BAEBELL VS DUMP BELL

[katsamm1]

i have never used a barbell as a weight lifting options always dumbbells. recently i noticed dumbbells arent enough any more so i need to add weight with a barbell. heres my question.. if the target weight i should be lifting is 25 lbs is that a combined total or perside?

 

[nkhansen1]

Total, my friend. Don't forget to add the weight of the bar as well as the plates. My bar is 5 lbs, so to get a 25 lb bar I would put two 10 lb plates on...10+10+5=25.

 

[steph_arena]

Also for some odd reason (for me anyways) you can't lift as much
For example i can bi-cep curl 20 dumbells in each hand however when i use the barbell I do 25 total and i find it tough....

 

[nkhansen1]

Well, if you would normally do 20 lbs in each hand, then you would load your bar to 40 lbs. You have to account for what you would lift for each side. If you do shoulder presses with 15s, then load the bar to 30, for another example.

 

[nkhansen1]

I think you just have to get used to the weight being distributed differently. I hope I'm understanding your question right that you find it harder to lift as heavy with a barbell. Also make sure your math is right with the plates you've loaded, and that you have remembered to add the weight of the bar into the equation.

 

[elsie3]

Also for some odd reason (for me anyways) you can't lift as much
For example i can bi-cep curl 20 dumbells in each hand however when i use the barbell I do 25 total and i find it tough....

For me with biceps, it is because the barbell forces me to keep my wrists and forearms straight forward. I can lift heavier if I can angle out slightly, which you can do with dumbbells.