Bench Press 395 x 1, 315 x 9 3/4, Close Grip 300 x 6

[mrbong123]

good lifts need a new song though xD

[HHH396]

@mrbong123 haha thanks!

[jjames0602]

Hey, great job, man! Do you find that the elbow sleeves help? My elbows have been aching for a while now, and I was wondering if maybe sleeves would help my bench and also alleviate the pain a bit.

[HHH396]

Thanks man! Get the neoprene sleeves,they'll keep your elbows warm...but they won't stop your pain though.I would get some advil or aleve to help with the pain.Take it about an hour before you workout.The elbow sleeves help to provent injury.

[whitekid3]

this is freakin impressive... pretty soon you'll be hitting twice your body weight... incredible, good job.

[HHH396]

Thanks bro! I appreciate it!

[bettydaw1970]

good stuff man!!!

how tall are you btw?

[HHH396]

Thank you! I'm 5' 8" and weigh about 228 lbs

[megafcukphil1]

you are an inspiration

[HHH396]

Thank you!

[SML693]

Yo nice job dude! I was just wondering.. what exactly is your routine? I started benching back in february ( I'm 16 ) and I currently do 100 reps a day at 185 Monday-Friday and rest on the weekends. doing this allows me to go up by 10 pounds every week, but I dont think it's very healthy lol. You seem to gain weight to your max quite easily, so what exactly do you do?

[HHH396]

Thanks bro! Well I don't know that I have a routine so to speak.I do very little as far as sets are concerned.I'll do 2 or 3 sets of bench for chest and then maybe do something for triceps.But keep in mind,I always work to failure on every set.Most people do way too many sets and burn themselves out.Tons of sets aren't necessary.Keep it simple with basic exercises,like bench,military press,barbell row,squats and deadlifts.

[SML693]

oh ok, thanks for the advice. I've been wanting to start doing some leg workouts like squats and deadlifts, but I dont know what would be a good weight to start at, and deadlifts seem like they would be something I would easily hurt myself on. What do you think I should start at?

[HHH396]

Try squats first,start out with as little as 115-135 lbs and do higher reps to get used to the movement.If that feels good add 20-25 lbs each week.If your worried about deadlifts and your back then don't do them.The last thing u want to do is hurt your lower back.

[scootkid101]

wow u could easily of cleared 400 pounds for your max and benching 300 pounds close grip 6 times is really difficult especially right after u maxed out ..great video.. keep up the good work

[HHH396]

Thanks man! Yeah I'm looking to go over 400 this week....thanks for the comment!

[PowerlifterTy16]

great job buddy! its been a while.. ive been busy..

[HHH396]

Thanks Tyler! How has your training been going? You haven't had a video for a while.

[PowerlifterTy16]

i broke my collar bone about 3 weeks ago.. but ive been listening to the doctor and im almost 100% now.. ill try to get some vids up soon.. ive been lifting at the gym for about 2 months now but ill record a few lifts in the old attic :)

[HHH396]

Oh sorry to hear about that.I hope you get feeling better soon!

[PowerlifterTy16]

thx my friend

[barjay8519]

almost got 10 on 315.. your regular grip is considered close grip to me, so your close grip is super duper close, so props for being able to do that much weight that close and sticking out the 6th rep...

[HHH396]

Thanks bro! Yeah i hear that a lot.I wish I could use a wider grop.

[HHH396]

Thanks my friend! Yeah give it the rest that it needs and comeback slowly.

[5144dude]

Hey man. Nice job yet again. Good to see you back at it. One question. Have you ever thought of trying a little wider grip? I would imagine not considering you have such strong delts with all the overhead pressing movements. Just wondering. Keep it up and good luck!

[HHH396]

Thanks bro! Yeah I have tried a wider grip and it aggravates my shoulders and I'm actually stronger with the medium grip.

Thanks again for the comment!

[barjay8519]

well HHH396, I had a similar problem as this before... if you want to go wider you would have to start lower again and get your shoulders back up to par with your triceps, after a few weeks you should be back where you are in regular grip.. and you would have an easier time doing fuller reps and your range of motion would be almost cut in half.. power is supposed to be explosive and fast, but the longer your reps take to perform the harder it is to make that possible

[HHH396]

Well said!

[haydencantact]

The World's Strongest triceps.

[HHH396]

haha I wish! I actually have lost a fair amount of tricep strength.I've been slacking off on my tricep training.I should be hitting 300 x 10 on close grips.

[strongmanzack]

well done!

[HHH396]

Thanks Zack!

[BIGDADDYJOHNSON27]

where did you get them spot racks at , and how much did they cost ?

[HHH396]

Hey Ronald,I sent you a pm to your inbox

[BIGDADDYJOHNSON27]

thanks man i should be picking them up soon :)

[zaz01]

Awesome Mark !!

[HHH396]

Thanks bro,I appreciate it!

[cyberkai99]

Great workout. I think you should touch your chest on your heavier sets though. Lighter sets don't matter. Anyways, you look like your good for a 410 pound PR. Keep pushing the bar up! I hope to match you and Chris at some point. Great workout.

[HHH396]

Thanks Chris,I agree,I usually always touch but my chest has been quite tight the last couple workouts.I was just trying not stretch a tight muscle.I think 410 in the next couple weeks is doable....thanks again!

[otk8963]

Fantastic workout Buddy. Man i was willing ya on that 10th rep. Awesome!!!!!

[HHH396]

Thanks Andrew! Yeah I was just a little too tired after the 395 lbs to get that last 1/4 rep with 315.I think next week I'll have some more....stay tuned!

[bibearfan]

Mark and Alex - you know, you're both sex symbols whether you like it or not!

[HHH396]

Hahha thanks man!

[HHH396]

The only way I can try 407 lbs,is if I tie two standard 1 lb plates to the bar.I don't have 1 lb olympic plates

[HHH396]

Only second to you bigboy ; )

[fastandrea]

Good Job! ( are the safety racks helping psychologically? )

[HHH396]

Thanks! No I just have been eating better(more milk and protein) I'll try a little heavier next week,if I'm feeling it.Like 405-410 lbs we'll see.

[HHH396]

haha you saw what I was eating today ; )

[HHH396]

Next time you go heavy,come over and we'll bench together.

[HHH396]

Thanks Alex! Next week I'll try slightly more...we'll see how it goes.

[WinterHaven]

Damn dude! You are getting sexier and sexier! And I sure love your legs and thighs! WOW! I'm drolling!!!

[HHH396]

haha thanks...I try my hardest to look sexy for my fans ; )

[BRETZERR]

That's awesome Mark! It's coming back nicely...

Question: Are you purposely stopping the rep just before touching your chest? It's only like a half an inch away, but I have never seen you doing it like that before...

Just curious.

Great job bro...next week you should hit 4 plates. I haven't done anything over 365 lbs for awhile, but when I hit 315 lbs for 10 reps (hopefully in 2 weeks) I will start working back up in weight.

50 stars Mark!

[HHH396]

Thanks Randy! Yeah I usually always toouch my chest but the last couple workouts my chest has been really tight.I just don't want to over stretch it and pull or rear something.

[BRETZERR]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I think it is actually harder to do what you did there....I think you'll find it a bit easier when you decide to go right to your chest. You get a bit more torque when you touch your chest...

Awesome Mark...can't wait to see 400+ next...

[hosslogan]

I think you could have gotten 5 more pounds. Nice job, though.

[HHH396]

Thanks bro! Yeah i think i had 5-10 lbs more...I'll save it for next week.

[WeightLifterNerd]

nice work mark, I think you should go straight for 315 for 10 before you max, I think you will hit 10 sooner or later.

[HHH396]

Thanks Jared! hey the comment finally shows haha!