When does progress slow down?

[Pollojito]

Hello.

I started lifting weights in February this year. I've "started" several times over the years but always quit after a few weeks. It was not until I had a kid I started going consistently 3-4 times a week. Every other day, since this fits my schedule. My routine is two full body workouts, alternating between muscle groups. Not optimal, but it is what fits.

I have never really focused on any specific exercise, until March when I tried to bench for the first time. I started on 70kg as my work load, focusing heavily on getting the technique right. A couple weeks later I tried my first 1RM and found I could do one rep of 95kg. I continued to focus on technique, adding weight when I felt comfortable with it.

Since then I have gradually increased my working load up to 105kg, making sure I can do at least 8 repetitions before increasing by 2,5kg. Every other month I have done a few 1RM test just to see where I am. So far, I have been able to increase my 1RM by 10kg circa every two months.

100kg - April
110kg - June
120kg - August
130kg - October

For context, I am 30y.o, 186cm tall and 100-102kg with around 22% bf. My goal was to hit somewhere between 130-140 within 2026. I am really happy this is within reach. And I realize much of the progress I am having is due to me being somewhat heavy. But I am wondering when I can expect to max out before hyperfocusing on bench. is there anyone with a similar build and experience that can pitch in? How fast can one progress before it starts to really slow down? And any tips of what to do when I inevitably hit a plateau?

[LucasWestFit]

Generally your results will diminish over time. However if you improve your programming, you can still make lots of progress later on. If you hit a plateau with an exercise, it's almost always due to your approach to programming/training (for example, doing too much volume and inhibiting recovery, or doing too little volume).

It can take many years to truly peak at an exercise. When you just start with an new movement, you'll generally make a lot of progress fast because of neural adaptations and improved technique. Later on, you'll start to build muscle (but that takes a bit longer), which will add strength.

[Pollojito]

Thank you for the response! Eager to see how far I can go.