Do you Count the Bar??

stayxtrue
stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so I have never counted the bar as part of my weight with things like bench press and so on... However this morning in the gym most of the guys were counting it as weight, and so on....

Does anyone here add that weight or just the weight of the plates?

Replies

  • addisondisease
    addisondisease Posts: 664 Member
    lol this made me laugh. Not being mean promise

    When you are putting weight onto the bar does the bar suddenly lose weight?

    That bar is 45 pound for a reason, and regardless of how much weight you put on it, you will always have to move that weight and the bar.

    But hey you just added 45 pound to all your lifts in a couple minuets, no program can do that!
  • EuroDriver12
    EuroDriver12 Posts: 805 Member
    i never added the weight of the bar either until every single person i spoke to was adding the bar n it was starting to annoy me so i automatically add the bar to it as everyone assums i do nways... lol

    n reason i didnt add the bar before is because i figured it was a given haha everyone benches the bar so its more about the plates on there...
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    Yes- the bar counts as weight and I OWN that bar weight!!! I always ask how much the bars weigh. The bar on the bench press at my gym is 45, the curl bar is 25 and the bar on the Smith is 20.
  • EuroDriver12
    EuroDriver12 Posts: 805 Member
    Yes- the bar counts as weight and I OWN that bar weight!!! I always ask how much the bars weigh. The bar on the bench press at my gym is 45, the curl bar is 25 and the bar on the Smith is 20.

    yup those would be standard weights at all gyms :)
  • stayxtrue
    stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
    i never added the weight of the bar either until every single person i spoke to was adding the bar n it was starting to annoy me so i automatically add the bar to it as everyone assums i do nways... lol

    n reason i didnt add the bar before is because i figured it was a given haha everyone benches the bar so its more about the plates on there...

    Yea looks like I will be to, as the bar is around 20kgs therefore my bench would be more around the 80mark when I was always saying I was benching around 60kgs... Looks like I will be counting the bar from now on
  • EuroDriver12
    EuroDriver12 Posts: 805 Member
    yeh i guess makes sense to add it anyway.. n they do on strongman compeitions n olympics...
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Typically one counts the bar in the total weight calculation.

    As far as your own record-keeping goes, it doesn't really matter, as long as you're consistent in how you track your workouts.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    For a program like StrongLifts you start with JUST the 45 lb Olympic barbell... no weights. So, yeah :) Otherwise, I guess I'll spend one whole day lifting 0 lbs unless I count that bar! :D
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    Of course you count the bar.
    It's weight.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    if you lift it, it counts :smile:
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!

    This brings up a question from a beginner. How much should a newbe be struggling? Enough to get in 3 sets of 10? Easily or barely? And is this done everyday or every other day? Very new to strength training. Sorry if these are dumb questions.

    Deb
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Yes. I even count the 80lbs starting weight of the leg press.
  • spyder_rose
    spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
    if you lift it, it counts :smile:

    I think I would only be able to lift the bar.. so it DEFINITELY counts...

    PS. I am going to try when I can get to a gym. Just hope I don't make a complete fool of myself.. it's been YEARS since I lifted properly... :/
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!

    This brings up a question from a beginner. How much should a newbe be struggling? Enough to get in 3 sets of 10? Easily or barely? And is this done everyday or every other day? Very new to strength training. Sorry if these are dumb questions.

    Deb

    not dumb questions. each set should be challenging, but you should be able to complete most of the reps without struggling too much...it's ok if the last few reps are pretty tough in the set. If they're all easy you need more weight!
  • stayxtrue
    stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
    if you lift it, it counts :smile:

    I think I would only be able to lift the bar.. so it DEFINITELY counts...

    PS. I am going to try when I can get to a gym. Just hope I don't make a complete fool of myself.. it's been YEARS since I lifted properly... :/

    Just take it easy and you should be right :) get the technique correct and then start adding the weight as needed :)
  • stayxtrue
    stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
    I feel like a complete noob asking this question now haha!..

    So from now on I am adding the bar as my weights, which means I am lifting more than had led myself to believe :laugh:
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!

    This brings up a question from a beginner. How much should a newbe be struggling? Enough to get in 3 sets of 10? Easily or barely? And is this done everyday or every other day? Very new to strength training. Sorry if these are dumb questions.

    Deb

    I think it really depends on the program you're following. Are you following one? As a newbie myself it's just easier for me to pick a program and follow that... for example, the StrongLifts program starts out at 5 x 5 (five sets of 5 reps). And you just add on 5 lbs each workout... or for women, less weight... like 2.5 lbs or so. Whatever works.

    And it's NOT done every day. You need a day in between for your muscles to recover... you're basically tearing them down and they need to rebuild. So, for example... with StrongLifts... you work out 3 days per week... like M, W, F... and you REST on those days in between. That is crucial to your progress.
  • spyder_rose
    spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
    if you lift it, it counts :smile:

    I think I would only be able to lift the bar.. so it DEFINITELY counts...

    PS. I am going to try when I can get to a gym. Just hope I don't make a complete fool of myself.. it's been YEARS since I lifted properly... :/

    Just take it easy and you should be right :) get the technique correct and then start adding the weight as needed :)

    I've always been told my technique is spot on... ;)... it's just a matter of my wrist holding up... sigh. and then my body recovering lol. I am going to try but... once I'm back in Sydney :)

    PS. My old gym didn't use me for advertising for no reason ;)
  • stayxtrue
    stayxtrue Posts: 1,186 Member
    if you lift it, it counts :smile:

    I think I would only be able to lift the bar.. so it DEFINITELY counts...

    PS. I am going to try when I can get to a gym. Just hope I don't make a complete fool of myself.. it's been YEARS since I lifted properly... :/

    haha they used you for advertising?? nice!! My wrists suck so I wear wrist supports, it helps :)

    Just take it easy and you should be right :) get the technique correct and then start adding the weight as needed :)

    I've always been told my technique is spot on... ;)... it's just a matter of my wrist holding up... sigh. and then my body recovering lol. I am going to try but... once I'm back in Sydney :)

    PS. My old gym didn't use me for advertising for no reason ;)
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!

    This brings up a question from a beginner. How much should a newbe be struggling? Enough to get in 3 sets of 10? Easily or barely? And is this done everyday or every other day? Very new to strength training. Sorry if these are dumb questions.

    Deb

    I think it really depends on the program you're following. Are you following one? As a newbie myself it's just easier for me to pick a program and follow that... for example, the StrongLifts program starts out at 5 x 5 (five sets of 5 reps). And you just add on 5 lbs each workout... or for women, less weight... like 2.5 lbs or so. Whatever works.

    And it's NOT done every day. You need a day in between for your muscles to recover... you're basically tearing them down and they need to rebuild. So, for example... with StrongLifts... you work out 3 days per week... like M, W, F... and you REST on those days in between. That is crucial to your progress.

    I am doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit trainer. It's 4 or 5 days per week, but you only focus on one or two muscle groups per day!
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    Yes! I got to have a special surprise at the gym last week. I tend to use the same pieces of equipment....so for a few weeks I was using the same bar at the preacher curls, putting a measley 10 pound plate on each side for a whopping total of 33.8 pounds with the bar. Well, last week I had to use the other preacher curl bar. Didn't look at it. Added the weight. Struggled like crazy during the set. Looked down to see the bar had 28.5 pound written on it! That was shocking! So I was really doing 48.5 pounds! I was able to do it but there was no way I was going to get 3 sets out!

    This brings up a question from a beginner. How much should a newbe be struggling? Enough to get in 3 sets of 10? Easily or barely? And is this done everyday or every other day? Very new to strength training. Sorry if these are dumb questions.

    Deb

    I think it really depends on the program you're following. Are you following one? As a newbie myself it's just easier for me to pick a program and follow that... for example, the StrongLifts program starts out at 5 x 5 (five sets of 5 reps). And you just add on 5 lbs each workout... or for women, less weight... like 2.5 lbs or so. Whatever works.

    And it's NOT done every day. You need a day in between for your muscles to recover... you're basically tearing them down and they need to rebuild. So, for example... with StrongLifts... you work out 3 days per week... like M, W, F... and you REST on those days in between. That is crucial to your progress.

    I am doing Jamie Eason's Live Fit trainer. It's 4 or 5 days per week, but you only focus on one or two muscle groups per day!

    I am not doing any particular work out yet. I have a Weider 2100 in my basement that I'm looking into for the first time. :o) It was given to us by a friend. Thank for your answers. Any suggestions would be appriciated ( not to hijack thsi thread)
    Deb
  • lonaneomaflame
    lonaneomaflame Posts: 85
    I think I would only be able to lift the bar.. so it DEFINITELY counts...

    Exactly the 45 pound bar would be all I could do, that is assuming that I could actually lift the bar.....
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