Tracking weight for dumbbells vs barbells in JEFIT

[jus]

I was doing dumbbell bench presses and putting the weight of one dumbbell into the log on JEFIT. When I switched to barbell I obviously put the entire weight of the barbell and started wondering...if I am doing two 15 lb dumbbells am I supposed to log 30 lbs at however many reps I do?
http://smiles.kolobok.us/artists/vishenka/d_training.gif

[mrwright]

It doesn't really matter aslong as you keep it consistent, if you prefer to add up the 2 dumbbells then do that, if not just use the one.

[Deviation]

Most log the weight of one dumbbell. As mrwright said though, just be consistent.

[junkedbrian]

I've always logged the weight of one dumbbell, at least when you're talking about bench press with dumbbells you usually say you're using 80's not 160 lbs.. I guess as long as you keep it consistent.

[mrwright]

I've always logged the weight of one dumbbell, at least when you're talking about bench press with dumbbells you usually say you're using 80's not 160 lbs.. I guess as long as you keep it consistent.

I find it easier that way aswell, saves having to do a little bit of maths in the middle of your workout
if it says 20 you pick up 20s

[decu68]

My theory is if you are lifting the dumbbells at the same time then log in their weight combined. If you are doing alternate lifts than enter them as individual weights.

[junkedbrian]

My theory is if you are lifting the dumbbells at the same time then log in their weight combined. If you are doing alternate lifts than enter them as individual weights.

this actually makes more sense

[tjwood]

this actually makes more sense

It does until you think that doing, say, dumbbell curls lifting together is nowhere near twice as hard as lifting alternately.

Personally I log the weight of one dumbbell. As long as you're consistent it doesn't matter.

[amcredle]

yea as long as you are consistent it doesnt matter. however most people log only one..

1.when you do a barbell bench press your are lifting the weight as one unit. so you add all the weight together.

2. when doing dumbell bench you arent. if you are really week on one side you will defiantly know. so if you have 50 pounds dumbells. each side is lifting 50 pounds independently.. not 100

so with 99% of the people. if you are just in regular convo and you said i just pressed 100lbs. 99% of the people are going to think you just pressed 100lb dumbells with each arm...

but however you want to log it works as long as you know what you are talking about

[tjohnstad]

..so with 99% of the people. if you are just in regular convo and you said i just pressed 100lbs. 99% of the people are going to think you just pressed 100lb dumbells with each arm... And see that you "are full of`it!" and look at you :)


but however you want to log it works as long as you know what you are talking about

[decu68]

if you are just in regular convo and you said i just pressed 100lbs. 99% of the people are going to think you just pressed 100lb dumbells with each arm...

In that case that would be true than. ;)

[volcom54o]

personal preference is individual dumbells

[OptikaNET]

I log Barbells as one side as well, unless they are pre-built barbells. I put in my log what I need to know in order to select the weight the following session (ie how many plates to put on each side, which dumbell to pick up etc).

It would be nice if you could select your preference in this regard (per exercise) by a radio button or some-such, since it obviously makes a difference when calculating progress.

Does anybody else find that the amount they can lift on a barbell is NEVER simply twice the dumbell weight they use? I don't know if there is a formula for converting one to the other which works for the average person, but I tend to find that working with dumbells is much harder than with barbells and if I switch from one to the other, the weight goes down to less than half (or the other way, goes up to more than double - this is obviously taking the weight of the bar into account as well...)

Inevitably, if changing from one to the other I find there is no substitute for simply picking the damned thing up and seeing if it feels too heavy!!!

If I change my routine, I generally find a week or two when I'm just trying to find the right weight. This goes for when I miss a week or two as well...

Kind Regards
Dave

[decu68]

Does anybody else find that the amount they can lift on a barbell is NEVER simply twice the dumbell weight they use? I don't know if there is a formula for converting one to the other which works for the average person, but I tend to find that working with dumbells is much harder than with barbells and if I switch from one to the other, the weight goes down to less than half (or the other way, goes up to more than double - this is obviously taking the weight of the bar into account as well...)

I find for certain lifts it will depend for me. All and all I can lift more with barbells and that is more likely due to the whole body being used as one while lifting with dumbbells you are not using your whole body and you are using more stabilizer muscles. However when doing Seated Bicep Concentrated Curls, I can get a 1RM per arm of 93.73 lbs; I don't think I could 1RM curl with a barbell 187.46 lbs.

[decu68]

If I change my routine, I generally find a week or two when I'm just trying to find the right weight. This goes for when I miss a week or two as well...

I think this is for everybody. Doesn't take me as long as that, usually just the first day lifting that routine and the next time I'm closely on tract. When I come back from missing time, I either start at the same weights (mostly) or drop 5-10 lbs. New programs with new lifts that I've never done, yah, that may take slightly longer but I'm usually pretty good at getting on tract for the next lifting day.

[OptikaNET]

Depends how cautious I am being. Sometimes I think I have found the right weight, but turns out that I had simply tired myself trying other weights and the one I'd settled on was too low...

...or I was being too ambitious and selected a weight I couldn't actually work with.

That's why I said a couple of weeks (assuming one round of any given split per week!)

Kind Regards
Dave

[JackMarTIn]

I've always logged the weight of one dumbbell, at least when you're talking about bench press with dumbbells you usually say you're using 80's not 160 lbs.. I guess as long as you keep it consistent.