How to buy a barbell

[darine]

I found in Fitness Depot (Montreal, Canada) a barbell for only 20$. It does not include any weights. You buy the weights separately and it's a good price.

However, I have no clue which weights to buy. I am not that strong yet.

I can do biceps with 10 pounds dumbelles (10 for each hand, so a total of 20), shoulders 8 pounds dumbells (each hand), kickback triceps, 5 pounds, anyhow, I will not name all, but the maximum I can is 10 pounds on each arm (for back, biceps).

What weight should I buy for a barbell. I have no clue. I have muscle max and I can see what Cathe use, but it seems to be a lot and I don't want to get too little and it's too easy.

Any suggestions? What would be a standard. Normally it comes as a package, so it's easy, but at that store, it's completely flexible, which is good but you need to know what you want.

thank you for your help

 

[fit_fairy]

Generally your legs can lift the heaviest. So I would use that as a gauge to determine how much wt to buy. You can always buy more plates later as you need them.

Of course, don't forget to consider how much the bar itself weighs too.

[font color= purple size=+3]Catherine[/font]

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[spyrosmom]

Maybe start w/ 2-10lbs, 4-5lbs, and 4-2 1/2lbs, that should be able to get you all the combos of weight you need for now. You can add in more 5's and 10's and you get stronger. The 2 1/2's are goos for little changes. Just remember, as the prev poster said, take in account the weight of the bar. If the bar is heavy, you may need little or no plates for some exercises.

Nan

 

[maddiesmum]

And don't forget to get spring clips to lock the weights on, they come off and go on so quickly, so you don't waste time changing your weight load in the middle of a workout.

I remember asking this question of Cathe when I first started out and she recommended starting out with at least 60 pounds in plates weight, because you will get stronger.

Clare

 

[kathryn]

>Of course, don't forget to consider how much the bar itself
>weighs too.
>

FYI: If the bar isn't labelled, you can figure out the weight of it by weighing yourself and the bar, then just weighing yourself and substracting from the first amount. Many bars are 12#, Troy lites are 5#, some are 10#.

FYI2: When Cathe indicates what weight barbell she is using, that includes the weight of the bar.

 

[Cole7626]

Here's a link to a great company that sells the Troy Lite bars that Cathe uses. I think Cathe uses a 5# bar. If you get the 40# starter kit you'll be on the right track

http://www.fitness1st.com/Troy-Bars.html

Nicole

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

 

[darine]

Thank you so much.

 

[maddiesmum]

I bought the Troy Light bar, plus 2 extra 10 pound plates, and have never regretted it. An excellent barbell.

Clare

 

[mtnmom99]

I could probably squat more weight than I do, but I can't lift the barbell over my head if it's loaded beyond 40 pounds. I could get by with just:

2-10#
2-5#
4-2.5#

(in reality, my 10# are actually 8#, because my bar weighs 4#)

You could start with those poundages and buy more if you find you need them.

Diane

 

[kathryn]

>(in reality, my 10# are actually 8#, because my bar weighs
>4#)

??? Plates don't come in 8#, just 2.5, 5, 7.5 (Troy lite plates), 10#. If you add two, 10# weights to the troy lite bar, you'll have a total of 24#.


OP: If you get a Troy Lite (which I highly recommend, great bar!), add a couple of 10# to the basic set, and a pair of 1.25# (if they are still available: they may not carry them anymore). That will give you a good starting set.

 

[mtnmom99]

>??? Plates don't come in 8#, just 2.5, 5, 7.5 (Troy lite
>plates), 10#. If you add two, 10# weights to the troy lite
>bar, you'll have a total of 24#.

But I don't have a Troy lite bar. I purchased mine from Amazon, it's this one:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...97-9264951?v=glance&s=sporting-goods&n=507846

And it comes with 8# plates.

Diane

 

[kathryn]

>But I don't have a Troy lite bar. I purchased mine from
>Amazon, it's this one:
>
>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...97-9264951?v=glance&s=sporting-goods&n=507846
>
>And it comes with 8# plates.

Interesting. I guess that's like the Troy Lite and its 7.5# weights.

The "because the bar weighs 4#" part of your post confused me. I couldn't figure out how the weight of the bar would determine the weight of the plates.