Who else loves their fractional plates?

[Overload]

Since getting back to basics, I've rediscovered by love for my fractional plates. I have a set of .25, .50, .75 and 1lb fractional plates and just the psychological factor of knowing you're adding weight when things get heavy and 2.5 or 5lbs is too much is a nice boost. Especially as I get older and can't make the big jumps I used on certain exercises.

[GKC45]

Since getting back to basics, I've rediscovered by love for my fractional plates. I have a set of .25, .50, .75 and 1lb fractional plates and just the psychological factor of knowing you're adding weight when things get heavy and 2.5 or 5lbs is too much is a nice boost. Especially as I get older and can't make the big jumps I used on certain exercises.

I have a set of 1.25 that I use for dumbbell work. I find them very handy.

[Medtreker]

I only have 2.5 plates, so have to juggle my dumbell bars of different weight...have a set of light one pound bars, a set if two pound bars, and two sets of three pound bars. Really only need the 1 pound increments for something like a lateral side raise progression. Otherwise, 5 pound increments work for most, where as benching increments are more like the 15lb range.

[Overload]

benching increments are more like the 15lb range.

That's a nice increment. Keep it up. I can't make those type of increments in one shot any more from the on and off shoulder issues.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I've never used them.

[Overload]

I've never used them.

I think you're missing out on a great tool to keep that progression going for as long as possible.

[michail71]

I only have 2.5 plates, so have to juggle my dumbell bars of different weight...have a set of light one pound bars, a set if two pound bars, and two sets of three pound bars. Really only need the 1 pound increments for something like a lateral side raise progression. Otherwise, 5 pound increments work for most, where as benching increments are more like the 15lb range.

Lucky you! I need fractional plates on my presses or I'll just fail at the same points again. I make 2.5 lbs jumps on bench and OHP.

[ILurkAtWork]

I don't barbell press anything anymore (shoulder issues) but I loved them for linear progression. Loved, loved, loved them. I just bought some industrial washers and they worked amazing. I need to come up with a way to add weight to those 24 hr fitness dumbbells. Maybe a chain or something--I dunno.

[Medtreker]

I meant 15lb increments in a pyramid lifting session, not that much added per session!!

[michail71]

I meant 15lb increments in a pyramid lifting session, not that much added per session!!

Ok, thought you were some sort of benching monster there for a minute. LOL

[CropDusterMan]

For the quite expensive price of these fractional weights, you can purchase 2 inch washers from an industrial supply that weigh the same.

[JWoodCF10]

My gym has only just got them, so it means that I can increase almost every time I go to the gym. It feels good. I don't know how effective they are, or if it is purely psychological.

But I like them.

[Overload]

I meant 15lb increments in a pyramid lifting session, not that much added per session!!

LOL. Ok, I don't feel as inadequate now

[Overload]

For the quite expensive price of these fractional weights, you can purchase 2 inch washers from an industrial supply that weigh the same.

That's true and a very good alternative. But can you get all the pretty colors

I've had mine for years so I just looked online and they have gone up in price quite a bit from when I bought a set.

[mcapote3]

I only have 2.5s but dont think i would use smaller ones even if i had them. 5lb bumps seem realistic no need to do less at this point.

[Phattso]

I think you're missing out on a great tool to keep that progression going for as long as possible.

I don't have them, but if I had access to them, I would use them. Progress is progress, however incremental.

[brucedelaney]

I have 1.25# Olympic plates. I mostly use them on Presses and my wife uses them on all her lifts except Deadlifts which she is still currently increasing 5# per session.

[Ragnar13]

I once had the privilege of picking the brain of a man that grew up as an athlete in the former Soviet Bloc. He said when he first got to the states, he was shocked at the dumbbells in 5 lbs increments and the 2.5lbs plates for the olympic bar. Blew his mind. His opinion was that adding half a pound or even 5 pounds was just an ego thing and did not help with strength.

As a kettlebell guy he recommended ladders….(do 1 rep, rest briefly, do 2 reps, rest briefly, 3 reps…so on. Those are the rungs of the ladder. Go up only. When at top, whether it is 3 or 5 reps stop. That is one ladder.) He said start with 3 ladders of 3 rungs. Gradually add rungs until you get to 5. Then add ladders. When you can do 5 ladders of 5 rungs, you are strong enough to go up to next kettlebell. This gave the muscles, tendons, and ligaments the time to strengthen and kinda bulletproof you from injury from jumping up to fast.

I wish I would have used this before destroying my shoulder and needing surgery.

Just an opinion.

[poundXpound]

2 of these on each side are approx. 1.25lb.


2-in washers.JPG

[JerryB]

I use them and they are great for varying the incremental increase or the incremental decrease in small units. The psychological factor was worth the cost.
For my one inch standard adjustable dumbbells I selected some one inch washers that weighed a quarter pound each. The hardware store had a scale to buy washers by weight.

[Corbi]

I have 1.25# Olympic plates. .

Same here, picked em up from Amazon for a dirt cheap price.

[JerryB]

2 of these on each side are approx. 1.25lb.


Attachment 7281661

Thanks for the information. I'm a fan of McMaster Carr too. I primarily work out at home. I built a lot of my exercise apparatus from parts purchased from McMaster-Carr.

[Overload]

I have 1.25# Olympic plates.

I have those also. So I'm covered from .25 through 2.5 lbs.

[JerryB]

I think you're missing out on a great tool to keep that progression going for as long as possible.

In the long run those small incremental increases had have a cumulative beneficial impact on my training.

[Overload]

In the long run those small incremental increases had have a cumulative beneficial impact on my training.

Some folks don't realize that even just adding a pound a week will be close to 50lbs on an exercise in a year. Assuming you don't take long breaks in training and consistently add that little 1 pounder. It all adds up eventually.

[JerryB]

Some folks don't realize that even just adding a pound a week will be close to 50lbs on an exercise in a year. Assuming you don't take long breaks in training and consistently add that little 1 pounder. It all adds up eventually.

Some years ago I read an article about squats. The author stated you should attempt to increase the poundage 5 lbs each week. That mean adding the 50 lbs in 10 weeks.

[Smelly bull]

I have never used fractional weights. But I have used bands, chains and boards extensively with good results.

[Overload]

Some years ago I read an article about squats. The author stated you should attempt to increase the poundage 5 lbs each week. That mean adding the 50 lbs in 10 weeks.

I can see that for squats being that the legs are such a powerful muscle group.

[hmmmm16417]

They are nice for progression ! I only have 1.25 & 2.5 lb......I don't really see the need for smaller than that though

[yaaar]

I'm getting close to my OHP max so I picked some up yesterday, they're still in the mail.

Here's my last 4 weeks progression, 25lbs added:
75lbs 4x5, 1x8
80lbs 4x5, 1x15
85lbs 4x5, 1x12
90lbs 4x5, 1x10
95lbs 4x5, 1x10
100lbs 4x5, 1x7

I'll probably be able to get to 115-120 without them, but after that it'll start to get sketchy. Adding 5lbs three times every two weeks won't be a reality, I've still got 12 weeks left! I'll be plenty happy to get around 140 in that time, so it's either fractional weights or deload.