Can We Guess How Much You Can Bench?

By: Raj Chander
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can We Guess How Much You Can Bench?
Image: Hinterhaus Productions / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The bench press is more than just a great exercise for improving upper body strength and building muscles in your chest, triceps and shoulders. It's a portfolio of your work in the gym, a way that people can tell how committed you are to the iron. Ask someone their bench press maximum and you're well on the way to answering the question, "Do you even lift, bro?"

The bench press is not something you can get good at overnight, or that some people with natural skill can immediately pick up and do better than experienced lifters. On the bench press, we all have to start at the same level – some of us begin by just lifting the 45-pound bar or adding a few small plates to give themselves more of a challenge. As you gain strength in your upper body by repeating the bench press motion, you can pack on more and larger plates to build your strength. 

The first milestone is the ability to lift 135 pounds, or two of the largest plates available at most gyms (45 pounds each), plus the bar (45 pounds). More advanced lifters can stack two 45-pound plates on either side of the bar for a total of 225 pounds, an impressive level of strength. If you can bench more than 225 pounds, you're clearly someone who has been dedicated to training for quite a while.

Are you a newbie to the bench or a barrel-chested veteran? Step up to the bar, answer our questions, and you can find out for yourself.   

It takes frequent training to bench heavy. How often do you go to the gym?
Once in a while
Twice a week
Three to five times a week
At least four times a week, without fail
We all have our unique lifting routines. What's your split?
I use a four-day split, hitting two to three groups on each day.
I use a push/pull split.
I do upper body and lower body.
I mostly just use the machines.
Some love it, some hate it – how into cardio are you?
I do it sometimes, but not too often.
I rarely do cardio – most of my gym time is spent lifting.
I like running sometimes.
I mix cardio and lifting evenly.

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It helps to have a bodybuilding idol to admire. Which of these pro bodybuilders do you respect most?
Lou Ferrigno
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Phil Heath
Ronnie Coleman
Which of these foods do you eat the most?
Tuna
Chicken breast
Turkey meat
Pizza
Besides the bench press, which move do you enjoy most in the gym?
Squats
The core machine
Curls
Skullcrushers

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Which color clothes are you most likely to wear to the gym?
White
Gray
Black
Pink
Outside of the gym, what is your job?
Office manager
Marketing manager
Sales rep
Social media influencer
We all want to be a beast on the bench – which of these is your spirit animal?
Dolphin
Cheetah
Gorilla
Lion

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Many lifters are also fans of pro sports. What sport are you into besides lifting?
Basketball
Rugby
Football
Volleyball
Dietary habits are big for successful lifting. How often do you eat "clean"?
Almost always – diet is key to success.
Most of the time
About half my meals
I just eat whatever I want.
How far away do you live from your gym?
20 minutes or more
12-15 minutes
5-10 minutes
Five minutes or less

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Do you find that you are one of the older or younger people in the gym?
I'm older, but not among the oldest.
I'm about average age.
I'm probably one of the youngest people in the gym.
I'm young, but there are some people younger than me at the gym.
Certain times of day are more popular for serious lifters. What time do you usually get your benching in?
Midday
First thing in the morning
After work
Weekends
How many family members do you live with?
Two
Three
Five or more
Four

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What type of clothing are you most likely to wear to the gym?
Jeans
Old T-shirt
Compression shirt
String tank
Many benchers draw inspiration from movies. What's your favorite weightlifting movie?
"Pain & Gain"
"Generation Iron"
"Pumping Iron"
"Rocky"
When you are bench pressing, who usually spots you?
My trainer
My lifting partner
No one
Some random guy at the gym

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How long has it been since you started bench pressing?
Less than three months
Three months to one year
One year to three years
More than three years
Which of these Hollywood actors do you enjoy watching the most?
Michael B. Jordan
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Seth Rogen
Chris Pratt
When you are at the gym getting ready to lift, do you interact with others?
Yes, I talk quite a bit.
I'll chat occasionally.
Only if it's with people I know
No

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How frequently do you try to max out on bench?
Every time I lift
Once every few weeks
Whenever I feel like it
Every other session
Which of these is your strongest muscle group?
Triceps
Legs
Chest
Biceps
In a typical bench press set, how many reps do you complete?
As many as I can
Six to eight
Three to six
One to three

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We all know that one lifter who skips leg day. Do you squat?
Yes, at least twice a week
Usually I find time for it.
Nope, I'm an upper body person.
When I feel like it
Which of these is your weakest muscle group?
Chest
Triceps
Hamstrings
Calves
Which physical feature do you get the most compliments on?
Chest
Shoulders
Biceps
Face

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During an average lifting session, how long do you stay in the gym?
45 minutes
75 minutes
20 minutes
90 minutes
What's the main reason you go to the gym?
Get stronger
Improve both my mind and body
Build big muscles
Lose weight
Besides lifting weights, which of these hobbies do you pursue?
Basket weaving
Kickball
Playing an instrument
Philosophy

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You Got: