File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
I'm having some issues with the bench press.

Up until recently, I had a friend that went to the gym with me, and usually spotted me up with the weight into the starting position on my working sets. Now that he doesn't come with me anymore, and I have to lift the bar into position myself, my performance is severely decreased. Before my 5RM was 185 lbs, and now I'm barely doing 155 for 5 reps.

Is this something I can get used to and get back to the weight I was doing, or does that lifting the bar into position really exert that much energy?
>> Anonymous
you'll eventually get back to where you were. taking the weight off the bar requires you use your shoulders a bit. give it a few weeks for those muscles to catch up.
>> Anonymous
If you have to have a spotter lift the bar for you, you're not ready for 185.

Deflate your ego and start at a lower weight with proper form.
>> Anonymous
>>419578

Thanks, that does make sense, since my shoulders have been a weak point since I first started lifting. They've improved, but still something I need to work on.

>>419581

Yeah, you're probably right. I guess I was depending too much on my partner. I didn't think the setup was that big of a deal in comparison to the actual lifting (his hands were off the bar as soon as I got set up), but I guess it is an important component.