can i become lean just lifting dumbbells?

mylife4eva

i ask because i cant afford a gym nor a barbel but i do have lots of dumbbells reanging from 4lbs to 25. i want a leaner flatter belly thats why i ask thanks

ajmalbaby

I want to know as well!

fatfudgery

Nope. You need to eat less to lose weight.

wild_wild_life

Strength training preserves or builds muscle mass.

Leanness is a matter of body fat, and only a calorie deficit will allow you to lose fat.

JenMc14

A lean, flat belly comes from creating a caloric deficit. The easiest way to do that is from diet. Lifting helps to maintain muscle while losing fat. Cardio is good for your heart and lungs and can make your deficit bigger. Using dumbbells will help you maintain muscle, but, at some point, you will outgrow them if they only go to 25 pounds.

Eli716

Need a decent diet to help out. I only use dumbbells as well, though. 2lbs & 5lbs. I use them with the 30 Day Shred (You can find level 1 on youtube), but it's mostly to tone your body, which is in the right direction.

MrGonzo05

Yes, you can become lean just lifting dumbbells because it is not eating.

Byrdsong1920

Hi,

There are endless amounts of full body workouts using just dumbbells. You can squat, walking lunges, sit ups holding one, delt raises for back, chest press, bicep curls, tricep presses etc.

Now, we all know u can't out train a bad diet. U may have the abs there already, but have to clean up the diet to reveal them. "Abs are made in the kitchen"... Meaning...eat clean ! Eating 1400-1900 calories a day, with healthy snacks and meals with lots of green veggies, lean protein and healthy fats such as almonds, flax seed oils or olive oil, coconut oils etc. try to cut complex carbs, such as white rice, breads, pasta etc and use brown rice, whole grains etc and darker the greens the better, lots of vitamins and antioxidants.

But yes, u can kick your own booty with just dumbbells, but need to have an action plan for meals.

Check out my girl Jamie Eason for full body workouts, recipes, meal plans and free 90 day challenge for men and women
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html I love her carrot cake protein bars and chili! She's a beast, but will get u right!

Also, YouTube has endless free videos, just google dumbbell workouts , love this YouTube channel, they also have a great website: http://youtu.be/dSCfdga2i2M

Good luck!

Shannon!

wild_wild_life

Now, we all know u can't out train a bad diet. U may have the abs there already, but have to clean up the diet to reveal them. "Abs are made in the kitchen"... Meaning...eat clean !

You don't actually have to eat "clean" to lose weight and reveal your abdominal muscles. All you need is a calorie deficit. Why make it more complicated than it really is?

randomtai

Now, we all know u can't out train a bad diet. U may have the abs there already, but have to clean up the diet to reveal them. "Abs are made in the kitchen"... Meaning...eat clean !

You don't actually have to eat "clean" to lose weight and reveal your abdominal muscles. All you need is a calorie deficit. Why make it more complicated than it really is?

This.

Byrdsong1920

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

LuckyLeprechaun

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

Ahem…….


this is nonsense



Please see: the twinkie diet study.

perceived quality of calories has NO impact on your outcome. I am nearly at goal weight, I have lost almost 80 lbs, and I eat all those "evil" foods you listed, as well as ice cream, wine, whiskey, chocolate, the list goes on.


JUST STICK TO YOUR CALORIE DEFICIT. That's all that is needed.

I promise.

geebusuk

What about, hmmm, I dunno... twinkies?
Surely you must have seen this:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/

His body mass index went from 28.8, considered overweight, to 24.9, which is normal. He now weighs 174 pounds.

But you might expect other indicators of health would have suffered. Not so.

Haub's "bad" cholesterol, or LDL, dropped 20 percent and his "good" cholesterol, or HDL, increased by 20 percent. He reduced the level of triglycerides, which are a form of fat, by 39 percent.

Also, it would seem that exercising and being 'generally healthy' actually gives you a fair bit more flexibility in what you can eat and still probably be 'healthier' than someone eating 'clean' who doesn't exercise.

If ate 1000 calories of doughnuts I'd feed bad because that's not many doughnuts .

For the OP: if you want a barbell, you can usually get them pretty cheaply with a few weights, especially if you only need light ones. As an idea, a while ago I paid £32 (about $50 maybe) for a barbell with 82kg of weight - you shouldn't need that much to start with.

livingleanlivingclean

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

You might feel like crap but losing fat and being healthy aren't the same thing.

If you just want to lose, eat what you like. If you want to be healthy whilst doing so, choose healthier options.

Byrdsong1920

I eat my favorite foods too at times, but not daily it's important to not deprive yourself of things you want.

Again, go ahead and eat a Twinkie diet and while ur at it, have an attorney draft your living will and get a life insurance plan.

At the end of the day, to answer your question, there are endless dumbbell only home routines, where u can get great results! Hope u enjoy some of the links I posted

wild_wild_life

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

I agree it matters. Just not for this. There's no need to invent an extreme example like eating only donuts as the alternative to eating clean. I agree that food affects your health, but she wasn't asking about that, she was asking about losing weight. I think that confusing the issue by asserting that you need to cut out processed food in order to lose weight is not only untrue, it can be harmful because many people will not be able or willing to do that.

I wonder how many times a day this argument plays out on MFP?

Byrdsong1920

U win....twinkes , fried fritters, ice cream with brownies for everyone!

LuckyLeprechaun

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

I agree it matters. Just not for this. There's no need to invent an extreme example like eating only donuts as the alternative to eating clean. I agree that food affects your health, but she wasn't asking about that, she was asking about losing weight. I think that confusing the issue by asserting that you need to cut out processed food in order to lose weight is not only untrue, it can be harmful because many people will not be able or willing to do that.

I wonder how many times a day this argument plays out on MFP?

well, in the five years I have been here, and in the three years since I hit my goal weight……



eleventy billion times. *














*approximately

wild_wild_life

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

I agree it matters. Just not for this. There's no need to invent an extreme example like eating only donuts as the alternative to eating clean. I agree that food affects your health, but she wasn't asking about that, she was asking about losing weight. I think that confusing the issue by asserting that you need to cut out processed food in order to lose weight is not only untrue, it can be harmful because many people will not be able or willing to do that.

I wonder how many times a day this argument plays out on MFP?

Plays out a million..... Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Getting back to what she asked....dumbbells ....I offered links to assist her with her initial question. Maybe the whip cream and cherry ontop wasn't needed .

Good luck to everyone ....

Sorry, not trying to pick on you. I know we are all (most of us anyway) just trying to help. :flowerforyou:

Byrdsong1920

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

I agree it matters. Just not for this. There's no need to invent an extreme example like eating only donuts as the alternative to eating clean. I agree that food affects your health, but she wasn't asking about that, she was asking about losing weight. I think that confusing the issue by asserting that you need to cut out processed food in order to lose weight is not only untrue, it can be harmful because many people will not be able or willing to do that.

I wonder how many times a day this argument plays out on MFP?

Plays out a million..... Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Getting back to what she asked....dumbbells ....I offered links to assist her with her initial question. Maybe the whip cream and cherry ontop wasn't needed .

Good luck to everyone ....

Sorry, not trying to pick on you. I know we are all (most of us anyway) just trying to help. :flowerforyou:

Oh honey, not feeling picked on, opinions are like -&$holes, everyone has one. We just have to agree to disagree....

All love and hugs

wild_wild_life

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

I agree it matters. Just not for this. There's no need to invent an extreme example like eating only donuts as the alternative to eating clean. I agree that food affects your health, but she wasn't asking about that, she was asking about losing weight. I think that confusing the issue by asserting that you need to cut out processed food in order to lose weight is not only untrue, it can be harmful because many people will not be able or willing to do that.

I wonder how many times a day this argument plays out on MFP?

well, in the five years I have been here, and in the three years since I hit my goal weight……



eleventy billion times. *














*approximately

It almost seems pointless...almost...

LuckyLeprechaun

"agree to disagree" is perfect for questions whose answers are subjective. Such as "is extreme moose tracks the most delicious kind of ice cream?" I say, "YES" and crazy people may say, "no"


BUT

In matters of science, the information isn't subjective. The twinkie diet PROVED that it is really, truly, the number of calories eaten that matters. ALLL of his health indicators were improved, and he lost the weight.

You really do not do any favors to newbies when you tell them things like brown rice and kale is the only way. It isn't true. And it's HIGHLY likely to create a situation where someone will just give up, rather than try to lead that extremely restrictive (and UNNECESSARY) lifestyle.

So knock it off.





edited to add: :flowerforyou:

JoRocka

It's more than deficit....if u eat only 1000 calories a day of donuts and workout and burn 1000, yes. ..U will be in a deficit. But u will look and feel like crap and probably die by age 50 from clogged arteries , congestive heart failure, u name it.

So yes, what u eat matters. There is a Bigger picture to this. Quality of life is important.
U want ur insides to look as hot as the outside
Jus sayin....

the problem with extreme arguments like this is that they don't account for the fact your body needs ALL the macros (you know ALL THREE of them)

if you ONLY eat doughnuts and get practically zero protein- you are absolutely feel like crap- but it is NOT from the sweet delicious baked confection. Why blame sweet baked confection deliciousness for a lack of protein!!!

You ARE right there is a bigger picture- it's called PROTEIN, FAT, CARBS.

and all the other pesky micro-nutrients you get from eating a variety of food.. you feel like crap because you ONLY eat one type of food. not because "the quality of food is crap"

that's just silly.

Oh honey, not feeling picked on, opinions are like -&$holes, everyone has one. We just have to agree to disagree....

All love and hugs

but see here's the thing.

Clean food is an opinion.

You are entitled to think that it's better for your body to eat 'clean food'

you are not entitled to think- in the form of an opinion- that a calorie deficit is how you lose weight.

that is a stone cold hard fact. it's not an opinion. So you can argue till your blue in the face- but the reality is- calorie deficit is how you lose weight.

You may do better eating 'cleaner' less processed 'wholesome' foods- sure- because you are meeting your needs- quality of food is better so you have to eat less- supporting your dietary needs- but it isn't the cleanliness of the food- it's the deficit that is doing the work.

That being said I carefully wash both my pizza and ice cream before I eat them- soooooo they are both clean.

wild_wild_life

"agree to disagree" is perfect for questions whose answers are subjective. Such as "is extreme moose tracks the most delicious kind of ice cream?" I say, "YES" and crazy people may say, "no"


BUT

In matters of science, the information isn't subjective. The twinkie diet PROVED that it is really, truly, the number of calories eaten that matters. ALLL of his health indicators were improved, and he lost the weight.

You really do not do any favors to newbies when you tell them things like brown rice and kale is the only way. It isn't true. And it's HIGHLY likely to create a situation where someone will just give up, rather than try to lead that extremely restrictive (and UNNECESSARY) lifestyle.

So knock it off.





edited to add: :flowerforyou:

I agree to agree. :flowerforyou:

It's like a hare krishna rally in here.

geebusuk

U win....twinkes , fried fritters, ice cream with brownies for everyone!

\o/

(I've never actually had Twinkies, I have to admit - some day I shall make the trip to mercan land and take a man-vs-food style tour - way before that program, I'd always thought to go over and do a load of dirt bike riding mixed in with fuelling it at appropriate places like 'the big texan' ).

Rather than 'agree to disagree', how about we present evidence backing up why we believe what we do?
That way others can understand more about the situation.
If something is being suggested as absolute - then only one side can be correct. I can have the 'opinion' that Alaska is doesn't really exist and is all a conspiracy theory to hide that there's Aliens inhabiting the ocean that's actually there. It wouldn't make my opinion useful factual information that could be presented as such.

Bluetoast

I was just going to post looking for suggestions for workouts w small due bells when I read this thread. I just got a small set and for the winter, bc I know that I will not always get out to the gym.

Please keep those suggestions coming, I'm looking for videos or even just a list of exercises to follow. I know many of the moves but can't remember them all or what goes with what, if that. Ames sense (ie working the opposite muscles) Is there a poster or something out there.

Thanks

JoRocka

Rather than 'agree to disagree', how about we present evidence backing up why we believe what we do?
That way others can understand more about the situation.

YOU THERE>... YEAH YOU>...


get out of here with that logic- this is the interwebz- we make things up when we roll the yazzee things.

Seriously- no logic. that's not allowed here.

geebusuk

Oh, FFS!

I must offer my apologies and should remember where I am - that was a bit stupid of me, wasn't it!

wild_wild_life

I was just going to post looking for suggestions for workouts w small due bells when I read this thread. I just got a small set and for the winter, bc I know that I will not always get out to the gym.

Please keep those suggestions coming, I'm looking for videos or even just a list of exercises to follow. I know many of the moves but can't remember them all or what goes with what, if that. Ames sense (ie working the opposite muscles) Is there a poster or something out there.

Thanks

I think it depends on your goals, current fitness/strength level, and what size dumbells you have. You could do a more endurance-based workout with lighter weights (a lot of the exercise videos are like this I think), or you could use weights that are heavy (for you) and do a strength-based workout. You could probably modify most popular beginners strength training programs to use with dumbells if they are heavy enough. You might want to search the forums or post another topic on specifically what you are interested in. Good luck! When you're a beginner, anything will benefit you. started out pretty much just waving dumbells around before I figured out what I was doing -- this website helped me a lot, it is a good explanation of the basics of a strength training program. 

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/the-ultimate-weight-training-workout-routine/