Kellyro77
Cathlete
I purchased Cathe's 60# barbell set with the pad when she had one of her flash sales in the last month or two. I've held out for a long, looooong time on purchasing one, because yes, I've pretty much managed to get by just fine with my SelectTech dumbbells and was adverse to cluttering my space with yet more equipment. I also went out and purchased some additional 25# plates and a couple 1.25# micro-load plates, as well. I could potentially load my bar up to over 100# now given the variety of plates I have (haven't tried that much weight yet, though.)
I've finally had the opportunity to really put the barbell to use with a couple of the STS 2.0 workouts. Cathe's not kidding - the hip thrusts alone are well worth the investment in the barbell. Because my SelectTech weights only go as heavy as 52.5#, I really couldn't challenge my glutes beyond that. While it's a workaround, I personally found the weights too cumbersome to try using something like a fabric loop to dangle two of them across my hips.
Yesterday I did STS 2.0 Lower Body 1 and loaded up 80# on my barbell for the hip thrusts - what a difference! My cheeks were definitely feeling it.
Barbell rows and Pendlay rows feel way better with the barbell, too, instead of subbed with dumbbells. Something about the balance and that both arms are working together to heft the weight just feels good.
I can see how a barbell may allow one arm to get lazy, though, if there's an imbalance in strength from one side to the other - one arm may take up some of the slack from the other, for instance, so dumbbells are still absolutely invaluable to keep using, too.
Anyhow - just a plug for barbells. And you don't have to use Cathe's barbell, though I do appreciate how it feels - the coating on the bar is nice and I like that it's not two pieces, so it feels very structurally solid.
I've finally had the opportunity to really put the barbell to use with a couple of the STS 2.0 workouts. Cathe's not kidding - the hip thrusts alone are well worth the investment in the barbell. Because my SelectTech weights only go as heavy as 52.5#, I really couldn't challenge my glutes beyond that. While it's a workaround, I personally found the weights too cumbersome to try using something like a fabric loop to dangle two of them across my hips.
Yesterday I did STS 2.0 Lower Body 1 and loaded up 80# on my barbell for the hip thrusts - what a difference! My cheeks were definitely feeling it.
Barbell rows and Pendlay rows feel way better with the barbell, too, instead of subbed with dumbbells. Something about the balance and that both arms are working together to heft the weight just feels good.
I can see how a barbell may allow one arm to get lazy, though, if there's an imbalance in strength from one side to the other - one arm may take up some of the slack from the other, for instance, so dumbbells are still absolutely invaluable to keep using, too.
Anyhow - just a plug for barbells. And you don't have to use Cathe's barbell, though I do appreciate how it feels - the coating on the bar is nice and I like that it's not two pieces, so it feels very structurally solid.
