First Heavy Bench Press Session since hitting 160kg last week

[@Reidy82]

My new years thing is to improve physically in strength and fitness. Now 42 I'm feeling really weak and I'm fed up with feeling this way. Started with a basic bench and weights I've had in the shed for years. Just added more weights to it and sitting a 85kg x 3. The benefits will come I know and already feeling better for it.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Absolutely will get the benefits. Congrats on 85kg for 3 👍

[@Reidy82]

@@barrythomsonlifts Cheers. Hoping to get to 100kg soon enough 👍

[@blondviking6064]

Have a nice weekend Barry and have som rest! Impressive training as always!

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers dude 👍

[@clearthinker9507]

Hi Barry from Rob in Adelaide. I hope you had a great Christmas with your family and lets make the New Year one to remember hey mate. All the best to you and yours and keep the videos coming for sure. You are looking strong as ever. Cheers big ears.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers Rob. Hoping you're having a great end to 2024

[@bantakingbantaking4298]

10 reps on 120kg is impressive bro!some people steroids can't even do that your strength and endrance are going through the roof

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers dude 👍

[@craiggaskill3048]

Impressive as always mate. The strongest natural I have ever seen mate. You are a machine. Never ever witnessed anything like it and been in various gyms over the last 30 years unless they are on the roids. Speechless mate.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

@@craiggaskill3048 cheers Craig

[@staceyd72]

I said 15 and when I seen the pace you did 1-5 In knew you would get it. Great work man. Lifter here in Canada, also in a garage but with some heat. Love your uploads, great motivation for us all older lifters.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers Stacey. Hope all is good with you.

[@user-cp2qw2ek5e]

Have you got a bench press “slingshot”? Theres some on ebay etc , pretty cheap and allows a bit of help when benching (to be used occasionally unless injured)….. bit like having a spotter. Great for when you want to try a bit extra with some help

[@barrythomsonlifts]

No slingshot. A few people have mentioned it.

[@user-cp2qw2ek5e]

@ they are not expensive (unofficial versions are cheap) and adds a bit of variety to benching without taking up any space in the gym 👊

[@barrythomsonlifts]

@user-cp2qw2ek5e will into them

[@AI1983-r1k]

💪

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers

[@FunwithusTV]

i said 12 :-) have a great new year mate

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Close :)

[@John-sv4jb]

Strongly advise getting a spotter. If for whatever reason you sprained something and can't get it lifted that's 25 stone of dead weight to deal with. I like that you're weight training anyway

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Got spotter arms on rack

[@John-sv4jb]

@@barrythomsonlifts spotter human being to pull that up if the worst happens. Or by the least a power rack with natural metal spotters around the sides which go much lower (chest level) this is very very dangerous

[@garagegymbros2198]

What I have experienced is that when you achieve PRs in a heavy phase with few reps and heavy weight, this also produces results in the higher rep ranges. I'm curious what you can do as a repout at 90kg, when I achieved my PR with 152.5kg I could still do 10x120kg and 25x90kg. Maybe for fun during the next training.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Probably similar to you.

[@JasonSpratt]

I guessed 12 for the 100kg,you made 15 look easy,still had the power and endurance to rest that last rep,press it like it was 60kg,machine barry 👍

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Cheers Jason. Next time guess 15 :)

[@Hatchinator]

Very impressive my friend! You’ve inspired me to give it my best in 2025 I’m 33yrs old and was feeling like I won’t be able to get strong but you’ve given me hope after watching your vids! How old are you if you don’t mind me asking 37-38?

[@andrewjohn7800]

add on 10 years - he was 46 in his intro video from last year

[@Hatchinator]

Wow that’s incredible! Looks great! Very inspiring can’t wait to get back to it!

[@barrythomsonlifts]

I'm 47 years old

[@korvstopparen]

My m8 got a pr last month at 54 years of age, 100 kg. You are in your prime right now

[@barrythomsonlifts]

@korvstopparen Prime is 28-30 mate. I'm still lifting heavy at 47 so happy days

[@d10toesdownwinson29]

On your road to 160kg how often was you training chest

[@barrythomsonlifts]

3 times every 8 days

[@WesleySissons]

Great session today it would be interesting if you didn’t do the ten reps at 120 when you were going up and saved it for when you came down from your top weight I’m guessing 12-14 reps keep killing it cheers

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Wanted the 10 reps at 120kg. Not interested in 1,2 even 3s at mo to grow bench

[@FrankDangerfield-g1r]

i always get my reps in first then try a couple of doubles or a single sounds backwards but definitely worked for me

[@leewalsh3520]

Jesus Barry have a day off and treat yourself to a beer mate you've got the 160. 😂

[@barrythomsonlifts]

I do have days off mate

[@tonyduff-forbes5748]

Curious about the psychology of performing your training in front of a virtual audience, is it motivating? sort of like having training friends in there with you? would you say it has helped? you are very good at talking to your virtual audience just as if you had us there visiting your gym.

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Yer. I've been a trainer for years and worked in gyms so 2nd nature

[@seanashworth6750]

If 160 was was a new PB last week.. Why are you jumping in at 80% on your first week? Surely having a deload, and then some sort of linear periodization will yield far greater results. Week 1, 65% sets of 12/15 Week 2, 70% sets of 10 Week 3, 75% sets of 8 Week 4, 80% sets of 6 Etc. I mean that's a pretty basic outline, but pretty much every top strength athlete follows some can of progression programme in which they peak for their 1RM

[@barrythomsonlifts]

I'm training in my garage. Its Xmas and I'm enjoying working out. I'm not working to specific %s of 1RM

[@sergechelton4818]

awesome lifting,but dont let content be your down fall,time out mate...

[@barrythomsonlifts]

Yep agree