Tuesday Training: Bench

I decided to use the straight bar to bench. I had great success (no pain) using it to Press so I figured I'd give it a ride.

• Hang High Pull: 5x5 w/95-115
• Hurdle-unders: 5x3 each
• Bench (w/Squat Bar): 145x5/165x5/190x5/210x4 (w/suicide grip)/210x6 (w/thumb wrapped)
• Side Raises: 5x10
• Bench FSL (BBB): 10x5@165
• Pull-ups: 5x5
• Hammer Row: 2x25
• DB/BB Curls: 3x10/10
• DB Squat: 5x5 w/100
• Neck: 50
• Band Pushdowns: 50
• KB Side Bends: 50

This only took me 50 minutes. Straight bar Benching: I haven't used a straight bar in about 3 years and I'm feeling it, in a good way. My pecs actually feel like I did something. My triceps are fried. I think the FBB neglected parts of my triceps because I had trouble locking out weights that normally don't cause issues. I actually Bench more with a FBB than I do with a regular bar, now. I have to figure out if I can consistently use the straight bar to Bench. My pecs feel great. Triceps are fried. I had a little rotator pain last night and this morning. Like an idiot, I chnaged a whole bunch of things, so I can't pinpoint what's causing the pain. Was it the High Pulls? Benching? I just don't know. Nonetheless, I have to find a way to use the straight bar, at least some of the time. The work my pecs and triceps got is too good to ignore. Not to mention, on a vanity note, my arms have gotten smaller. Part of that is surgery and my intense dislike of curls and pushdowns (BORING!). After using the straight bar, I think another part of that is how much harder the straight bar hits my triceps. Ahhhh, the fun of training.