I started lifting weights (again) and accurately tracking my progress (I bought a “cheap” workout and weight loss plan, which requires a lot of data so you can see your progress (or regress)). When bench pressing and doing squats on the (Cybex) Smith Machine I had assumed that the bar weighed 45 pounds like a free bar does and added it to the total weight. It wasn’t until my most recent session (finished about 30 minutes ago) that I realized that the bar doesn’t in fact weigh 45 pounds…but weighs anywhere from 7 to 30 pounds, according to what I saw from a quick search. I should have realized that it wasn’t 45 pounds because it felt pretty light. Google says that the average weight tends to be about 15 pounds, but I have no idea.

I was also using the (Cybex) overhead should press machine and saw that the plates past 50 pounds went in 15 pound increments. Then I noticed the additional weight at the top, disabled by a pin. When I lowered it down on to the stack there was no number on it. Was it 5 pounds? 7.5 pounds? 10 pounds? Who knows?

How are people supposed to know how much weight they’re lifting if things aren’t numbered properly? They have these huge stickers that say everything, but they can’t put “bar weighs 15 lbs” on it?

  • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    8 months ago

    Step on a scale holding whatever you want to weigh.

    Put down the thing

    Step on a scale not holding the thing you want to weigh.

    Subtract the second number from the first.

    I realized I didn’t need a special scale to weigh light things if I just did it like that.

    • morphballganon@lemmy.world
      1·
      8 months ago

      This is a great method if you own the object in question… Sounds like OP is curious about equipment at their local public gym though.

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
        0·
        8 months ago

        I was under the impression most gyms had a scale, but I have a sample size of one gym that I’ve ever been to, and that gym had a scale.

        Maybe that’s not as common as I imagined it was.

        • Halosheep@lemm.ee
          1·
          8 months ago

          My gym has a scale, but not a digital one and it would be… Unusual, if not somewhat dangerous, to bring a bar across the entire place to where it’s placed.

          I can see reasons why they wouldn’t want to do that, even if there is a scale.

    • Kinglink@lemmy.world
      1·
      8 months ago

      Now lift it up 11 more times. You’ve done a set… do it four more times, move on to the next object.

      (I think OP is more talking about thinks you can’t bring to a scale)