What is real?

[znak]

I have a buddy that I placed a small bet with. We didn't see each other for two months and bet who would bench more. When I saw him, he was effing huge. He had put on 10 kilos (22 pounds) and he won the bet by improving his max bench by 20 kilos (45 pounds).

Is there any chance at all that this was natural?

I am not being naive, I don't think so, but he swears it is true. His bench went from 286 to 330 in two months. He works his ass off, but...

Anyone ever see these types of natty gains?

[Smart@$$]

No. At that weight I have never seen a gain that quick, let alone natty.

[znak]

No. At that weight I have never seen a gain that quick, let alone natty.

The gain was real, cost me a bottle of cognac I have never seen anything like it-- a well trained athlete (33 years old) went from 211 pounds to 233 in two months.

Makes me jealous no matter how he did it, but he swears it was natty.

[Smart@$$]

The gain was real, cost me a bottle of cognac I have never seen anything like it-- a well trained athlete (33 years old) went from 211 pounds to 233 in two months.

Makes me jealous no matter how he did it, but he swears it was natty.

I am saying the gain may have been real but the natty part I have a big challenge with... especially after you saying he was already well trained and an athlete.

[znak]

I am saying the gain may have been real but the natty part I have a big challenge with... especially after you saying he was already well trained and an athlete.

You have to be pretty well trained or just plain stupid if you aren't to put that much weight on the bar.

Has anyone ever seen these types of gains?

[shortie]

You can gains like that natty, if you are a kid and it's the first time you worked out regularly with a good diet, but if the was

a well trained athlete (33 years old)

then it is highly unlikely he did this naturally.

[shortie]

The real question is, How much did you improve your bench?

[Ufa]

My opinion is he had a little help. OK lots of help. Even the 286 is heavy.

[magic32]

It's possible the baseline was a false reading. If this were true, the improvement would be easily explained.

M.

[shortie]

Well, I think the 22lbs in body weight is the clincher-adding weight to your bench isn't as difficult as everyone thinks, especially if you are not used to training for a max bench. But gaining 22 lbs in two months? Unless the guy's all fat and sloppy he had some anabolic assistance.

[znak]

The real question is, How much did you improve your bench?

My bench went up from 285 to 300. I am over 50, so I am pretty happy with that.

Losing a bottle of Henessy XO is a small price to pay to get gains at my age, but his gains are phenominal!

[shortie]

My bench went up from 285 to 300. I am over 50, so I am pretty happy with that.

Losing a bottle of Henessy XO is a small price to pay to get gains at my age, but his gains are phenominal!

Congrats Z! Improvement is improvement, even if he beat you, you beat yourself, and that's what matters!

[znak]

Congrats Z! Improvement is improvement, even if he beat you, you beat yourself, and that's what matters!

Yeah, I am happy, but am really amazed.

Does anyone out there think he could have done this natty. I keep asking cause if I am sure, then I will have to ask him to share a telphone number or two...

[znak]

Not to beat a dea horse, but has ANYONE actually seen these types of gains natural or should I ask him for a phone number?

[mkrulic]

you might have already answered this but how long has he been lifting. was he plateued (sp?) at 286 for along time? my bench went from 315 to 405 in 9 months completly natural. I concentrated on upper body to do it, specifically bench. and I was 19 at the time.

[gmmvp42]

With the right program anyone's bench can increase 15-35lbs naturally in 2 months, and the bodyweight could to, just not likely if its all muscle.

[znak]

you might have already answered this but how long has he been lifting. was he plateued (sp?) at 286 for along time? my bench went from 315 to 405 in 9 months completly natural. I concentrated on upper body to do it, specifically bench. and I was 19 at the time.

He has been lifting VERY seriously for about five years.

315 to 405 is a solid, but real, gain natty. It shows that you had your training and dicipine down. Good job.

I just noticed a typo below (f*cking kilos to pounds conversion) he went from 211 to 333 in two months, not to 233.

Slight difference.

[mkrulic]

that doesnt add up. too much gain w/ too much of a weightlifting background.
your best gains are in the begining. this is when your muscle fibers learn to all fire quickly and at the same time. after that your gains slow. five years of traing seriously should plateu a lift. I never made a single gain for 13 years after hitting 405 on a bench. untill I got a little help. did he train w/ a shirt or start using chains?