when you say that you are lifting a certain weight, do you count the bar too?

[bodyflash]

The bar itself of a dumbbell or barbell may not be really heavy, but it sure adds at least some to the total weight. Let's say you can Bench Press 300 lbs, is that bar included?

[chazzy1864]

That depends. Are you lifting the bar during the lift?

[DJAuto]

Yes, and I also multiply by 9.8 m/s for gravity.

[firefox16]

That depends. Are you lifting the bar during the lift?

^^^ op, do you even lift?

[Rnewms]

The bar weighs as much as a plate. of course you count it.

[miamibodybuilder]

well when it comes to db's the weight written on the db is the actual weight you're lifting. when it comes to barbells that changes because some bars are 25lb, 35lb and 45lb plus the weight you add to it. for example, if you're using a standard size bench press bar and add a 45lb plate to each side, you're lifting 135 lbs. the bar weighs 45lbs plus another 90lbs from the plates, so yes when it comes to barbells you need to add the bar weight to your total weight.

[Anthony21]

The bar itself of a dumbbell or barbell may not be really heavy, but it sure adds at least some to the total weight. Let's say you can Bench Press 300 lbs, is that bar included?

Is this really a question? Yes you count the barbell it weighs 45lbs on its own.

[ironwill2008]

The bar itself of a dumbbell or barbell may not be really heavy, but it sure adds at least some to the total weight. Let's say you can Bench Press 300 lbs, is that bar included?

Yes. And if you plan on posting your lifting stats in your sig, do what most other posters here do--add the weight of an extra bar or two, and then 10% more for good measure.

[Retoaded]

Yes, and I also multiply by 9.8 m/s for gravity.

in america its 32.2 ft/s^2 bro. :-)

[Redstyx]

I don't bench press with a bar so I don't count it. I lay back, get my arms in position, then have my buddies start stacking 45s on the palms of my hands. Thats how real men do it.

[ANTThePANT79]

i don't bench press with a bar so i don't count it. I lay back, get my arms in position, then have my buddies start stacking 45s on the palms of my hands. Thats how real men do it.

awwww yeah!!!

[pyaarawala]

Yes, and I also multiply by 9.8 m/s for gravity.

lol good one. But I think you mean 9.8 m/s^2.

[tomnr100]

Never added the weight of the bar.

[Arm_Wrestler]

Yes. Especially with a barbell. With dumbells, say you are curling 50's (but it is one of the old fashioned weights with the plates added to it), the actual bar MIGHT add 2.5 lbs, but it is negligible. You don't say, "Hey, are you done with those fifty-two-and-a-half pound weights?" They are just simply, "fifties".

[GodShammgod]

well when it comes to db's the weight written on the db is the actual weight you're lifting. when it comes to barbells that changes because some bars are 25lb, 35lb and 45lb plus the weight you add to it. for example, if you're using a standard size bench press bar and add a 45lb plate to each side, you're lifting 135 lbs. the bar weighs 45lbs plus another 90lbs from the plates, so yes when it comes to barbells you need to add the bar weight to your total weight.

That's what I always figured to, but someone recently mentioned to me while I was at the gym that the dumbbells (at least the ones in my gym) don't count the handle/bar of the dumbbell and all of them are 5lbs heavier than what they say. At first I figured it was just him bull****ting to make himself feel better but we grabbed one of them and put it on the scale and the 20lb dumbbell came up 25 lbs. So go figure.

[SquatTilYouDrop]

Yes. And if you plan on posting your lifting stats in your sig, do what most other posters here do--add the weight of an extra bar or two, and then 10% more for good measure.

You are getting meaner.

[kanis999]

Never added the weight of the bar.

Are you serious?

[DJAuto]

in america its 32.2 ft/s^2 bro. :-)

SI > all others.

lol good one. But I think you mean 9.8 m/s^2.

Do you go to college in Long Island (if in college).

[ironwill2008]

You are getting meaner.

You might be right!

[dixonjb]

so lets say im going to try to find my 1 RM of something and there is some dirt on the bar when i lift it. should i scrape the dirt off and weigh it and then add it to my total weight?

[32bulkcycle]

I count the weight of my arms too when i bench since im lifting them too

[pyaarawala]

SI > all others.



Do you go to college in Long Island (if in college).

I went to Suffolk for a year, yeah. But now I'm studying medicine in China.

[Retoaded]

SI > all others.

agree with you! as an engineer, it makes way too much sense lol.

[419superman]

I don't bench press with a bar so I don't count it. I lay back, get my arms in position, then have my buddies start stacking 45s on the palms of my hands. Thats how real men do it.

i love this.

[EmperorRyker]

Are you serious?

Well, if you need the numbers just to track your progress, you don't really need to.

[RelentlessFocus]

WOW great question, im so glad you asked

the answer of course is not nearly as straightforward as it seems as it totally depends which planet you're on whilst lifting. See on Mars the bar actually weighs much less as the gravity is 62% lower (hardly worth counting).. but if you happen to be doing squats on saturn welll then i surely would count it, in fact the bar alone would weigh well over 300 lbs....!

i hope this helps, happy lifting!