Can I lift heavy without barbells??

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Replies

  • FATJAKE5
    FATJAKE5 Posts: 162
    hehe YEP I remember doing that back in February when I started 30 Day Shred. I used half gallon milk jugs filled with water until I bought my first hand weights. Then I finished Shred and wanted heavier weights for Body Revolution so I went and bought the 3lb, 5lb, 8lb set and now 8lbs are getting too easy :D

    This is why it's "progressive weight training"

    You might think about hitting garage sales for a set of barbells and a bench. Even Walmart has a 100 lb set w/bench for $99

    If you have a community/city college they may have a weight training class where you can learn proper technic
  • avababy05
    avababy05 Posts: 930 Member
    People take the phrase heavy lifting too literal. It is not about the actual weight you use, but rather the intensity to which you train. You don't want to pick weights that won't challenge you and you can do whole singing away. Really, it means choose weights that will take you to near failure.

    I think this is the answer I've been looking for on many threads since I started here three months ago.
  • IzzyBooNZ1
    IzzyBooNZ1 Posts: 1,289 Member
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wotw3.htm

    A good all round dumb bell workout. Most exercises can be done with either with small variations.

    Oh this looks fantastic, thanks! I only have DB at the moment
  • jayche
    jayche Posts: 1,128 Member
    You'd be surprised how much you can actually do with 50lb dumbbells
  • chellebublz
    chellebublz Posts: 568 Member
    You might think about hitting garage sales for a set of barbells and a bench. Even Walmart has a 100 lb set w/bench for $99

    I saw this but I can't find the maximum amount of weight on here. I think if I'm going to invest in my own weights I'm going to get any Oly bar and plates even if it does cost a little more, that way I won't have to worry about maxing out the weights. Not that I would, but my fiance use to be a pretty good lifter before he left the miliary and gained weight, so he might lol

    I mean, so far so good. The circuit is squats, pushups, step ups, seated rows and jackknifes one day, and deadlifts, shoulder presses, lat pulldowns and swiss ball crunches the other day. And right now I'm only up to 20 lbs so I think I will be able to do the dumbbells for a good minute!

    Glad everyone is enjoying the thread and it's still going :D
  • FATJAKE5
    FATJAKE5 Posts: 162
    You might think about hitting garage sales for a set of barbells and a bench. Even Walmart has a 100 lb set w/bench for $99

    I saw this but I can't find the maximum amount of weight on here. I think if I'm going to invest in my own weights I'm going to get any Oly bar and plates even if it does cost a little more, that way I won't have to worry about maxing out the weights. Not that I would, but my fiance use to be a pretty good lifter before he left the miliary and gained weight, so he might lol

    I mean, so far so good. The circuit is squats, pushups, step ups, seated rows and jackknifes one day, and deadlifts, shoulder presses, lat pulldowns and swiss ball crunches the other day. And right now I'm only up to 20 lbs so I think I will be able to do the dumbbells for a good minute!

    Glad everyone is enjoying the thread and it's still going :D

    LOL! So,.................you know what an OLY' bar and plates are? And have a soon-to-be live-in personal trainer? You are doin' fine! BTW please tell your fiance' "thanks for his service" from me. One of the pics in my profile is of my wife and I 43 years ago shortly after I returned from 'nam. I hope you guys are as happy and still in love 43 years from today!
  • Sarge516
    Sarge516 Posts: 256 Member
    There are dozens of great exercises you can do with no extra weights at all. Dumbells up to 50 lbs is a huge bonus. Search YouTube for "body weight exercises" to get some ideas.
  • averytds
    averytds Posts: 64 Member
    I thought this one was really good for bodyweight. http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

    The set I got off Craigslist included a squat rack, bench and 315lb Oly' set for $250.
  • durangocal
    durangocal Posts: 90 Member
    Hey all, There is a lot of good information in this thread! I have been doing the workout at the link below for 3 weeks now. I really like the workout and have added some weight. I started with 14lb dumbbells and have moved to 19lb. I will have to purchase some more weights to add to my bars to go further.

    My main reason for posting is to ask some of the more experienced lifters here what they think of this work out. Any suggestions or feedback about the routine?

    http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/dumbbell-only-home-or-gym-fullbody-workout.html

    I love the videos showing proper technique-thanks for posting this link. There are a few exercises I want to add to my routine.
  • bobf279
    bobf279 Posts: 342 Member
    I have been using 2 and 3 kg dumbells in my cardio workouts and last week dusted off a total trainer flex I bought some years ago. Have done 2 workouts on it so far so still just learning to use it properly but it works with lifting proportions of your own body weight, which will be fine but theoretically getting easier if you are losing weight :laugh:
  • chellebublz
    chellebublz Posts: 568 Member
    LOL! So,.................you know what an OLY' bar and plates are? And have a soon-to-be live-in personal trainer? You are doin' fine! BTW please tell your fiance' "thanks for his service" from me. One of the pics in my profile is of my wife and I 43 years ago shortly after I returned from 'nam. I hope you guys are as happy and still in love 43 years from today!

    haha yes I do, but it's mainly because I do alot of research and have joined a few groups here on MFP and picking up some abbreviations. We do butt heads alot because he thinks the military's ways are always right and doesn't believe me about what I read but we are at least on the same page lol. I am following "New Rules of Lifting for Women" and idk what's he's doing, kind of his own jacked up circuit lol.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I joined the only gym I have available to me today. (Small town lol) And learned that they don't have barbell type weights. They only have machines and then they also have dumbbells up to 50 lbs in pairs. Is it still doable. Anytime I see someone talking about heavy weights it's usually with barbells =/

    Any advice? I'm reading NROLFW tonight, but I haven't got far enough into it yet to have learned anything about machines vs barbells vs dumbbells. I have NO CLUE about any of this so hopefully the book will make it more clear lol

    Absolutely.
    Buy a barbell. Or buy a strong duffel bag, some duct tape, and about 150# of sand bags.
  • mrdexter1
    mrdexter1 Posts: 356 Member
    you can do anything with machines and dumbells to 50kg, just a case of learning how to if you re prepared to put the effort in and learn...I dont use barbells often as it interferes with my short rest between setts when you have to swap the weights around and like to be done and gone within 45 minutes.

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