Do you include the weight of the bar during bench press

gluck

Senior member
Oct 29, 2003
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Title says it.
Olympic bars weigh more than normal ones. Does anyone know how much the olympic bench press bars at gold gym weigh ?
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
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45 lbs. - you're lifting the bar, aren't you?

& olympic bars ARE the normal ones.
 

woowoo

Platinum Member
Feb 17, 2003
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Don't forget to check the weather and get the Barometric pressure variable......
 

Bulldog13

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2002
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Don't forget the dynamic tension of the shirt you are wearing in the calculations.
 

gluck

Senior member
Oct 29, 2003
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Kool man !!
Well I just hit 155 pounds last night then. :)
Normally I never lift more than 110 or so on the bench press. I use the machine which has clamps to lock it. Is it called Smith something ? Coz I am alone and no one is there to spot me. But lately I realised that the more weight I add on the Machine the more my wrist hurts. So last night I had a guy spot me and damn it was easy I could hit 8. So I just got out of the fear that the weight are gonna drop on me.
Great now I am gonna increase my weight on press !! Yuhooo !
 

Trygve

Golden Member
Aug 1, 2001
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Standard olympic bars are 44-45 lbs. Standard spin-lock collars are 5.5 lbs each. Weights of other types of collars vary all over the place.
 

Ranger X

Lifer
Mar 18, 2000
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Of course, everyone does! The standard weight of the bar, like everyone said earlier, is 45lbs. All the bars I've seen in gyms were all 45lb bars. Some of the at-home weight machines use those really thin & light bars.
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
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The Smith Machines are less weight. The bar on our Smith Machine is onle 15lbs.
 

eigen

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 2003
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The bars powerlifters use can weigh in at 55 lbs. But I doubt you will ever run into one of those.(They are more expensive..and more durable)
 

mattlear

Senior member
Jun 2, 2000
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The best thing for me was to have a spotter for bench pressing.

I've been lifting for a few years now, and when my buddy left to join another gym, I really stopped making gains because I was lifting by myself.

With a spotter, you can crank out the "beyond failure" reps, which I really think are vital to strength increases.

I like the smith machine, but it is slightly uncomfortable for your wrists to twist (during the unlatch phase) and then press the weight. It does have it's benefits though, especially when you are learning an exercise such as the squat or bench press. It helps you get used to the movement.

-Matt
 

gluck

Senior member
Oct 29, 2003
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Originally posted by: mattlear
The best thing for me was to have a spotter for bench pressing.

I've been lifting for a few years now, and when my buddy left to join another gym, I really stopped making gains because I was lifting by myself.

With a spotter, you can crank out the "beyond failure" reps, which I really think are vital to strength increases.

I like the smith machine, but it is slightly uncomfortable for your wrists to twist (during the unlatch phase) and then press the weight. It does have it's benefits though, especially when you are learning an exercise such as the squat or bench press. It helps you get used to the movement.

-Matt

I agree on that. When I started off I had problems balancing the weight. The Smith machine helped me a lot. Even now for heavy weights for shoulders, squats I use em. But bench at heavy weight get uncomfortable as the locking and unlocking gives a fait amount of twist to the wrists.
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
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Olympic bars (which are the standard bearer of bars) weights 45 lbs.

Standard bars weight about 17 lbs.

I have a Prospot P-500 at home. It eliminates the need for a spotter and gives me free range of motion, unlike a smith machine. The bar only weighs 20lbs though, and it is pricy. But so far, it's been worth it.
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
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is there really a point in trying to get big and strong? most woman only care that you're in shape and not a twig, at least most woman i know.
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
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Originally posted by: CPA
Olympic bars (which are the standard bearer of bars) weights 45 lbs.

Standard bars weight about 17 lbs.

I have a Prospot P-500 at home. It eliminates the need for a spotter and gives me free range of motion, unlike a smith machine. The bar only weighs 20lbs though, and it is pricy. But so far, it's been worth it.

Wow, that thing is pretty cool!
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,477
6,317
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The smith machine I don't really use, except for shoulders. I only use it for shoulders because using the 70lb dumbell for the shoulder presses was getting kind of hard to put up there myself. I don't do the military presses for shoulder either anymore because I popped my shoulder out one day doing those (and it was light weight! only 35lb on each side!). So now I just use the smith machine for shoulder presses.

I don't really LIKE it that much though because it is a very constricted motion, and it is easier to cheat on it than it is to cheat on a free weight bar. but I use it because thats really my only option for right now. Also, doing weight on the smith machine seems alot easier and makes you feel alot stronger. I don't know if the bar is lighter or its just cause its constrained in those racks and you can cheat more, but I can bench press and shoulder press alot more on the smith machine than free weights :)

I personally am not gettin big and muscular, I am just staying lean and cut. I currently weigh 170-175lbs and I am pretty cut. I benched 225lb 5 times the other day, had a little help on the 6th one. As for shoulder presses on the smith machine, I do 185lbs about 7-8 times. My back and legs are pretty strong, my 8 pack is almost back, and my biceps and triceps are pretty good as well.

now I just cant wait to go to the beach!!! cant wait TO GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!!
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
Originally posted by: azazyel
Originally posted by: CPA
Olympic bars (which are the standard bearer of bars) weights 45 lbs.

Standard bars weight about 17 lbs.

I have a Prospot P-500 at home. It eliminates the need for a spotter and gives me free range of motion, unlike a smith machine. The bar only weighs 20lbs though, and it is pricy. But so far, it's been worth it.

Wow, that thing is pretty cool!

yes it is but I don't understand it! if there are no bars or tracks, how does it stop the weight bar from moving? is there just one specific place you have to grip?
 

mrCide

Diamond Member
Nov 27, 1999
6,187
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dont use the stupid smith machine, its cheating :)

get yoru ass on some dumbells if you have no spot.. after not goin tyo the gym for a year im doin 80s again (should hit 85s in another week).
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
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Originally posted by: Yossarian
Originally posted by: azazyel
Originally posted by: CPA
Olympic bars (which are the standard bearer of bars) weights 45 lbs.

Standard bars weight about 17 lbs.

I have a Prospot P-500 at home. It eliminates the need for a spotter and gives me free range of motion, unlike a smith machine. The bar only weighs 20lbs though, and it is pricy. But so far, it's been worth it.

Wow, that thing is pretty cool!

yes it is but I don't understand it! if there are no bars or tracks, how does it stop the weight bar from moving? is there just one specific place you have to grip?

There is a small sensor strip that follows along the bar, then up through the cables down into the box, which then engages the locking system. You have to put both hands on it (using finger tips), one on each side. Lift up one inch and the locking mechanism disengages giving you freedom of movement. When you are done, pull your fingers off of the strip and it automatically locks. Put one hand on it, it won't work; put your palm on it, it won't work; electricity goes out, it locks up. Pretty safe and great for use without a spotter.