PR Overhead Press

[rockyshaun]

At a bodyweight of 200lbs I pressed 190 today. I am curious to see where everyone else is at.

[bob g]

I hit 190 last spring before a reset. I got 170x4 two weeks ago. I weigh 220-223 lately. I enjoy pressing, the kids at the gym pay attention as they do their cheater curls. Aside from one scrawny (but strong) kid, the only other dudes going overhead are as seasoned as I am (50+).

[toddmr]

My most recent PR single was 185# at about 214# bodyweight.

[Squatson]

3|5x150 @ #210

[rockyshaun]

I hit 190 last spring before a reset. I got 170x4 two weeks ago. I weigh 220-223 lately. I enjoy pressing, the kids at the gym pay attention as they do their cheater curls. Aside from one scrawny (but strong) kid, the only other dudes going overhead are as seasoned as I am (50+).

33 years old here. No one does the press in my gym. Good job on your lift.

[Gary Gibson]

All you strong mofos can kiss my butt. I'll test in a few weeks, but based on a very tough 135x5 a few weeks back I'd have to guess 155 with a strong dose of hope right now at 180-185. A little more if I clean it first. It won't be all that much better in six weeks when I weigh ~200.

[51M0n]

All you strong mofos can kiss my butt.

I'm with you on this one Gary. I would love to be strong in the press, but I seem to have a body built for squats and deadlifts only. Did 1x5x55kg (@97kg) today.

[hatmanii]

I was at 185 for 3x5 two months ago before a rotator cuff injury sidelined me for a bit. 165 for 3x5 is scheduled for tomorrow and there is no doubt that I will get all the prescribed reps.

[Carlos Daniel]

hit a solid 120 pounds 3x5 @ 165 BW

[Scrofula]

I have an embarrassing press PR of 115x3, at an even more embarrassing bodyweight of 135ish. Don't panic; I'm working on both. Hopefully, I can keep the ratio about the same or better. Exrx says I can probably hit 0.9xBW (122lb) for a single; I'd like to hit a bodyweight press before too long.

[Moving_Target]

My last press work, I got 5/5/4 @ 137lbs. I expect to get it 3x5 next time out. < shrug>

Current body weight is 204lbs wearing street clothes and hiking boots.

My squat numbers are considerably worse compared to my bodyweight.

[rockyshaun]

I was at 185 for 3x5 two months ago before a rotator cuff injury sidelined me for a bit. 165 for 3x5 is scheduled for tomorrow and there is no doubt that I will get all the prescribed reps.

Very Nice.

[Beltshumeltz]

I did 125 successfully today, at 189 pounds. My starting press was 70 pounds and I immediately stalled the next week when I had tried 75.

I'll try 130 next week, and on a 40 pound bar, so I'll get to use two 45 plates for the first time!

[blowdpanis]

My all time best press (170) is only ~61% of my all time best bench (280). Perhaps I lack teh core strength.

[LudwigVan]

I pressed 190x1 two weeks ago at a bodyweight of 193. I made three attempts at 195 today and missed them. It really goddamn pissed me off. I'm doing it next week.

[George Noble]

I did 176 after a clean which seemed pretty disappointing and I think I've got weaker since. I push pressed somewhere around 210 I think though which was nice. That was at ~190 bodyweight.

[Ian Kovtunovich]

I have an embarrassing press PR of 115x3, at an even more embarrassing bodyweight of 135ish. Don't panic; I'm working on both. Hopefully, I can keep the ratio about the same or better. Exrx says I can probably hit 0.9xBW (122lb) for a single; I'd like to hit a bodyweight press before too long.

If it makes you feel any better, my press PR was 3x3x132.5, and I was about 210 at that point. Coming back from a life-circumstances mandated deload with my first press workout today, and 105 felt pretty good. Hard lift, I think. I will often go into the workout thinking "press, yeah, light weight," and then wake up screaming from that daydream as my lower spine threatens to fold in half and the bar flirts with the ever problematic out-in-front path.

[Joe #11]

185 x 5 x 3 last week, BW is 220.

[ColoWayno]

I'm with you on this one Gary. I would love to be strong in the press, but I seem to have a body built for squats and deadlifts only. Did 1x5x55kg (@97kg) today.

Well, I would sympathize with both Gary and 51M0n but I can't squat diddly either (see what I did there?).
So kiss my flabby old man a$$.
(lbs)
125x6 @ BW195

I did just chin BW + 70 for 1 rep the other day for what that's worth.

[SamGriffin]

170x3setsx5 at ~195lbs bw.

[mikeylikey]

192 x 5,5,4 @ 100 lbs body weight.

Edit: oops, switch those numbers.

:-)

Any points for lowest PR posted so far?

[tdwaffle15]

3x5x176.25 @ 224 lbs BW

[Marotta]

3x3-155lb @ 175lb bw

[charlesj]

Last Friday I hit 165 (my bodyweight) for 4. I just couldn't get the 5th past my forehead.

[Bergie]

145 is my PR at 190 pounds. I am working to beat that, would love a BW press.

[MazdaMatt]

I was really happy about completing 3x5@115. The last rep was brutal. About 2 months ago I singled 125 and I'm certain I could do more now. BW195-200? I def WANT to single a BW press, but I'd be happy with 180. I think my end of year goal was 150 for a single. Should be doable.

[LimieJosh]

My last press session was 4X5 at 155 (gets me back to where I was a month ago before a shoulder/pec injury). I havent singled since right before the injury, but I remember not quite being able to get 175. Yesterday I did tripples of push press at 175 and a very difficult sinlge at 185.

I would have thought the gap between a 4X5 strict press and a max single push press should be bigger than that.

[dmd]

I have an embarrassing press PR of 115x3, at an even more embarrassing bodyweight of 135ish. Don't panic; I'm working on both. Hopefully, I can keep the ratio about the same or better. Exrx says I can probably hit 0.9xBW (122lb) for a single; I'd like to hit a bodyweight press before too long.

Nothing embarrassing about those numbers, at all. That's 85% of your BW, and that's higher than what most of the others have posted.

I'm struggling with 90 lb at 140 lb bodyweight.

[BrotherIron]

127kg (279lbs) Press @ 118kg (260lbs) body weight currently.

The goal is to hit 140kg (309lbs) by the end of the year at the same body weight.

[August West]

185 lb single at 235 BW, couple of weeks ago

previous 1RM was 175 about a month before that, so progress is going ok. Going for BW press as a long term goal.

[Tfin]

185x3x5 today @ new body weight of 238 lbs.

[Beltshumeltz]

You guys are inspiring, congrats.

Funny how reading this site and SS has made me no longer give a shit about benching. I only care about pressing.

[Spaceboy]

3x5x160 @ 173bw for my last press workout

[Dixen]

5x5 @ 155# yesterday. BW is at 230.

Volume day pressing fuckin knocks me in the ground...

Did a single a month ago for 192#.

[Campbell]

My best so far is 72.5kg (~160) for a single at 108kg (~240lb)

I am right in the middle of a cycle of "Pavel's russian bear" doing only Press and Deadlift 4 days a week so it will be interesting to see how much difference that makes. I will be retesting my max in the next few weeks.

[LimieJosh]

5x5 @ 155# yesterday. BW is at 230.

Volume day pressing fuckin knocks me in the ground...

Did a single a month ago for 192#.

See, that is what I was talking about in my last post - that seems like a much more reasonable jump between the 1Rm and the 5RM weight. If our weight for 4 or 5 sets of 5 across is similar, what is it limiting me to such a small increase in weight for 1RM (175lbs)?

[simonsky]

See, that is what I was talking about in my last post - that seems like a much more reasonable jump between the 1Rm and the 5RM weight. If our weight for 4 or 5 sets of 5 across is similar, what is it limiting me to such a small increase in weight for 1RM (175lbs)?

155 is just what he uses. maybe he is conservative with his 5x5 weight and he is at a level where he can do much higher than that.

or neural adaptation to max efforts but i dont know.

[IlPrincipeBrutto]

Who's got the balls to admit to an embarassing Press ?
I have !

117.5 x5 @ 204 BW.

Done last week. The last rep was an almighty struggle.

There, feeling better already.


IPB

[LondonTiger]

really impressed by your presses, you guys must have really big shoulders.. I can press 47.5kg right now.. :'(

[DanielM]

Pressed 1x5 60kg at a body weight of 78kg. Not too impressive, but it felt pretty easy so I'm fairly certain I'll be progressing without much of a problem, so I'm optimistic.

[crc]

Just hit a bodyweight press(160) in the same week that I hit a PR on the power clean. I've made good progress training no higher volume than triples(working up to 150), but I also think heavy dips have helped me get past my personal 'elbows at 90 degrees' sticking point. Weighted ab work seemed to make a big difference in giving me more press stability, too.

[Doug Jones]

About half way through my linear progression I think, and I pressed 145 3x5 at a bodyweight of 225. I have a long way to go but I can already press one of my girlfriends smaller friends. My ultimate goal is to lift a mugger over my head and snap his spine over my knee *sigh* one day.

[TrackJunkie]

If only people were as easy to lift as barbells :(

[rockyshaun]

127kg (279lbs) Press @ 118kg (260lbs) body weight currently.

The goal is to hit 140kg (309lbs) by the end of the year at the same body weight.

In the lead...

[kittenSmash]

BrotherIron is a bad motherfucker. CRC and Spaceboy rocked it too.
I was incredibly happy to get a 242 at 242 bw a couple weeks back. PR'd reps since then at 239 bw. Want to hit 260 this summer.

[MAD9692]

127kg (279lbs) Press @ 118kg (260lbs) body weight currently.



I was incredibly happy to get a 242 at 242 bw a couple weeks back. PR'd reps since then at 239 bw.

Fucking impressive.

I managed 195x1 at a B/W of 205 a few weeks ago.

[BrotherIron]

Thanks man. If you want your pressing to increase try adding Bradford Presses and Z - Presses into your routine. They wonders for me.

[Jamie J. Skibicki]

Brother,

How did you work them into your program? When, reps, sets?

TO be clear a Bradford press is when you go from the normal OH press position to the behind the neck position while just clearing the head.

Z press is a press seated on the floor.

[KONG]

215X5X3...last night. here's the last set with a little form breakdown but not too bad:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/winflex/th_100_4693.jpg (http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q220/winflex/?action=view&current=100_4693.mp4)

[MAD9692]

Kong is getting BIG!

[BrotherIron]

Brother,

How did you work them into your program? When, reps, sets?

TO be clear a Bradford press is when you go from the normal OH press position to the behind the neck position while just clearing the head.

Z press is a press seated on the floor.

I work them into my routine every 2 waves. My program is based on waves (4 week cycles). Every 2 waves, some of my exercise selection changes. I based this off the Russian Conjugate Method where exercises were changed every 5 weeks or so. With my method, I have 6 working weeks for these movements. This gives me time to benefit from them without things getting stale. Also, you shouldn't perform lifts at 90%+ for more than 4 weeks which is why I switch them like I do. I only perform 90%+ for 2 of the 6 weeks. The other 2 weeks making up my 8 week cycle are deload weeks which let me rest, recoop, and prepare my body for the beating it will take.

My Shoulder Day consists of OH Press, Power Clean (from floor, hang, or blocks), and another pressing movement (Z-Press, Bradford Press, Squat + SG Press, etc). I put them in as my 3rd shoulder movement. I utilize a 7-5-5-3-3 rep/set scheme. My purpose is to increase strength with some increase in size.

Yes the Bradford Press is performed standing and the bar is pressed in front and behind the head where the bar barely passes over the head. Each front and rear lift is 1 repetition. Z-Press is performed on the floor. Bring the bar to your clavicles and press it overhead, making sure you get your head through. Also have your legs touching and feet pointed up. Don't let them fall to the side to give some support. This movement really focuses on the core and takes all/any momentum out of it.

You can get a look at my entire program by checking out my log here. It has my diet, cardio/conditioning, and training.

[johnny_blaze]

I've hit 150lbs x 5r x 3s before.
Maxed out at 175.
Pretty unimpressive at a bodyweight of 285.
But I'm planning on hitting a 200lb press by the end of the year.

[Doug Jones]

Brother in Iron, You just made my head hurt. That all sounds so complex. I don't think I'm smart enough to ever be an advanced lifter.

[paguiob]

hit 125x5x3 the other day at 181. I was pretty happy about that since I was last stuck at 125 at a BW of 188 a few months ago.

[rockyshaun]

hit 125x5x3 the other day at 181. I was pretty happy about that since I was last stuck at 125 at a BW of 188 a few months ago.

Keep at it and it will pay off.

[bob g]

185x1x3 tonight. I think I'm about two weeks out for a PR attempt.

[BrotherIron]

Brother in Iron, You just made my head hurt. That all sounds so complex. I don't think I'm smart enough to ever be an advanced lifter.

It'll come with time bud. I literally took a year to develop my training method and it's still evolving. I call it SST (Specialized Strength Training). What I wrote is a fraction of what my workout regimen is based off of.

[Dixen]

155 is just what he uses. maybe he is conservative with his 5x5 weight and he is at a level where he can do much higher than that.

or neural adaptation to max efforts but i dont know.

Youre right, that is just the weight i used. BUT, as you suggested im not able to do higher than that. I even missed rep five in set four.

But that is just the weird correlations between rep ranges. It varies in the different lifts. My press has a huge gap between 5x5 and 1RM, and my squat has little... For others it would be different.

[Phil-James]

55kg (121lb) 5sets of 3 at bw of 196lb

Pretty poor I know, but im working on it. Long term goal is to press 90kg for at least 1rep

[beastmaster103]

I just did 145X5X3 at a bodyweight of 235 on Monday evening. I think my max was 165, prior to a stoppage due to grad school and the birth of my daughter.

[Carnivroar]

I weight 157 and my PR is 115 lbs for 5 reps.

[WatsupHannity]

3x5 @ 150 lbs. for me; I was ferociously pleased with the result. 6'7 and about 245 lbs. when I did it.

[rockyshaun]

Seems on the press you either have it or you don't.

[George Noble]

Seems on the press you either have it or you don't.
In as much as that applies to anything else in the world.

[rockyshaun]

What I mean George is that the Presses here are very low or high, not too much middle ground.

[Moving_Target]

On my last Press workout, I missed the last rep on 3x5@140lbs. I'll get get it soon enough. Is that high, low or middle ground? :)

[rockyshaun]

On my last Press workout, I missed the last rep on 3x5@140lbs. I'll get get it soon enough. Is that high, low or middle ground? :)

what is your 1 RM?

[cavscout]

260lb, with a good amount of fat. Just hit 185x5x3 today on my fourth month of training.

[Campbell]

made 1x80kg (176lb) yesterday @108kg (238lb)

[Moving_Target]

what is your 1 RM?

I've never tested it. What's the best way to find out? Guess a weight or work up from my 5RM to failure?

[homerj742]

What weight did you guys stall out on, with linear progression? (in regards to the press).

[rockyshaun]

I've never tested it. What's the best way to find out? Guess a weight or work up from my 5RM to failure?

Take your 5RM and add some weight to it. Try 1 rep and keep adding wieght until you find it.

[smitty]

3x5 @ 125 (and haven't stalled...yet). Bodyweight of 165.

[KONG]

Press PR tonight:
216.25 X5 X3 sets

Last week attempted same weight and I was just off I got 3 on the first set, 5 on the second and 4 on the last. I think I was just tired and uncoordinated...but killed em tonight like it was nothing.

Still on linear progression. I had my first stall at 200 and reset to 180 and have worked up over time to this point. The first stall wasn't a strength stall though. It was mainly an injury stall...I had some shoulder issues due to my grip on squats that I had to work through. I worked through it and here I am still on the linear progression for presses.

For reference though, my first time pressing, first workout was 155X5X3. Hoping to at least linearly progress for a total of 100lbs progress on linear progression for presses since I nearly got 200 on it for my squats and deads each...but I'm a rather large individual with plenty of frame to fill out. John suggested a bodyweight of 300lbs....unfortunately working around a bad knee injury now and plan to get back on the stick after it heals.

[bob g]

Press PR tonight:
216.25 X5 X3 sets

Yikes. Very nicely done.

My own self tonight, 150x5x3 after a mess of Oly overhead work.

[tertius]

Press PR tonight:
216.25 X5 X3 sets

For reference though, my first time pressing, first workout was 155X5X3.

Truly, your name is suitable.

I started with a press of.... wait for it, 35 pounds.
I'm currently at 75 (still adding five pounds on pressing days), which makes me feel awesome, because I've never lifted that much over my head before. The awesome feeling lasts until I come to the board and read this thread.

For perspective, I am 6'2", started at 160# (don't own a scale, and haven't weighed myself in a couple weeks, I'm somewhere above 170# now), and have 6 inch wrists.

[Ryan Long]

PR'd today with 215 at a bodyweight of 184. I thought I could hit 220 today but I kept lifting my chin when I tried 220 instead of getting my head back and out of the way. Each time I lifted my chin the bar came forward and I stalled out at the top of my forehead. There is a big differnce in knowing the right way to do something and doing it when the weights get heavy for you.

Based on where the bar kept stalling I think I'll redouble my effort on the weighted dips.

Next week I'll go back to sets of 5 at 190 and build from there for a few weeks before I attempt to max again. I think I may be overtraining bench and press right now so I hope to have a big jump after a short layoff next week.

[rockyshaun]

Great work Ryan.

[bob g]

Tonight: first I hit the PR, 195 and then the milestone, 200. Am stoked.

I knew I had the last one when I got through the transition from shoulder to triceps in one movement. It was slow, really slow but kept going up.

[Moving_Target]

Take your 5RM and add some weight to it. Try 1 rep and keep adding wieght until you find it.

Meh, I probably could but still haven't tried. I did try to get my 3x5@140lbs and botched my 2nd set (3 reps only - mental lapse) and only got 4 reps on my 3rd set (stuck just above my head).

Hum.