Starting Strength Weight Set Criteria

WhiteRabbit1313

I have the SS book at home, but I need some general info. from it, at the moment. Just a minute ago, my co-worker offered to GIVE me his Marcy Standard weight bench and weights. I understand that I will progress through the weights and will need an Olympic set, eventually, if I keep weightlifting, BUT is it ok to start with a standard set and invest in the Olympic set later?

TIA!

JenMc14

As long as you will still be challenged by the weights,I don't see why not start with that. I first bar was a 30 pound bar, not a standard Oly bar, and it had plates. It lasted me for a decent while, although I was doing the max it could go with squats for longer than I would've liked. It's free, so why not take it and see what you think?

DeadliftAddict

As long as you will still be challenged by the weights,I don't see why not start with that. I first bar was a 30 pound bar, not a standard Oly bar, and it had plates. It lasted me for a decent while, although I was doing the max it could go with squats for longer than I would've liked. It's free, so why not take it and see what you think?

Exactly what this person said. Having this is better than nothing. Purchase what you can a little at a time while using this to get started.

WhiteRabbit1313

That's kind of what I was thinking...free is hard to pass up.

WhiteRabbit1313

As long as you will still be challenged by the weights,I don't see why not start with that. I first bar was a 30 pound bar, not a standard Oly bar, and it had plates. It lasted me for a decent while, although I was doing the max it could go with squats for longer than I would've liked. It's free, so why not take it and see what you think?

Exactly what this person said. Having this is better than nothing. Purchase what you can a little at a time while using this to get started.

Do y'all know if most iron weights are interchangeable with standard AND Olympic bars? If so, the free weights (no pun intended) would be incentive, in and of itself.

WhiteRabbit1313

*bump*

jimmmer

Standard size weights and oly weights have different hole sizes. I wouldn't worry about it too much to start with - just pick up the free set and get going with it.

It'll take you long enough to max out on the free set that you can learn the lifts and get somewhere with it whilst scouting out second hand sites in your country for oly equipment at good prices. I guess if you're in the US that would be somewhere like Craigslist. If you were here in the UK you could try on Gumtree (or even freecycle).

JenMc14

As long as you will still be challenged by the weights,I don't see why not start with that. I first bar was a 30 pound bar, not a standard Oly bar, and it had plates. It lasted me for a decent while, although I was doing the max it could go with squats for longer than I would've liked. It's free, so why not take it and see what you think?

Exactly what this person said. Having this is better than nothing. Purchase what you can a little at a time while using this to get started.

Do y'all know if most iron weights are interchangeable with standard AND Olympic bars? If so, the free weights (no pun intended) would be incentive, in and of itself.

Yeah, my old plates fit my Oly bar, but my old bar maxed out (it was a three piece bar, so it did have a max load), so I had to get an Oly bar, as I couldn't safely continue to add weights.

yogicarl

You may also find local stuff for a good price on eBay as there is a smaller market for "Collection Only" items. That's where I sold my old set and just about got my money back so both sides were happy.

WhiteRabbit1313

As long as you will still be challenged by the weights,I don't see why not start with that. I first bar was a 30 pound bar, not a standard Oly bar, and it had plates. It lasted me for a decent while, although I was doing the max it could go with squats for longer than I would've liked. It's free, so why not take it and see what you think?

Exactly what this person said. Having this is better than nothing. Purchase what you can a little at a time while using this to get started.

Do y'all know if most iron weights are interchangeable with standard AND Olympic bars? If so, the free weights (no pun intended) would be incentive, in and of itself.

Yeah, my old plates fit my Oly bar, but my old bar maxed out (it was a three piece bar, so it did have a max load), so I had to get an Oly bar, as I couldn't safely continue to add weights.

Ok, so, it's not implausible that I could transfer some of them to an Olympic bar; I'll just have to check the hole diameter, etc. Thanks for the info.!

WhiteRabbit1313

Thanks, everyone, for your input! :flowerforyou: