Raising the bar - Extra Training - Brief Article

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, July, 2002 by Michelle Basta Boubion

If you're new to weight training, you should try to establish great workout habits from the start. Proper warm-ups, adhering to strict form and keeping a detailed log of your workouts are just a few of the many ways to boost the chances of achieving your goals. But wait a minute: How can you record the weight you lift if you're not sure how much it is? Sure, dumbbells, and machines are marked, but those bars you load up for presses and squats may not be. Here's what the most popular bars typically found in gyms weigh.

4-Foot Olympic EZ-bar 20 pounds

7-foot Olympic bar 45 pounds

Smith machine bar 10 pounds (although the bars are unique to each brand and can vary considerably in weight)

Be aware that smaller bars do exist: The 47-inch EZ-bar is hollow and weighs 10 pounds, and the 6-foot Olympic bar weighs 40 pounds. If you're still unsure which ones your gym uses, ask a staff member.