April 2000

The question-of-the-month for April comes from Kyle in Pennsylvania who wants to reach a 500 lb. bench press.  His question is:

Dear Mike:

I lift every day.  I work on different parts of my body but I lift every day.  I have a 405 max now, but I'm stuck.  Do you have any advice?

Dear Kyle:

First and foremost, lifting everyday is a big mistake, yet I find it is a very common mistake.  More is not always better and you have to be careful not to overtrain.  Try breaking your body parts down in the following way:

I guarantee you that if you following the above program, your lifts will increase.  It appears you are overtraining and not allowing enough recovery time for your muscles to recuperate and grow.

Lastly, don't ignore the importance of a healthy diet and make sure you consume enough calories.

As always, don't forget to visit the Past Qs & As and my Training Tips section for more great tips and training info.

Until next month, train hard and stay healthy.

Mike Francois

Do you have a training question for Mike?  If so, visit our Ask Mike section and submit your question.

Note: Before embarking on any nutrition, supplementation, and/or training program, consult with your physician or other licensed health-care professional.