Weights at home

Feathil

Hi, this must be a recurring topic but I was wondering if I could be pointed to a tutorial or something to get myself started.

I've seen a *lot* of good things about weightlifting and the benefits gotten from it. I spend a lot of time carrying instrument cases around but the new one I have is too heavy to carry for more than a couple of minutes. (I'm going to weigh it when I get dropped home with it later!)
I've also recently been asked about going on kayaking trips coming into the summer, and I know I'll need to develop my upper arm/pectoral strength, all that area.

I can't get membership to a gym right now but I want to start lifting somehow. What would the most effective kind of home workouts be for me? I've seen threads that say 1-3kg dumbbells are basically a waste of time and girls should step up and lift proper weights. My alto case is 12lbs weight as an example, before I even find out what the heaviest one is tonight. What kind of home weights could I get that wouldn't be a waste of time/money?

It may be a simple question, but there's just so much information out there it's hard to find the right way to begin.. Any help much appreciated! I'm currently looking at the exercises suggested when you click the body map here, but I don't know what weights eg dumbbells to buy http://www.exrx.net/Lists/WtFemale.html

IronSmasher

There's the spend no money option

Www.marklauren.com

Feathil

Ooh, bookmarked.

Now, I'm gonna be honest here, I can't do push ups. At all like. Gonna have to build that strength up alternatively so that I can do them. I lower myself and can't push back any higher from maintaining at the low point. Lame huh? Whereas I carry amps and cases around pretty alright. I'll start work on that..

IronSmasher

Press ups with your hands on a step, places your body at and angle so the force required to lift your body is less.

Hands on a higher step, easier
On the edge of the sofa, easier
On a dining chair, easier
Chest of drawers, easier
Kitchen counter, easier
Pushing yourself away from a leaning position on a wall, easier
Seriously? You don't need any easier than above.

Amber86queenbee

There's the spend no money option

Www.marklauren.com

That's what I've just picked up.

I'm trying to be able to do normal push ups and am trying to do one set normal, one set lowering myself really slowly and one set starting on the floor and getting myself back up. They are so hard but it is my mission to be able to do them properly.

Thanks for the list of different types.