When doing any type of dumbbell press wihout a spotter, do you count the first rep?

[Jake LaMotta]

When doing any type of dumbbell press without a spotter, do you count the first rep?

I asked a very good friend of mine who is a board member here this question but I figured you guys could help me as well.

When you do any type of dumbbell press (flat, incline, overhead) without a spotter I realize you have to kick the dumbbells up to your chest (when doing flat and incline) or to your shoulders (when doing overhead). My question is: do you count the VERY first rep? When doing a dumbbell press, a complete rep is lowering the dumbbells and than pushing them up. So... seeing that you're starting from the press position, you're VERY first rep isn't really a complete rep because you're doing only the pushing part of the rep instead of doing a complete rep which would be lowering than pushing. But do you count it anyway? These guys in the videos DO count the VERY first rep:

For example:

Flat:

YouTube - 150 Dumbbell Press x 3

YouTube - 160lbs x 9 Dumbbell press

Incline:

YouTube - Incline dumbbell bench press 150's x 10

Overhead:

YouTube - DB Shoulder Press 95's x 12

Do you notice they are all counting the VERY first rep as one of their reps? Is that the way to do it? Do you count the VERY first rep like these guys are?

 

[Tyrone]

I didn't view the videos and maybe I should have but I don't think it matters as long as progression is obtained.
That is...unless a form of competition is involved.

 

[BOOMSHAKER]

I NEVER have. Reason why is the starting position for most dumbbell movements is at the top. So I have to get the db up there anyway in order to start counting. But to be I dont count the first movement upwards. Never have. First count is down and back up.

 

[jalsmiley]

when you curl the first rep is where?! the lowering part is the easy part, the press or action is the hard part...so i would count it...it just so happens that when you bench the bar is already at the top, but like tyrone said...does it really matter...as long as you keep uniformity and count it all the time or dont count it all the time you end up in same place

 

[AZBodyZone]

I NEVER have. Reason why is the starting position for most dumbbell movements is at the top. So I have to get the db up there anyway in order to start counting. But to be I dont count the first movement upwards. Never have. First count is down and back up.

I live by this same rule as well. I start my count from the starting point of the motion, the top.

 

[MikeRoss]

nah.. dont count those half reps

 

[fat kid]

I do, but I think the key is to count the same way everytime you do dumbbells and of course see progress.

 

[aeliop]

WTF?

I asked a very good friend of mine who is a board member here this question but I figured you guys could help me as well.

When you do any type of dumbbell press (flat, incline, overhead) without a spotter I realize you have to kick the dumbbells up to your chest (when doing flat and incline) or to your shoulders (when doing overhead). My question is: do you count the VERY first rep? When doing a dumbbell press, a complete rep is lowering the dumbbells and than pushing them up. So... seeing that you're starting from the press position, you're VERY first rep isn't really a complete rep because you're doing only the pushing part of the rep instead of doing a complete rep which would be lowering than pushing. But do you count it anyway? These guys in the videos DO count the VERY first rep:

For example:

Flat:

YouTube - 150 Dumbbell Press x 3

YouTube - 160lbs x 9 Dumbbell press

Incline:

YouTube - Incline dumbbell bench press 150's x 10

Overhead:

YouTube - DB Shoulder Press 95's x 12

Do you notice they are all counting the VERY first rep as one of their reps? Is that the way to do it? Do you count the VERY first rep like these guys are?

Are you being paid by the rep?

 

[VTliftVT]

when you curl the first rep is where?! the lowering part is the easy part, the press or action is the hard part...so i would count it...it just so happens that when you bench the bar is already at the top, but like tyrone said...does it really matter...as long as you keep uniformity and count it all the time or dont count it all the time you end up in same place

if the lowering part is easy, your doing it wrong. the negative/resistance portion is just as important as the postivie portion of the lift

To the OP, it won't matter if you count the first portion of your lift as a rep or not as long as you are consistent on how you count it.

 

[Snuka]

who cares?? its one rep more or less you not gonna lose the olympia over 1 rep.

 

[schpenxel]

Like others have said, I don't think it matters. BUT, i do personally count it. I see it as starting at the bottom, and then on the last rep I lower like I would any other rep, so I end at the bottom. It makes sense to me. I mean with BB bench, you start at the top and end at the top, why not start at the bottom and end at the bottom?

 

[Jake LaMotta]

Like others have said, I don't think it matters. BUT, i do personally count it. I see it as starting at the bottom, and then on the last rep I lower like I would any other rep, so I end at the bottom. It makes sense to me. I mean with BB bench, you start at the top and end at the top, why not start at the bottom and end at the bottom?

That's a good way of looking at it.

 

[rAJJIN]

For me Ive always counted after there kicked up into place.
I use my knees to Hoist the DB`s up and sure wouldnt count that as a rep

 

[nickman1978]

I NEVER have. Reason why is the starting position for most dumbbell movements is at the top. So I have to get the db up there anyway in order to start counting. But to be I dont count the first movement upwards. Never have. First count is down and back up.

i do the same thing. i dont start counting till i have them up. so basically i dont count half a rep i guess.

 

[builder]

Like others have said, I don't think it matters. BUT, i do personally count it. I see it as starting at the bottom, and then on the last rep I lower like I would any other rep, so I end at the bottom. It makes sense to me. I mean with BB bench, you start at the top and end at the top, why not start at the bottom and end at the bottom?

exactly what i was going to say...you start and end at the bottom...

 

[SantiagoMuscle]

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[UGAthlete]

define a REP for yourself. I see guys doing reps of 8-10-15 and never complete A single REP from my book...lol

I usually loose count anyway, and my wife tells me.

I train with a certain VOULME in mind and go by feel.

You would be suprised how many "more" reps you would do if you didnt give yourself that mental roadblock.

Mind Muscle connection...mind over matter.

I can't help counting.. even if I try not to! So frustrating. I started counting like 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 0, -1, 0, -1.. then I'd finally be confused and not know what rep I was on and kept going haha

 

[jalsmiley]

if the lowering part is easy, your doing it wrong. the negative/resistance portion is just as important as the postivie portion of the lift

To the OP, it won't matter if you count the first portion of your lift as a rep or not as long as you are consistent on how you count it.

now i know lowering a weight is complicated...but i think i got it right
well, lets see you press a weight one more time after lowering it for the last time....semantics...its easier...jeez

 

[jalsmiley]

Are you being paid by the rep?

ha! i laughed aloud when i read

 

[VTliftVT]

now i know lowering a weight is complicated...but i think i got it right
well, lets see you press a weight one more time after lowering it for the last time....semantics...its easier...jeez

I end on a negative with a static hold, so am I doing it wrong?

My point was the negative portion shouldn't be easier. You should always resist and control the negative portion of a curl or press IMO. So no, it's not semantics, it's lifting with form and TUT.