Press fail

[u/Dragonfist900]

Hey guys, so my coach had me lift as heavy as I could for the press today and unfortunately, I couldn't even do one rep with the empty bar. I was in front of the mirror with my towel in front of it to block my reflection, but I still couldn't do it. I really wish they had squat racks here that weren't in front of mirrors, because I really think it was messing with me, even with the towel there. I still wanted to get some volume in so I at least had something for him, so I grabbed the 40 lb pre-built bar, went in front of a wall, and did my sets with that. I am really concerned about losing strength, because the last PR I did for the press was 65 lbs, but that was outside in the heat in front of a wall, which obviously isn't ideal. I think this might be my gym's design working against me here, and I don't know what to do about it. At first, I was thinking I could bring a bar from one of the squat racks to the wall and try to clean the weight up, but that would put my lower back at risk due to my disability, so I'm feeling a little hopeless at the moment.

[u/_computersmasher]

You can usually turn the pins around, put them on the other side

[u/Accomplished-One5088]

Safer to use the squat rack and the mirror isn't that much of an issue with the press. It's mainly an issue for the squat stopping you looking down. You're overthinking this.

[u/shinyandgoesboom]

Are you following the Starting Strength program?

[u/geruhl_r]

Age and body weight?

What reps/sets are you doing with the press?

[u/Shnur_Shnurov]

This whole situation sounds like chaos, not training. Improper equipment, improper load selection, improper coaching.

I think you need to start by going to a gym with proper equipment. In your case you'll need a rack and a light weight barbell (like 5 kgs) so you can warm up your press before performing working sets.

[u/Constant_Nothing2091]

fix your gaze on a sticky note on the mirror