June 2, 2004

You Will Need A Barbell If You Plan on Doing Some Weight Lifting

Anyone who wants to work on their arm, back, chest and shoulder muscles should look at investing in a barbell. Generally speaking, a barbell is a long iron bar that is between 4 and 7 feet long. On each end of the bar there are weight plates, which can be either adjusted or fixed. Currently, there are four barbell varieties to become knowledgeable about if you want to make the best choice for your fitness needs.

A fixed weight barbell is not adjustable; therefore, you will need to keep in mind that once you have become accustomed to the weight, you will have to purchase more. These types of weights are most often found in a gym due to the cost and space involved in purchasing them. Adjustable barbells, on the other hand, require you to add and remove plates as you see necessary. The obvious benefits in having this type of weight is that it saves on cost and space.

The other barbell varieties available on the market today include: the Standard bar, Olympic bar, E-Z bar and Triceps bar. The Standard bar is between 5-7 feet in length and weighs approximately 20 pounds. There are Standard bars available for between 10-14 pounds, again it depends on what you are comfortable with. This type of bar is generally used to train larger muscle groups such as your shoulders, biceps and triceps.

The Olympic barbell is approximately 7 feet long and weighs between 30-45 pounds. These bars are named as such because they can accommodate up to 800 pounds of weight plates. It is usually used to train large muscle groups such as your legs, back and chest. There are smaller versions of this bar if you are looking to do curls, shoulder presses or bent rows, which vary in length from 5-6 feet long. This type of equipment is one of the most widely used if you are serious about becoming a weight lifter, or putting on a lot of muscle.

The E-Z bar and Triceps bar are specifically used to target and isolate your bicep and tricep muscles. They are both meant for curl bar exercises and press downs and are convenient because they are easy to store. Each barbell is approximately 4 feet long and are not as heavy as the previously mentioned barbells; however, they are effective nonetheless for targeted muscle training.

When it comes to prices, a barbell can range anywhere from $30.00 - $200.00 US. Be sure to include in that price any shipping and handling fees if you are purchasing online, and keep in mind that there are many manufacturers out there, so do your homework and shop around!

About The Author:
Angela Lanci Zaurrini is a talented and successful freelance writer. Her various writings provide relevant information and wonderfully researched resources for body builders and sports enthusiasts. She is a young and yet experienced educator who earned her B.A. and teaching certification through Simon Fraser University, Canada. She continues her passion of sharing knowledge through her numerous writings and educational articles.

By: Angela Lanci Zaurrini
http//www.a1-weight-lifting-equipment.com