Help! Only one 45lbs dumbbell in my gym

[Kepar]

Sup fellas,
I came to the point where I can bench press 40lbs dumbbells for 3 sets of 12-14 reps. I want to up the weight but in my gym there's only one 45lbs dumbbell. (apparently somebody stole the other one...). Last week I tried pressing 50lbs dbs but the weight is just too much. I can do 3 sets of 5 on the flat bench but when pressing incline (which is my very first exercise) can't even get the weight up. Today I grabbed a 45 and a 40 and wore a 5lb ankle strap on the wrist. I guess it worked but it felt weird, as if I wasn't pushing the same weight on each hand. I also tried strapping a 5lb plate with a cord to my hand but I liked the ankle strap better because the plate kept swinging. Anyway brahs, any suggestion is very much appreciated.

Cliffs:
- OP has been pressing 40's and wants to start pressing 45's
- there is only one 45lb db in op's gym
- 50's are too heavy for op
- op tried strapping a 5lb weight plate or an ankle strap while pressing a 40 in one hand, and the only 45 on the other but felt weird
- any suggestions?

inb4 switch gyms not an option
inb4 use a spotter, I don't have any
inb4 ask trainer for help, trainers are *******s
inb4 already filed a complaint but gym owner just doesn't give a fawk
inb4 pressing barbells fuaks up my shoulders

[71Avido]

Bring your own and donate it to the gym?

[beardb]

Nothing wrong with a single-arm dumbbell press, then switch arms. You may not be able to do it because of stability issues though. You can add some volume to your training with 40 pounders which should increase your strength.

[ironwill2008]

Tell that cheap ******* gym manager to replace the missing dumbbell.


That will probably only result in a Bertstare from said ******* though, so using the 5-pound ankle strap is probably your most-practical option. It might be less cumbersome if you strap it to the dumbbell handle rather than your wrist. Just make certain it's secure.

Don't jack-leg-tie a weight plate to your hand; it's just not a safe way to hoist weight over your face/head.

[Kepar]

Bring your own and donate it to the gym?

I've thought of this but it makes me angry. I already pay $40/month. Fawk the gym owner and the administrator both are complete tards.

Nothing wrong with a single-arm dumbbell press, then switch arms. You may not be able to do it because of stability issues though. You can add some volume to your training with 40 pounders which should increase your strength.

How would you stabilize yourself? I think I would either grab the bench with my free hand or maybe hold a lighter weight.
How do I add volume? By adding more sets?
Thanks for the helps brahs

Damn poverty gyms in my country. No free weight racks, rusty 1000BC dumbbells, missing dumbbells, a compilation of all brands of plates both in kg's and lb's, crossover machines whose both ends or wherever you grab the handles are never parallel, no dip stations, fuaked up or unlubricated smith machines (which I don't even use but it still bothers me that they can't take care of the equipment) etc..

[Kepar]

Tell that cheap ******* gym manager to replace the missing dumbbell.


That will probably only result in a Bertstare from said ******* though, so using the 5-pound ankle strap is probably your most-practical option. It might be less cumbersome if you strap it to the dumbbell handle rather than your wrist. Just make certain it's secure.

Don't jack-leg-tie a weight plate to your hand; it's just not a safe way to hoist weight over your face/head.

I thought of this but the dumbbells look like this


The only place to strap it would be where I grab the db thus making it impossible for me to hold it. I also tried bringing my own set of allen keys to change the db's plates but they are so old that the holes and totally worn out. And yes, you're right about the hanging plate, should never attempt again.
tymen

[ironwill2008]

I thought of this but the dumbbells look like this


The only place to strap it would be where I grab the db thus making it impossible for me to hold it. I also tried bringing my own set of allen keys to change the db's plates but they are so old that the holes and totally worn out. And yes, you're right about the hanging plate, should never attempt again.
tymen

Since you have no other option, just work with the 40's and run up the reps. Every couple of weeks, at the end of your chest workout, try the 50s. Eventually, you'll get to where you can do a rep or two, and then you're on your way.

[doughnut91]

You say pressing barbells f**ks your shoulders, perhaps an issue with technique? If barbells are an option then maybe it should be investigated.

Orrrrr start saving some money and invest in some equipment to train at home, if feasible.

[tiwg]

Old speaker magnets, or rare earth magnets glued to metal weights. You can find rare earth magnets inside a hard drive if you have any old ones laying around...

[KDG730]

If you want to be able to press the 50s just keep doing the low reps 3-5 to gain some more strength along with some other exercises. You will eventually be able to do them for 10-12. And If you cant get the 50s into place on incline its probably too heavy for you to be pressing anyway.

Your incline is almost always going to be weaker/less than your flat because its harder

[mikegilbert1986]

F that noise go new gym asap

[Kepar]

Thank you all for your responses.

Things I will probably do:
- start workout with flat bench, 3 sets until failure with the 50's, then do incline with the 40's
- working with 40's and upping the sets and reps
- using ankle strap
I work out all body parts twice a week so will try varying.

To whoever mentioned the speaker magnet, I lol'd. Very clever idea, will maybe try.
To whoever said my barbell techinique sawcks, you may be right. I never really worked on technique, just switched to db's because wouldn't hurt. Will also consider.

Thanks again brahs

[dgray101]

Increase the intensity of said 40lb dumbbell. If you can do 40 for 12-14 then you really should be able to do 50 for at least 3 reps. If this is the case, just increase the volume via your sets. Or you can use the 45 and a 40 in one hand to counter the weight, but only press with the 45lb dumbbell. Swap to the other hand, press again. Magic. Many ways to solve a problem.

[229time]

If it is that important to you.

Plate Mate - Magnet Weights

[IDrinkBloodLOL]

This is really, really simple: press 40 until you can hit it for 20+ reps easily.

When you achieve that you should be able to easily skip straight to 50.

[TBU720]

You can do the 50s. I believe in you OP. If you can rep 12-14 with 40 you should be good go go for at least 3-5 with 50.

[Kepar]

If it is that important to you.

Plate Mate - Magnet Weights

Fuak brah mirin these magnet weights hard. Thanks for the info man.

You can do the 50s. I believe in you OP. If you can rep 12-14 with 40 you should be good go go for at least 3-5 with 50.

Thanks for beleafing in me brah, will not disappoint.

I just realized I will be hitting the same problem when my shoulder press reaches this level... Currently shoulder pressing 35's for 3 sets of 10-12 reps. Next week will start pressing 40's for 3 sets of 6-8 reps. Thanks again everybody for the help. OP will never surrender.

[Kepar]

For anybody interested, I made a video about my gym so you can all see what I'm talking about.

[darscogre]

Sup fellas,
I came to the point where I can bench press 40lbs dumbbells for 3 sets of 12-14 reps. I want to up the weight but in my gym there's only one 45lbs dumbbell. (apparently somebody stole the other one...). Last week I tried pressing 50lbs dbs but the weight is just too much. I can do 3 sets of 5 on the flat bench but when pressing incline (which is my very first exercise) can't even get the weight up. Today I grabbed a 45 and a 40 and wore a 5lb ankle strap on the wrist. I guess it worked but it felt weird, as if I wasn't pushing the same weight on each hand. I also tried strapping a 5lb plate with a cord to my hand but I liked the ankle strap better because the plate kept swinging. Anyway brahs, any suggestion is very much appreciated.

Cliffs:
- OP has been pressing 40's and wants to start pressing 45's
- there is only one 45lb db in op's gym
- 50's are too heavy for op
- op tried strapping a 5lb weight plate or an ankle strap while pressing a 40 in one hand, and the only 45 on the other but felt weird
- any suggestions?

inb4 switch gyms not an option
inb4 use a spotter, I don't have any
inb4 ask trainer for help, trainers are *******s
inb4 already filed a complaint but gym owner just doesn't give a fawk
inb4 pressing barbells fuaks up my shoulders

ummmm, im no rocket scientist here but why would you use a 40 in one hand with a 5lb ankle weight and then a 45 in the other hand and expect it not to feel awkward???? Why wouldnt you just make it even and use a 40 with a 5lb ankle weight for both sides, which would make it even.

[Lachdanan]

3/8 rope with figure 8 follow through knot and then alpine butterfly knots and a carabiner, and you are on your way Just attach a 5lb to the rope. I attach 17lb chain to DBs and even though they stay on one end of the DB handle, it still feels stable. I use the same technique. Here is a thread that shows my setup so you might be able to visualize it better:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1207226101

Stay safe brah

[doughnut91]

For anybody interested, I made a video about my gym so you can all see what I'm talking about.

Feeling for you man, I've been in those sorts of gyms before and they're not worth the air inside them. Typical environment where the owner only cares about retaining customers who want the cardio machines, free weight area gets ignored completely. Make do with what you have though man, people have done better with worse.

[Kepar]

UPDATE:
been pressing 50's on the incline 3x(6-8) and then on the flat bench 4x(8-10) reps

now the problem i face is that there are no 55's or 60's. the closest db's are 65's. hehe fuk this gym right.
not a problem though, will strap 5lbs ankle straps to the 50's and work with that, then switch to the 65's.
but first i want to reach about 3x10 on the incline and 3x12 flat bench with the 50's

another thing that kinda bothers me is that i've been shoulder pressing 40's 4x(6-8) and soon (hopefully) will be time to switch to 45's but then again there is only one 45 db.

gym update:
fukers said they would replace the floor during easter week, nothing happened. it's funny actually because 4 months ago this gym was owned by a fuktard chinese who hadn't payed the rent for like 6 months and was evicted but he didn't tell anybody. i was there the day a bunch of small trucks (hired by the chinese guy) came to pick up the machines and when i entered the gym that day i saw the cashier charging people. not even the trainers knew this would happen (supposedly). anyway the funny thing is that the gym is now owned by another fuktard who didn't even change the signs. the gym has another name but you still see like 4 to 5 signs with the old name. the above poster nailed it: "Typical environment where the owner only cares about retaining customers who want the cardio machines, free weight area gets ignored completely"

good thing is the tards took away the computer were it shows your payment date and all that every time you enter the gym and mine expired on the 16th so i've been going to the gym for free.

cliffs:
- OP is now pressing the 50's
- no 55's or 60's, closest weight are 65's
- gym owner is a fuktard
- OP goes to the gym for free

[DoWorkSon515]

I just tie a 5 pound plate to my wrist with a wrist strap