I just got one also. I know a lot of people have ordered the $50 set, but, if you don't want two sets of 2.5 lb. plates, or if you already have some plates and don't need all of them in that set, it's actually cheaper to order by individual pieces. I wound up getting the bar and a set of 7.5 and 10 lb plates. The bar came just wrapped in a corrugated wrap, and the plates came in a separate box.
I've been sick with bronchitis and just got back into working out on Saturday after 2 weeks off. I did ME, and was about the same on the bicep curls as usual (which could be good after the time off!). The big differences I noticed were the dead rows, as others have mentioned, and the clean and presses. More importantly, I had thought I was at a plateau on leg work, because I couldn't get more than 40 lbs over my head, because I had difficulty getting it up to my chest with an overhand grip (the clean part of the clean and press). Well, I lifted that 40 lbs. Saturday, and it was easy! I'm going to start going up on the lower body work this weekend. I also found that I don't miss the padding on the firm barbell, even with the Troy Lite on my shoulders, and I actually don't have much personal padding there.
I had to take three more days off after Saturday because of a migraine (I'm on a great new prescription drug, Relpax--I highly recommend it, but it interacts with the antibiotic I just finished, and I couldn't take it this time), but I did PS BB&A this morning, and was able to do one set of barbell curls at 30lbs. My previous best was 27.5. I'm anxious to try it with C,S&T tomorrow.
