Advice on Weights Please

I went to my local sporting goods chains today to look at weights to use with my Bib Starter that I ordered this morning. The two chains I went to here in the Houston area are Academy and Oshman’s.

I wasn’t impressed with either as far as the weights they had. The smallest round weights with a hole in the center they had was 2 1/2 pounds. From there, they went to 3, then 5, then 10 and up.

I was thinking of trying to find 1 pound incruments, but the only 1 pound weights they had were little dumbell weights.

What weights in what incruments should I buy and where could I find them on the internet if I can’t find them locally?

Thanks in advance,

Dav

Possibly sinkers, like what is used in fishing. Not sure what size they come in, plus they may be composed of lead, so beware of lead posioning.

You can always get some golf weights from Walmart. They are fairly small.

Hope this helps !!

If you can get weights in 2.5, 3, and 5 lb increments, you can make a great many combinations from that.

Consider:

2.5 lbs (1x 2.5)
3 lbs (1x 3)
5 lbs (1x 5)
5.5 lbs (1 each of 2.5 & 3)
6 lbs (2x 3)
7.5 lbs (1 each of 2.5 & 5)
8 lbs (2x 2.5 & 1x 3)
8.5 lbs (1x 2.5 & 2x 3)
9 lbs (3x 3)
10 lbs (2x 5)
10.5 lbs (1 each of 2.5, 3, and 5)
11 lbs (2x 3 & 1x 5)
12 lbs (4x 3)
12.5 lbs (1x 2.5 & 2x 5)
13 lbs (1x 3 & 2x 5)

…and so on… that should be enough steps for a while, even if you start at the 5 lb level. All that with no more than 1 2.5lb plate, 2 5 pounders, and 4 of the 3lb plate. Should be cheap enough. You could even cut 2 3lb plates out of that by cutting out the 9 & 12 lb steps, which would change a 1lb jump to a 1.5lb jump twice. Should be livable.

Improved version of last post:
(Any mod may feel free to snip and cut these two posts together for tidiness.)

If you can get weights in 2.5, 3, and 5 lb increments, you can make a great many combinations from that.

Consider:

2.5 lbs (2.5)
3 lbs (3)
5 lbs (5)
5.5 lbs (2.5 + 3)
6 lbs (2x3)
7.5 lbs (2.5 + 5)
8 lbs (3 + 5)
8.5 lbs (2.5 + 2x3)
9 lbs (3x3)
10 lbs (10)
10.5 lbs (2.5 + 3 + 5)
11 lbs (2x3 + 5)
12 lbs (4x3)
12.5 lbs (2.5 + 10)
13 lbs (3 + 10)
13.5 lbs (2.5 + 2x3 + 5)
14 lbs (3x3 + 5)
15 lbs (5 + 10)
15.5 lbs (2.5 + 3 + 10)
16 lbs (2x3 + 10)
16.5 lbs (2.5 + 3x3 + 5)
17 lbs (4x3 + 5)
17.5 lbs (2.5 + 5 + 10)
18 lbs (3 + 5 + 10)
18.5 lbs (2.5 + 2x3 + 10)
19 lbs (3x3 + 10)

That should be enough steps for some years, even if you start at the 5 lb level. All that with no more than 1 each of the 2.5lb plate, 5, and 10, as well as 4 of the 3lb plates. That should be reasonably cheap.

If you ever get to this point (hanging 19 pounds) you could continue to run the steps up gradually to 40 lbs or so just by adding one 20 lb plate to your collection, which would give you enough range to cover any hanging weight seriously mentioned here.

deSol,

Wow, great post. Thanks,

Bigger

1 1/4 lb. plates are made with 1” and Olympic size holes, though they can sometimes be difficult to find. Might try looking in a Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or similar store if one is close. Otherwise a search using Google should turn up a bunch of online sources.

How about using a small jug of water in addition to your plates? Water runs close to 1 ounce in weight per fluid once of volume. One gram per mL.

Thanks for all the input DeSol. I appreciate your taking the time figuring out the steps and weights to make it.

I will plan to take your advice and will look forward to reporting my progress.

Dav

That was thoughtful for him to break it down blow by blow for you…but just thought I would add I found 1.25 lbs plates, and the jumps are even smaller. I bought 3 1.25 lbs plates, 1 5lb, 1 10lb, and 1 20lb. all for like under 15-20 bucks tops. This wil last at least until the end of time, maybe longer…..

I think the smaller jumps you can make the better and faster progress you’ll see…..not to mention probably safer….Go to a weights store or a store that specializes in weights and plates, not just a general fitness or sporting goods store. You will have better luck there finding the smaller plates. If you have the chain “Play it Again Sports” they will have them, probably even used, saving you more money! (thats’ where I got mine).

Hell, like some one else said you could even go to Home Depot or Lowes and pick out something for cheap that meets your weight requirements.

Also, Wal-Mart carries 1 and 2 lb wrist weights that are to be used for like aerobics or something like that. But as PE’rs we can figure out to use just about anything.

As far as the attachments, I use good old fashioned coat hanger wire. I have each plate with a wire attachment. I can add and subtract weight as need. It is convenient, easy, and probably free as you probably have 3,659 hangers sitting in your closet as you wonder what to do with them…..

Just get some wire cutters from the garage and maybe some pliers to help you twist and straighten, and VIOLA!

The point is the less you spend, probably the happier you’ll be. (Uless you like spending money) At least I am…With of course the exception of your BIB. Don’t be cheap in that area.

P.E. -We find more cheap ways to hang weights off our dicks before you even get out of bed. Be all you can be. Join up Today

Adding a single 1.25 lb weight to the mix gives you a lot more possibilities. I won’t enumerate them all again. I was just working with what he said he had access to at the time. I missed a couple, even:

14.5 lbs (2.5 + 4x3)
19.5 lbs (2.5 + 4x3 + 5)

and past 20:

20.5 lbs (2.5 + 3 + 5 + 10)
21 lbs (2x3 + 5 + 10)
21.5 lbs (2.5 + 3x3 + 10)
22 lbs (4x3 + 10)

Past that point, just add the 20 pounder in, using the original chart.