Jaw dropping strength

[radiusulnar]

Last night I just saw someone do incline bench with 40kg dumbbells for reps in real life.

 

I couldn't believe it. I thought I was watching a YouTube or TikTok video.

 

Anyone witnessed feats of strength in real life?

[abcwater]

Progressive overload, you can too Just takes time, don't rush it

[radiusulnar]

35 minutes ago, abcwater said:

Just takes time

 

Might never happen! I've been stuck on 25kg dumbbells for incline bench for a while. 27.5kg already seems like a bridge too far...

[AskMeNot]

Try something in between 25 and 27.5KG?

[radiusulnar]

8 minutes ago, AskMeNot said:

in between 25 and 27.5KG

 

Nothing in between.

 

I even tried slower reps (4 seconds) for 25. But when move to 27.5 the jump was still too big. Maybe my body limit

[egal]

did u feel like u wanted him to lift u, lol

[abcwater]

19 hours ago, radiusulnar said:

 

Might never happen! I've been stuck on 25kg dumbbells for incline bench for a while. 27.5kg already seems like a bridge too far...

You can try perfecting 25kg with reps, deep stretch, full contraction. It's not always about how heavy you lift. If you can improve the form and control, its good progress and overloading the body too. 
Once you are ready but if the jump is too big, you might wanna consider tiny rubber add-on weights (random pic from google search below)
Or probably your triceps strength or shoulder stability is a bottleneck, can try to add a few sets to improve that. 

Sometimes switching to different exercises may help too. You may switch to machine, then back to free weights then surprise yourself
Don't give up!

[radiusulnar]

1 hour ago, abcwater said:

tiny rubber add-on weights

 

So cute! My gym doesn't have I think. Would it be too wierd to buy from shoppee and bring along? Later other users think I'm stealing gym equipment when I bring them home. 😂 

1 hour ago, abcwater said:

deep stretch, full contraction.

I've managed to increase the tempo to 5. To the point I'm getting self conscious about the snails pace.

1 hour ago, abcwater said:

triceps strength or shoulder stability is a bottleneck,

Good point. I will work on them too.

 

Thanks for the tips!!

[Thatguy642]

I saw someone full stack the pec deck (chest fly) and do a seated row (plate loaded) with 120kg each hand. Guy was built like a superhero.

[Thatguy642]

On 7/25/2025 at 1:15 PM, radiusulnar said:

 

Might never happen! I've been stuck on 25kg dumbbells for incline bench for a while. 27.5kg already seems like a bridge too far...

How many reps and sets are you doing with 25?

[radiusulnar]

8 hours ago, Thatguy642 said:

full stack the pec deck (chest fly)

 

I feel my pec already just reading this

 

8 hours ago, Thatguy642 said:

reps and sets

 

4 sets of 8.

 

[Thatguy642]

11 hours ago, radiusulnar said:

 

I feel my pec already just reading this

 

 

4 sets of 8.

 

Maybe you wanna try 3/4x6 of 27.5 slowly until you can get back to 4x8? Or maybe you’ll want to go back to barbell incline bench just for a while because you can increase the weight in smaller denominations just to get over the plateau. 
 

 

[radiusulnar]

1 hour ago, Thatguy642 said:

go back to barbell incline bench

 

GENIUS! I'm ashamed to say this didn't occur to me!

Gonna try out soon

 

[radiusulnar]

@Thatguy642 thanks for your helpful suggestion. After switching to incline barbell for the past 4/5 weeks, I've now nailed the 27.5kg dumbbells! Going to stay on them for a while to work on the stabilizers.

Edited September 15, 2025 by radiusulnar

[Thatguy642]

6 minutes ago, radiusulnar said:

@Thatguy642 thanks for your helpful suggestion. After switching to incline barbell for the past 4/5 weeks, I've now nailed the 27.5kg dumbbells! Going to stay on them for a while to work on the stabilizers.

That’s awesome! Yeah good to switch it up every once in a while when plateauing but if you’ve been working out for as long as you obviously have then maybe you just need a little reminder!
 

on to 30KG really soon  

[radiusulnar]

On 9/15/2025 at 4:11 PM, Thatguy642 said:

on to 30KG really soon

 

Hopefully before year end! My Christmas present to myself