Okay I need to settle an arguement.  A kid at my school's gym insists that when he puts 35 pounds on either side of a 25 pound bar, that "he is benching 95 lbs."  I don't think you include the bar, and another kid says that you only count one side of the bar.

So when you say "I bench x lbs." X is:
1. the weight on one side of the bar
2. the weight on both sides of the bar
3. the weight on both sides of the bar plus the weight of the bar

X = 3
 
I am so glad I took algebra I so I could answer this question.

lol slayer but yes x=3

i failed algebra, maybe thats why i dont get what the "x" is for. lol j-k
 
its option 3 david

3. Definitely.

3. sometimes i counts it double time to make me feel even greater about myself... ahahahah !

ORIGINAL: Daviden
I don't think you include the bar, and another kid says that you only count one side of the bar.

hahaha this is one of the craziest things I have ever heard. It's definitely option #3. Why wouldn't you include the weight of the bar, you're lifting that too aren't you? Plus, the standard weight for a bench press bar is 45 Lbs. If you just counted the plate weight, one person could put 2 35 pound plates on a 15 pound bar and another person could put 2 35 pound plates on a 45 pound bar. Would you say they were both benching 70 pounds? Of course not, the first person is lifting 85 pounds, and the second is lifting 115 pounds.

well, I think you've already found the answer you were looking for... in case you want another opinion... I say #3 and have personally never heard of the other two. Although when using dumbell exercises where two dumbells are necessary I only count one of them (ex: Billy-Bob does inclined bench presses with 45lb dumbells)

3 it is.

2.......oh wait.. 3..