Am I a beginner?

[Vivaldi]

Bench Press, 4 reps with a pair of 27.5 kilograms dumbbells.

Shoulder Press 5 reps with a pair of 20 kilograms dumbbells.

Am I a beginner?

[jp612612]

Yeah, definitely. I mean, especially bench press, which is an exercise that typically all men excel at. Normally, men bench press with a bar which is 45# and a single 45# plate on each end for a total of 135# -- which is about 60 kg. So, you're basically doing the smallest amount that a male will typically lift with and I would say that most would do three sets of 10 reps each. My best friend who is a tall skinny guy actually started with 35# plates so he started at 115#/52 kg -- but even he still did three sets of 10 reps.

But you know, who cares? Keep going to the gym! Just the fact that you're there means you're way ahead of most people.

[Vivaldi]

But bench press with dumbells are more difficult. Why are you comparing it with barbell.

[Vivaldi]

2*27.5 kilograms equal to 55 kilograms but it is dumbell bench press, not barbell.

[Vivaldi]

You can get less strength from your chest at dumbell bench press. More arm muscle works less chest muscle work. More difficult.

[Vivaldi]

I have been doing dumbell bench press for 8 months at home.

[jp612612]

Because that's what guys normally do when they bench. And I'm not sure if dumbbells are more difficult. They're definitely less safe because they're harder for someone to spot you -- which I think is the true reason why someone uses less weights on a dumbbell. No one even comes close to their max on a free weight without a spotter. At least, no non-beginner would. But from your replies, I sense you're self-conscious about something (while I've been replying to this, you've sent three more replies -- stop and think about that for a second). I mean, if you want to say you're a pro, then you're a pro as that apparently matters to you. I will say this though -- I go to the gym a lot and I don't count anything unless I can do 10 reps of it.

[Vivaldi]

Everybody says dumbell bench press is harder actually. Since I have dumbells at home, I work with dumbells.