Weights and HELP!

nolongerXXL

Basically, I have a great cardio workout going on, but I want to incorporate weight for toning and, well strength....

Here is the catch:

I don't go to the gym, closest one is about 20 minutes away, which isn't bad, but it had no baby sitting options, so with a 2 year old, it is impossible....

I don't have room for a weight bench or similar bulky equipment.

So, my question is can I get an adequate strength training/weight lifting work out with dumbbells (or similar weights) at home?

For example:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-Dumbbell-Power-Set/21695177

Or heavier weights......

Thanks!!!

helpfit101

The answer is YES you can! But I would say knowing what to do and how to do it probably comes from going to the gym for a while.

You could join the gym for a month or two months (if they allow that?) and ask the trainer there to show your routines JUST using dumbbell's because you like free weights. Tell him you don't want to use any of the machines. Maybe you need to pay for the trainer to coach you for an hour. Do that a few times (3-5) ? You can do full body routine using dumbbell's. I know you said you can't go to gym conveniently but I would say knowing the basics is important.

I would say you need two dumbbell's though. You need them from light to heavy for different exercises.

Check on internet too. I did a search and looked at two results. This one looks fairly decent already:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/rudy6.htm

country2priss

I don't know if you have planet fitness in your area but its only $10 a month with no contract and you get trainers for free. At least here it is, i travel an hour to get to the one I go to, well worth it. They can teach what you need to know and then as long as you tell them a week in advance that your ready to quit you don't get billed for the next month and no termination fee. Alas i'm not sure about child care.

MisterDerpington

Here's something I just posted in another thread about a dumbbell workout.

However, they had a gym stocked with dumbbells. This may be too costly for you since it requires getting dumbbells that are progressively heavier. If it is too expensive, you may want to look into a body weight strength training program. Good ones will have you progressively increasing resistance by changing to harder versions of exercises as you go on.

The same way people prescribe a novice progression program with a barbell. Start at a moderate weight for 3 sets of 5 worksets, and then progress in weight how you see fit (depends on the jumps in weight of the DBs) with compound exercises. I generally base my lifts off of Starting Strength/Stronglifts/Greyskull LP big 4-5 lifts.

A squat. I think the best Dumbbell Squat is the Goblet Squat because it forces you to make your torso rigid if done properly.

An overhead press. What to do is in the name. Stand up with the DBs and press then overhead.

A bench press. If there isn't a bench available you could try Floor Presses (though you won't get as full of a ROM) or bringing a backpack and some padding and doing pushups that gradually become weighted.

A deadlift variation. Don't know a lot of these with DBs besides Romanian Deadlift, but you could look some up.

The last lift would depend on what you want to do. SS gives you Power Cleans and SL gives you Rows. There are variations of both for Dumbbells, so pick which you prefer and go with that. (Note: If you can do chinups, there's also that option).

You'd do an A/B routine which can look many different ways. I'll show the SS way.

A:
Goblet Squat 3x5
Overhead Press 3x5
Deadlift 1-3x5 (your discretion for number of sets)

B:
Goblet Squat 3x5
Bench Press 3x5
Power Cleans 5x3 (5 sets of 3) or rows 3x5

You could also add one more lift and make the squats and deadlifts be on opposite days such as:

A:
Goblet Squat 3x5
Overhead Press 3x5
Rows 3x5

B:
Deadlift 1-3x5
Bench Press 3x5
Power Cleans 5x3

I hope this helped a little bit.

kiku76

I workout at home only and have my 2 y/ o son running around me.

I use this set http://www.amazon.com/Cap-Barbell-40-Pound-Dumbbell-Set/dp/B000VCDXNS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1368764497&sr=8-3&keywords=cap+dumbell

I also have 4 25lb plates and have recently added a barbell (about $30 on amazon)
The bar I have is about 12 lbs so total I have about 82 lbs there. It's not bad as I'm working my way up in weight. I plan to buy 25lb plates soon.
I store everything where I can. The 4 10lbers are actually under my playpen

nolongerXXL

Thank you for the responses!!

I think I have a Planet Fitness about 45 minutes away... $10 a month is a great price! The gym that is close to me is $30 a month and considerable smaller.

I am going to look at the weight set posted and work out routines and try to get on it!

Thanks everyone!

nolongerXXL

BTW, I just looked at the weight set posted and I love it! Thanks!