How many pounds is too much weight for dumbbell lifting?

I use 12.

Points at Strong Lifts for Women (5x5) group...we are all here becoming more fit, but we train like demons. You can not get SUPER huge unless you intentionally take on a bodybuilding regimen (and diet) or use steriods/HGH. period /end of thread.

Ditto on what Feisty_Red said. Use the heaviest weights that you can manage: you will burn more calories, you will build enough muscle to increase your metabolism quite a bit, and I guarantee that you won't look bulky. It takes time to build muscles like that; you will see yourself in the mirror many, MANY times before that can happen. Many times during which you can switch to maintainance workouts, if you don't like what you're seeing.

I'm up to 10 kg (22 lbs) each side, 6-8 rep set, for dumbbell curls, and while my muscles are impressive, they hardly have me looking like a dude. Women simply lack the testosterone to bulk up like men do, and even the "bulkiest" of natural female bodybuilders have to work for years to look like they do (and most female bodybuilders who look especially manly are totally juicing).

Too much is when you can't lift it anymore. Or when you can't lift it in the first place.

Did I really just have to explain that?

Hello MFP members. I'm a girl currently doing 30 day shred Jillian michaels DVD but I'm considering going up weight from 5 pounds to 8 pounds each dumb bell. I don't want to get big or massive just lean. I'm Still trying to lose weight.

I will provide a slightly different answer, and I do not know really what 30Ds is but have a good idea.

Going from 5 pounds to 8 pounds - that is an increase of 6 pounds as a total - 10/16 = 62.5% increase in mass to move. Now as daft as it sounds, very few people can handle that sort of weight increase, unless of course you have been working at way below your potential.

Yes, you can handle the increase but will you be able to work at the same intensity, hopefully you will not because you want the mass to make the resistance harder and therefore force your body to adapt to change. Just be sure that when you go up in weight that you can handle it mentally being harder to achieve both on a cardio level and on a resistance level i.e. Do not become dissapointed, you are making a huge jump in resistance.

I do a 25 rep over 12 different exercises and the weight was 25 kilos HIIT style full body program once a week. Total mass moved during the 25 kilo stage is 25*25*12 = 7500 kilos

Working weight now is 40 kilos and the adaptation period 4 months - 40*25*12 = 12000 kilos in the 25 minute session.

Heart Rate averages at 80-85% of MHR

I do other workout programs designed to build strength and condition the aerobic and anaerobic systems. 46, male, and I am not big or massive because I am not bulkiing nor getting the correct nutrition to bulk because I am losing weight and developing small increase in muscle mass - less than 1lb per month, I am getting lean with definition.

No need to run off to the Old rules of lifting or the Powerlifter wannabe of 5*5 - keep cardio exertion up whilst increasing resistance is the key to great weight loss.

you can't get big from using 12 pound dumbbells.


you should be using challenging weights.

Go Heavy or Go Home!!!

Im a guy who lifts heavy weights 3 times a week, im still not massive :-(

you can't get big from using 12 pound dumbbells.


you should be using challenging weights.

I know sheet metal workers who use 3lb hammers all day and they are pretty big in the arms and shoulders and they do not do weight lifting.

Is she going to do 30DS all day long? Does she have testosterone levels like a man?

I don't think a lot of people here are even reading your question correctly.

Because you are using the weights during 30DS, I would make sure to use a size that still allows you to complete the DVD. On Jillian's DVDs there are varying exercises and you may want to keep a couple different sizes nearby depending on the exercise that she's having you do since you'll be able to go heavier on some than others.

As far as "too heavy" in general... as long as you can still lift it and keep PROPER FORM then the weight is not too heavy. Proper form is very important so that you don't injure yourself.

Way to go!!! 30DS is a lot of work and that's awesome that you're bumping up your weights!

I agree with this, as long as you can use proper form completing the exercise then the dumbell weight is up to you. But be careful, when I did the 30 day shred almost a year ago I used 5 pound weights on the jumping jack portion of level three and ended up with a tear in my rotator cuff.