24 Hour Fitness = Plastic Weights?

[loco75_dfw]

So I signed up with 24 hour fitness last night. I needed a gym since the University gym modified it's hours for summer. This gym is 5 minutes from my house so I am excited. Anyway, I noticed the free weights were all made of plastic? They are Octagon shaped and have cutouts so u can grab them easier. I am old school and am used to the steel Olympic plates which looked thinner but again, they seemed more solid. I get underneath the bar with 225 loaded on and I did 8 reps. I typically do 5-6 reps. I went all the way up to 1 rep of 295 and then I stopped. I could only do 285 last week at my old gym with the steel weights.

So, i know many will say the weights are the same regardless if they are steel or plastic but, does anyone here have any doubts? Has anyone actually ever weighed a steel Olympic plate versus a plastic weight and compared their actual weight? I don't see how my bench could have gone up 10lbs in 1 week. Maybe it's a mental thing but the plastic ones felt a tad lighter....

 

[Kabeetz]

No it's not just a mental thing. Two plates even of the same material by different manufacturers can be different weights. Unfortunately only top manufacturers actually make a quality, accurately measured product. As you workout at that gym regularly, lifting more than you could the week before is all that matters, not so much the actual # the plate supposedly weighs.

 

[beerdrinker]

Maybe you got stronger? Yeah, I'd go with that one.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

I've worked out at 24hr ripoff before....the plates are metal core with a rubber/plastic coating to 'protect' the floor incase they are dropped. weigh the same...

 

[sparetire]

la fitness has rubber coated round plates with 3 large holes for easier grabbing. Feel the same to me as my old gym with the olympic steel weights. I'd say its all in your head.

 

[Jayhawk21]

All in your head, I notice no difference. 24 hour fitness is an awesome place, but it's getting too crowded. At least at my gym, there are alot of dedicated lifters and they have everything I need. 20 bucks a month for 4 days a week, amazing value.

 

[loco75_dfw]

$20 a month? How did u manage that? I got suckered into $35 a month. My gym is empty after 9pm and that's the time I usually workout.

After working out again last night, I have to say this...I think the weight plates do weigh the same as the Olympics, however, I do not think that their bars weigh 45lbs. I think that is where the discrepancy comes in.

I usually warm up with the Olympic bar before I do military presses. Last night, their bar just felt lighter. I dunno....The controversy continues....

 

[Y_lifter]

I'm sure they have a friggin decent scale at a Gym.
Weight one or 2 or 3 of the plates to see what they weigh.

My bet is if they are stamped 45 and cheap plastic ones,
they may be light, but only by a pound or so at the most.

 

[blut wump]

You were using the 35lb bar.

 

[beerdrinker]

I used to use a 24 hour fitness, and they just had standard metal plates and standard 45lb bars. This was at a "Super Sport" 24 hour Fitness. Maybe they're getting even more health spa-ish.