Counting the weight of the bar when lifting?

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Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question. When people talk about how much they lift, are they counting the 45 lb bar in that number? Or is it just the weight of the plates, and it's just understood that you're lifting another 45lbs on top of that?

For example, someone here says they can deadlift 275 lbs. Does that mean they loaded 230 lbs onto the bar? Or that they're really physically lifting 320 lbs?

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  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    edited January 2015
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    A 275 deadlift is a 275 deadlift, including the bar. You count whatever you actually lifted. Not all bars are 45lbs btw (they range from about 35 to 60lbs typically) so not counting it would be silly and confusing.
  • lngrunert
    lngrunert Posts: 204 Member
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    Okay, that's what I thought! Right now I can only do chest presses with the bar itself (it's a 45lb bar according to my trainer), so I guess it would be silly to say I press zero. :) Thanks!
  • Shawshankcan
    Shawshankcan Posts: 900 Member
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    Most bars in a commercial gym at 7 feet and weight about 45lbs. They are included in the weight lifted.

    This is why there is a meathead joke that 45+45=135.
  • moto450
    moto450 Posts: 334 Member
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    yep, you include It