A question about weights from a beginner

[LionFox]

When people talk about weightlifting, they always say I can benchpress 200 lbs, or 250 or whatever, or I can lift that much..

My question is how exactly is that calculated? I know this sounds dumb, but I'm serious.

For example, If I'm using an olympic bar bell that weights 45 pounds by itself, and then a 20 pound free weight on each in, is that considered lifting 85? or just 40?

What if you are using a smith press machine with the rolling bar adjustments vs. free lifting?

 

[KiLLer]

Usually when they say "I bench 100 lb." they usually mean 2 plates that are 50 lb. each. People don't really count bar inside.

I'll leave the rest of the questions to other.

 

[DJ Girevik]

Don't listen to KiLLer, he's full of crap. Around here, everyone who talks about weightlifting totals, bench or otherwise, includes the bar in the total. So, you're lifting 85 pounds.

 

[misunderstood??]

Yes. most people include the bar when they talk about how much they can lift. If what they say sounds kinda suspicious then u can ask questions. Like if you someone said they can bench 90lbs, odds are they mean 90lbs + bar because it wouldn't be convient to put 27.5lbs on each side of the bar. If the weight seems a lil' heavy then they could be talking about bench press but most people you asked what their max bench was would say the weight of the dumbells + the bar. So if you want to tell people who much u can bench, include the bar.