Question about lift weight..re barbells

[ShadowRydr]

Got a question about some of the weights I read here

What I'm asking is that when you are reporting your lifts in your journals, or in a general thread here on the boards, how are you calculating the lifts?

For some it's pretty straight forward..machine lifts are simply the number and weight of the plates. But how about for barbell lifts? When you say you are lifting..160 lb bench press, or 60lb military press, or whatever, are you including the weight of the bar in what you are reporting, or is it strickly the weight of the plates?

I know I shouldn't gauge myself against anyone else, but one can't help it. It would be helpful to understand how some of you are reporting what you lift.

I know the olympic size bar is about 45lbs itself, and a good ez curl bar can be half that. That weight makes a significant difference in whats reported.

For myself, in my personal journal, I only record the plates, since that's the only weight I can be certain of. I'm wondering if when reading here, I should add 45lbs/25lbs whatever, to get an accurate reading of what your lifting.

Well, time to leave work and head to the gym. Looking forward to your answers.

[RaSP]

LOL. This can be a hot topic. I never knew until recently that some people feel very strongly about it. I had always assumed that people counted the bar. I mean you're lifting the weight after all, why not count it?

There are those here that don't count the bar. So when you're comparing what someone else lifts you need to know how they are counting it. Jag and I both count the bar, and GDD doesn't (worse, half his numbers are in Kilograms to boot).

I agree that we shouldn't worry about gaguing ourselves against someone else, but I too find it entertaining if nothing else.

*R*

[jaguarr]

LOL! Yeah, RaSP pretty accurately captured it. Personally, as long as YOU understand what you're logging and are able to track your progress against it, that's all that really matters.

jag

[ChocoChick]

What I'm asking is that when you are reporting your lifts in your journals, or in a general thread here on the boards, how are you calculating the lifts?

Ha ha ha ha. I guess you missed the part of FitbyFifty's journal where this was discussed. The short answer is: it's all chaos. No two people are using the same notation system.

I tend to write the weight without the bar in the journal I take to the gym, because I know that I used a bar and how much it weighs. And I do other weird things, like only record one dumbbell when I do db weights (i.e., I'll write 25# when I mean that I had a 25 in each hand). This works just fine since I'm the only one reading it and I understand my own quirks.

But if I were writing in a public journal here, I would probably include the full weight, so that other people could understand what I was doing. This seems like a lot of work and could explain why I don't have a journal here!

[GSCampbell]

Wow, this is the topic that wouldn't die.

My blanket response is that when I know the weight of the bar, I count it. For example, as you say the Olympic bar weighs 45 lbs so when I do exercises using the Olympic bar I add the 45 lbs, so I would list a flat bench press at 225 rather than 180 for example.

I am not certain of the weight of the EZ bar or some of the shorter Olympic bars so I don't add those weights in - I note those in my joutnal as "weight only."

Same with certain machines like Hammer Strength machines - I guess the machine weighs something but I don't know how much so I don't list it.

Dumbbells are pretty self explanatory.

To each his or her own however. I have great respect for the members of this forum and if you want to list the weight of the bar - great. If not - great.

Just my $0.02

GSC

[WallyWhitecross]

Same with certain machines like Hammer Strength machines - I guess the machine weighs something but I don't know how much so I don't list it.

I believe most Hammer Strength Machines start with 8# of resistance (that is, before you put any weight on them)

[TrainSmarter]

Of course you count the weight of the bar - you are lifting it aren't you? You can't compare the numbers on the machine to barbells and dumbells.

[GSCampbell]

I believe most Hammer Strength Machines start with 8# of resistance (that is, before you put any weight on them)

8 lbs on each side?

[phikappa]

Oy!

Please, include the bar.

[zootalors]

When I tell other people how much I am using, I include the bar.
When I write it in my log book, I usually don't include the bar. This way I dont have to think so much when lifting...It hurts my head.

[pict]

doesn't matter so long as you do it the same way every time. i count the bar by the way.

[RaSP]

This way I dont have to think so much when lifting...It hurts my head.

I hear ya. Can't say how many personal bests are due to bad math. Of course, that's a good arguement to always count the bar. Makes the math harder, so you accidentally lift more. LOL

*R*

[OHIOSTEVE]

45 pounds for my olympic bar
17 for my ez curl bar
7 for each dumbell handle.

[SoMdHunter]

dbflgirl sumed it up nicely. As long as you know what you mean....that is all that counts. And like her, when I list dumb bells, I only list 1 of them for some reason.....like 80lbs. Means 80 in each hand. As long as you understand it, who cares?

[ShadowRydr]

Oooo...Did I open up a can of worm..COOL!

Guess I haven't been keeping up with all the journals and missed where this was being discusse..my bad. Honestly though, I usually just peruse the guys journals. I am usually more interested in the womens journals..and the women. So sue me.

Thanks for the answers, and the entertainment as always.

[A.FreeRadical]

On my threads I include all of the weight so the reader knows what I did. I use a notation like 1 x 135 x 8 sets/weight/reps if it is BB exercise. If it is DBs, as in flies, I use 2 x 55s x 6 sets/db weight each/reps. When I read some journals, my eyes glaze over. I have no clue as to what they are doing and how it relates to what I am doing. But that is ok, to each his own.

*
aA.FreeRadical a

[powerman2000]

LOL. This can be a hot topic. I never knew until recently that some people feel very strongly about it. I had always assumed that people counted the bar. I mean you're lifting the weight after all, why not count it?

Of course you count the bar. And if you are using the large heavy duty collars you need to count them as well since they can weigh 5lbs a piece.