Loaded barbell question

Amy Steppe

Amy Steppe

Cathlete
Dear Cathe or anybody else who can answer this question:

For several years I have wondered this and have been too embarassed to ask. But here goes:

When you say I have a 40 pound barbell do you mean 40 pounds on each side of the barbell, 40 pounds distributed between the two sides of the barbell, or 40 pounds total including the weight of the barbell itself?

Thanks in advance and Happy Belated Birthday, Cathe!
 
Oh good! I hope so because I sure can't put 40 pounds on each end of my barbell and hoist it up to my shoulders. If you counted say, 15 lbs., for the barbell itself, you would be talking 90 pounds!

I didn't think they were lifting that much, but wasn't sure.
 
Don't be embarrassed! I wondered that one myself. My bar weighs in at 15 lbs. all by itself. While I can go as high as 60 lbs. total when I'm feeling strong :9 , for Cathe's bicep work on ME, it's all I can manage with JUST the bar!
 
I know what you mean about biceps. My biceps are my weakest part. I am lucky to get a barbell loaded with 10 pounds on each side through all the reps!

My triceps are very strong -- I have a hard time working them to failure, but it sure doesn't take much for my biceps to be FRIED!}(
 
I'm so glad you all said that about biceps because that's my weakest area. I can match Cathe pound for pound in every other area, but 10 pound dumbbells and the 15 pound bar are my max for biceps. I SWEAR, on some workouts (Power Hour) I feel like I'm going to vomit. Cathe isn't kidding on PUB when she talks about an out of body experience on biceps. It's funny that biceps are so tough because that's the muscle you want to show off in public!

Carole
 
Oh my! The biceps section in "Power Hour" has the same effect on me. I have yet to get through it without having to quit -- if I am using 15 pounds. You are right -- I almost become physically ill when I do that sequence.

The only thing I like about biceps work is the results and the music for the biceps part in "Power Hour" is good.
 
Amy!

Cathe has said that the amount of weight includes the bar and all weight plates. I can't IMAGINE her saying 25 pounds for "Crazy 8's" and then putting 25's on EACH end. Talk about out of body experience! YIKES, we'd be dead! I love PowerHour's music too for the BIS!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Amy!

Thank you for clarifying that! I thought she meant everything, but wanted to make sure.

I've wondered this for a couple of years and have felt too embarassed to ask --

Now I realize I am doing OK -- biceps will never be my best area -- they are the body part I hate to work the most. I would rather do 32 full body pushups straight than the bicep part of "Power Hour" --

But I still do "Power Hour" -- I just cringe when the bicep routine comes along. It is the music that keeps me going!
 
RE: Amy!

Don't be embarrassed, MANY have asked Cathe that very question and that is how I KNOW the answer. That's what we are all here for...to help each other out when we have questions! ;-) As for me, I think 32 full body push-ups would be right in line with Power Hour BIS! Yowsa! Keep at 'em Amy!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Amy, I feel your pain! What IS it about biceps? I swear I find it much tougher to move up in weight on biceps than on any other body part -- including triceps, just like you.

I can also do chest work via bench presses and flyes etc. til the cows come home with a very heavy barbell and heavy dumbbells (I can even do a lot of flyes comfortably at 20's, which may not be a lot for some of our educated crowd but is amazing for lil' ol me). But FUGEDABOUTIT for straight-legged pushups --- even on my knees I am not much on pushups, even if I do them first. My arms and legs are really long and I've conjectured that maybe that has something to do with it since I'm working with really long levers. But you'd think after a while some of the strength that I obviously do have would show itself in pushups -- and it sure doesn't! What is THAT all about???

Here's a really scary thought, girls -- I betcha Miss Tiny Cathe could DO a good portion if not all of Power Hour Bi's with a 25-pound plate on each end of a barbell. :eek: :eek: The woman's a titan!!!

http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport003.gif Kathy S.
 
Kathy & everyone!

Kathy~That is a scary thought but you know what??? It wouldn't SURPRISE me if she could do it! As far as push-ups go, can someone tell me what is going on with me? I used to be able to do around 16 good form and an additional 4 (starting to struggle) push-ups approximately a year ago. For some unknown reason, I am lucky if I can do 8-10, SOMETIMES 12 full ones now! It is as if my arms just tire so much faster now. Cannot figure it out as I have not gone backwards in anything but push-ups. Any one have any solutions to building back up???
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Kathy & everyone!

That's weird, Deb, but did you see what I wrote above about push-ups? As my chest strength has increased (a lot) you'd think I could do at least SOME decent straight-leg push-ups, but nope. Maybe three or four on an extra strong day, and even then only if I've done NOTHING else first that will fatigue the chest.

So what is the deal with these push-ups? I can't imagine why you'd be losing ground instead of gaining ground. Do you feel this way even if you do your push-ups first?

http://www.clicksmilie.de/sammlung/sport/sport003.gif Kathy S.
 
RE: Kathy & everyone!

I am with you Kathy~I would THINK that if my chest muscles got stronger, which they have, that push-ups would be easier. I almost feel like I am sooo sore when I go to do them. I don't overdo...in other words, I rest each muscle group well. I can't figure it out. Plus, my arms are short and my legs are like stubby tree trunks so don't know if our body type has ANYTHING to do with it??? I do try to do P-U's at the beginning of my workout and it helps a tiny bit, but I am just not gaining ground on them for quite some time now. I will NOT give up! We'll have to cheer each other on in our misery! Ha!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
A Disclaimer

I had better clarify something here before somebody thinks I am Wonder Woman. I can't do 32 full body pushups in a row -- gosh, I'd DIE.

The most I can do straight is 16 full body pushups on strong days -- if I have already exhausted my chest like the way I do in "Step and Intervals" the quantity of pushups I can do full body really decreases!

I love the pushups where you begin full body, then form a pyramid, then you do a lean to the side -- is that in "Cardio and Weights"? I could do those forever!

I was being rather tongue in cheek when I said I'd rather do 32 full body pushups than the bicep work in "Power Hour" -- but still I meant it!

I can do dumbbell flies with 15 to 20 pounds with good form -- the amount of weight depends on how quickly Cathe is leading. The more slowly she leads, the more weight I can handle.

But I have worked on my biceps for YEARS and while they have definition, I just can't break the 15 pound barrier no matter how hard I try! I want to be able to do curls with 20 pound dumbbells, but there is NO WAY I think I will ever be able to do so!
 
RE: A Disclaimer

Okay, now I don't feel so bad. I have a very weak right elbow (due to a break above the joint many years ago that I somehow never knew about and it mended okay , but not very straight), so push-ups are the worst for me. I can't get off my knees! And that makes some of Cathe's ab work tough, too,(ME and Cardio & Weights). One goal I have is to get through those somehow.
 
RE: A Disclaimer

Gosh, I do not see how you manage those pushups with the pyramid and the obliques in "Cardio and Weights" if you have a weak right elbow!

That is a pretty gruesome section -- I love it, but it is HARD!

I have the most trouble with those walking soldier planks in "Cardio and Weights" -- some days are better than others. Sometimes I am wobbling all over the place!
 
RE: A Disclaimer

I can't do pushups to save my life! I can eek out 5 if they're not part of another workout but I always do them on my knees in a Cathe workout and struggle to complete even those! The pushups in the warmup in PUB are even a tad hard! Do you think pushups have a lot to do with core strength? Do those of you who have trouble with pushups also have trouble with ab work? Or, conversely, if your abs are really strong, are pushups easy for you?
 
Susan!

I have no trouble with ANY of Cathe's AB work. (Although plank work on the ball is tough for me.) I can do ALL of Cathe's traditional AB work right along with her and feel that I have a very strong core. Hmmm! BTW, I love the incline push-ups she does in PUB on the step. I can do a zillion of those. I almost feel these MORE then regular push-ups. Wonder if they work the chest as much? Anyone know?
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
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