax it a lot more readily. I guess it's just a new motor pattern I had to learn.
- The press feels stronger and more controlled
- I'm able to bring the parts together - legs, glutes, abs, lats all tight; tight grip, lower to the right place on my chest, control the bar, etc.
- My ribcage feels like it sits differently in my body, with what feels like a backwards lean relative to what it used to be; in other words, with my back in a very slight arch at all times. This makes standing, walking, and breathing feel more natural.
- My nighttime acid reflux has disappeared in the last few weeks. Could this possibly be related?? I have no idea, but it's something I've had for years, so I'm delighted if this trend continues.