Problem - No 2.5 pound plates available.

[mkumar93]

I am a 22 year old male; 6 feet and 200 pounds approximately. I started strength training - Starting Strength - on Dec. 29 of last year, when I was of the same weight, but massively, massively weak. I have been reasonably happy with my progress, but now, things are coming to a pass.

My gym doe snot have 2.5 pound plates, and where I live - a small town in India - amazon.in do not deliver 2.5 pound plates, that is when they stock them at all. Because I was really weak and initially started with just the empty bar, it wasn't a problem until a couple of weeks ago. But now, after 6 weeks, it's getting really problematic. I can still progress on squats and DLs by basically concentrating on reps and bar speed - for example, on Tuesday, I squatted 180 pounds 2*5 and 1*5 with very bar speed; on Thurs, I did 3*5 with the same weight and slightly better bar speed, while on Saturday, I did 3*5 with good bar speed. On DLs, I also concentrate on time between reps and bar speed; on Thursday, I DLd 210 pounds 1*5 with good time and speed.

However, my presses are really getting botched. Adding 10 pounds to each workout is impossible for bench and OHP, and with them, I cannot focus on speed and reps as well, because I have simply not reached a stage where I am lifting heavy enough to concentrate on nothing but volume. And even when I try, it doesn't work. For example, on Tues. I benched 120 with good form 3*3. Today on Saturday, I was benching again with 120 - I wanted to increase reps by 1 or 2, but instead, I went 2, 1, 1 with my 3 sets. This isn't a bad day at work either, this has been happening since I started trying to increase from 100 pounds. My OHPs are even worse.

I do not think form is an issue; I mean, being a novice, I cannot be sure, but I have done due diligence on my part, having read Starting Strength cover to cover a couple of times and watched a lot of videos on YouTube of Rippletoe specifically. I *think* the increment of plates is the problem, so I would appreciate some help on that part. Even if it is not, any other tips on how to improve my upper body exercises and strength? I do not want to look like The Mountain from GoT, but I do play cricket and a couple of other sports, and having a strong upper body is really crucial. The accessories I do are assisted chin-ups and pull-ups - I am not strong enough to do them with my body - and the rows described in the book, even though the trainers at the gym have never heard of them, and although they have stopped trying to make me do bent-over rows, they stand at the back and cast disapproving looks whenevr I do the rows haha.

[grouchyjarhead]

Get two short lengths of chain that each weigh 2.5 pounds. Hook each end to the collar for a bit of extra weight.

[doievenlifttho]

^ that

or..

if you have stores that sell washers..maybe one that is large enough to fit on the barbell and weighs around 2.5lb

[TomMutaffis]

You could bring a scale to the gym if you have one and weigh some of the plates then mark them with a permanent marker. It is not uncommon to see a 2-3 lbs variance in plates and so unless you use the exact same bar/plates every single time that you train the 2.5's could be irrelevant. Using the marked plates could allow you to make the smaller jumps - one week use the plates that weigh 43.5 lbs and the next week use the ones that weigh 46 lbs - problem solved.

[Dawes]

1 litre of water weighs 1kg or 2.2lbs, take desired size of container, in this case 1.136 litres, and tie to either side of your barbell,

This will also produce added muscle confusion for 12% more gains as your body doesn't know how to handle swinging jugs of water. Win win situation.

[JamesA1990]

You could try this


do 180 x 5

then next week 180 x 6

then next week 180 x 7

now you can jump to 190 x 5 and bingo you are back on track

[InfernalVortex]

Buy your own 2.5 lb plates. They're cheap. If you can afford a gym membership you can afford a couple of plates. buy some 1.25 lb plates too. They're probably cheaper than chains unless you have them laying around.

And YES - WEIGH the plates you use. They vary a lot more than you might think. I regularly see 45 lb plates in the mid 43's all the time.

[fitfanatic123]

i bring my own. i bought 2.5 pound plates at dick's sporting goods and i think it was around $5 total.

[mkumar93]

Buy your own 2.5 lb plates. They're cheap. If you can afford a gym membership you can afford a couple of plates. buy some 1.25 lb plates too. They're probably cheaper than chains unless you have them laying around.

And YES - WEIGH the plates you use. They vary a lot more than you might think. I regularly see 45 lb plates in the mid 43's all the time.

I live in India, and they are not available in sports stores I wasn't being cheap with money; I tried amazon.in, and there was only one seller and they did not ship to where I live.


I am trying my luck on eBay now. They don't have 2.5 pound plates, but they do have 1 kg plates and 1.25 kg plates available. Will they do?

Thanks for the help everybody!

[Rags85]

I live in India, and they are not available in sports stores I wasn't being cheap with money; I tried amazon.in, and there was only one seller and they did not ship to where I live.


I am trying my luck on eBay now. They don't have 2.5 pound plates, but they do have 1 kg plates and 1.25 kg plates available. Will they do?

Thanks for the help everybody!

Those could work. You could also look at collars. It will be more expensive, but I think Ivanko makes 2.5lb (total 5 lbs) collars. I have a pair of 1.25lb (total 2.5lbs) from them. There may be others in the 2.5lb range. 1.25s were hard to find.

[mkumar93]

Those could work. You could also look at collars. It will be more expensive, but I think Ivanko makes 2.5lb (total 5 lbs) collars. I have a pair of 1.25lb (total 2.5lbs) from them. There may be others in the 2.5lb range. 1.25s were hard to find.

I looked, but there wasn't any available on any Indian web stores, unfortunately. We are very far behind when it comes to intelligent weight-training; I do not think any Indian powerlifter has won anything of significance at the international stage. I have found four 1 kg plates and four 1.5 kg plates; I hope I can use them for LP without a lot of problems.

[InfernalVortex]

Another option...

Buy 5lb plates and shave them down or drill holes in them until they are 2.5 lbs.

[HarryFlashman]

The kg plates will do the same job. 1kg is 2.2lbs so it's close enough. Buy a full set of fractional plates from eBay. Also add dips. Chins and pull-ups work the same muscles, dips will help increase your tricep, chest and shoulder strength.

[1morerep1mr]

Another option...

Buy 5lb plates and shave them down or drill holes in them until they are 2.5 lbs.

or cut 1 plate in half. Boom! I think the chain Idea is better and easier...