barbell
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The Right Ways to Load and Unload a Barbell
Loading a bar is easy, right? You just put the plates on; and at the end of the workout, you take the plates off. But if you’ve ever stood befuddled in the middle of the weight room, you might wonder why nobody ever told you how, exactly, to do this. There are little tricks and…
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Gym Chalk Is Your Secret Weapon for Lifting More Weight
If you’ve ever seen someone chalk up before a big deadlift, maybe clapping a big cloud of the stuff into the air, you might wonder if it’s actually even doing anything. But chalk is a useful tool if you’re lifting heavy, so let’s dive in and talk about when you need it and how to…
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Pay Attention to Those Smooth Rings on the Barbell
Look closely at your barbell the next time you’re in a gym. Much of the surface is roughed up with a diamond pattern. This is called the knurling, and it helps your grip. But near the ends of the handle, you’ll see a ring or line of smooth metal on each side. Maybe two on…
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The 10 Best Sandbag Exercises to Try at the Gym (or at Home)
A sandbag may look like one of the most boring pieces of equipment in the gym, but I say it’s among the most underrated. That goes double for a home gym: Most people drop cash on dumbbells or barbells when a sandbag will give you way more weight for your money — and a good…