[La Fitness] Universal Weights?

So, I have two LA Fitness's in my town, one very close to my house and one about 5 miles away.

I enjoy the further one because Its larger, cleaner, and brand new.

I noticed one thing, All the weights seem lighter at the new LA Fitness.

Dumbells, Bench, even Machines.

Although they come in the same sizes, Dumbells from 2.5 to 120's.

Is this all Mental, or is it possible that they weigh less? It just dosnt make sense.

If anything, I think it may come down to the Thickness of the grips on the DumbellBar's and BarbellBars, a skinnier bar makes it feel lighter to me...

thicker bar apparently works your grip strength better so I hear. I like a skinnier bar on the bench ... thicker on the squat.

Well thats a given, you have to squeeze harder to maintain the grip.

I dunno, that dosnt explain why Machines feel lighter though.

The plates have circle cuts in them, unlike the gym closer to home, could those small cuts in the plates affect the gravity and whatnot?

I dunno, it just seems like a 45lb Plate, would weigh 45's no matter what gym, but It just dosnt seem like it.

I was thinking, a Scientifical explanation could be Oxygen.

The gym closer to home is rather small, with quite terrible Ventilation, I find myself Yawning alot, eventhough Im not tired. From What Ive read, Yawning is actually your body trying to gain more oxygen in a larger breath.

So it is possible that the newer gym has a ventilation system that delivers more oxygen, and more space to allow less Carbon from your lungs to build up in the gym?

That would be a direct effect on the oxygen deliverd to your muscles and makes you feel stronger ect ect.

i'm sure it has more to do with that fact that you're more mentally alert from driving further and that you're enjoying the new environment more.

it's definitely mental....

i'm sure it has more to do with that fact that you're more mentally alert from driving further and that you're enjoying the new environment more.

and the smaller bars, and more oxygen... don't forget those!

fyi the plates in the gym apparently have a natural variation in weight that sometimes is as much as 2-3 lbs.

for reals? how about Barbell Bars?

I think the standard is 45lbs correct?

thick are 45, thin are 35

Well thats a given, you have to squeeze harder to maintain the grip.

I dunno, that dosnt explain why Machines feel lighter though.

The plates have circle cuts in them, unlike the gym closer to home, could those small cuts in the plates affect the gravity and whatnot?

I dunno, it just seems like a 45lb Plate, would weigh 45's no matter what gym, but It just dosnt seem like it.

It's probably at a higher elevation so the gravity is less at that gym.

thick are 45, thin are 35
shit, I better pay attention to that more ... I bet I know why I have some really great days at the gym now and then :P

thicker bar apparently works your grip strength better so I hear. I like a skinnier bar on the bench ... thicker on the squat.

How much grip strength are you using when you bench? Next to none. I would just use whatever bar felt better.

Those are the bars that feel better.

this thread made me think about how it would be nice to have a lot of different sized barbells. sometimes i think my hands are smaller than other peoples even though i'm tall and like people expect me to do things like some of these huge hand people. not so much for bench and squat but for things like deadlift. im going to have to get some straps.

speaking of la fitness, I had a membership with them not too long ago but had to cancel my account because I moved... well im back to where i lived before and want to go there again but am a little on the broke side, and will only be here for 2 more months until uncle sam steals me away. are there any coupons or ways to work around the system so I can just pay them my 33 bucks a month plan i had before I quit? (basically bypass the stupid startup/reactivation fees that just rape your wallet for no reason)