reached 120 DB now what?

[copaaz]

My gym only has DB's up to 120lbs and I will be reaching that weight within the next week or two. Of course i want to put my chest through increasingly more stress but what do I do when I reach the max DB's? Going to another gym isn't an option because of where I live. I do not do bench presses as they are hard on my shoulders.

[austinite]

Well, sounds like it's time to buy equipment for home use.

[copaaz]

Um, yeah definitely not an option or room for that.

[kelkel]

Quicker pace. Pre-fatigue. More reps, slower reps, etc...

[likelifting]

I wish I had your problem.

Congrats!

[austinite]

Quicker pace. Pre-fatigue. More reps, slower reps, etc...

Then do this ^.

[Soar]

I wish I had your problem.

Congrats!

I know right lol.

[Twin]

Change the rep range . or do dumbbell flat press as your last exercise. and focus on another body part exercise as your first workout to start off with... or swap flat db bench with incline press with incline press. lots of options to force you to go lighter... that was my plan . i got up to 130lb dumbbell chest press for 3 and the max at my gym was 140s. but i was not worried. I did "PHAT" style training. And could have changed my dumbbell flat press power workout to my last exercise of the day so that i am forced to go lighter and focus on other body part... look into incline dumbbell flat press.it still works the chest and you are weaker at inlcine db press than flat, so doing this exercise can force you to go lighter.

[baseline_9]

Quicker pace. Pre-fatigue. More reps, slower reps, etc...

This ^^^^

Start off by blasting your chest with a cable cross over....

Do you not have a bench press? If so get benching.... But learn how to bench first in a cross between a powerlifting and bodybuilding style to help prevent injury...

[clarky.]

Slower reps

[BBTrevor]

Seated bench with wide grip so its easier on shoulders?

[copaaz]

I am doing incline DB presses as I do not do anything straight bench.

BBTrevor, no idea what you just said.

[dan991]

My gym only has DB's up to 120lbs and I will be reaching that weight within the next week or two. Of course i want to put my chest through increasingly more stress but what do I do when I reach the max DB's? Going to another gym isn't an option because of where I live. I do not do bench presses as they are hard on my shoulders.

You increase your reps, pre-exhaust so 120's are "heavy again", or just find a couple Fiat 500's in the parking lot to use instead.

[dj erk15]

I may be new to the site but not to heavy lifting. Read the better strength articles marked as important in this forum and learn how to do the correct form of bench press. In my opinion if bench press is hurting ur shoulders either ur doing it wrong or you seriously have something wrong with your shoulders.

[copaaz]

Yes, I do have a rotary cuff injury from years ago and I can't go heavy on st8t bench.

[dj erk15]

Seated bench with wide grip so its easier on shoulders?

Sorry, but i do not agree with wide grip. Keeping the elbows tucked and not fully extending the arms on bench press is what will reduce the stress and wear on shoulders. Atleast this helps me, i suffered a shoulder injury a few years back that had me on the sidlines for nearly a year. Figured i had to be doing something wrong so i done homework on how to do the correct form of bench and now shoulder pain is non-existent on my chest days. Everyone is different so my information may not be helpful im just simply asking you to give it a shot but if it still hurts the shoulders then i would discontinue the workout.

[JJ78]

Definitley do slower negative motion. Count to 4 down and power up. More reps too.

[TYHO127]

I wish I had your problem.

Congrats!

Haha me too

[Oldandbusted]

I do not do bench presses as they are hard on my shoulders.

Keeping the elbows tucked and not fully extending the arms on bench press is what will reduce the stress and wear on shoulders.

This is why the DB press doesn't hurt you copaaz. The natural inclination is to tuck the elbows with heavy dumbbells. You need to apply the same technique to the bar.

[copaaz]

Actually no that's not why DB don't hurt me. And no I don't have an inclination to tuck my elbows on DBs. The reason a regular bench hurts is because you are forcing your arms/joints to move in an unnatural way, in a fixed way as the bar can't move and your joints can't move freely. DB's your arms move in a natural free way.

[Armykid93]

I may be new to the site but not to heavy lifting. Read the better strength articles marked as important in this forum and learn how to do the correct form of bench press. In my opinion if bench press is hurting ur shoulders either ur doing it wrong or you seriously have something wrong with your shoulders.

This is incorrect. There are tons of people moving away from bench because a bar cannot track the motion of your joints. Its simple as that. Doing DB bench is fine. I've seem plenty of growth using just DBs.

[copaaz]

not to mention, I did have a rotor cuff injury in the past.