Dumbbells or Resistance Bands? HELP!

GothyFaery

I don't know which I should get. I know NOTHING about lifting so I need some help please! I recently had breast implants placed under the muscle and I'm trying to regain some strength in my chest. I can pick up somewhat heavy things (heavy for me is 3 gallons of water) okay but it's hard for me to lift anything when my arms are extended. I have a hard time closing the hatchback on my car because I have to raise my arms (it takes 2 hands and it's a struggle).

So I'm going to be doing lighter weights at first but I do want to progress to heavier weights after I get back to normal. I would actually like to get into lifting heavy. But for now, what would be better for me? Should I invest in an adjustable dumbbell set or resistance bands? The bands are much cheaper but I don't know if they will help me or if they will continue to challenge me. With a dumbbell set I feel like I can continue to add weight as I get stronger and I could build it as I go.

What's going to be better for me? Also if you know of any specific exercises to help with my chest, I would really appreciate that too!

P.S.
I have been given the OK to exercise by my doctor.

marissanik

I wouldn't even know what to do with a resistance band, would probably go for the dumbbells.


http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/finder/lookup/filter/muscle/id/1/muscle/chest
http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/exercises/chest/

contingencyplan

I've used both. I have a set of resistance bands ranging to up to 120 lbs of resistance. Most worthless expenditure I've ever made. Utterly useless. Dumbbells all the way.

The problem here is that beginners typically see the best results from lower rep sets, and the inherent advantages bands claim to have over free weights only exist when you're working with lower tension levels--the kind you work with when doing high rep sets.

GothyFaery

Thanks! I was leaning more towards the dumbbells but still just didn't know for sure what I would need. I guess I'm a little intimidated by the dumbbells. Resistance bands seem less scary to me but if they aren't going to do much for me, I don't want to waste my money.

Chain_Ring

Breast implants you say?

GothyFaery

Breast implants you say?

Yep, the girls went away when I lost the weight. It was either gain the weight back or surgery, I missed my girls. I decided I liked the way I look so surgery it was!

parkscs

I don't so much see them as mutually exclusive but rather complementary pieces of exercise equipment. There are things you can do with dumb bells that you can't easily do with bands, and vice versa. The next step would be to look at barbell equipment and a bench.

GothyFaery

I don't so much see them as mutually exclusive but rather complementary pieces of exercise equipment. There are things you can do with dumb bells that you can't easily do with bands, and vice versa. The next step would be to look at barbell equipment and a bench.

Dumbbells are a little scary to me. A barbell is REALLY scary! I've always been the dainty woman who needs men to open jars for her. I'm going to change that but a barbell is a huge jump for me. Again, a 3 gallon jug of water is about the max I can carry right now. A barbell alone is like 40 pounds, right?

I think I'm going to have to work my way up to barbells...

parkscs

It's all in how you're carrying it. Lifting a jug of water out in front of you uses different muscles than pressing a barbell off your chest in a controlled fashion, which in turn uses different muscles than putting a barbell on your shoulders and squatting down to parallel. I suspect you're stronger than you think you are.

GothyFaery

So would a barbell help rebuild my chest better than dumbbells?

codycsweet

Dumbbells

parkscs

I wouldn't really think of exercises as better/worse. You can build mass with dumbbells as well as barbells. The nice thing about a barbell setup is it's more adjustable. You can use 2.5 or even 1.125 lb plates to gradually increase the weight, whereas dumbbells tend to jump up in 5 pound increments. The barbell setup is typically going to be less expensive in the long run, because with dumbbells you either need to get an adjustable set or you need to buy them individually (which gets expensive and cumbersome as you continue to get stronger). On the other hand, a barbell setup typically takes a bit more space.

Have you considered just joining a gym? You can do a home setup but honestly it's a lot easier, especially as a new lifter, to just find a good gym. That way you can figure out what sort of training you enjoy and what sort of home equipment (if any) you want to purchase.

AliceDark

How recently did you have your surgery, and what type of incisions did they use? It takes awhile before you can lift any kind of weight, so you need to be really cautious and take is SLOW at first.

Edited to say that I had to drop down to 5# dumbbells on my OHP, chest press and flys when I first got cleared to lift after mine. Most embarrassing couple of weeks at the gym I'd ever had, but you do what you have to do. I just mentioned it because when I say you need to take it slow, I mean SLOW.

GothyFaery

How recently did you have your surgery, and what type of incisions did they use? It takes awhile before you can lift any kind of weight, so you need to be really cautious and take is SLOW at first.

Edited to say that I had to drop down to 5# dumbbells on my OHP, chest press and flys when I first got cleared to lift after mine. Most embarrassing couple of weeks at the gym I'd ever had, but you do what you have to do. I just mentioned it because when I say you need to take it slow, I mean SLOW.

I'm a little over 2 months post op and I had crease incisions. I understand it needs to be slow. I was never very strong before but now I feel like I can't do anything. Again, it's a struggle for me to close the hatchback on my Matrix even when I use 2 hands.

I'm looking at getting adjustable dumbbells (4lbs alone) and putting either 2.5lb weights or maybe 5lb weights so a total of either 9 or 14 pounds. I figured that would be a good start and I can build it from there. Does that sound too heavy?

ETA: I even have a hard time scooping ice cream! This has got to change!!

No_Finish_Line

I wouldn't even know what to do with a resistance band, would probably go for the dumbbells.


http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/finder/lookup/filter/muscle/id/1/muscle/chest
http://www.dumbbell-exercises.com/exercises/chest/

you would do the same things you do with the dumbells, tho you have to get more creative on how you set up the movements, like wrapping the band under a bench for bench press.

there are also different kinds of resistance bands. i don't use the ones with then handles much (unless traveling), but i use the ones that look more like a rubber band more in some cardio workouts.

they even sell really heavy duty ones that are desgined to be used with an olympic barbell in a powercage. It offers a somewhat different kind of resistance that will increase as you stretch the band

most are likely to get more out of the dumbells tho

AliceDark

How recently did you have your surgery, and what type of incisions did they use? It takes awhile before you can lift any kind of weight, so you need to be really cautious and take is SLOW at first.

Edited to say that I had to drop down to 5# dumbbells on my OHP, chest press and flys when I first got cleared to lift after mine. Most embarrassing couple of weeks at the gym I'd ever had, but you do what you have to do. I just mentioned it because when I say you need to take it slow, I mean SLOW.

I'm a little over 2 months post op and I had crease incisions. I understand it needs to be slow. I was never very strong before but now I feel like I can't do anything. Again, it's a struggle for me to close the hatchback on my Matrix even when I use 2 hands.

I'm looking at getting adjustable dumbbells (4lbs alone) and putting either 2.5lb weights or maybe 5lb weights so a total of either 9 or 14 pounds. I figured that would be a good start and I can build it from there. Does that sound too heavy?

ETA: I even have a hard time scooping ice cream! This has got to change!!

Two months post-op is good. If you said two weeks, I was going to yell at you!

The adjustable dumbbells sound like a good plan. You should be able to increase the weight fairly quickly, but I'd recommend just practicing the movements without weight (or with just the 4lbs) first to determine your comfortable range of motion before you start adding weight. That's probably only necessary for exercises that engage your chest or where you're reaching your arms overhead -- those were more difficult for me, anyway.

GothyFaery

Have you considered just joining a gym? You can do a home setup but honestly it's a lot easier, especially as a new lifter, to just find a good gym. That way you can figure out what sort of training you enjoy and what sort of home equipment (if any) you want to purchase.

My husband keeps trying to tell me that. I really, really don't like people. I know that makes me sound horrible but I hate being around people and I'm really socially shy so I don't like gyms. I have free access to the base gym that has a lot of equiptment and it's less than a mile from my office but I don't go because of my social phobias. If I have equiptment at home, I will use it.

3laine75

So would a barbell help rebuild my chest better than dumbbells?

Not sure if it would be better but maybe(?!) safer (not at all sure tbh). I find the barbell much easier than dumbbells, it a balance kind of thing. But then I've only just got the dumbbells a few months ago so I'm still getting used to them.

Interested to know if it's still possible to build chest muscle if you have implants under the muscle (okay I know it would be possible, but is it going to detract any from the look). Interested in getting implants myself but it's only ever been the under the muscle ones that looked good to me.

ETA: ignore that bit about the barbell actually, if you're starting light with the dumbbells you'll be fine, I thought I could just half what I was doing with the barbell right off the bat (you can't :laugh: )

No_Finish_Line

My husband keeps trying to tell me that. I really, really don't like people. I know that makes me sound horrible but I hate being around people and I'm really socially shy so I don't like gyms. I have free access to the base gym that has a lot of equiptment and it's less than a mile from my office but I don't go because of my social phobias. If I have equiptment at home, I will use it.

i hate leaving the house lol. i don't mind going to the gym though. i feel very much alone there. but i was used to going to the gym before i became a hermit

GothyFaery

So would a barbell help rebuild my chest better than dumbbells?

Not sure if it would be better but maybe(?!) safer (not at all sure tbh). I find the barbell much easier than dumbbells, it a balance kind of thing. But then I've only just got the dumbbells a few months ago so I'm still getting used to them.

Interested to know if it's still possible to build chest muscle if you have implants under the muscle (okay I know it would be possible, but is it going to detract any from the look). Interested in getting implants myself but it's only ever been the under the muscle ones that looked good to me.

ETA: ignore that bit about the barbell actually, if you're starting light with the dumbbells you'll be fine, I thought I could just half what I was doing with the barbell right off the bat (you can't :laugh: )

A friend of mine lifts just fine with implants. She recently upped her size to 750cc (under the muscle) and after about 3 months she was back to her regular lifting weight and was about to set a new record in her area for lifting 175lbs (not sure what type of lift) last time I talked to her. So it doesn't have to hold you back

EDA: I really wish I had gotten my implants sooner. I love the way they turned out and it was such a booster for my self esteem! If you want them, I say go for it! And remember, it's go big or go home!

AliceDark

Interested to know if it's still possible to build chest muscle if you have implants under the muscle (okay I know it would be possible, but is it going to detract any from the look). Interested in getting implants myself but it's only ever been the under the muscle ones that looked good to me.

I actually feel like adding some chest muscle has improved the look, because it's smoothed everything out a little and made them look better integrated. That depends on a lot of variables, though, like the size of the implant, how much existing tissue you have, the placement of the implant and the skill of the surgeon.

My strength came back pretty quickly, but it was a major kick in the teeth to have to drop that much weight right at the beginning. (Over-the-muscle implants look really weird to me! For the most part, I think the only people that get them are women who compete, and you can almost always tell just by looking at them that they're over-the-muscle).

GothyFaery

Over-the-muscle implants look really weird to me! For the most part, I think the only people that get them are women who compete, and you can almost always tell just by looking at them that they're over-the-muscle

Overs are good if you have a smaller breast width and want to go big or if you want to go REALLY big. My doctor said 600 was as big as I could go for now with unders(which didn't matter because I only went to 500). If you're looking to with unders and want to go really big, it takes a couple of surgeries and a few years to let your muscles stretch. With overs (and in some cases an internal bra) you can go bigger from the start.

ETA:
I could go on all day. I haven't stopped thinking about them since I made my first appointment...

3laine75

So would a barbell help rebuild my chest better than dumbbells?

Not sure if it would be better but maybe(?!) safer (not at all sure tbh). I find the barbell much easier than dumbbells, it a balance kind of thing. But then I've only just got the dumbbells a few months ago so I'm still getting used to them.

Interested to know if it's still possible to build chest muscle if you have implants under the muscle (okay I know it would be possible, but is it going to detract any from the look). Interested in getting implants myself but it's only ever been the under the muscle ones that looked good to me.

ETA: ignore that bit about the barbell actually, if you're starting light with the dumbbells you'll be fine, I thought I could just half what I was doing with the barbell right off the bat (you can't :laugh: )

A friend of mine lifts just fine with implants. She recently upped her size to 750cc (under the muscle) and after about 3 months she was back to her regular lifting weight and was about to set a new record in her area for lifting 175lbs (not sure what type of lift) last time I talked to her. So it doesn't have to hold you back

EDA: I really wish I had gotten my implants sooner. I love the way they turned out and it was such a booster for my self esteem! If you want them, I say go for it! And remember, it's go big or go home!

Thanks - glad to hear this. I'd love mine perkier but I couldn't give up my barbell now, good to know I can have both

3laine75

Interested to know if it's still possible to build chest muscle if you have implants under the muscle (okay I know it would be possible, but is it going to detract any from the look). Interested in getting implants myself but it's only ever been the under the muscle ones that looked good to me.

I actually feel like adding some chest muscle has improved the look, because it's smoothed everything out a little and made them look better integrated. That depends on a lot of variables, though, like the size of the implant, how much existing tissue you have, the placement of the implant and the skill of the surgeon.

My strength came back pretty quickly, but it was a major kick in the teeth to have to drop that much weight right at the beginning. (Over-the-muscle implants look really weird to me! For the most part, I think the only people that get them are women who compete, and you can almost always tell just by looking at them that they're over-the-muscle).

Thanks, good to know. I know a few girls who have them under the muscle (they don't train though) and they are just gorgeous. I had got it into my head that you couldn't do chest work because all the physique contestants seem to have them on top (don't get it )