? RE: bar or dumbells

[eminenz2]

Hi, Cathe -

I know you're VERY busy these days, so I hope my question is quick -

I can do Gym Style Back, Shoulders and Biceps using 20 pound weights to do the first few back exercises.

My questions is this - does it really matter if I do the back exercises with a barbell or free weights? I think I could lift more using a barbell, but is there some advantage using dumbells over a barbell?

I tried adding platemates to my dumbells today to increase the weight slightly (as a jump to 25 pound dumbells is too much right now), but the weights kepts banging into each other.

I think I could lift a 50 pound barbell safely, but I'm not sure I could lift two 25 pound dumbells at the same time and stay correct. I'm not sure why this is.

Thank you for reading my post. I'm grateful for any time you can take to answer it.

-Susan L.G.

 

[Ann Marie]

bump}(

 

[CathydsRNA]

Hi,
I'm not Cathe but a major reason it is more difficult to lift the same amount of weight with dumbells vs a barbell is that you need to do more stablization and so are using more muscles just to stabilize the dumbells. I can do a chest bench press with more weight if I am using a barbell vs dumbells for example. A second reason is that if you have a stronger side, you can cheat a little with a barbell with one side working more than the other. With dumbells, each side is on its own.I typically rotate my upper body work with barbells and dumbells. Some exercises it is just safer to use a barbell instead of dumbells. I always use a barbell with a squat rack for lower body work since I lift fairly heavy.

 

[eminenz2]

But when trying to increase weight for this particular exercise, would a barbell be an acceptable substitute until you're strong enough to go back to dumbells?

 

[CathydsRNA]

I,m not sure which exercise you are talking about but in general,yes but I would use as high a barbell weight as I could handle with good form.

 

[eminenz2]

I'm talking about the first exercise in GS BSB - the three sets of (dumbell) reverse grip rows.

 

[CathydsRNA]

Yes, you can do those with a barbell. I need to go heavier with a barbell for these than if I am using dumbells.

 

[kathryn]

I think I could
>lift more using a barbell, but is there some advantage using
>dumbells over a barbell?

Some advantages to using dumbbells over a barbell are:
1) you work each side equally, rather than possibly allowing the stronger side to take over some of the work of the weaker side;
2) with dumbbells, you can vary the position of your hands, or even add a twist to the move, to add more intensity and hit the muscle fibers in a different way;
3) you work stabilizing muscles when using dumbbells (but, as Cathe mentioned, this means that you will usually be unable to lift the same amount total with dumbbells as you can with a barbell;
4) If you notice any back strain (in the lower back from the isometric hold) you can do the exercise one arm at a time and support your body with the opposite hand on a high step or chair seat, which also allows you to go a bit heavier;
5) you can often add a bit more of a squeeze (bringing the elbows closer together) at the top of the move, which can intensify the work in the lats and rhomboids (postural muscles in the back).

The main advantage to a barbell is being able to lift heavier.

Using a barbell while you are working your way up to heavier dumbbells is one alternative.

Platemates is a great idea. I don't see why the weights would bang into each other though. If they do, work on controlling them, and keeping your hands a bit farther apart at the bottom.

 

[eminenz2]

>Platemates is a great idea. I don't see why the weights would
>bang into each other though. If they do, work on controlling
>them, and keeping your hands a bit farther apart at the
>bottom.

Because the platemates increase the length of the weight, and I guess I'm just being careless when they click together.

Also, when using just one platemate on a dumbell, you have to fiddle with finding the new "center", which can be a bit frustrating.


Thanks for the answers!