Keep Lifting in My Life

soldier4242

As a rule I like to lift as heavily as I can safely lift and still complete full sets. I periodically increase the weight and I am always trying to push myself to that next level. I watch my diet and I am doing my best to get plenty of rest.

Then life start to happen. I end up having to fly out to some place for my work or something like that and I am not able to make it to my gym. I have a pair of 25 pound dumbbells which I started out with and then they were perfect for me. Now I am able to get to full sets with 40 pounds so the 25's aren't heavy enough anymore. So what I have been doing is just cranking up the reps until 25 pounds is enough to hurt. I end up getting well past 100 reps on each arm.

I really don't want to spend the money for new weights. I also do pushups but isn't that just another version of low weight high rep activity? So my question for those that have been doing this longer than me is this. Is it beneficial enough to just keep using the 25's like I have been? Or should I just break down and fork out the money for something bigger?

Also are the high rep exercises that use nothing but body weight (like the pushups for example) subject to the same negative connotations that low weight high rep exercises with weights are subjected to?

I have been doing what I have for now because I figure doing over 100 reps with 25 has got to be better than doing nothing.

Anyway thanks for you time for reading this and I thank you for your time.

P.S. When I do have to leave for a trip it can be as long as 2 or 3 weeks so I really don't want to skip working out on these things because that is just too long for me to take off from exercise and most of the time I am put up in nice hotels but not so nice that they have a gym.

deksgrl

I wouldn't consider your body weight to be light. Have you tried variations of body weight exercises to make them more difficult? Elevating your legs for pushups? One handed pushups?

How about resistance bands for travel?

JenMc14

I'd up your dumbbells for sure. If you can't afford heavier ones or a bar and plates, try getting heavy resistance bands. Those would pack easily for trips, too. On the bodyweight stuff, move to harder variations. If push-ups are no problem for you, move to one arm push-ups or plyo push-ups or go for a handstand push up.

soldier4242

I have started doing elevated pushups because those are a pretty easy transition from regular pushups. I have not tried doing 1 handed pushups I just assumed those pushups where for people stronger than I am but I could give it a shot.

I have not done any resistance band workouts at all. A friend of mine let me play around with his and I found them to be easier than the 25's that I have. It would be a lot easier to pack those but I don't know how much they would cost and I am concerned that if I repeatedly use them that they will lose their elasticity and lose effectiveness.