I’m not training for competition purposes or anything, just to be stronger and in better shape than I was yesterday. I’m not training to make a certain body part bigger or more defined… I’m training for my ENTIRE body to be better.
I have found Squats, deadlifts and chins to be absolute musts for training for a better self for obvious reasons of working so many muscles and challenging the body better than any other movements.
When it comes to upper body, I’m finding the strict standing overhead press to be the most beneficial upper body movement. It challenges so much more than the shoulders… My lats, traps, core, lower back and triceps are all worked to the max, whereas when I bench I’m just really sore in my shoulder girdle.
Because I am not competitive and not training for anything but a stronger self, I find the press to be so much better than bench because of the real-world strength purposes (standing and throwing a bar overhead) versus getting to lay down and bench.
Is it a bad idea to just press and not bench in my situation? And if not, are pushups and dips a good substitute for the bench if I’m only pressing?
Open to conversation on this topic.