Barbell for a weakling...?

[luke77]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to purchase some basic at-home equipment, and out of necessity most of it is going to have to be online or mail order, and I won't be able to check out the equipment ahead of time. I'm kind of confused about the difference between olympic and standard bars...it seems that standard bars hold less weight and weigh less themselves, but that's the only real difference. I'm used to working out in a gym so I think everything I've ever used is olympic, because the barbells I've used have always been 45 lbs.

Anyways, my question is pretty basic...I'm small (120 lbs) and weak, and I can't see myself needing to lift anything over 200 lbs in the near future, and this seems to be the limit for most standard bars. Is there any other reason to prefer olympic vs. standard bars - ie is there any reason to pay the extra for olympic if you don't need the extra weight limit?

Thanks,
Luke

[¡STFU!ˇNˆLIFT!]

The fact that the weights spin - not adding stress to the lifts is a plus .
Also why waste money on standard when you WILL need to add weight to your bar eventually and go olympic so might as well have them as your norm .

I mean picture even loading your bench bar up with 150 pounds working weight . Then what's left for your EZ curl bar and dumbells and weighted dips and etc etc ..
I would just get an olympic 300 pound set , your bars and call it a day
Unless you plan on having a full dumbell set or adjustable 90 pound set then a 200 pound oly set would be sufficient .
I am not one to spend money on something that will end up going to waste in the future - try and make solid spending choices that you will keep and use for years and years ya know ..? !

[C Man]

is there any reason to pay the extra for olympic if you don't need the extra weight limit?You don't pay extra for olympic weights, they're usually cheaper because you can get a 300 lb set for around $100, especially as it approaches the holiday shopping season.

Another big plus for olympic weights is that when an olympic bar is resting in a power rack or on the uprights of a bench, you can remove weight from one side of the bar and the bar will stay put. You can't do that with a standard bar.

[jude-o]

Just the greater ease of adding and removing weights from an Olympic bar more than justifies buying one (instead of a standard bar.) Frankly, standard bars suck to work with; there's a reason you never see them in gyms.

[johnderriLLL]

they have a 100 lbs weight set at walmart for 33$.

[Cowlifter]

they have a 100 lbs weight set at walmart for 33$.

I learned the hard way, buy fitness equipment at Wal-Mart. It's cheap, and you'll be buying something better later on.

I bought a $50 bench at walmart. It looked good. I bought weights, and probably spent about $200. Sure I got a lot of stuff for that much, but within two weeks, I had to go and buy a better bench, as the safety weight capacity on that bench was crap.

Now I have to sell this other bench cause I'm above it's rating. I now have a powerrack and I probably should have bought that right at the beginning.

Like the other guy said, make solid spending choices, or you'll be doing what I have and spending your money on crap, only to buy the better quality later.

Get an olympic bar, its well worth it. Easy to work with, and can support a lot of weight.

hope this helps.