Regards, Steve

Hi to everyone at Critical Bench,
The last two years have been a crazy ride. I had a rotator cuff injury that set my bench way back for a long time. When I finally went back to benching heavy the best I could manage was 355x2. I revisited my old Critical Bench Program from a couple of years ago, and not only did I get back to my old max of 405, I far surpassed it with a new max of 440 pounds and got it on video. In the end, 355x2 to 440x1 only took me 16 weeks. I'm 24 years old and weighed 238.5 pounds when I performed this lift. I couldn't be more pleased with your system!

Here's the video!

Hi Mike,
I ordered your Critical Bench Program several years ago and gained allot of strength from it. At the time I was 165lbs and my bench went 275 to 325 lbs. Like I said that was several years ago. I am now a US security contractor in Afghanistan I have allot of time to get in the gym.

I now weigh 205lbs and my bench is right around 430lbs. Although I have long since used the program, actually I loaned it to a friend and he never gave it back. I still use the principles from it. I was surfing the net and came across your site and just felt compelled to write you. Anyway I will be ordering another program just wanted to say your program works.

V/R
Danny Johnson

I am writing you to let you know that i have 4 weeks left of the Critical Bench Program and I will be maxing on the 5th week. I have already trippled my max before the program so I know that it is working wonders. I will be in touch with my results vid in 5 weeks. Thanks alot Mike for putting together an awesome program!

Joseph Price

Thanks a million for your Critical Bench Program, which greatly helped me to quickly re-enter a weight training program after a long layoff (15 years ago and now 39 years old).

At the conclusion of the CBP I added at least 40 pounds to my bench press. Five weeks later, I have concluded that I have added another 10 pounds or more (now a total of 50). I am between 10 and 15 pounds of achieving a 300 pd bench press. After last night's workout (weight seemed light), I know that I will be able to get there very soon and be able to continuing to increase my strength once that goal is achieved.

In addition to increasing my bench, I also put on a 1/2 inch on my arms and 1 inch on my chest. Thanks again for helping get back on track. Your program is money well spent!

There are so many fake programs out there that lead the "Average Joe" down the wrong path. I am glad that you are honest, up front, and willing to share your knowledge in order to help average people obtain their training goals. In addition, your knowledge is shared at a price that is affordable for everyone.

Thanks Again,
Thad Elliott

What a great bench workout! I worked out about 5 months and started to plateau on my bench. That's when I found the Critical Bench Program, I gave it a try and followed the program to a T. Next thing I know, I'm putting up weight that I thought was years away, from the progress I was getting prior to the program! I'm glad I purchased the program and would recommend it to anyone who wants to increase there bench in an effective and fast way!

Regards,
Ed Nowalk

I have been using Critical Bench for the past 2 years now, and I have to say it definitely works. There are even times I think it could have worked twice as good had I followed it completely to a T, but there were the occasional sicknesses, and every year once football started, the heavy lifting stopped. I am now in college, and I am continuing to use this program, and have actually used it with my friends who have also made dramatic gains (50+ pounds on their bench press, now benching 240). Now, I am a fairly skinny guy, so packing on muscle was not easy. This program is no miracle program, it does require work and rest, but it will get you results. My bench went from 140 pounds to 225 pounds. Thats 85 pounds! NO OTHER PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE COME ACROSS WILL GET YOU THESE RESULTS! Critical Bench worked for me so it can definitely work for anyone else out there.

Thanks,
Joe
nfljoe81 at aol.com

I am 16 years old..I found your program and wanted to boost my bench as much as i could by the time i became 16..i was stuck at 225 for a while and after i did your 10 week program my bench went up to 300lbs! I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to boost their bench.. I am only 5'8in tall and i only weigh 150lbs.

Colton Strout

This is a great program! The best routine for increasing your bench I have ever tried. Granted I still have a long way to go to bench 350, but I am getting there faster and with better physical results using the critical bench program. I started out being able to only bench 225 for a half dozen reps or so but after 11 weeks using the program I benched 285 twice and then 3 weeks after that I went for another max and benched 295. I will be using the critical bench program of some time to come and anyone else looking to bench more weight in a short time frame should use it to.

Trent- Boise, Id

hey this is Mike Houghton again letting you know i am 7 weeks into the program and i have already gone up 40 pounds.... i maxed out at 290 and 295 half way up, i have 3 weeks left and i know ill hit 300... i am only 16 and my birthday 5 months away..... i weigh 195 pounds at 5'9 and a half and am very lean.... i have been working at this since age of 13 with an undying devotion to wieght lifting.

Mike Houghton

I just finished your 10 week bench program . I went from 345 to 385 I was very happy with my progress. I am wondering what I should do next ? I want to continue gaining on my bench should I go light for a couple weeks or get another program from you . Also allot of the guys at the gym are using power bands can these be added to your program? I fell pretty good at 39 years old being able to bench this much.

Thank you
Mike mc

My name is Pat Mulrooney and I have had great success with the critical bench program in the past. I used the program as a junior in high school and my bench press went from 245 to 300 in only 10 weeks. It was amazing. I am now a Junior in college and have been lifting consistantly and playing football for the last 8 years. I am currently a starting defensive lineman for a D3 football college football team in New york state. My current stats are BENCH- 350, CLEAN- 325, SQUAT- 450. I am 6'2", 240lbs. Thanks again.

Pat Mulrooney
Prospect, CT

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the delay in responding. I have great news, I got up 360! About midway through between week 5 and 6 I had the flu and missed a few workouts, I can't help wondering if I hadn't maybe I would have hit 365. How long should I wait before starting the program over again? You'll be hearing from me when I hit 400, which thanks to you shouldn't be too long. This is the first product ever, including all the "magic" routines in the muscle mags that delivered what was promised and then some. The whole system has made me stronger in every way, I can't thank you enough.

Thanks again and take care,
Dustin

Mike,
"Just wanted to tell you how much I love the Critical Bench Program. The setup of the exercises is great without the structure of the workout I probably would not have finished. I'm 33 years old I quit smoking in Sept. of 04 with the thought in mind of getting back into the shape I was in ten years ago when I got out of the Army. But after ten weeks and the Critical Bench Program I'm benching more the I was then you helped me to increase my one rep max from 170 to 260. YEP 90 lbs in 10 weeks. Thank you. I'm now doing a 18 week program, the Optimum Anabolics workout. After that I'm going to order the Critical Bench program to increase once again Iknow I will not see a 90 lb gain again but i know i can get the 50 lb increase. With my main goal being to bench at least 350 by the time I'm 35. Again thank you and I will be in touch."

Thanks,
Rich Hayden

P.S. The girls on the site are the hottest. Especially Nikki Warner.

"I purchased the critical bench workout to get to a 500 max.I followed the program to the tee my bench went from 465 to 500 plus in the short time of 11 weeks. I continued on my muscle mass grew and the strength continued to go up I broke the Alabama state record with a 540 press at weight of 210 in the WABDL world championship held in Reno, NV 2002. The program has worked so well for me that I presently have a 580 lb at the same body weight with more lean mass.The work has allowed me to compete in bodybuilding and powerlifting.I would to send you some photos and info to join the 500 club ; 600 is my goal or 3 times my bodyweight and still compete in both sports."

BIGIRON, bigiron600@yahoo.com

"Gentlemen:

I am almost 49 years old. I began lifting again a year and a half ago after a 20 year hiatus. My previous best bench was 310 lbs at a bodyweight of 195 when I was 29 years old. This time around I was stuck at 300 lbs for four months. I ordered your program in an effort to get off this plateau. I live with all the distractions and maladies which make it difficult for guys my age to stick with any program. (Job and family pressures, travel, and in my case Sciatica etc...) Anyway it's been 12 weeks now. I adhered to the program as best I could. Today I benched 325 lbs at a bodyweight of 205. ( I just missed an attempt at 335). I am absolutely delighted with these results and can readily see how a young man's efforts could pay off with much larger gains. I intend to go on a maintenance program, lose ten pounds and order your program again in the spring. My ultimate goal is to begin benching competitively in another year when I can join the over fifty group.(The AAU Raw record for us old guys is only 335 in the 198 lb class) It's a pleasure to deal with a company which delivers on their promises. Good luck in the future and Thank You very much."

Fran Clark, Johnson City NY

"Critical Bench Brothers,
I am 43 years old and I weigh 212. I entered my first powerlifting competition on 1/18/03 "Deal with the Steel" a Jamie Harris production. I successfully won the 220 lbs. Masters and Open class with a masters world record, 600 lbs bench press on my 2nd lift. Just missed a 625 on my 3rd lift. I am getting stronger and learning so much more about the bench. I will be at the Masters National Championships in Daytona come this May. I will accomplish a 650 bench press at this competition. July 5th, I will be at Bench America televised on Fox sports net. I will accomplish a 675 Bench press a this competition. I'm very new to the sport but I've always had a strong bench press. I've only used a single ply shirt at this point. (Imagine...) I'm excited and and thankful for some of the tips I've gotten from critical bench. This is an awesome web site and "yes you can teach an old dawg new tricks". My quest for 700 is in my grasp!!!"

Mark Carter
MCarterrush@aol.com

"I am 15 years old and I ordered the Critical Bench program and loved it! I have been lifting for a year now and I have been stuck at 165 as a 1 rep max and I could never break it. I searched around the internet for different workout routines and I found this bench program. I decided to order it and I was so glad I did. My bench press went from 165 to 205 in 11 weeks. I am definitely going to try this program again."

Sincerely, Kyle Wells

"Critical Bench,

I wanted to take the time to write you a quick note about all of the feedback I am getting about your Bench Pressing Program that you offer there at Critical Bench. As a business owner myself, I always feel obligated to pass along information and feedback when I can. Over the last year or so that I have become aware of Critical Bench and your Bench Press Program, I have talked to and run into customers of my own, Pro ranking Bodybuilders, Strongmen, Powerlifters and other business associates etc. that have had nothing but Outstanding things to say about Mike Westerdal, Critical Bench and your Excellent Bench Pressing Program. Seems that these days I can't turn without Critical Bench coming up in a conversation. I personally know several people that have used your program with max results. You have developed a great program and it indeed works very very well. I continue to recommended your Bench Pressing Program to anybody that I come in contact with."

Sincerely,

Alan Thomas
Owner APT's Pro Wrist Straps
www.ProWristStraps.com

I am 54 years old and was about 182 at the time of starting your program. I was in pretty good shape and have been working out for years. I am a certified personal trainer and an investor in Southlake Nautilus Systems a 3-store chain of health clubs here in Northwest Indiana.

The immediate results of your program have been incredible. Although I have watched my diet for years my body fat never seem to get below 15% no matter what I did. In order to be succesful I decided to get real serious with your program and to follow it verbatim. I put new rigor in eating enough protein and found I was hugely focused on your ideas. In a few short weeks I have lost 3% bodyfat while only losing 2-3 lbs. My strength in every bodypart has gone up tremendously and everyone at the club has been asking me what I have been doing so others have noticed as well. Sure feels good to have members of the opposite sex compliment an old man. This program has been perfect for me and proved that as I suspected my previous workout program of full-body 3 times a week was overtraining. End result, I am looking at a wastline that is only a inch away from college days and I feel terrific. I am entering my first competition (yes, I know it is mid-cycle in your program) this Saturday and looking forward to seeing what I can do. It is not about winning but having fun and proving the value of your training methods. I thank you for your program."

-Steve Moskowitz, Merrillville Indiana

"Dear Critical Bench,
When I ordered your program my max was about 210. After the 10 weeks I put up 255! I couldn't be happier with the results. After a few weeks of light workouts I started the program again. And last week, weighing 160 at age 16 I maxed at 285! (with the help of only protein and multi-vitamins). I was shocked. My goal now is to bench twice my bodyweight by the end of senior year, and thanks to what I've learned from critical bench, I don't think I'll have any trouble."

Thanks for the gains, David Sorensen

"Before your program I was maxing out at 270 lbs and wanted to get past the 300 lb barrier. In 11 weeks I got up to 305 lbs, a 35 lb increase which was far more than I expected. Not only did my max go up but your program totally revised my approach to working out. Before I was benching 2 times a week and not seeing results. The program is set up perfectly so I got sufficent recovery for all of my muscle groups. I still adhere to the rep ranges and exercises it outlines and I'm steadily getting stronger and stronger. Thanks a lot for the great program!"

-Jason Coelho, Chicago IL

"Hey guys: I have learned an awful lot from your site. I was recalled from the Reserves after 9/11 and took my first critical bench hat with me to Afganistan. So everyone put something on a significant hill. Mine had a American flag and some other items on it. So know you can say your company is part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. I sure liked it and often am given the opportunity to share your website with others because they see the hat."

-Gregg L. Ramsdell, Special Operations, USA

"To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Chris Liekweg and I am a senior at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. I am studying sport psychology and am very much interested in your Web site and the progress that your company has and will continue to make. I purchased your program last fall and increased my max, just like you said, from 245 to 295. I wanted to thank you for what you have given to me. You see, I love my training and therefore treat it with the highest interest and respect. Very rarely do I let what I read or hear interfere with how I see myself achieving my goals. But when I came upon your Web site, read the testimonials and saw the pictures, I knew your program wasn't out there for the money. I knew your mission statement was more than just adding a few pounds to the bar. You saw and continue to see the mental battle that takes place between the bench and the athlete. For that, I thank you. Lying underneath the bar has always been more of a mental challenge than any other. I consistently, "psych myself out," but with your help I am learning to approach that same cage of steel with a different vision. A vision of myself already blowing through the weight with perfect form.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share my views with you. I appreciate what you have done for me as an athlete and as a student of sport psychology."

Sincerely, Christopher Liekweg

"I received your program back in May 2001, starting with a 1 rep mass of 280lbs. I finished your program and ended up benching 315lbs. A gain of 35lbs, your program has helped tremendously."

-Kevin Schmidt

"My name is Steve Bennett I am 15 years old. I am about 6'2 and 270. I play football for my high school in WEST MILFORD BABY. Critical Bench has helped me reach high numbers in my bench press in a short term. Age 15 benching 335, I think that's descent."

-Steve Bennett

"Hey Mike,
I thought I would email you and tell you how much I am enjoying your program. I've found that this Progressive Overload training works great. The best part about it is that it has helped all across the field. Now I am working every muscle once a week mostly on seperate days. At first I was a little skeptical about only doing bench once a week and doing squats once a week but I've found that when you bust your ass twice as hard one day a week it works alot better than working that same muslce twice a week just not as hard each time. Plus seperating all the main muscle groups onto different days helps as well. Everything has went up for me and I'm only half way through the 2nd week of the program!!!Also, with the way the program is set-up there is a day specificly for "back" so I've finally been able to work deadlifts into my lifting schedule. I'm really looking forward to finishing out this program. I'm thinking I will be able to surpass my goal of 315 on bench by the end of the program. I'd just like to say thanks for this great program."

-John Cook, dragracingrulz@yahoo.com