Looking for advice on weights at home...

ColinsMommaOC

I am trying to add a little bit of weight lifting into my day... I already bought two 3lb weights with this in mind. I did a search online for ideas on what I should/could do with them and there is a lot of conflicting advice, as well as an overwhelming number of videos/articles. Anyone have advice on where to start? I just need a few exercises that I can start with...

jennifershoo

Return them to the store. My 2 year old can lift 3lbs dumbbells. You need to lift heavy to get good benefits. Adjustable dumbbells are the way to go:
Selecttech
http://www.amazon.com/Bowflex-SelectTech-Adjustable-Dumbbells-Pair/dp/B00O89FXF6

ColinsMommaOC

Thank you for the tip on the adjustable. I think while I am still learning things I like the idea of my 3lb weights... Once I figure out what I am doing and know that I wont do more damage than good by using things incorrectly, I will definitely look into them.

jennifershoo

Fair enough!
You can also check at Walmart, I think they have a less expensive set of adjustables. Let me find the link...

jennifershoo

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=Dumbbells

ColinsMommaOC

Thanks! I have very limited experience with weights/gym equipment ( I blame teenage me that never had to do a thing to keep her weight down)... I am just trying to do a little bit as I loose weight so that I can gradually add more without much issue as I get closer to my goal. I am still like 150lb from goal though so I have a bit

jennifershoo

I like my SelectTech because it takes 2 seconds to change the weight.

smanchez13

I tend to agree with Jennifer you need at least 5lb weights. I see in your pic you're holding a toddler. If you do that regularly you can def do 5lbs. And the 5lbs will challenge you if you use them correctly. Concentrate on programs that include dynamic movements with high repetitions with the low weight. I commend you for adding weight training into your regiment. It will increase your muscle tone which will increase your metabolism and increase the rate of your weight loss. Good luck!! Shelly CI-CPT

zipa78

ColinsMommaOC wrote: »

Thank you for the tip on the adjustable. I think while I am still learning things I like the idea of my 3lb weights...

Seriously, just return them while you still can. I'm pretty sure that your home is stuffed with grabbable objects at around 3 lbs or so. And seeing how you carry your son, who certainly weighs more than 3 lbs, those dumbbells won't do you any good. Zero. None at all.

Well, if you are into cardio boxing, you could use them for something to hold on to.

Please don't take this the wrong way, I certainly don't mean to be rude, but just think about it: if you weigh 300 lbs, what exactly do you think that you'll benefit from adding 3 lbs into that mix?

ColinsMommaOC

They were recommended to me for use while walking and cost me all of $5. As I told Jennifer, I will be looking into the heavier weights as well. Money is not the issue here so I might go get 5lb weights to start now. But I still need to know what to do with them!

Thanks smanchez for the tips. Do you happen to know of a video or website that will show me the correct form for doing these?
PS..
My son is 3 in that photo... He is 6 now and is a very tall 60lb wiggly boy. I cannot hold him like that anymore as much as I would like (not that he would let me anyway!)

ColinsMommaOC

@zipa I dont take much of anything rudely so long as it is meant constructively. Thank you for the thoughts As I said - I need to know what to do with whatever size weights I get more than I need to know what size to get. Your point about my weight and what 3lbs adds to it is well taken

Timorous_Beastie

I got a set of adjustable (not as nice as the ones posted, with bulky cement plates you have to change manually) for $20 at Walmart. I absolutely hate Walmart, but it's a good price for up to 40 pounds of weights.

Seriously, a full bottle of Gatorade is 2 pounds. Three pound dumbbells aren't worth bothering with. Even to carry while walking. http://www.livestrong.com/article/453259-the-use-of-hand-weights-while-walking/

zipa78

ColinsMommaOC wrote: »

As I said - I need to know what to do with whatever size weights I get more than I need to know what size to get.

But therein lies the issue. You can't really learn a movement that you would do with a 30 lbs dumbbell or a 300 lbs barbell with a 3 lbs dumbbell. Try picking up that 3 lbs dumbbell and raising it to your shoulder, and then repeat the motion with your son. There really aren't much similarities, are there?

ColinsMommaOC

Obviously not. I am just trying to start out slow. Last year when I started trying to lose weight I tried to do everything too fast and I ended up getting overwhelmed, hurting my knee and giving up. I do not want to repeat my mistakes. I do however want to add some kind of weight lifting into my daily routine because all I do right now is cardio.
I do not have the ability to go to a gym and have someone tell me what to do with weights because none of the gyms near me have daycare centers and my son's after school care closes only 15 minutes after I get out of work...
I was just looking for thoughts on what I can do with what I already have. Perhaps this is not the place to get that advice.

zipa78

This is a great place to ask for advice. Just look at all the splendid advice you got for those dumbbells of yours...

Seriously, just toss those silly things and go to your nearest bookstore or amazon.com and get a book on bodyweight training. And then do that training. You'll thank yourself later.

ColinsMommaOC

you cant see it but I am shaking my head and laughing at your post.

Seriously though - thanks. I will look into bodyweight training books... you wouldn't happen to have a favorite or recommendation, would you?

dnamouse

I do weights at home. And, like zipa suggested, I started with plain old bodyweight.

The Nerd Fitness beginner bodyweight workout is a good place to start. Nice and easy and will give you time to get the basics down.

Learn how to do a bodyweight squat and a pushup (start against the wall and progressively work your way down to the floor as you get stronger), and go from there.

If you decide you want to move onto heavier weight, more movements, hit Google up and do some research into a program you think you would be able to stick to. You can adapt most programs to dumbbells only if that's what you want at the start. YouTube is good for finding videos of how to do a movement correctly. Also Fitness Blender offer some strength videos as well, and they are generally bodyweight or dumbbells only. They also have really good cardio-only workouts (I like the HIIT ones that I do on my non-lifting days).

I know a lot of people who learned the back squat form starting with just a broom stick - gets you used to the balance and the idea of holding it in position without stressing about the weight at the beginning. And then you just gradually add weight. It's about starting where you feel comfortable and progressively moving upwards from there.

I recommend reading New Rules of Lifting for Women. Even if you don't end up following the program, it has a wealth of knowledge in it. You could borrow it from the library at first, and see if it helps

zipa78

"Convict Conditioning"
"You are your own gym"
"Bodyweight strength training anatomy"

You can't go wrong with any of those.

There's a lot of good stuff on youtube as well. Do a search on "beginner calisthenics" or "beginner bodyweight training".

ColinsMommaOC

Thanks! I had found the nerdfitness website (and about 5000000 others) but I had not looked into any of them thoroughly. I will definitely look at them. I tried to look online (google) for this information, but it is very difficult to tell what is real and what is a scheme these days. Thanks for the book recommendation also! I will check it out.
Oh goodie... Wall sits... I played Volleyball in highschool... My coach made sure we were well aware of how to do wall sits... I guess I know I will be able to do those correctly at least!

ColinsMommaOC

zipa78 wrote: »

"Convict Conditioning"
"You are your own gym"
"Bodyweight strength training anatomy"

You can't go wrong with any of those.

Thanks Zipa for all your help even if you dont like my 3lb weights

zipa78

ColinsMommaOC wrote: »

even if you dont like my 3lb weights

Hey, don't get me wrong. I love them. Especially if they are of the pink, soft and squishy kind so they can double as a.. you know, I'll just stop writing now.

ColinsMommaOC

Sadly while they are soft and squishy, they are grey and blue... but then there is always the imagination

foursirius

I'd recommend a set of good resistance bands. I invested in a really good set and take them with me when I travel, but I'd recommend them for a good starting point. Check out a set of Bodylastics on amazon.

michellesz

There are millions of simple at home exercises with weights that are so easy for beginners. Just to name a few, you can do shoulders with shoulder raises, front lateral raises, side lateral raises, standing dips reaching up to your chin. You can google ideas and form. You can get stronger & increase the weights and types of exercises. You can use the weights to do exercises lying down such as chest presses. I also do lunges while holding the weights when doing leg day along with hydrants & squats & calves etc. I also use my 6 year old who is also over 60 pounds too to sit on each knee while I am sitting down to do three sets of 40 calve raises after I do free standing calve raises. Options are endless...good luck.

DjinnMarie

I prefer individual dumbbells. Along with barbells and plates. Yeah, it can be expensive, but build your stash as you go.

There's no easy way to answer your question. It all depends on what your goals are.

ColinsMommaOC

michellesz wrote: »

I also use my 6 year old who is also over 60 pounds too to sit on each knee while I am sitting down to do three sets of 40 calve raises after I do free standing calve raises.

That would be a fun workout. I might try it.

Thanks all for the advice