5 pound dumbbell workouts?

lina1131

I just ordered a pair of 5 lb dumbbells (5 pounds each one). Please do not laughing at me, I have zero uppoer body strength and I need to start somewhere. :blushing:

Any suggestions on some good starter workouts? I am planning on doing it 2 days a week and I do cardio 3 or 4 days a week.

Thanks!

lvnascar

Jillain Michaels workouts are good ones to try with 5lb weights.

10lb Slimdown with Chris Freytag are good also.

m1shootr

This'll kick your butt.

http://my.menshealth.com/workout/The-Spartacus-Workout-2.0/workout-a

lina1131

This'll kick your butt.

http://my.menshealth.com/workout/The-Spartacus-Workout-2.0/workout-a

This is great. Thanks for the link. I will give it a try with my measly 5 pound weights.

wrevhn

i use 5 lbs too. but for my p90x i think i might need to go up in weight. there are plenty of good ones out there with 5 lbs. i agree to try jillians. or even google.

snowchj

If you're interested in serious weight training without weights, that...could be a problem. :huh:

But in the meantime, here's a well respected body weight program that could be what you're looking for...

http://www.dragondoor.com/b41/

JamesVista

I just ordered a pair of 5 lb dumbbells (5 pounds each one).

Got to start somewhere. Once you're used to them move on up to 10's. Anyways, check this video out..

Fitness Tips : Full-Body Dumbbell Workout Plan
http://youtu.be/Lz0U3N6p6BQ

I think it's a good thing you're going with 5lb dumbbells. You don't want to start off heavy and risk an injury.

lina1131

i use 5 lbs too. but for my p90x i think i might need to go up in weight. there are plenty of good ones out there with 5 lbs. i agree to try jillians. or even google.

I'm hoping one day I can do the p90x. I usually have to workout during my lunch break (I'd give you my i'm a mother of 2 one being a newborn and I work full time sob story but i'll save it for another time :laugh:). I'm hoping I can do something twice a week while the baby is napping on the days I work from home or on weekends.

I have heard a lot of good things about the 30 day shred. Maybe I should invest in that.

bindera

try the 30 day shred! i do it with 5 lbs and it's a killer!

melrose09

I bet you'll blow through those 5 pounders in no time! It's amazing how fast you gain strength when you really commit to it. Good luck and HAVE FUN!

nytdreamer80

Lina,
I am on day 3 of the 30 day shred. I use the 5 pound dumbells and its KICKING MY *kitten*!! Try it! I am soooo sore, I love it.

lina1131

I am serious about getting started. I do plan on upping the weights and hopefully soon. I just didn't want to jump in lifting heavy weights when I haven't done much of strength training in the past year (because I was pregnant and then had a c-section).

tistal

lawmama_

I actually think 5 lbs is a lot! I started out with 3 lb weights in doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and my arms were SO sore day after day! I eventually got used to it though.

david081

I just started something similar - found this animated site, check it out and pick the dumbell exercises you like:

http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/dumbbellexercises.html

wellbert

Save some time and target the most muscles you can at once: squats, deadlifts, bench press, military press.


wifey can curl 5lb dumbells... but I got her deadlifting 70lb barbell. takes the same amount of time, don't even have to guess to figure out which one builds more strength and burns more energy.

Karmynzahringer

I have to agree with the other ladies, 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels, its only a 25 minute workout including warm up and cooldown, and the 5 lbs will kick your butt the first few days for it. I actually had to switch to 3lbs for the first few days and am trying 5lbs again now. I don't have much upper body strength either. And I would just ignore the JA who posted that earlier. It's not like you posted it in a heavy lifting group or thread!

Krystel022

5 lbs is perfect to start out! Remember form is the most important part of a workout. i would start with basics: Bicep Curls, tricep extensions, front & lateral raises for upper body then combo exercises with lower for example:

walking lunges and bicep curls, squats with upright rows, side lunges with lateral raises

krstngrrtt

5 pound weights is a great place to start and the 30 day shred is a perfect way to get good use out of them! And it sounds like your time is limited, which makes the 30 day shred even better for you! Good Luck!

SergeantSunshine_reused

5 pounds? seriously? Most women's purses are 5 pounds...

I don't even have the patience to answer this.

Set your goals higher.

You guys can hate on him all you want, but I do agree.

Everyone has to start somewhere, but setting the bar a little higher would be better.

Depends on your goal though. OP what are you after? A lean and athletic look cannot be achieved with just dumbbells. I would suggest using them for certain lifts, but getting into a gym and workoing on compound lifts with heavy ways is the way to make true progress:flowerforyou:

MrsCon40

5 pounds? seriously? Most women's purses are 5 pounds...

I don't even have the patience to answer this.

Set your goals higher.

Then why the EFF did you hit the reply button? Just to be an *kitten*?

It wasn't the best delivery, but he's right. Your purse weighs more than 5 pounds and you carry it for more time every day than you will be lifting your 5 pound weights.

The best thing you can do with them is hold them while you're doing aerobics... they won't provide any resistance training benefit but they will maybe make you work a bit harder in a step routine.

strawberry626

dont listen to addison! rude! i have three and five pounds. when i do my 30DS i have to use teh three-pounders on most of them. it may be light but it gets heavy after a while! anythingis better than nothing. dont listen to people like him! man that hacks me off!

lina1131

Okay for those of you that do the 30 day shred. How many days a week do you do it? Would it benefit me at all if I just did it 2 days a week? (I jog/walk 4 miles 3 or 4 days a week as well). It's only $7 on Amazon. I think I might order it and try.

nytdreamer80

I do it every day in addition to my gym routine.

AmyJo54915

I'm so glad you posted this! I'm just starting with 5lbs too

tistal

Okay for those of you that do the 30 day shred. How many days a week do you do it? Would it benefit me at all if I just did it 2 days a week? (I jog/walk 4 miles 3 or 4 days a week as well). It's only $7 on Amazon. I think I might order it and try.

6 days a week! 2 more days and I will starting level3. Down 13lbs and 10.25 total inches!

Cocochickdeleted

I agree with those who suggest the 30 Day Shred. I use five pound weights, and with the compounds that Jillian has built into the strength training component, five pounds will definitely kick your butt! And believe me, I am no lightweight. A few years ago, I did some body building with my hubby and I was eventually benching about 110 pounds.

yesthistime

I see 2 and 3 lb. weights in stores all the time, so I think in terms of light toning 5 lb. dumbbells make a lot of sense (and are even a challenge) for many women. Go for it!

SergeantSunshine_reused

I see 2 and 3 lb. weights in stores all the time, so I think in terms of light toning 5 lb. dumbbells make a lot of sense (and are even a challenge) for many women. Go for it!

Completely wrong. Light toning? What does that even mean? = useless.

Women do not need a special lifting routine. We can lift like men. Maybe not as much, but we do the same routines.
OP I would still suggest some resistance training or you will be doing more endurance work than anything.

_GlaDOS_

I agree that 5 lbs is not really heavy enough if strength training is what you are looking to do. The 30DS is not strength training. It is circuit training/cardio.

I started out without much upper body strength either, and I still can't do a full, real push up, but I lift heavier than 5 lb DBs for strength training. You may think they are heavy now, but in a week they probably won't be, and then what are you going to lift? You aren't increasing strength if you keep using 5 lbs for months.

Sl1ghtly

This'll kick your butt.

http://my.menshealth.com/workout/The-Spartacus-Workout-2.0/workout-a

This is great. Thanks for the link. I will give it a try with my measly 5 pound weights.

This looks to be fun.

Also, I use 5 lb weights for certain therapeutic excersises. And yes, they are pink.