Lifting heavy.

Biodemon
Biodemon Posts: 143 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have heard many people recommend lifting heavy. However, I am addled as to how this is done. Is there anyone that lifts at home? Can you do it with just plain dumbells? What exercises do you do? I want to start lifting but I cannot afford the gym right now.

Replies

  • GingerRunner
    GingerRunner Posts: 69
    Pick things up. Put them down. :-)
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I lift at home, but I bought a bench, barbells, plates, squat rack, etc.

    All that is not necessary to get started though.

    Start with a barbell and some plates. There are plenty of barbell things you can do without the bench or squat rack.
    (deadlifts, pendlay rows, cleans/clean and press, even squats until you get to the point where you need to squat more than you can clean to your shoulders.)
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    I lift at home, but I bought a bench, barbells, plates, squat rack, etc.

    All that is not necessary to get started though.

    Start with a barbell and some plates. There are plenty of barbell things you can do without the bench or squat rack.
    (deadlifts, pendlay rows, cleans/clean and press, even squats until you get to the point where you need to squat more than you can clean to your shoulders.)

    Also, yes you can use dumbbells.
    But you will need a good set of adjustable dumbbells so you don't need to buy 15s, 20s, 25s, 30s, etc....cheaper to buy the adjustables in the long run. If you have and 3 or 5 pound dumbbells in your house, either throw them away or start using them as paperweights or doorstops. They're useless.

    You're going to want to start with squat, bench press, deadlifts, rows, and overhead press. You can youtube some videos on proper form for both barbell and dumbbell versions.
    Add in accessory work like pushups, situps, dips and pullups and you have a very well rounded strength routine that can be done easily at home.

    Just be warned, you will become addicted to your wonderful results and will end up wanting a bench and squat rack once you can no longer maneuver the bar into position without assistance.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Check out Stronglifts 5x5 or Starting Strength. While it is possible to lift heavy with dumbbells, you'd need a ridiculous amount of them to make it work. You will need a barbell and various equipment to lift heavy (bench, rack, etc.) I recommend researching first, to figure out a plan, then you can decide on how to get access to necessary equipment.
  • danee2626
    danee2626 Posts: 3
    You can easily use dumbbells at home to lift. Squats are a great (full body) exercise that can be done at home while holding dumbbells and there are numerous variations... Push ups, bicep curls, rows, chest press and fly etc are all quick, easy exercises that take little or no space at home.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Pick things up. Put them down. :-)

    this!

    i workout at home, and at the moment just have dumbells, i use those and do body weight stuff. you dont have to go to a gym to do a decent strength routine.
  • Mutant13
    Mutant13 Posts: 2,485 Member
    You can do a lot with dumbells, provided they are of a decent weight. The problem with lifting at home is unless you have an extensive collection of weights you are better off joining a gym, because quite quickly the weight you use now is going to become too light for you and pretty ineffective.

    If you are set on doing weights at hone with your dumbbells google exercises like incline presses, shoulder presses, tricep extensions, bicep curls, lateral raises, dumbbell rows, weighted lunges, goblet squats.

    One of my favourite exercises you can do involving dumbells is called a man maker. It's probably easier for you to google it to understand what it is but it is a fantastic whole body exercise. If for some reason I can't get to the gym on a non rest day I do a whole bunch of these, they are killer!

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