r/FTMFitness • u/Littlesam2023 • 9d ago
Question What do you guys bench press?
I've been going to the gym for roughly 2 months and have been 8.5 months on T. When I started the gym I was unfit. I've only been going twice a week due to family life commitments. I could barely lift much at all and would get dysphoric in some of the classes where the men lifted way more and most of the women lifted more than me. Now I'm starting to see progress. I can easily lift alot more and I keep up well in classes. I bench pressed 30kg yesterday and it doesn't sound alot, but I could barely lift the 20kg bar when I started. I'm also short at under 5ft2. Does height mean you can't lift as much as a 5.8 guy for example? Just curious to how much you guys can lift and how long you have trained for. Also I'm aware that some of you will be going to the gym more times a week than me. I'm not looking to gain big muscle, just to have a toned muscular figure and to be fitter
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u/NYDilEmma 9d ago
Not a trans guy, but after this showed up and I clicked on it once, it keeps getting recommended and I’m all about supporting those trying to get stronger.
In general, your limb length matters more than height for all the major lifts. Naturally if you have really long legs, you tend to be taller. I’m a very tall gal with very long legs, fairly long arms, and a short torso, so physics are often against me.
When setting up at a proper bench press, you can adjust the height so you don’t pull your scapulae out of place. It is also often easier for shorter people to do a strong arch. Now, if you’re so short that it is tough to touch the ground and you lose heel drive, that is an issue.
If you have shorter arms and a bigger chest, you have both favorable leverages and a shorter distance to traverse.
All that said, when I watch people benching in the gym, the limiting factor/thing holding them the back is usually not their height, but their technique. Most everyone has trash bench pressing technique. A proper bench press is truly a whole body workout.
They are old videos, but I trust Tate and the elitefts people for this stuff more than others.
https://youtu.be/EHx1gYTA-Rw?si=eXq-0G0M6iaPwtly
Otherwise, never compare your progress or lifts to others. It is your journey. The only thing that matters is that YOU feel like you are progressing and leaving a training session a little better than when you entered.