Barbells

[Geohood]

Is there any use of buying a barbell bar if I am using dumbells to workout with? What are the benefits and how should I use them together in workouts?

I would use the same plates so would it be worth getting it also if im playing around with the plates during my workout?

Thanks



Also how long is a barbell normally? Rebel has 183cm ones but it seems too long.. Im using Celsius dumbells and plates

 

[Noa]

Barbells I find allow you to lift a weight that is greater then 2 dumbells, so theres that benefit. And they really pump thse peaks up.

Personally doesnt bother me what I use 1st, Ill either do five sets on a barbell progessively getting heavier till the 5th set then drop weight and finish with an even lighter dumbell set or vice-versa.

talk to your arms theyll tell you

 

[Geohood]

Also a random question..

If I'm working two muscle groups in a workout, does it matter if I do all of one muscle group at once then the other all at once, or would it be better to alternate between the two different muscle groups' exercises continually throughout the workout?

And secondly, pretend if I'm doin barbell rows and one arm dumbell rows, would it matter if I do like 3 sets of barbell rows all at once, then do 3 sets of dumbell rows all at once?

 

[adamkungl]

I just find barbells are more suited to certain exercises

 

[Noa]

yeah should have mentioned. Barbells really good for bent over rows, tri ext etc.

Essential part of your workout equipment basically

 

[macavity]

I don't use bar much, mostly DBs - but I am not going for all out peak power.

DBs are harder to control, so work your stabiliser muscles - basically they engage more muscle. You also can't cheat when you have one side stronger than the other, as you will do with a bar.

You can't lift as much though, because stabilisers are relatively weak - meaning you won't push peak power of the muscle you are targeting as much (still enough IMO). Then again if you are only going peak power, pin-loaded is even more stable than bar.

You should probably have both in the arsenal. Surely you will want some bigger plates for bar though - unless you are doing 40kg arm curls now....

 

[Drax]

yes, get a bar.

 

[GuardDog]

buy the bar preferably an olympic bar,then power cage,inclinable bench,pair of dumbells,a stack of suitable weights for olympic bar and dumbells...then you have all you need to be a garage gorilla

 

[Lockyer4President!]

Most of the basic movements require a barbell (Rows, OHP, Bench, Deads, Squats, etc, etc).

If you're hard up just go for a look around local garage sales, you'd be amazed how many people get rid of barely used equipment/weights for almost nothing.

 

[DeeJ]

183cm or 6ft is the standard size for a barbell so no that is not too long.

 

[Joker's Wild]

buy the bar preferably an olympic bar,then power cage,inclinable bench,pair of dumbells,a stack of suitable weights for olympic bar and dumbells...then you have all you need to be a garage gorilla

This is essential if you want to do serious squats. You simply cant lift a properly weighted bar onto your shoulders from the floor.

I had a dodgy old smith machine that I converted into a power rack and its the best thing I could have ever done.

 

[macavity]

This is essential if you want to do serious squats. You simply cant lift a properly weighted bar onto your shoulders from the floor.

I had a dodgy old smith machine that I converted into a power rack and its the best thing I could have ever done.

I'm hardly a gorilla, but I can't believe how many "modern" gyms don't have even one proper cage with safety bars....

 

[bazza]

I'm hardly a gorilla, but I can't believe how many "modern" gyms don't have even one proper cage with safety bars....

The squat rack is one thing you usually never have to wait to use.
If you do it is usually because someone is using it for something other than squats

 

[macavity]

The squat rack is one thing you usually never have to wait to use.
If you do it is usually because someone is using it for something other than squats

2 cages at my gym and usually minimal wait, but there are a couple of morons who use them for bicep curls... with nothing (or 5kg total) on the bar.

I had a go at one of them in the nicest possible way... I think he was too dense to understand what I was saying.

Only two heavy bars in the place (which live in the cages), so that is where the squats and deads happen, and rows, military, etc.

 

[melon....]

Also a random question..

If I'm working two muscle groups in a workout, does it matter if I do all of one muscle group at once then the other all at once, or would it be better to alternate between the two different muscle groups' exercises continually throughout the workout?

And secondly, pretend if I'm doin barbell rows and one arm dumbell rows, would it matter if I do like 3 sets of barbell rows all at once, then do 3 sets of dumbell rows all at once?

It depends what you want to achieve. if you want to build mass, you'll need the energy and working on the one muscle group first youll have a better chance of achieving that. if you switch between say Biceps and lats, your lat pull-downs may tax your energy levels that may halt you from performing your best on your biceps.

If you are looking at cutting up, then yo are probably using smaller weights so mixing it up is probably acceptable. They key in any workout is to minimize the stops/breaks between sets. 30-60 seconds max. None of this i just benched 100 kegs and take 5 minutes between sets.

 

[Geohood]

It depends what you want to achieve. if you want to build mass, you'll need the energy and working on the one muscle group first youll have a better chance of achieving that. if you switch between say Biceps and lats, your lat pull-downs may tax your energy levels that may halt you from performing your best on your biceps.

So for building mass you wouldn't recomend supersets?

 

[melon....]

So for building mass you wouldn't recomend supersets?

I wouldnt personally no. i would recommend low reps low set heavier weights. But most importantly, slow movement through the range and form. Form is more important than weight. if you cant move the weight through the full range of motion for that exercise with perfect form, its too heavy. id throw in a flyweight set after the last heavy set and go until fatigue to get that extra pump. But Thats it. For example - Chest flies, 2 x light warm up sets of 8 reps mainly focusing on stretching the pec, then 3 heavy sets x 8 reps - 20 kilos each bell, then 30, then 40 (as an example). Then straight after the last set no break straight onto 10 or 5 kilos and go until you fatigue (15-20 reps). if your pecs arent exploding out of your skin by then they never will.

2 minutes between exercises 45 seconds between sets. Id start with Bench and finish with Flies. Only 2 exercises per muscle group if I want to bulk up. The rest is litres of water, food and lots of sleep.

 

[Sydney Knight]

A question for the guys that have Power Racks/Cages in their Garages.

Do you have to bolt these into the cement or are they stable enough on there own?

 

[Joker's Wild]

Mine is just sitting on the floor and doesnt move at all. You shouldnt have to bolt the thing in if its made properly

Just on the bulking up thing too. If you want to gain mass in any area it is far more effecticve to build muscle over all to achieve maximum gains, ie dont neglect your lower body just because you want to build a bigger chest or arms. Doing squats and deadlifts engages your bodies major muscle groups and stimulates the release of testosterone and other muscle building hormones enabling you to get much better gains. Also, consumption of high quality protein and carbs directly after an intense workout will feed your muscles and help you maintain the hard earned bulk.

 

[macavity]

I wouldnt personally no. i would recommend low reps low set heavier weights. But most importantly, slow movement through the range and form. Form is more important than weight. if you cant move the weight through the full range of motion for that exercise with perfect form, its too heavy. id throw in a flyweight set after the last heavy set and go until fatigue to get that extra pump. But Thats it. For example - Chest flies, 2 x light warm up sets of 8 reps mainly focusing on stretching the pec, then 3 heavy sets x 8 reps - 20 kilos each bell, then 30, then 40 (as an example). Then straight after the last set no break straight onto 10 or 5 kilos and go until you fatigue (15-20 reps). if your pecs arent exploding out of your skin by then they never will.

2 minutes between exercises 45 seconds between sets. Id start with Bench and finish with Flies. Only 2 exercises per muscle group if I want to bulk up. The rest is litres of water, food and lots of sleep.

Time to mix it up so I tried this rhythm on dumbell incline bench yesterday, and then at the end of my workout did decline bar drop sets to failure - still (good) sore today.