115#s dumbells.

Ive been working dumbell flat bench for past 6 or 7 months.  I spent a lot of time on smith machine flat bench which causes loss of secondary muscles strength. the machine guides the barbell straight up and down, but you push the weight.  the smith has its usefulness but not as a primary bench press workout. I wasnt doing any free weight bench at all. So I had to retrain my muscles to steady and balance a barbell full of weight as well as  bench pressing it. sounds easy, but it takes a  little time. So I told my lifting partner lets switch to dumbells for this .

We started out with 75 - 85 # dumbells. we soon moved up to 100#s.  I was knocking out sets of 10 reps for 5 or 6 sets in no time.
Next up was the 110#s.  this is a 20lb jump. each dumbell weight is 110#s.  this is a big jump in the world of dumbells.  I started out doing 10 reps 1st set, then 6 reps 2nd set. After several weeks I was doing 3 sets of 10 , then a set of 6 or 8. I said let me try the 120#s.  this is a BIG DEAL. mentally its very difficult.  these dumbells can and did get away from me on 2 occasions and I luckily avoided them dropping on my face.  I started taping the grips after dropping them mid lift. it takes a strong grip to hold heavy dumbells, 110#s and 120#s even more so. Well I  did the 120#s for a set of 8 reps. This was the one and only time I did the 120#s or 115#s.  I told my lifting partner when I master the 110#s I get back to the 115#s and 120#s.  No sense in just lift them for 1 set then being too tired to lift anymore. 
Well over the last several months I mastered the 110#s but was intentionally avoiding the 115#s, 120#s.  A mental block , its very real. Hell Ive done the 120#s months ago, I ve been lifting and training hard. Why was I getting paralysis on 115#s.  So today I said its go time. I just did heavy back rack yesterday,  wasn't really feeling good after my first 3 or 4 sets of 100#s and 110#s today. A little sore and tired, so I told myself,  what better time then now. It makes your brain do what it absolutely does not want to do. DEAL WITH SOME PAIN.
So after 2 sets of 15 at 100#s,  then 2 sets of 12 at 110#s I taped up the 115#s.  I  placed them on bench at my knees and got my mind focused, prayed for a good lift and no injuries.  BAM.
Layed back with them pulled tight into my chest and once flat on bench I pushed them up. Bam.
Firtst set of 10 , Done ! Finally dealt with that mental blockage. Waited 5 mins and did a second set of 10. Yep, Feeling good about this. Next lift I will be repping the 120#s now that I broke through mental wall.

#lifter#pumpingiron #gym #meathead #focus #benchpress #dumbells