Weights used for Strength Training

jasneet12

So i have a number of questions on this:
1. what is the weight that you use?
2. do you use more than one weight depending on the kind of exercises
3. what brand/type of dumbbells do you use?

i currently only have a pair of 1kg dumbbell but find it too easy for things like bicep curls. so i have been thinking of buying some more; but im totally divided on what to buy. do i buy a fixed weight or a rod with plates making for an adjustable dumbbell?

yogeshsarkar

If you are used to 1kg dumbbells, then better buy another pair or two, before switching to adjustable dumbbells. Because the rods themselves usually weigh around a kg each and I am not sure if you can get plates which weigh less than 1.5kg each (at least those are the smallest ones I have).

As far as weights are concerned, I keep changing them based on exercise. It takes a while to adjust dumbbell weight between exercises, but isn’t that much of an annoyance.

Naruto4ever

Hey jasneet,
I was having the same problem... But dumbells have limitation as far as building strength is concerned... I too have 5lb n 10lb dumbells... Use milk cans filled with water for excercising back and pects... Sometimes even bag with books.... Once accustomed to these .. So next thinking of investing in weight rack... Or joining a gym... better to buy adjustable ones...

jasneet12

@Yogesh, ive seen options with 1 kg and 2 kg plates. so the idea is to progress to 3 kgs, 5kgs and so on slowly. i just dont want to keep investing. as far as i have seen on amazon/ebay etc...a 3kg to 12 kg adjustable dumbbell costs me 1000/- while each individual DB starts from 600 onwards..

how much time does it take to adjust the weight between exercises?

@Naruto, no milk cans at home! i can only think of using the 2.5ltr pepsi/coke bottles but they are too wide for a proper grip. i was very irregular with a gym and hence working on developing a home exercising routine. i travel a lot for work; and so this is easier to maintain and do even in hotel rooms. weights ofcourse would be for home. i cant lug those around with my luggage! :ohwell:

yogeshsarkar

Jasneet, those plates would be 1kg each i.e. 1kg rod + 2 x 1kg plates = 3kg dumbbell. Though I could be wrong about this. Changing weights takes less than a minute usually, unless you have multiple heavy plates loaded, in which case it can take more time.

jasneet12

Thanks Yogesh!

so i went to a fitness shop last evening and tried hold both kinds of DBs and decided i like the feel of a fixed weight more. so a 3kg pair it is! a pretty green colored one from vector x; which i was told is a good brand!

changing those plates seemed like too much of a job and not exactly doable during a tabatta style workout with a break of only 10-20 seconds. it will take me sometime now before i think of a 4 or 5 kg pair; so decision on adjustable dumbbells is postponed.