How Much Should The Average Man Bench?

[@mitchellhooperstrongman]

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[@konstantinkalashnikov8123]

No averege untrained man alive who can bench 225

[@BenHall-ku5ov]

I’ve found this question interesting as it was flavored by the historical artifacts and technical approaches of performing a bench press. By bodybuilding pioneers, and body builders IMHO is not an average men. I would prefer a question which examine how long can an average man hold their body weight in a plank

[@pound4pound380]

​@konstantinkalashnikov8123 I 100% agree. When they said average man I wasn't sure what they meant by that. Did they mean a guy who works out every day but is average or literally the average man who doesn't exercise. The average man who doesn't resist train with weights shouldn't even lift 225 bench press. 225 bench press isn't much but you have to work up to that. I remember finally getting to a 225 pound bench press and it took a month to work up to that level. and size does not matter. I've seen guys 300 pounds get stuck trying 225 pounds. Your pecs have to be trained to do it. Alot of people think big guys are strong and they fail to realize it just in wrestling only due to their leverage. A guy 150 lbs can out bench a 300 lbs man and I've seen it all the time. I remember being happy to max 225 and remember it being a piece of cake reping it 10 times and once I got to repping 265 10 times 225 became a warm up press and it feels extremely light but that takes training and I was just a regular bencher compared to alot of guys that have built up alot od strength

[@C.S1954]

Just depends on what kind of shape you’re in. I’m 70yrs old and I weigh 165lbs. I bench press 200lbs with no problem.

[@the318pop]

​@@pound4pound380no

[@anthonyhulse1248]

64 year old. 4 years after a tough cancer journey. 225 for 3 reps. It was work to get there. But I did.

[@heavymetal1ization]

and that's what i'm talking about man, very well done. Still giving it your best through tough times, hope you're healthy again now and still pushing

[@drae6984]

Good Job!

[@michellesanders9619]

Glad you survived that cancer, and congrats on a single of 185..

[@ThanksYep]

65 year old here. 3 years after a really tough cancer journey. 235 for 4 reps. It was a lot of work to get there. But I did it. I am very badass

[@petemurphy7164]

Respect

[@Acheron666]

I once had a dream where I was benching two Abrams tanks. So my bench press record is 290,000 lbs.

[@AutisticChimp42]

dang bro, i had a dream one time that i ran like a dog...

[@michellesanders9619]

Marry me! 😍

[@brettcleveland6335]

Bench shirt or raw in your dream? Be honest.

[@rpb8256]

That's just your dumbbell press by the sound of it 😂 Can't even imagine your bench

[@Acheron666]

@@rpb8256 Nah, I use 30kg dumbbells for my dumbbell press 😂😂

[@jopanet]

Id be shocked to see the average man bench 135. The average man doesnt go to the gym

[@SolareofAstora]

idk im 5'4 150lbs and when i got my bench my first try was a struggling 150 and i was fairly drunk.lol. maybe real skinny guys would bench less tho

[@jimmyp7928]

Also balancing a 2.2 metre barbell can be tricky if you've never one before so 135 would be a decent weight.

[@foldinghomealone]

Yeah, but it says "should". Just because average, normal men are sitting 15hrs a day, and sleeping 7hrs a day doesn't mean that their physical strength is good or as it should be

[@michaelrabich9635]

My favorite ever gym memory was the first time I benched 135 at age 17, this what got me to love lifting. By the time I hit 225 6 years later I knew I'm not a particularly good at benching, never hit 315

[@jopanet]

@@michaelrabich9635 thats great youre way above average

[@droppinadeuce218]

Started with a little history lesson, gave a baseline, polled the public, gave an informed opinion, closed off with a cool relatable piece of information with the jellybean study. Well done, liked and subbed

[@PainCheeZe]

My answer would have been: The average untrained or severely deconditioned adult male should be able to bench 50% of their body weight and the relatively well-trained adult male should be able to bench 100% of their body weight.

[@faithdriven11]

Spot on with this answer because it’s not apples to apples across the board this helps to put it closer within ones reality based on their physique and size. This is why there’s weight classes after all. It wasn’t just a silly novelty.

[@wendull811]

I was thinking more like 70% of their weight would be for the average person. But after reading your 50% I think that would be more accurate. Looking at myself, I have not lifted in over 15 years. I am 180 lbs and would consider to be average strength. My 50% would be 90lbs which I could do as a one max rep no problem. However 126lbs is my 70% and I feel that would be more closer to my one rep max.

[@cwmoreash]

Great answer honestly.

[@ProdJasonRich]

Perfectly said

[@RhinoViper]

Yeah, i had it at 85% and 115%....I think below those numbers and you are talking not only someone that doesn't train but also does nothing physical during the day...those people "should" be doing more than sitting on their ass all day. Now, your answer may be closer to what is true but that's only because people are soft as F anymore and rarely do anything physical...not just talking working out...but nothing at all physical. Those people shouldn't really be a standard for anything good.

[@ssuba]

Do those gymgoers understand who the "average" man is 😂

[@bucko3353]

should and could are 2 very different words. Mitch asked should, not could. the average man, 5'9" 170lbs semi-fat, should be able to bench at least 150. also consider that the average man is actually quite old, since we have an aging population, so a better question might be the average man between 18-50. there are basically more 60-80 year olds than other demographics, and they get included in the stats which greatly skews them to make the average man look much weaker than what they would be if that age range was cut off.

[@heavymetal1ization]

The average guy could probably bench half their bodyweight but I think benching your bodyweight is something every man should train to be able to do. In terms of raw numbers, every guy should be able to train casually and be able to bench 225 within a couple of years of training imo.

[@edrianluyt8735]

@@bucko3353 I don't know 150 pounds (70 kg = 2x25kg plates +20kg bar) sounds a bit heave for the average gym going man. I've been going to the gym for about 2 years. weighs around 100kg (220 pounds) can do a pull up. and that is the weight I do for my normal bench press (3 x 10 sets). I'm 50 so I'm by no means a strong man, but I do not think that the average man can bench as much. I have rarely seen a beginner that can bench around that weight.

[@bucko3353]

@edrianluyt8735 again, the difference between should and could. The average man could not bench 150lbs, however the average man should be able to. Also notice you didn't give your 1 rep Max but you instead said you do thay weight for 3 sets of 10, your 1 rep max would be well above 150lbs if you can do 3 sets of 10 of that weight. You are also at the high end of what I consider as a better age range for the average man (18-50 rather than 18-90+), yet you can still bench that weight. If the average man cared enough about his health to just go to the gym casually 2-3 times a week with casual sessions then he should be able to bench 150lbs for a 1 rep max. I have only been lifting weights for about 6 months, before that I did boxing, my first 1 rep max for bench was about 180lbs, my absolute 1 rep max is 220lbs (almost at 225, hopefully soon), I am 6 foot, 24 years, 185lbs, and I still do mostly boxing and only casually lift a few times a week to condition my body for boxing, yet I achieved a 220lbs bench, no supplements or dieting or perfect routine, just casual lifting for half a year. Lifting is just an auxiliary for my boxing. Again, I would like to reiterate, consider the difference between "should" and "could" before responding, if you do. The average man cannot bench 150lbs but the average man should be able to bench 150lbs.

[@pedromelendez9487]

The average man could bench their body weight with a bit of training, 225 is realistic for everyone that isn’t extremely old or has any conditions if they train bench regularly

[@XxXTMillzXxX]

All men should be able to bench half their body weight and a good target is being able to bench their full body weight.

[@autoimmune-barbell]

I think every healthy man should be able to bench their body weight.

[@thetrashmaster1352]

A push up is around 50-75% body weight so I'd say the target for a beginner bench press should be 62.5% with the end goal being 100% body weight.

[@vvk]

Sounds reasonable. You should target a number linked to your own bodyweight not some absolute number. Otherwise a 50kg man and 100kg man would target the same number which is IMHO nonsense

[@stoempert]

​​@@vvkUh, bench your body weight is linked to your weight...

[@DarkAbyss9]

Half their bodyweight? That's very very very light for the majority of men. That's not even 150lbs for most men

[@CoachZed]

I have to agree with your closing thoughts, that a deconditioned starter should be in the 75-90lb mark; and that with reasonable training 135-150 shouldn't be too farfetched. I'd say 135 is a great goal for people just starting out, and 225 is a great goal for people who have achieved 135 and want to keep progressing their training

[@MIDNightPT4]

🎯

[@donaldkasper8346]

185 for maintaining fitness is high enough.

[@zerrodefex]

Of course a bunch of gym guys would think 225 is "average", statistics would put that in the top 5% of men worldwide.

[@icecold3426]

not true 5 out of 100 average men cant bench 100 kg. id say 5 % maybe lift but not that much

[@MrMalditor]

I honestly used to think hitting 225 was something that would be unobtainable. These days I'm pretty sure pretty much any healthy guy that wants to actually put in the work to train could get there.

[@joemama226]

I feel like less than 5

[@randomcrashingfacility31]

@@MrMalditor yep but many don't put in the work

[@halfnattyboomer354]

​@@MrMalditor Average guys potential is well above 225. Average guys actual bench is wayyyyyyyyyyyy below 225. Untrained people seriously underestimate how uncoordinated and wonky they will be the first time they try bench pressing.

[@ChrisRavage]

I don’t think people actually know how heavy 225 is 😂.

[@pinksupremacy6076]

It's not heavy🤣 I mean, anyone should be able to get there within six months of training.

[@AhmedBATTLEFIELD]

@@pinksupremacy6076 six months ? hell nah

[@trampoline2000]

​@@pinksupremacy6076You are just begging someone to argue with you.

[@Wavinto]

​@@trampoline2000Ragebait

[@JigsawLV]

​@@AhmedBATTLEFIELD got there in 5 months lol

[@thatguyzacguy]

Was finally able to hit 185lb as a 1-rep max the other day. Excited to keep pushing!

[@enderblaze9491]

Awesome!

[@rolandfisher]

Nice! Get it!

[@Lonewolf68149]

🙌🏾🙌🏾💪🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@themediaisnotyourfriend1124]

Good stuff bro kept going. I seen a kid that was at 135 for 4 an now 185 for 2. Put in the hard work

[@matt3273]

Congratulations

[@858Markus]

I am 40 years old. From what I have seen, 135 pounds or under is realistic. I have trained in the past. Came back to the gym after five years. Struggled to bench 135 (60KG) for 12 reps and got to 222 (110KG) 4 reps after 6 reps 202 (100KG) after just two months of training 3x a week . 250 pounds is my current one rep max. I go with the classic 12-10-8-6 reps system. I have seen people to struggle with 100 pounds after going to the gym for half a year. It is highly individual. Body type, mental state... The best thing is to have a training partner if you lack confidence, and or are scared to go above your comfort weight.

[@yourmotherlovesit]

Sounds exactly like my story, 40 with 5 years off. flat bench is 3x10 @90kg and one rep max is 120kg last I checked

[@donaldkasper8346]

You lose 2 reps per additional 10 lbs so you always know what your one rep max is.

[@wonkytwit]

55 y/o. Have not been to a gym in 35 years. Went back a month ago and struggled to get 165 for 6 reps. Been working out 3 days a week for the last month and am up to 225 for 4 reps. I’m 6’ and 200 lbs. a buddy of mine is 6’3’ 280-300 lbs and can’t get past 135 for more than 5 reps. My point being, it has more to do with the individual and their physiology than one might think.

[@anton6795]

People claiming that the average man should bench at least 225 doesn't know that the average man is an east Asian 35 yo man with a low income that's never been to a gym and weighs about 147 lbs.

[@foldinghomealone]

Your statement lacks context in regards to where the questions were asked and that the answers will reflect that (US, and in a gym). Even more, the question was how much "should" the average male be able to bench, not how much "would" they be able to bench. And the answers from US gymgoers will be higher as gymgoers most probably think that an average male should press a certain weight. When you will ask endurance runner coaches, their answers will be probably be much lower, because they will think that physical strenght is not as important as for lifters/gymgoers.

[@Leon-il2en]

@@foldinghomealone yes 80kg bench I would say is a must otherwise your weak

[@adamingerman1139]

@@foldinghomealone The statement doesn't lack context, but you're right that the people asked assumed it (which means they didn't answer correctly)

[@foldinghomealone]

@@adamingerman1139 No, they are not wrong. Their expectation what someone should bench is just different, in this case probably higher than the average. Everyone has expectations what is good and what is bad. So take math teachers. They have an expectation about what the average person should! know about math. But this expectation differs if you ask math professors and differs very much if you ask English teachers about what math knowledge an average person should have. The extremes of a certain group might be wrong, but the average of a group is not.

[@vasisphu3239]

Average man is not east asian....BTW why the dig on east Asians...I am east Asians and I can bench 225 for 10 reps....almost all of the Olympics weightlifting champions is east Asian particularly from china....

[@vayllinn994]

hahaha the fucking "2x bodyweight" guy had me rolling

[@petemurphy7164]

Yeah, I loved that too... 😂

[@alphasaiyan5760]

What you can’t bench 2x your bodyweight ?

[@joemama226]

He said you should “have” to do 2x Bodyweight??? Wtf that’s a life goal

[@thetowndrunk988]

Not as much as the guy that said 405. Like WTF

[@alphasaiyan5760]

@@thetowndrunk988 lol if I had to bench twice my bodyweight I’d be benching 500 lbs. i had a 4 year layoff from benching due to a shoulder injury. Partly because I was scared I’d reinjure it. I’ve recently gotten back into benching and right now my one rep max is 275 lbs. at 245 lbs bodyweight. That imo is weak. The last time I was benching 315 for reps. 4-5 reps. I got hurt before I maxed out so I don’t know what I was maxing at that time. According to an online bench press calculator I should’ve been at 350-360 max. That was when I was at 215lbs bodyweight. So I was stronger back then. I was 39 I’m 43 now so we’ll see if I can get back to that injury free 👍🏼

[@Mankyweb]

I dont think people realise what average is. The average man would be lucky to bench press 135 lbs.

[@Musicman-y7v]

The average man today can hold a cellphone all day without putting it down. They at least have the endurance to do that.😂😂😂😂😂 And in the United States,the average age of a man is around 34.

[@bleepbloop7039]

@@Musicman-y7v holding a cellphone to your head all day is actually hard as hell, I can bench 195 for 3 sets of 8 yet I get doms from holding a phone to my head for too long lol

[@rainblue8005]

you confuse endurance with power

[@trogdortheburninator8149]

Sadly, I think you are correct.

[@trogdortheburninator8149]

@@Musicman-y7vand sometimes, they know their gender 😂

[@paysour3]

I'm 67 now getting two reps at 225. I can go higher but I'm a little afraid to rush it at my age. Two years ago I was at 135. I'm now doing isolation of the muscles involved with the bench press. Strengthening my rotary cuff, deltoids, triceps, and connective tissue. I'm planning on adding negative reps and isometrics this winter. In the spring I'll start with push-ups dominating my time. My goal is not to go much higher than 225 but to be able to do eight reps.

[@MorkulaMuussi]

You are an inspiration! And also stronger than me at 17 years old.

[@qthomm2923]

Dang pretty impressive

[@paysour3]

@@qthomm2923 I really do feel unique but I'm also saddened how time diminishes us. Aging has all the symptoms of a disease. Exercise certainly has a medicinal effect on the progression of the disease.

[@cl8931]

Had a major stroke 2 years ago, total paralysis, loss of speech, followed up with heart surgery. Slowly got back to full movement and just got back to 3 reps at 225lbs last week

[@arthurguillaume5977]

Sorry to hear about your stroke... I had one as well 3 weeks before my 72nd b'day (3 1/2 years ago). I've recovered about 90%. Cant' walk very fast, like 2.6 mph is tops. Left fingers are all over the place when I type a message like this. Glad that you are still working out... I still hit the gym 3 times per week and do what I can... it's a total body workout, treadmill + bike for 1/2 an hour, 4 leg machines... before my hands touch a weight I've spent 50 minutes. Remainder of my workout is long... total is around 2.5 hours... but I feel good.

[@Michael-fb1rl]

Glad to hear you're doing better, and especially after your surgery, you getting back to a 225 bench particularly for reps is very impressive. I can't wait until you hit 300Ib bench.

[@bawseeeee602]

no excuses bro

[@Wawawiwa7]

Important not to overdo strength training and do a bit more lighter weights controlled. Heavy lifting strains the heart. Pushing numbers is not the healthiest way of doing it.

[@cl8931]

@Wawawiwa7 yeah, appreciate the feedback mate. I'm not going too hard, just very slowly pushing myself. Just keeping fit

[@WoodenHouseayylmao]

you show me a man who's never lifted before benching 135 lbs, i'll show you a man that has well above average strength genetics.

[@AdroElectro1337]

Are you counting push ups as lifting?

[@WoodenHouseayylmao]

@@AdroElectro1337 sure, calisthenics is lifting.

[@maxfern5701]

That's also not going to be a 150lb man. Bodyweight is relevant in this question.

[@GamezGuru1]

​@@AdroElectro1337most people can barely do a pushup

[@mastersathlete7380]

Agreed. And we're talking about a proper barbell bench. Not a press machine, which gives you an exaggerated sense of what you can actually lift.

[@thisbethedave]

When I started lifting a year ago, I was 130lbs soaking wet, I've always been a skinny dude. At that time, I could only bench about 90 pounds for 1 rep. A year later, I am 165 pounds trying to cut down some fat and can bench 155 for 1 and can do 135 for about 7. Not a super quick timeframe for building up to 1 plate for reps, but from where I started it's a big improvement in terms of strength. I'm very proud of how far I've come, even if someone can walk into the gym on their first day and do my working weight or more. Comparison is the thief of joy.

[@Michael-fb1rl]

I applaud your progress, progression is different for everyone, as long as you are continually getting better and stronger and more resilient. This is all that matters and as far as your body fat percentage goes as long as you aren't at over 20% body fat then you are fine as far as the body fat percentage goes and it can actually help build more muscle mass and long term endurance as long as your diet is mostly healthy.

[@javierdelgado1554]

When I started lifting weights I could barely get a one rep at 135...we all start somewhere...going from 90 lbs to 165 is a huge improvement...keep working on improving, even if it's small improvements here and there...eventually those small improvements become big improvements.

[@javierdelgado1554]

And 'comparison IS the thief of joy'...the only competition is yourself and trying to get better.

[@Danimal77]

@@javierdelgado1554 His bench press went from 90 pounds to 155 pounds for 1 rep. His bodyweight went from 130 pounds to 165 pounds.

[@Michael-fb1rl]

@@javierdelgado1554 eloquently put, I like it.

[@xjet]

I've never bench pressed but I can do 15 dips with 50lbs of additional weight and I weigh 175lbs so any guesses?

[@MrFackoffline]

I'd guess 165lbs. You could try and tell the result! Just be carefull!

[@city_of_coompton6832]

I found dips don't translate well to bench press. I can comfortably do 8 dips with 70lbs additional weight yet I struggle to bench my own bodyweight for 5 reps (and I weigh 215lbs..)

[@andreaskarlsson83]

About 60-80 kg for the average fairly fit and trained male. 90 kg and above takes some effort to get to.

[@k0yam]

I disagree, for a an adult male, assuming someone who isnt under 18, 225 when your 150-190lbs should not take a ridiculous amount of training to get to (I hit 225 at at 147 at 16)

[@NS88-91]

@@k0yam Ok dude, enough flexing. You have good strength genetics. You can't just proliferate your anecdote to other people. I couldn't do a single push-up(at around 150lbs) when I started working out. I have done 85kg for 8 reps after years of training(mostly for hypertrophy)so I could probably get the 100kg.

[@itsmebd7422]

​@@k0yamthe average man should not have a anime pfp weeb

[@Maxicraft.]

​@@k0yam15 167lbs and start 155lbs now at 200lbs with half a year of medium training

[@420swagnemite]

All of my friends (19-21) started off their gym journey trying a max bench as you do. Most of them 6ft or around that. They all got over 60kg except 2 (8 total) I’d say 60 is untrained average

[@smacky1966]

I've been a fitness professional since 1990. A few points- 1/100 men can bench their body weight without prior training. I believe that the average man should be able to bench press their body weight. When I tried my first bench at 17 years old I could do 95lb. at a body weight of 165. It took me three months to bench 135lb (big plates!), a year to bench 185lb. and two years to bench 225lb. This was in the mid 1980's. With today's understanding of nutrition I could have made faster progress but I didn't eat nearly enough. To give the audience an idea of how much the average high school football player has improved- On my high school team (city champs), we had a half a dozen players who could bench 225 lb, a couple who hit 250 lb., one 275lb., one 300lb and believe it or not one who benched 445lb. Our all-city wide receiver was always teased in the weight room when he attempted 135 lb because his right arm would extend right away to the top but he could barely get the bar off the left side of his chest. To give another example of the evolution of the bench press- when Earl Bruce got fired as Head Coach at Ohio State in 1986 it was reported that only one Ohio State player could bench press 400lb. and they were a top 20 team.

[@LRandleIcon]

I try to tell people the same thing... I was an all-conf CB in College running the WI Badgers training program back in the 90s, and I'm MILES stronger now at 45, than I was at 25. The stuff now is FAAAAR superior. A lot of people don't realize the difference between what you *can do, versus what you are *going to do. If everybody was dedicated and have a decent program, the real goal should be 2x BW bench if you weigh less than 300lbs.

[@thejuiceisloose8703]

My freshman year of high school in 1998 I had a gym class that was strictly weight lifting. Nobody in my class was benching more than 240lbs. The guys that could do 225 could only do one to two reps and they were big guys. I was 6'2 at 175lbs and struggled to do 135. By the end of the class I do 185 for a rep or two. The teacher didn't even try to train or teach us. It was just a free for all. It's a miracle no one was hurt. People today have no idea how far nutrition and training have come.

[@Abyyss33]

also a huge factor is genetics and bio mechanics pending your build. Myself I was way ahead genetically at a young age compared to everyone in my school minus height lol but as a freshman in HS 14 years old about 140ish lbs I could do 305lbs bench. Senior year by the end of school I was at 365lbs at 155lbs weight then sat there for a long time till I matured. At 28 I was at 455lbs at which time life took over and having kids and family I didnt have time to dedicate anymore to pushing but thats life but I would say when I deployed in 2008 I had 6 months to hit the gym hard and did but also dropped 30lbs gets hot in the middle east lol but, set the base record of 455lbs at 180lbs body weight. For me genetics, really strong tendons and being short pretty much a 5 6" inch mesomorph.

[@joninpgh]

@@Abyyss33 That's a big part of it. I'm tall and thin with long arms and legs so I'm at a leverage disadvantage compared to shorter people. But I'm old now and not hung up on how much I can lift anymore, I just do my thing.

[@dudespellings8325]

Sounds like we are around the same age. When I was a freshman in high school, my school was brand new and did not have a weight room. All my friends at other high schools were lifting weights for football and I was worried about falling behind, so I started doing pushups. I don't remember how many I could do when I started, but I worked up to being able to do 200 pushups in a row. The next year, when I was a sophomore, the very first time I tried bench press, I could do way more than anyone else on the team, even guys who weighed much more than I did. I agree with your assessment. Most kids in the 80's weren't very strong if they hadn't lifted before. I feel like today, the population is much more bifurcated; the kids that are into their sport start training at a very early age these days and are often lifting in middle school. The middle school in my neighborhood has a weight room that we would have thought was for a pro sports team in the 80's. But the kids who don't do any sports are typically so deconditioned that they can't even do a single pushup, let alone a bench press. I see kids in their late teens that come into the CrossFit gym I go to, and they can barely bench press the bar. Its so sad how soft some of the kids are these days. But by the same toke, as you point out, there are high school kids on the football team who are benching over 400 lbs these days.

[@BigDaddyScoop]

I've trained 15 years naturally, I can currently bench 160kg (360lbs)... Which by the way is funny because one time of day them numbers seemed so impressive to me. Strange how you change your perspective as you grow over the years. Anyway... I would say for your average joe off of the street, I'm going with 45kg (about 100lbs).

[@charlesroulette5296]

I would say 50-90 pounds .

[@jarchack]

I'm 65 and I don't know how much I can benchpress now but it took quite a few months before I could do 10 reps of 100 pounds. I weigh 145 pounds.

[@CharleneRees-g8j]

I'd say 300k 😂😂😂😂 some skinny cunt 😂😂😂 blow all the look at me twats in jym !! It don't matter how much u lift gust have good time and enjoy it

[@are3287]

40-60kg is a pretty good guess for the average untrained man depending on genes and lifestyle. Some more some less. For women 20-30kg

[@jacksoncrowder4874]

I’m just an average guy I haven’t worked out since high school I’m 52 I tried benching just to see a I did 210 I was impressed

[@EddieGarciaVQ]

Everyone is built in different shapes and sizes. Lift and have fun. If you're not competing then who gives.. just make yourself better and enjoy it.

[@dannyboyfit]

The standard is yourself try to beat yourself be your own competition. My favourite KZbin channel ❤️

[@AG-_-Blockz]

Best advice on here. My son got into lifting (he’s 14) and first thing I told him was no one here is your competition you’re in competition with yourself that’s it.

[@surfwaves8636]

Im 66 and can bench press my weight of 195. I'm not a gym rat, but have a pullup bar in my backyard and use 15 lb weights. I was playing golf as a guest at a private country club this summer that had a gym. After a round of golf, I walked over to the bench press where two young guys were lifting. I asked them if they would mind spotting me at 200lbs. I lifted this sane weight about 10 years ago and just wanted to see if I still had it in me. It was a struggle, but I did it. This has morivated me to work on strength training at home.

[@thomaswilson5228]

Awesome, keep it up. Me, 66.5, 180lbs, 1 x 225. 35 years ago I could do it 7 times. I am running more now and trying to lose about 10lbs, I do notice a drop in power with the weight lose but my running is getting faster and farther.

[@colinriches1519]

Lift heavy, be kind. Love your motto

[@cojoe4896]

I’ve been working out since I was 17 (1 year ago), starting off with no training I was doing 135 as working weight. 5 sets 6-12 reps, after about 6 months I was doing 165 as working weight, and on the 9th of last month I hit 225 as a 1rm, and as of yesterday (3/12/24) I hit 250 as 1rm. Feels good to be happy and proud of that, for once I’m not comparing myself to anyone and I’m just happy of what I’m capable of. I’d like to thank my girlfriend for believing in me, she has helped me immensely with my body dysmorphia. With that being said, don’t compare yourself to anyone. Track your OWN progress, stay consistent, and most importantly TRAIN TILL FAILURE. Trust me, you will surprise yourself ❤

[@cojoe4896]

275, yesterday (18/12/2024)

[@deanrobinson2459]

I think if the average man could only do one strict pushup, then a bench might be around 60% of average bodyweight, so about 50kg give or take?

[@Mr.P.Griffith]

Yeah, I was thinking half their body weight.

[@bengraves5166]

Pathetic

[@mac5917]

While a pushup may be lifting 60% of your bodyweight, it’s probably easier for most people to push the groups away than to perform a bench press. I Would expect the number for the bench to be lower than the equivalent weight of a pushup

[@mrsensei8878]

That's what an average man can do probably. But that isn't the same as what he should be able to do. I mean being able to do only one isn't very athletic.

[@andersbjrnsen7203]

​@@mac5917probably correct. I remember my dad talked about not being able to do a 60 kg bench a the trial for the police Academy. This was sometime in the 70s when lifting weights was very much NOT normal people did in Norway, I think it was actually looked down upon for soccer, handball, boxing etc training and regarded as quite weird, so dad had never touched a barbell. He was however a very fit, tall guy recently out of a relatively "serious" coastal "jaeger' unit som must have been able to churn out a lot of pushups, and looking very much like myself on period photos so been close to 90kgs which should equate to a 50kg pushup. My point with this uniteresting family Chronicle: Youre entirely correct, a pushup is EAY easier than an equivalent bench if youre not used to the bench movement. My poi

[@lamontparkman518]

Really liked adding the history of the bench press to this vid.

[@drbkzn]

My guess was that everyone would say 225 like everyone says 7 is their favorite number.

[@johndoiron9615]

69

[@ClarkyClark]

Right? I've never tried 225. Not interested in strength. I've benched my body weight, 185, for 10 reps. Called that good. Oh, and my favorite number is 50,000.

[@Trendle222]

11 is my fav number

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@ClarkyClark You lose 2 reps per additional 10 lbs so at 185 x 10 you can do 225 directly.

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@Trendle222 It relates to what the average gym bench presser does. Men often at 135, less often 185, rare 225, almost no one over 245.

[@garygeorge9648]

Age, length of arms, injuries, mechanics are among factors to consider when determining how much someone should be able to lift. I am 65, 6 ft and around 205 lbs with shoulder and elbow injuries. I can lift 135 a couple of times.

[@speshale]

When I started taking lifting seriously after a few years of mainly focusing on MMA, I remember practically getting pinned under 95lbs as a 180lbs 26 yr old. It must have taken me atleast 2 years of seriously consistent training to be able to comfortably bench 225lbs. I wouldnt have even considered myself "average" as I trained diligently just not in compound lifting and it was still hard. I feel many people get a skewed idea of what average should bench bc so many people hit 225lbs now in the gym. What they dont take into consideration and something I have seen time and time again is that atleast 50% or more of individuals that rush to 225lbs end up with some kind of shoulder injury or irritation that results in them hardly benching near that weight again for a very long time. I have been lifting for the last 9 years and my current 1rm on bench is 350lbs. I feel like its taken me forever to get here but I got here with no injuries, no shoulder issues, nada. Just takes patience, consistency and persistence.

[@Musicman-y7v]

I like your honest comment. At 64 ,I gave up benching years ago because it started to hurt my shoulders real bad and have only been doing dumbbell flys. But many lifters over the years end up getting shoulder pain while benching with a bar. Remember it's not what you can do now, it's what you can do in your old age. Lifting is for life.

[@speshale]

@@Musicman-y7v thank you and impressive to see at 64 youre still at it with dumbbells! It really is a lifestyle and longevity game if done right. My ultimate goal is to still be going strong into my later years as well

[@josiahschaffer9652]

Yeah no injuries is the key. I see a lot a guys looking at me benching (10 reps, 5 sets) 130-155 with a weird look when Im bigger than them and look much more in shape than they do. It’s because I’m training to stay fit and healthy. Naturally overtime, with consistency I’ve built muscle but never really for PRs or ego lifting. Not even sure what my one bench max is right now. Probably could do 225 just haven’t tried in years.

[@Gregbaltzer]

@@josiahschaffer9652 I'm 53 and I started to have shoulder pain benching 180lbs for 6-8 reps on flat bench. I ended up dropping the weight down to 90lbs, switched to incline only, for 15-20 reps, with elbows tucked in instead of flared. My shoulder is doing a lot better, I still have a hard time getting power out of it, and I'm only benching 120lbs for 15 reps.

[@Schmuddel]

135 seems like a reasonable amount. If you can bench single-plates then you're reasonably strong enough for everything else life can throw at you.

[@duncanhawk4500]

I would like to agree but for me personally it's weird.... I haven't worked out to much I've kinda been off and on for years but im Currently lifting 145lbs for 4 sets of 10 raw no warm up but I worked a summer job with people who's max bench was over 500lbs were my age group (early to mid 20s)

[@defeqel6537]

I agree, the average man doesn't need the chest muscles all that much, and for basic fitness legs, core and endurance are way more important

[@donaldkasper8346]

@@duncanhawk4500 Those kids are on steroids. Anything over 315 is usually Tren.

[@yellowgut]

In my experience a healthy man With no training on bench should be able to press the bar plus 25lbs on each side 95lbs total. With moderate training his own body weight.

[@norminpontu9905]

I agree. That was pretty much what i did my first time and what most of my friends could do first time. But then you have guys who never lift and can do 135 for 10 reps

[@suntansuperman26]

This is actually correct. A friend started the gym, and on the first day we benched, now he’s never lifted like that in his life, he’s in his late 30’s and he was able to put up the bar with 25 on each side for like 8-10 reps

[@zerrodefex]

Yeah, for a healthy man I'd expect 95 to be beginner weight for a little while if they've just learned the technique.

[@Musicman-y7v]

Are you considering that the age of the average man in the United States is around 34 and most have probably only held a cellphone in their hand. At least I give them credit for having the endurance to hold it all day without putting it down.😂😂😂😂😂

[@yellowgut]

@@Musicman-y7v that’s true, I guess a “healthy man” is a little different these days. As for age I’d say between 18-40 should be able to press 95 for one rep.

[@teapushart]

i have been doing sports all my life. 14 years of handball, 10 years of 6 different martial arts. and after all that time and a normal gym workout in everyday life i currently bench press about 67kg with 10 reps. it's also not clear to me what ‘having to press’ means. How often? How many sets? I have to do 3-4 sets of 10-12 repetitions and I'm using 62 kilos for that. That's enough for me. Maybe I can manage 80,90,100 kilos for 1,2,3 repetitions, but that doesn't give me anything,

[@martinshoosterman]

I think you should aim for benching your body weight comfortably. Not as a 1 rep max, but something you could do once, even if you are fairly tired on a bad day. Maybe something like a 5 rep max?

[@joncarbone]

That's reasonable. Even a weak man can bench their own weight within a few months of training.

[@youraveragecupofjoe8461]

I'm at a few rep max of 115, and I weigh 160 at 16. I'll get there eventually

[@weira1816]

I think you underestimate the weakness of the average person!

[@joncarbone]

@@youraveragecupofjoe8461 try doing as many pushups as you can as soon as you roll out of bed. I did that for a summer when I was your age. Went from doing around 20, up to 107. Then I developed tennis elbow. So be careful.

[@Dmoriarty1993]

@@joncarbone I have to say, that doesn't sound like an endorsement 😁

[@daeganacevedo8080]

The average person is untrained, and untrained people shouldn't be trying for one rep maxes, so I feel the one rep max question is funky. I'd be curious about a five rep max as a more attenuated estimate. From my experiences with very average untrained individuals, 45lbs to 95lbs is a challenging and muscle growth inducing amount of weight to bench.

[@hickok3]

I was that average person. I was a highschool athlete(basketball) and then spent the next 12 years not very active at all. I just started training seriously again in January, I can't remember if I started with the bar, or 55(3x8), but I wasn't doing a ton.. I am 5"9 and 220lbs, and was roughly the same weight in Jan, but less muscle mass and I just hit 145 4x6 at the end of August before taking a couple weeks off and needing to work back up now. These guys who think an untrained person can put any weight on that bar are so delusional it is crazy.

[@DarkAbyss9]

But the average person can be trained and even 6 months of basic training should have most men pushing at least 125lbs

[@TheOne23_]

When I started lifting 5 months ago I struggled to do 15 kg (~32lbs?)incline dumbbell bench press, I’m now doing 30kg (~65lbs?) and there is no way I’ve doubled my muscle size. Neurological efficiency is crazy

[@jasonmcgonigal8044]

It’s crazy people thinking you should be able to bench 225 on average everyone I know and a friend of mine who has world record bench started at the bottom and it took a couple years of hard training to get to 225, just like it took a couple years for 315 and another year for 405….shits not that easy for the average

[@VargVikernes1488]

People are lying a lot, even when they post anonymously on the Internet

[@misterzero8667]

No real record holder took 2 years to bench 225 unless they weigh 100 pounds

[@Musicman-y7v]

Listen, on KZbin.... You can claim anything that you want and some people will believe you. Your comment is 100 percent correct. It takes time for the average person. Some people have better genes than others.

[@Musicman-y7v]

​@@VargVikernes1488 EXACTLY

[@AG-_-Blockz]

@@Musicman-y7vthat’s the thing about the internet. You can be anything you want be and no one knows if you’re telling the truth 😂 I started lifting seriously 3 months ago and hit 160 bench today for 10 reps. I don’t care what other people lift but for me that’s something I didn’t think I’d be able to do a few months ago. 225 just seems crazy 😂 When I started lifting it was about 120 I think

[@Sandman60077]

5:44 Did that that girl say fifteen hundred pounds?

[@felixbermudez3782]

I think it was a very out of breath and rushed 50 to 100lbs

[@petersulewski]

the comments section is pretty wild with how delulu some people are with what's "average" and attainable in short time frames. You're "average guy" isn't pulling 400lbs on a deadlift with 6 months of training and they aren't benching 315 in under a year without some 'roids or being an already large strong individual. I work out at a military gym where it's all obsessive gym goers and most of the guys there aren't benching any more than 200-225. working out is basically their job and they aren't hitting some of the stuff im seeing in the comments

[@frysebox1]

there are biological girls not on PEDs in my gym that can hit 225lbs

[@ced3797]

facts, the average i’d say would be around the 135 pound range. With that being said, for me 225 was pretty easy to work up to. I hit 225 at 16 years old. 315 was the milestone that was a real challenge. But i hit that 10 years later at 26. i think genetics play a huge part in how strong someone can be naturally.

[@chrism.728]

​@@frysebox1That's extremely rare though... Those women are outliers, not the norm

[@frysebox1]

@@chrism.728 Sure, they are. 400lbs deadlift for a guy? Plenty of people that lift that on SS type programming within 6-12 months. 315lbs bench is way harder of course.

[@CarlYota]

@@frysebox1for every guy that brags about pulling 4 plates on SS there are 100 guys who don’t get there and keep their mouth shut about it. Plenty of guys doing it, several orders of magnitude more guys not doing it. The whole point of all this is averages. Remember, there are 8 billion people on the planet. A woman benching 225, assuming she’s not a contortionist with 1 inch rom, is in the top fraction of a percent strongest women on the planet. That has absolutely nothing to do with averages.

[@wishes_._]

When I started benching I was wobbling with just the bar now I’m benching 275lb for reps love telling people this because it shows you can reach great progress naturally and don’t have to take shortcuts or give up

[@kurtwpg]

Nice. I tried 240 for a 1 rep max today, did 245 about 14 years ago. I think I would have had it but it was a last minute decision after a 205x7 that took a bit out of me.

[@MM-qj4kc]

I appreciate your personal story. It’s inspiring and gives people hope.

[@John-zc2my]

The first guy who said 405 must have a room temperature IQ.

[@emartinezr]

Maybe he meant 4.05 lb?

[@raidenj1295]

If you have hands you can bench 660 😂😂

[@Siethon1]

Pretty sure he was joking

[@xIronwafflexx]

And that room is kept at a cool 65F.

[@stevep4236]

He's clearly trolling

[@nothanks2310]

Love the history lesson and positive message. Class act!

[@christophergroesbeck732]

Agree. With a little training 150-185 is definitely attainable for the average man.

[@wildeguy458]

I think the question was worded a bit confusingly. Some people interpreted it as asking what the average man can bench without any training, while others thought it was about what the average man could bench after training for a while.

[@mcmatt186]

My 2 cents on the matter as someone who's still at the beginning of the video is that a person should be able to bench their bodyweight, which I feel is very attainable for most people in not too long of a time

[@mrBadge207]

A couple of questions (noob here): 1) When talking about how much you should bench, do the numbers include the weight of the bar? 2) What does a plate and a quarter equate to?

[@kylegordon1520]

1. Yes, bar is 45lbs (curl bars are 25lbs for future reference) 2. Plate and a quarter would be around 160lbs, depending how you decide a "quarter" of a 45lbs plate

[@mrBadge207]

@@kylegordon1520 Thanks a lot!

[@scallie6462]

Weight always includes the bar. A plate is 45lbs or 20kilos so that's a quarter is 10lbs or 5kg. 1 plate each side with bar is 135, add 10 lbs each side your at 155

[@andyrool988]

I'm a coach, and most of my competent new male clients hit a 5RM of around 60-70kg after a few weeks training, which works out to around 155lbs for one rep. But there are as many people who do not have the mobility or coordination to press the bar.

[@私はクソな中国人です]

I don’t know where you live but where I live even old mfs with giant beer bellies and noodle arms could bench 225 for reps (I only noticed this cuz I can’t)

[@ExacT9]

​@@私はクソな中国人ですI mean the guy who you are replying to is actually a coach and trains people, you just "see" and "assume" - you have no idea how long they trained to get there. Strength is more in tendons and is built over time, noodle arms and belly has little to do with this. So don't feel bad about it all, rather it's safer to assume they trained shit loads to get there

[@florisnr11]

I am a personal trainer, and what i see with all man from skinny up to very big man. All people that never have bench before they all come between 40 to max 60 kilo So 90 lbs up to 125 lbs. For one rep max . People are not so strong when never have traint .

[@AgentSmith911]

Maybe 70% of bodyweight is realistic for people who are not training actively? So a guy weighing 100 kg would bench press 70 kg while a guy weighing 80 kg would bench press 56 kg

[@florisnr11]

@@AgentSmith911 nope even people that weight 140 kilo bench up to 60 kilo max .

[@Rex_Smashington]

The look on Mitchell's face when dude said "At least double his bodyweight." 🤣

[@brendanrichards3159]

When I first went into a gym, unfit and inactive, I got taught how to benchpress and struggled to lift reps of half of my body weight. After about 18 months I could do reps of just a bit over my body weight. So I think that a totally sedentary man would do half their body weight while a man who has been to gym long enough to be ending his beginner phase can do their body weight.

[@otimelyofficial8146]

Yooooooooo i saw you in a Bill Tendersom video im hype af to see you have a channel!!!

[@gordo1002]

Can = 100lbs (45kg) Goal = 200lbs (90kg) Gym rat = 300lbs (135kg)

[@yellowflash5555]

One of Our senior Defensive line was repping 315 almost 20 times dude was fucking massiiivvveee and tall no body came close to that weight for bench

[@yellowflash5555]

Then by my Jr year most of us hit the 300lb club for bench, not working and eating a shit ton with sleep did wonders for gains 😂😂😂

[@jamesadamgleason9471]

Seeing a bug dude rep 300+ for reps(like 10+) is awesome and a little scary

[@nbaldwin45]

None of those people who said ‘225’ could actually bench 225

[@michellesanders9619]

There is no man alive that doesn't lie about his p-nis size and how much he can bench..

[@joeysmiff1746]

@@michellesanders9619you spelled penis wrong😒

[@ImHerbert-moon]

@@michellesanders9619you gotta talk to more secure dudes

[@Leon-il2en]

​@@michellesanders9619I don't lie about that

[@joemama226]

@michellesanders9619 People actually lie about their bench? Corny af

[@Jordy-927]

I’d be happy if the average man could do one push-up. We aren’t even there yet.

[@AutisticChimp42]

there's absolutely no way half the population of all men if not more can't do a single push up...

[@DarkAbyss9]

​@@AutisticChimp42you'd be surprised

[@Jordy-927]

@@AutisticChimp42 I wish I could be a glass half full kinda guy.

[@Jordy-927]

@@AutisticChimp42 god I’d love to be a glass half full kinda guy. 🤣

[@univalve1]

man this is eye opening. i hadn't worked out for years and i mean years. i was always active and did rigorous work out side like splitting wood and such, but not farm level work either. at the time i was 5'8" and 165. when i finally got back to the gym after probably 20 years i was pressing 165 for sets of 8. i figured it was a starting place and went on form there. this was at age 45. i still dont know what the numbers for men should be, but i had no idea the populous was that far down. i always just figured it was around 200 lbs. i suppose my starting point was not as bad as i once thought. i suppose swinging sledge hammers does something for you,

[@Garvaon]

When I started college I was 6’9” 200lbs. I benched 115 lbs 1rm. I was a basketball player. When I left college I was 225 benching 185. I became a correctional officer. I Eventually bulked to 320 and improved bench to 325.

[@BrandonFrederick27]

That tall with a 325 bench is crazy.

[@shafayatchowdhury7008]

Massive dude 😮

[@jae9843]

At 6'9", you probably have massively long limbs. Exercises like the bench and squat are going to naturally be much more difficult for you than someone who's 5'9"

[@Danimal77]

You're a foot taller than me Lee (5'9 1/4" barefoot). How is life being 6'9" (I'm assuming that is barefoot and not in basketball shoes)?

[@SprSonik13]

been lifitng forever, started in the early 80s as a young teenager…early 90s I put up 365lbsx3 with no spot on bench at 195lb body weight. Days later had a brutal mtn bike crash and destroyed my shoulder. Quit lifting heavy (and benching completely) for decades as career and family took over. Turn 54 in November and have been back lifting heavy for about a year. 210lbs and doing 275x4-5 on bench. In spite of my previous and current strength, when I started benching again maybe 2 years ago, 135x5 was work. It was embarrassing to be that “weak”, but it also really changed my understanding of what untrained people (the averages) are capable of. Most of us who love going to the gym and challenging ourselves forget what it was like when we started. Too many people in the 20 to 40 age group who lift heavy don’t realize how smart non-gym rats are. As much as I love being strong and muscular in my 50s, I pay for it every day with aches and pains that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t go so hard in the gym for so many years… it all comes down to priorities and balance!

[@mentalcasanova]

Motorcycle accident my early 20s destroyed my right AC joint, never thought I'd bench again. Now a decade plus later I'm stronger than I was before. Good on you for getting back into it.

[@bishoptruth8182]

Well stated and a good read - thank you!

[@colinduncan4692]

Thanks for sharing that! I would add that you are in my humble opinion, You are in the top 3 percentile for Bench Press strength capability, Congratulations on fighting your way back to peak strength!

[@Dadof5-4]

Based on coaching high school thrower i think 100 is average. I always told my throwers to shoot for their body weight at least once and told them strong is your body weight 5 times

[@NukeMarine]

Why tell them no one is strong then?

[@fernandoricaurte9437]

As long as I can bench my body weight I think I am fine and "strong" because I can literally "pull my own weight", but I also notice that when I am heavier I can bench and lift more, and when I am lighter, my strength suffers as my speed improves. It is all in keeping balance, and training patiently and not with ego. Right now I have been keeping it at 185 for 5 max rep range. I have usually gone to 205 for 3-4 max reps as my last set, and twice in the past have gone to 225, but I find it not worth it for my heights and build- I am 5'7 and my ideal weight when training regularly is 150 lb. I tend to stay between 185 and 205 for benching and right now I am at a heavy 170-175, trying to lose some extra weight.

[@oldmangaming3715]

My life experience tells me that a lot (at least 30%) of average men can't do a single pushup. So I would say 30Kg to 40Kg should be a norm. But it is a relative number to your weight, lifestyle, activity etc. At my 42 I see myself as a relative active guy that plays basketball 2 times a week. I can bench press for one max at around 70Kg for one time. And my body weight is 82Kg. I think that people overestimate the ability of an average human. Move, train and don't compare.

[@lp9709]

Whatever he is comfortable with. End of video 💪🏽🏋🏽‍♂️

[@Gregbaltzer]

Exactly

[@PedroGomes-cx7ku]

based

[@MrAndypree]

Honestly this thread is full of the most ridiculous flexing comments I’ve seen. “omg 225 is like light dude, every man can lift this”. Yeh…. Except every guy I see in the gym outside of a hardcore bodybuilding gym. Plus, who fucking lifts one rep except a strong man lifter. How many can you do for 15 for three sets….

[@MrKeykeylikesit]

For real. I've been lifting for a couple of decades at different gyms including bodybuilder gyms like golds and it's very rare that people put on two plates or more, and the ones that do usually are on gear. It's not the norm.

[@inakilasa_6912]

After 2 years of training 5 days a week with a good diet and a Bodyweight of 90 kg, my bench press at the ages of 16 to 18 was only 135 pounds for 4. On my 18 to 19th year, I decided to solely focus on perfecting form, varying the repetition range and on optimizing recovery. Without a significant gain in bodyweight, (although I suppose I lost fat and gained weight) I was able to bench press 125kg on my 20th birthday. For anyone struggling to increase their bench press, PLEASE focus on form, don’t be discouraged if you think your progress is slow or because you have to rack less weight, sooner than later you will be achieving the coveted 225 lbs bench.

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIllIlIII]

I use 50kg as a great marker for an average 1rpm for men, and a marker that is obtainable for anyone as a first real goal to set when seriously getting into strength training. I think it's easy to fall into a fallacy and inflate numbers when you have been benching for ages yourself - it's almost like a body dysmorphia but with lift numbers instead of body image - and forget that the average person or even the vast majority of people don't bench even if they are into some sport. I still remember thinking how much 100kg was when I started lifting, and yet I think it's an insignificant weight now. The same would probably happen if you'd ask a swimmer how fast the average person should be able to swim or a football player how many kick ups the average person should be able to do.

[@Magnus_Loov]

50 kg must be a really low marker. I was doing 60 kg when I was 14 (more than I weighed at the time). At the time I worked out with bench pressing two times a week. So if a 14 year old pre puberty boy can 60 kg, 50 kg is a really low marker! Or are people actually that weak on average?

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIllIlIII]

@@Magnus_Loov Yes, and your numbers are absolutely insignificant for someone else. My friend did 90kg on his first time benching, while my first 1rm was 40kg (it's 140kg now). People are different, and that might be a good lesson to carry on with, especially if you're going to PT one day. 50kg is a low marker indeed, and it is so for a reason. Not everyone works out; not everyone who works out goes to the gym; not everyone who goes to the gym benches. It's a great goal for what a man should be able to do.

[@Henesseyslither]

​@@Magnus_Loov i do 75kg at 14 and you are wrong lol

[@RealdoseofTruth]

135lbs for the avg male IMO. You must remember, the average male is working and probably doing very little exercise if any at all. Work a 10hr shift, come home mow the grass, fix a few things, tend to the family, etc... The gym probably doesn't fit into the schedule. That was the situation for me, started back in the gym, 1rm was 135lbs. I have no idea what it is now after 7 months but I can now bench 185lbs for nearly 3 sets of 10. I lift 5 days a week though now.

[@sbsb4995]

I say, if you can bench press your own body weight, that's good enough.

[@johndoiron9615]

That's my ultimate goal. I'm hoping to bring my weight down and my bench up enough to have them meet at 185 lbs.

[@nimblegoat]

Lots of us going to gym are no after big muscles, huge records, just some fun and functional bodies . Maybe also a 1 arm hang, not easy if weight 90KG/200lbs , being able to do a 1 leg squat ( probably not a pistol one , unless good flexibility ) , maybe 10 dips , and 10 pullups ( or even a couple of each if starting from way back ) . Also bench press seems such an artificial thing , how does it help in day to day life. Ie hard to find any natural fit guy who gets big pecs from daily work , or hobbies. Lots of people with incredibly powerful legs and core . Some skilled tradesmen with huge grip strength and forearms . The odd person with good shoulder or biceps . Maybe someone can chime in what activity in life builds pecs . Construction workers, firemen , removal guys probably , but not really large, just more developed.

[@dbased1915]

my starting bench was 135 at 150 bodyweight but my squat was only like 90 pounds max LOL. idk why but i have always been oddly upper body dominant.

[@philipgotthelf642]

As a college 118lbs wrestler weighing a natural 122lbs back in the 1970s, the question,”What do you bench?” pertained to how much we worked out with; I.e., minimum of 10 reps. Of course, I was not an “average man” because I was young and athletic. My workout was with 200lbs for 10 reps at the conclusion. I don’t recall trying a maximum for one rep because our coach said we would hurt ourselves… lol. As an old fart weighing 160lbs, I’ve been trying to get back into shape. I manage 225lbs one to two times and the trainers are impressed. I started with just the bar that weighs 45lbs.😊

[@quinnkrause6489]

122lbs with 200lbs for 10 reps? Ohh so just one of the the strongest pound for pound people in the world huh? Forsure😂

[@philipgotthelf642]

@quinnkrause6489 Actually, many athletes can bench press twice their body weight several times. Not the strongest men pound-for-pound. The bench press is deceptively easy compared with other lifts.

[@ddgflorida]

That's impressive. Like me at that age, if you can bench twice your weight you are extremely strong.

[@BUIKPAN]

Algebraicly: your one rep max of 200lbs x 10 reps is about 267lbs

[@JuanGarcia-tb7ph]

@@philipgotthelf642Bro the likelihood of someone being able to bench 2x their weight for 10 reps is VERY VERY low. We don’t need you pointing out outliers that compromise the elite of the elite to dismiss this random guys claims.

[@JoeServo]

I wonder how many people throwing around those big numbers, can actually move those big numbers themselves, despite being decidedly average.

[@donaldkasper8346]

The published tables of numbers are wacko numbers, way too high. Also, I don't see bench to body weight, but rather arms girth. Often big men have big arm girth, but skinny men can too.

[@OhmyHaze]

People dont realize chest is a secondary muscle. So often guys that are strong naturally one way like construction workers when they go to bench they dont know how to properly so they cant lift heavy. But I would say starting average is anywhere from 95lb-185lbs. If starting and you bench over 200 for reps youre genetically gifted.

[@emilv376]

When I started benching( with barbells) 30kg was hard for me. Now I have switched over to dumbells and doing a maximum of 32kg (per db) for 8 reps. Still not great but better than before. I'm not genetically gifted but I'm only comparing against myself. My goal with dumbells is 40kg for 8 reps but I take what I can get. 😂😅😅😂😂

[@OhmyHaze]

@emilv376 benching and all lifting is difficult. Only the internet makes it look and sound easy. But you're doing great!! Keep it up!!

[@Steven-vh6fg]

This is definitely true as a gym goer for long time I noticed my bench get weaker elbows little shakey repping weight. Just focusing on training my grip and forearms alone made my bench feel hella stable. A construction worker also would have hella grip

[@zerrodefex]

Yep benching is a skill, you can be strong from manual labor but that doesn't mean that you automatically know how to do the bench for efficient power transfer to the bar. Construction and farm workers tend to mostly have great grip and pulling strength as that's what they do most of the time not pushing stuff off of their chests which is why the tend to do crazy at deadlifts first try but their first bench is nothing impressive.

[@Heylon1313]

I think a 1 rep max of 150lb is a good target for a healthy man.

[@autoimmune-barbell]

I could do this in my first few months of training at 14 years old. This isn’t anything to aim for

[@morgothbauglir4898]

@@autoimmune-barbellIt’s a good target for a healthy man who doesn’t strength train during their first few bench sessions.

[@javierdelgado1554]

I'm an average man weighing in at 150 lbs...I was able to lift 165 lbs the first time I benched about 10 years ago....I did do a lot of pushups and pullups though, so that probably helped....I did hit a wall for a long time, where I couldn't lift past 205 lbs...I don't have good genetics either but if you keep pushing forward eventually you will get stronger... sometimes it feels like your being tested to see if you will quit or keep persevering.

[@oxovly4455]

​@@autoimmune-barbellHe said an average healthy man not a narcissistic ego lifter.

[@geofferiswheel]

I'm a beginner with less than 2 years of lifting experience. I have a bad shoulder injury I've been working through for the past year. I currently can bench 135 lbs for 5 reps for a couple sets. Higher than that resulting in shoulder pain after the workout. I'm adding weight and working to progressively overload while focusing on the technique that allows me to lift heavier without injury. When I first started I was benching 80 lbs with zero training for 8-12 reps for a couple sets and was shaky all over the place. I've never really tried 1 RM because I train without a spotter.

[@Radu.Daniel]

I had some real construction workers 6 feet tall 200 pounds pretty strong guys in gym first day. They pressed 135 for a few reps. After 6 months they should have been able to push 225, but they said the don't pay to work. 😂😂

[@bubulubu3136]

I turned 60 in June and had some goals and wanted to see where I was at. In July I weighed 158 pounds and benched 200 pounds for one rep. I dead lifted 300 pounds. In August I ran a 6:21 mile. I suppose I should repeat this every year, but undoubtedly the trend will be negative. I am a very average man with genetics that don't help me excel at anything, but I consider staying active and relatively fit important for successful aging. Hopefully I'm healthy and mobile until I'm 85 then just fall over dead.

[@ThatGuyz82]

I bet it goes up for a couple of years.

[@Dario__]

"Average adult should be able to bench" around 80% of bodyweight. Thats just my guess

[@mattb6001]

currently 35yo, 150lbs 6'1. started going to this gym early this year with a starting weight of 143lbs. i never tried a max bench but my max weight was 80lbs in my 3rd set of 3 progressive sets of 8 reps. i only did bench for the first two months and have transitioned to dumbbells for shoulder mobility reasons. I am currently lifting 35-40lb dumbbells progressively for 3 sets of 8 reps. My longer arms do not help me at all and make lighter weights much heavier. I have also been doing a lot of back, neck, and shoulder work/strengthening to help with stability and control and hopefully get my range of motion improved so i can do more barbell exercises.

[@williamwiggins3rd]

6’1 and 150lbs means you’re underweight. Eat more!

[@mattb6001]

@ story of my life. Biggest issue is I have bad reflux and have to eat dinner early. I also get full easy, my goal is 3k calories a day but I usually only hit about 2.5k

[@austincasey3509]

I work with a bunch of really functionally strong carpenters, I was surprised some of them couldn’t do more the 185. Not sure how much bench really means because i have seen these dudes lift huge beams into place on houses

[@joemama226]

Log press

[@joemama226]

Bench means something but imo it’s a bad measure of overall upper body static strength. OHP is much better

[@joemama226]

I’ve met people (especially when I was first starting) that were definitely stronger than me but I could bench more just cause I’m good at bench, and bench is somewhat specialized. Technique is also a bigger factor than people realize.

[@rockyevans1584]

Yeah, construction workers will be better at deadlifts and ohp on average

[@autoimmune-barbell]

If they can’t bench 185, then they aren’t necessarily functionally strong as a whole. Construction work is mainly arms and core and a little back. They’d have weak shoulders, legs and chests because they wouldn’t be worked

[@Ont785]

Benchpress is very unusual movement for the human body. It is not an exercise that people do, so it would be extraordinary if an average man could benchpress their body weight .

[@stoempert]

It's not that much different from a push up. Not unusual in the slightest. Testament to that is that every novice bencher understands the movement within 5 minutes. Coordination might be lacking but for most it's very intuitive.

[@adamlea6339]

@@stoempert It is unusual in the sense that it is not a functional movement. How many times in everyday life do you need to lie on your back and push a weight above you?

[@ah4598]

​@@stoempert nobody does push ups in their day to day life, so it is unusual for people who don't specifically train push ups. Something like a squat or curl is an everyday utility movement so people won't need to train much for those to hit their true max's like they would have to with a bench press. Push-ups and pull-ups have huge newbie gains because it's just about teaching the body to activate the muscles that are already there.

[@Juiciejuice]

​@@ah4598When you bench you push. Ever pushed anything in real life? If your chest and arms are strong then pushing with legs too would be even better. You sound ridiculous.

[@Juiciejuice]

​​@@stoempertAll the people with names and a number after it are bots or someone with multiple accounts. They are idiots. You can tell by the names.

[@MichaelSmith-ib9fd]

Their body weight I think is a good number.

[@AJBillionaire8888]

I agree. Assuming their BMI is reasonable being untrained

[@richardjones9007]

It may be a good number, but it is not a realistic number.

[@xHypnoToad]

@@richardjones9007 As long as you are not massively overweight it's a pretty realistic number but only for someone who has done the bench press for at least a few months.

[@KiralyBoss3215]

ive been training 1 year. im 17. i bench press 170kg no pause bw 100kg no equipment. I have 15 year old in gym benching 182.5 kilogram with wrist strap.

[@defeqel6537]

Yes, if you start early, you have a massive advantage thanks to hormones during pubescent years

[@jacobgrzanowicz2337]

Average = half body weight. Optimal goal = body weight

[@Vankel83]

That was a good answer.

[@jacobgrzanowicz2337]

@@Vankel83 And then Advanced would maybe be 1.5x body weight

[@xfhghe]

Our bodies are made of bones, muscles, ligaments, etc... Now ask yourself, how much weight should you subject these components to? That is what is the weight capacity for your physical structure? That is a very individual thing. Overloading will cause damage. That's where some peoples ego get the better of them and they wind up hurting themselves. There is really no need to go much more than 1x your body weight. 2x your body weight is foolish in my opinion.

[@sharpasacueball]

Yeah the average guys I see at the supermarket look like they wouldn't be able to do 1 proper push up. I don't buy it

[@black350Z]

You really need to take age into account. For example, 18-30 will be much stronger than 40-50 given the same body weight and training. When I was 23 I could easily bench 225 lbs with only a couple of months training. My max at that time was 260 lbs. Now, at 55 and training for the last few months, I'm happy to be able. to hit 205 lbs. Age is a massive factor.

[@jaymepechan2115]

Higher risk of injury and much longer recovery time when you are older too.

[@Dmoriarty1993]

There are many factors attributed to age. It's a multifaceted conversation, but realistically, you could be like Brian Alsruhe if you keep training into your 40s.

[@ktall6749]

Wait until you hit 70. Concern for injuries becomes a big factor.

[@jamesN6450]

Subscribed just because of that average number with the jellybean example, love it. I was wondering if myself.

[@deanrobinson2459]

You need to take the geometric mean for the jelly beans in a jar wisdom of crowds experiment.

[@rolandfisher]

In the actual experiment, they used arithmetic mean. The geometric mean is more appropriate when you are dealing with multiplicative processes, like growth rates, proportions, or numbers that vary across several orders of magnitude. The jellybean guessing experiment is not multiplicative; the guesses are direct estimates, not factors or rates that multiply together. Applying the geometric mean in this context would tend to undervalue the final result.

[@deanrobinson2459]

@@rolandfisherindeed. geometric means are better for some right skewed data.

[@bad3032]

Leg day: Monday We are not the same....

[@grocerylist]

Squat & Deadlift MWF

[@SP30305ATL]

I had a much lower number in mind until 7:37 -- you did ask how much "should" he be able to bench. Also, an average man *should* be able to replace his own water heater, wire an outlet with a three-way switch, build and start a campfire without matches or a lighter, change his own oil, headlight bulbs, & tires, hit a bullseye with a pistol at 20 yards, swim a mile, drive a stick shift, tie a necktie and a bow tie, build a computer from components & install the OS, prepare five tasty meals from scratch, sail a small boat, read a book and summarize it, navigate with a map and compass, tie five proper knots, and lots of other things the average man can't do.

[@WJW2272]

You missed ;fly any helicopter,drink 2 bottles of vodka and make countless supermodels fall arse over tits in lust of you!

[@robertkuszak6399]

i agree with you 100% . Not that many true men left. Sure you can bench 300 pounds and navigate an iphone. But can you do the other 99%. i dont think so. Myself, i can do everything you mentioned above and %100 more.

[@batl_born702]

I can actually do almost all of those, and of the 4 that I would say I currently can’t do, I’ve never actually tried to do. I do feel fairly confident I could figure it out, except swimming a mile, that’s a long way. I would definitely need to work up to that. I don’t swim very often.

[@vectoreyes]

So what you're basically saying is that the average man should be able to do anything? Got it.

[@SP30305ATL]

@@vectoreyes Really? I thought some of those were a little bit of a stretch and in all covered a variety of areas, but not "anything" level broad or deep. Like the car stuff is still pretty basic--I left out somewhat more complex stuff like changing a water pump or alternator. You should be able to change oil, tires, headlights, and filters after watching YT videos, perhaps with someone more knowledgeable watching over you the first time. Same with the plumbing and electrical work. I didn't put a time limit on the mile swim--anyone should be able to do it with decent form and physical fitness. Being able to tie neckties and rope knots is easy *if* you've ever taken the time to learn. But yes, I believe the average man should have some basic level of competency in a fairly broad range of skills. Which skills did you find unreasonable?

[@skycptn8819]

It depends on what you do daily, what your goals are, and how much time you have. I have a very physical job. Because of that, I have large forearms. Everyone calls out my "Popeye" arm look. My friends have far less physical jobs (sales and such). I work 10 hour days and they work when they want. So, they get more gym time than I do. I go every morning before work at 4:30 am. They can beat me on the bench by far. But, I can easily out curl, grip, deadlift, and arm wrestle them all down. I weigh the least amount, too (about 180 lbs). My friends that dont usually work out will sometimes tag along on weekends with us to the gym. They can barely get 135 lbs up. Anyway, I can get 225 lbs up fairly easily. But I dont work out that high. I haven't maxed out my bench in a while. Usually, I work out at 185 lbs at 3-5 reps. I try to focus on the muscles I dont use at work.

[@skriabinfly]

⚠️Do not flat-bench press alone. If you fail, the bar can roll back to your neck and choke you to death. Many people have died this way. Ways to make it safer: (1) lift with a spotter; (2) incline the bench slightly (upon failure the bar will roll to your waist, better than neck); (3) do not use collars so you can dump the weights; (4) use dumbbells or substitute weighted deficit decline pushups. If one person sees this comment who needs to see it, could make a difference. Be safe! 🙏

[@DANA-lx8cv]

Bench in a power cage or with safeties set at a proper height. Problem solved. It boggles my mind why most gyms don't have benches with (adjustable) spotter arms. I can't count how many times I would have been pinned under 3 plates without them, plus it allows you to go to failure whenever you want.

[@zerrodefex]

@@DANA-lx8cv seriously, I got a rack just for the safety arms alone as I couldn't progress further in my home gym without that very real concern. Commercial gyms should have half racks at minimum at each bench IMO.

[@bakotako]

Having a set number is dumb. I say 1x body weight or slightly below. Absurb to think a 135 lb guy can press 225.

[@dodgemyshredwowtv8290]

I started at 126lbs body weight, benching 80-90 pounds MAX for 1 rep. Started in april, and by the END of august, sept 1st you could say I could rep 225 for one, at 143ish body weight. My heighit is 5'9, early 20's of age.

[@mikerotchburns42069]

From a .71x BW bench to 1.57x BW in 6 months, stop making up numbers.

[@dodgemyshredwowtv8290]

@@mikerotchburns42069 i got video progression of it with time stamps lol. No numbers made up dawg.

[@jirensan828]

5:45 Did that lady really say 1500 lbs?

[@therealest118]

"50 to 100 pounds"

[@kd4yhs]

"Benchpress Monday", my favorite day. Since my open heart surgery at 55, (three years ago, for which I blame the Moderna Vaccine), I had to reset my training regimen. I'm not a monster, just fit & healthy 165#, but I was doing two big wheels for 3x10 reps or dumbells 60# for 3x10. post-surgery I started with 10# dumbells and now 40's. Interestingly, I've shown better development with the lighter weights and more frequent training.... So, as to how much should a guy my size lift: that which provides the best results. Great vid, a new take on an old topic. Peace!

[@kd4yhs]

Oh, and my least favorite training day is Thursday: Rows & Pullups. But I am happy to know I can do more pullups now than I could in the Marines back in '88.

[@albertonunez2045]

Whenever I bring a complete novice to the gym I can usually get them to bench one plate. For 135. Sample size 6. 4 of them could.

[@ninjadudeofficial]

Guess you don't bring many skinny guys to the gym. Drags that average wayyy down

[@kingkong1040]

Are they 5'3 and 135lbs or 6'4 and 220lbs? Kind of missing some important information here.

[@TheKickenWING]

Everyone should be able to bench press their body weight

[@travisjump82]

Average man could lift .5 body weight. Average man SHOULD be able to lift 1x body weight. “Strong” starts at 1.5x body weight. What you can lift is incredibly relative to what you weigh.

[@kezif]

how does overweight fir in that equation?

[@travisjump82]

@@kezif the same. If you’re 300lbs, you should, at the very least, bench 150lbs. If anything it’ll be easier as overweight people will have a shorter range of motion and less work done at depth

[@broggie123]

What are we classing as a man would 18-20 have the same strength as a 20-25 year old?

[@cjvagnone3020]

Bench your body weight Squat 1.5 body weight Deadlift 2X body weight Should be completely standard

[@AgentSmith911]

So a guy who weighs 100 kg should be able to deadlift 200 kg? We're talking about an average dude off the street here, it's likely he's never seen the inside of a gym before. A more realistic number would be 70% of bodyweight in the bench press, 90% in squat and 95% in deadlift.

[@lloyd011721]

squatting is easier than deadlifting for alot of people

[@quentinchoumont3437]

These are what I would set as achievable goals for the average man but not what I would expect any random guy to do raw

[@do_odman]

@@AgentSmith911 yes, they should, but they probably won't lol, if you weigh 100kg and can't pull 200kg you probably only have ever deadlifted mama's mashed potatos!!!

[@do_odman]

@@lloyd011721 for the average tho

[@Peatore]

I think a 2 plate bench is very achievable for most dudes. May take 3 or so years, but I don't think It's unreasonable.

[@jd9119]

i tend to believe most guys if they wanted to dedicate themselves have the potential to do a 3 plate bench for reps. Now if they can or can't depends more on much they're willing to work to obtain it.

[@neilboucher2529]

Whatever your body weight is

[@joemama226]

That’s easier the lighter you are

[@neilboucher2529]

Its harder the heavier you are so it works itself out.

[@joemama226]

I benched more than Hafthor Bjornsson, the strongest man to ever live, in relation to my Bodyweight before my sophomore year in high school but his lift was undoubtedly more impressive

[@heavymetal1ization]

@@wade6282 even at a more realistic weight, a 140kg bw bench is a lot more impressive than a 60kg bw bench

[@shawnhill4216]

Started lifting a year ago at 55. Using bro split with an app to keep track, I hit a 1 rep max of 335 a month ago. It was on a smith machine so I don't include the 25# of resistance from the bar. I also weigh 262# for reference.

[@TheKrumster]

Anyone man who lifts consistently for five years should bench 315.