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?
For people that are interested in the plate-bearing pin, you might find that they’re kinda expensive. However, it is something which can be constructed fairly simply, using wood and a threaded rod plus hardware. Fractional plates would usually top out at 5 kg or 15 lbs, so it doesn’t need to be made out of billeted titanium or whatever.
This is one such wooden pin I made, using a scrap 4x4 block of wood and a router. If for your homegym equipment, you may be able to permanently mount a peg for plates, which I’ve done for my functional trainer.
Thanks, but I live in an apartment complex so I don’t have access to any tools or space to do it in haha