really stupid question about lifting

La5Vega5Girl

if i lift 2 dumb-bells, they are each 15 lbs. am i lifting 15 lbs, or 30 lbs?
sometimes i do "machines" and i will do an exercise that shows i am using (example) 40 lbs, but if i go to free weights and grab two 20's, i can't duplicate that exercise. i'm confused by using two separate weights.

reemslaw

30. Exercises are more difficult with free weights due to more stabiliser muscles recruited.

La5Vega5Girl

ok thanks. i'm sorry, i know it sounds dumb, but i just sometimes get in the midst of working-out and feel like i don't know what the heck i'm doing! LOL

DjinnMarie

I can always push more on machines, and when using a single weight in unison. Your dominate side will always pick of the slack on for the other side. For this reason I always prefer free weights and dumbbells.

reemslaw

DjinnMarie wrote: »

I can always push more on machines, and when using a single weight in unison. Your dominate side will always pick of the slack on for the other side. For this reason I always prefer free weights and dumbbells.

Spot on.

GemmaM_x

DjinnMarie wrote: »

Your dominate side will always pick of the slack on for the other side.

And didn't I notice exactly this when I first picked up free weights.

Right-side was all, yeah, I got this while the left-side was wobbling all over the place.