How heavy do I need to buy? Advice, please.

Christismylife

Hi there,

I have been working on increasing my strength training after a couple years of mostly cardio (running/walking/elliptical). I'm enjoying the change up in routine and hoping to reap some benefits in terms of strength and leanness. I use fitness blender videos as my workouts usually.

I have read a lot on here about lifting heavy (even checked out and read parts of The New Rules of Lifting for Women).

My question is this:

I'm looking for investing in a set of Powerblock adjustable dumbbells. Right now, the ones that go up to 24 pounds seem like they'd be plenty (I currently own sets of 3, 5, and 10 lb. dumbbells). My husband is encouraging me to think long-term...ie. will 24 pounds not be enough in the future? They also have ones that go up to 50 lbs. and beyond. What would you recommend for the max weight?

dbmata

For an average woman? 50# should be fine.

If your husband is going to use them, I'd get the U90 stage 3.

Honestly though, I wouldn't get the powerblocks, too gimmicky, too many doodads and thingamajigs that can and will break. In my experience, they're also pretty damned uncomfortable.

lishie_rebooted

dbmata wrote: »

For an average woman? 50# should be fine.

If your husband is going to use them, I'd get the U90 stage 3.

Honestly though, I wouldn't get the powerblocks, too gimmicky, too many doodads and thingamajigs that can and will break. In my experience, they're also pretty damned uncomfortable.

Pretty much this.
If space is a concern, then yeah adjustable dumbbells.
But if you want to do NROLFW and your husband wants to lift as well, look for oly bar, plates, etc.

Christismylife

I personally like to use the fitnessblender videos. I noticed that she uses the Powerblock weights and they get overall great reviews (of course some negative, but mostly positive) on amazon.

Christismylife

What is an oly bar? And thanks for the advice.

dbmata

an oly bar is a long bar made from the bones of an olyphant.

It's a barbell, weighs 20kg, is 6' or so long. You put weighted plates on them to lift.

As for the powerblocks, then get them. I personally think they're overpriced, and I find them extremely uncomfortable. Honestly though, you won't know until you try, and if you don't have a gym that has a set, you won't know until you pony up the cash to buy them.

Then again, you might find that you too hate them, and then you just wasted a mess of money. *shrug*

Brolympus

Think it depends what you are using them for. For most upper body, isolated exercises, which is the primary purpose of dumbbells, 50lbs should get you plenty of usage for isolated movements for 2 or more years if you are just starting out.

50lbs will not be enough for the larger upper body muscle groups (pecs, lats, etc.), you will outgrow them pretty quickly. Your leg muscles will absolutely outgrow them within just a few months of training. You might want to look into a oly bar, plates, a power rack, and an adjustable bench that can do various inclines. This will allow you to do heavier, compound lifts for the bigger muscles and your lower body. That, plus your adjustable free weights, is a complete home gym.

Also, craigslist is a pretty good place to get gym equipment, if you are getting basic things like oly bars and weight plates. Not a whole lot that can get messed up on a metal bar and metal plates, no sense in paying retail markup for them.

sjp_511

There are two main types of barbells that take weights: standard size and Olympic size (commonly called an Oly bar). The standard size uses plates with a 1" hole whereas the Oly bar uses plates with a 2" hole. Oly bars are typically 7' long and weigh 45 lbs. Standard bars seem to vary a bit more but are considerably lighter. Oly bars are much more common at gyms and people tend to prefer them since they can carry a larger load.

I have a 7' standard bar for my home gym. I bought it at Play it Again Sports, so I was at the mercy of what they had in stock. They had plenty of Oly bars, but I chose the standard and also bought dumbbells that can use the same plates. I went with a 7' bar because that is what is needed for a cage (which I recently bought). My bar will probably max out between 250 lbs and 300 lbs, at which point I will have to invest in an Oly bar. But I don't think that will happen very soon. Of course, if my husband decided to start using the weights, he would probably reach the max of the bar before I would.

jemhh

I'd have to agree with dbmata. I seem to see a lot of broken Powerblocks on Craigslist--they are advertised as being usable but only up to a lower than normal weight because something is cracked.

I started out with a set of dumbbell handles and a bunch of plates. It was actually this set, which has free shipping. I like them because I was later able to add a standard barbell to my gear and keep using the plates.

lishie_rebooted

Christismylife wrote: »

I personally like to use the fitnessblender videos. I noticed that she uses the Powerblock weights and they get overall great reviews (of course some negative, but mostly positive) on amazon.

I'd compare the different types of adjustable dumbbells out there then before you up and buy the ones she uses in the videos.