These weightlifting apps can help

Left: calculating in pounds. Right: competition-colored kilogram plates. Credit: Bar Is Loaded I'm going to explain below how to add up the weights yourself, and how to memorize a few quick numbers to let you load bars quickly without needing a calculator. But if you're new to lifting, or if you want to double check your math, consider using an app. One of my favorites is called Bar Is Loaded, and it's available for free on both iOS and Android.

An online equivalent is this calculator from ExRx. Note that you have to tell any calculator how heavy your bar is, what sizes of plate you have available, and how many of each there are. (The app will probably have some sensible defaults, but double-check them. ) In a gym the plates may be unlimited, but in a home gym there may be certain numbers you just can’t achieve if you don’t have the right combination of plates. That's why apps often ask for your inventory of plates.