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Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Barbell suggestions anyone?

JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 12:27 AM I hope this is the appropriate forum for this question - I need to break down and buy a barbell for my home, problem is I'm very petite. I'm 5'1" standing on my toes. Everything I've seen out shopping around either looks like it was built for Captain America or it looks flimsy. Can anyone recommend a barbell that will be more comfortable for someone my size? Something widely available? I probably won't be putting more than about fifty pounds on it but I'd like something made well and comfortable to hold. I really need it for squats, so is it better to get the kind with a curve for your neck? I've been using dumbells exclusively for about a year so any advice is welcome. I haven't been here for a while - I've enjoyed reading all the posts! Forgot how nice and helpful everyone was here!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 11:16 AM Thanks raven - will take a look! Also I have a feeling I'm missing something obvious - but when you say adjustable arms so the bar "is not so high up" - I'm not sure what you're talking about. Are you talking about the rack? Or do you mean the bar can be adjusted so it isn't so wide (long)? Sorry, I'm a little confused.
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 02:06 PM Whoops - post disappeared. Thanks for clearing that up - wish I had room for a Smith system - or a bench for that matter! LOL Until we move into a bigger space all I can justify is a barbell that I can shove behind something when I'm done! Will start looking ASAP - thanks again.
Ravenbeauty Posts: 3,755 Joined: 2002/09/24	2003/02/05, 03:03 PM if the barbell is for free weight exercises jessica, i suggest you get the curl bar( it is lighter and a smaller size) which will work out great for you. I know this because I am 5'4" and it fits perfect for me moreso than those bigger barbell that weigh 45 lbs for example. Ravenwolf is 6' so those are about his size. If you are just starting out, I would suggest the curl bar and then move up to the more heavier an advanced bars as you grow in weight training. Plus the curl bar will be easier to store in a smaller space until as you say get a bigger place and a bigger workout center. Hope this helps! -------------- Bettia.... You are nothing less than Beautiful in my eyes.
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 04:44 PM Ravenwolf, thanks for the links - I really appreciate all your help. I really want the bar for squats - its too awkward to hold enough weight in dumbells to really challenge my legs anymore. Ravenbeauty, that's what I was looking for - I think the curl bar is what I want but I wanted to ask before I went out and bought one - I'll probably stick to dumbells for most of my upper body work but its just not working anymore for the squats! Checking those sites right now - woohoo - I love getting packages in the mail!
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 04:51 PM Ravenbeauty, neither of these sites say how much the curl bars weigh - is there a standard weight for these? Do you have the EZ curl kind?
JessicaR Posts: 467 Joined: 2002/08/12	2003/02/05, 05:03 PM Thanks, you guys make a good team! Gotta take my daughter for a walk - will check it out. I can already see that it is less expensive. :)
Ravenbeauty Posts: 3,755 Joined: 2002/09/24	2003/02/05, 05:13 PM Jessica a standard curl bar weighs in at 20 lbs, I had checked this with the ones at the gyms, olympic bars sometimes tend to go heavier, but it would be a lot less weight than the actual barbell. ditto on ravenwolf, glad we can help! -------------- Bettia.... You are nothing less than Beautiful in my eyes.