How much are you girls lifting

Sieden76
Sieden76 Posts: 127 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
with your dumbbells? I'm not sure what weight I should be using in order to not bulk, I mean I think that I know but I'm not certain lol. I'm using 8's right now and doing sets of around 14-16.

Also when it comes to muscle exhaustion, I feel the burn but if I go too much further past that, I will get a cramp and then I'm just done for the day. What causes the cramping and what can I do to prevent it? Is it something to do with hydration or something or is it just over doing the lifting?

Replies

  • stines72
    stines72 Posts: 853 Member
    depends on what exercise you are talking about.

    also, in order to not bulk, just dont eat more than you expend in a day (aka eat at maintenance or below if youre losing weight). that is the only way to "bulk"

    i do 20 lb dumbbell curls, overhead press, 25 lb extensions (8 reps each usually)

    as far as squats and lunges.. thats a different story
  • Justjamie0418
    Justjamie0418 Posts: 1,065 Member
    I do barbell curls, Right now I am at 45lbs.

    But for dumbells I am at
    15s for lateral raises
    20 for shoulder presses
    30 for shrugs

    I use 35s for walking lunges

    I do barbell squats so I am no good there as far as dumbells go.

    What are you doing?
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    I do barbell curls, Right now I am at 45lbs.

    But for dumbells I am at
    15s for lateral raises
    20 for shoulder presses
    30 for shrugs

    I use 35s for walking lunges

    I do barbell squats so I am no good there as far as dumbells go.

    Yup she looks like she's bulking to me....look at that pic she's soo bulky!
  • Justjamie0418
    Justjamie0418 Posts: 1,065 Member
    Beast Mode baby, I'm gonna have to start cutting my shirts up. My guns wont fit.

    :laugh:
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    I lift heavy, and as you can probably tell from my profile picture, I am not bulky at all. As an example, yesterday was deadlift day and I am using 170 pounds for that, sets of 5 reps.
    If you are eating at a deficit, you will not gain muscle mass. But, you will retain the muscle mass you already have, while losing fat, so you will look lean.
    Also, lifting heavy is relative, the weight is heavy enough when you can do about 6 reps with it, really struggling on the last one.
    Focus on compound movements, and look into a program like Stronglifts, or New Rules of Lifting.
    As for the cramps, hydration could be an issue, drink more water, make sure to warm up before exercising and to stretch afterwards.
  • Sieden76
    Sieden76 Posts: 127 Member
    oh yeah I didn't think about which type of exercise sorry about that but I think that most of you covered it, I was talking about upper body stuff mostly. The deficit thing really helped
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    what i've discovered is, it's harder to lift dumb bells. it's much easier to lift with the barbell.
    I can lift a 25# dumb bell with my strongest arm, doing a bicep curl, that would be less than 6 times.
    but with the barbell, somehow since the weight is more distributed, and using both arms,
    I can lift much more. I'm not sure how much more right now, bc my routine has me doing pretty
    light weights compared to my max, but it's much easier.

    just saying don't be afraid of the bar, even if you're just lifting the bar.
    makes a great workout.
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    what i've discovered is, it's harder to lift dumb bells. it's much easier to lift with the barbell.
    I can lift a 25# dumb bell with my strongest arm, doing a bicep curl, that would be less than 6 times.
    but with the barbell, somehow since the weight is more distributed, and using both arms,
    I can lift much more. I'm not sure how much more right now, bc my routine has me doing pretty
    light weights compared to my max, but it's much easier.

    just saying don't be afraid of the bar, even if you're just lifting the bar.
    makes a great workout.

    That's why I like lifting with dumb bells rather than the bar for upper body. It's more of a challenge and you use your stabilizing muscles more.

    Right now I am at 20 on bicep curls, 15 on lateral raises and front raises, 20 on upright rows, and 25 on overhead presses. You have to try to bulk, basically. It's not just going to happen. When you can do more than 12 reps without getting significantly fatigued, move up.
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    what i've discovered is, it's harder to lift dumb bells. it's much easier to lift with the barbell.
    I can lift a 25# dumb bell with my strongest arm, doing a bicep curl, that would be less than 6 times.
    but with the barbell, somehow since the weight is more distributed, and using both arms,
    I can lift much more. I'm not sure how much more right now, bc my routine has me doing pretty
    light weights compared to my max, but it's much easier.

    just saying don't be afraid of the bar, even if you're just lifting the bar.
    makes a great workout.



    That's why I like lifting with dumb bells rather than the bar for upper body. It's more of a challenge and you use your stabilizing muscles more.

    Right now I am at 20 on bicep curls, 15 on lateral raises and front raises, 20 on upright rows, and 25 on overhead presses. You have to try to bulk, basically. It's not just going to happen. When you can do more than 12 reps without getting significantly fatigued, move up.

    yes she's right.

    it depends on your goals for your body.
  • Sieden76
    Sieden76 Posts: 127 Member
    well I really meant an appropriate weight for me because I'm doing p90x so the bar wouldn't really work for me there but I do know what you're talking about.

    At any rate based on what I've read here so far I could step up what I've been doing and I start using 12's instead of the 8's that I was using. I think that might be a good idea for me to do
  • demonlullaby
    demonlullaby Posts: 499 Member
    i feel so weak.. :embarassed:
  • notworthstalking
    notworthstalking Posts: 531 Member
    At the moment for bicep curls I can just mange 5 at 8 kg . 5kg for shoulder presses and 3.2 kg for raises. I squat, lunge, one leg dead light and do calf raises with 8kg in each hand. I am starting the 30 shred tomorrow and plan on using 2.5 kg dumbbells. I would love it if my arms got bulky. But genetics tell me it's not going to happen, so I just want to get strong :)
  • succubaeangel
    succubaeangel Posts: 73
    i feel so weak.. :embarassed:

    Completely out of topic, but for how much did you ladies lift to go to 20lbs dumbbell bicep curl? I've been lifting for about a year and I can't go beyond the 15lbs.
  • Fayve
    Fayve Posts: 406 Member
    I can only curl between 15-20, and my overhead press is 20lb dumbbells at the moment. Squats are up to 85lbs, but I'm a beginner to lifting :)
  • badtastebetty
    badtastebetty Posts: 326 Member
    Women have to try pretty damn hard to bulk. Don't be afraid of heavy weights.

    My trainer today said that you should work with a few types of weight to create finesse with your workouts.

    All that being said, my dumbbells right now are only 5lbs and I still find those challenging. I will be moving up to 8lbs soon.
    Today for my kettle bell exercises I was using 30-35lbs.
  • girlsjustwanna
    girlsjustwanna Posts: 16
    You look great to me!
  • workingoutforpeanutbutter
    workingoutforpeanutbutter Posts: 32
    I lift heavy, and as you can probably tell from my profile picture, I am not bulky at all. As an example, yesterday was deadlift day and I am using 170 pounds for that, sets of 5 reps.
    If you are eating at a deficit, you will not gain muscle mass. But, you will retain the muscle mass you already have, while losing fat, so you will look lean.
    Also, lifting heavy is relative, the weight is heavy enough when you can do about 6 reps with it, really struggling on the last one.
    Focus on compound movements, and look into a program like Stronglifts, or New Rules of Lifting.
    As for the cramps, hydration could be an issue, drink more water, make sure to warm up before exercising and to stretch afterwards.

    Are you still trying to lose weight? :-)
  • stephaniethomas80
    stephaniethomas80 Posts: 190 Member
    Women have to try pretty damn hard to bulk. Don't be afraid of heavy weights.

    This^^^ for one you can't build muscle in a calorie deficit. And 2 it's almost impossible for women to become "bulky" unless you are taking steroids and testosterone.
    I am doing Chalean Extreme and the rule of thumb on there is if you cannot do at least 10 reps with a weight it is too heavy and if you can do more than 12 then it is not heavy enough.
  • Vailara
    Vailara Posts: 2,467 Member
    i feel so weak.. :embarassed:

    Completely out of topic, but for how much did you ladies lift to go to 20lbs dumbbell bicep curl? I've been lifting for about a year and I can't go beyond the 15lbs.

    I've never done bicep curls as part of my programme, but I tried it now and can only JUST curl 20lb dumbbells (only managed one rep with my left arm). I've been doing some sort of lifting for over a year but haven't been to the gym for squats and deadlifts for over 6 months. I think my deadlift was 80kg (176 lb) when I stopped.

    I think the dumbbells can be really hard because it's so difficult to add small bits of weight and progress. That was my main reason for using the barbell. To go from 15 lb dumbbells to 20 lb dumbells is a huge increase! But possibly the other lifts help with bicep curls - I don't know?
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    I lift heavy, and as you can probably tell from my profile picture, I am not bulky at all. As an example, yesterday was deadlift day and I am using 170 pounds for that, sets of 5 reps.
    If you are eating at a deficit, you will not gain muscle mass. But, you will retain the muscle mass you already have, while losing fat, so you will look lean.
    Also, lifting heavy is relative, the weight is heavy enough when you can do about 6 reps with it, really struggling on the last one.
    Focus on compound movements, and look into a program like Stronglifts, or New Rules of Lifting.
    As for the cramps, hydration could be an issue, drink more water, make sure to warm up before exercising and to stretch afterwards.

    Are you still trying to lose weight? :-)
    Long term goal is to lose 7-10 pounds of fat,yes.
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    i feel so weak.. :embarassed:

    Completely out of topic, but for how much did you ladies lift to go to 20lbs dumbbell bicep curl? I've been lifting for about a year and I can't go beyond the 15lbs.

    lots of people suggest using pacer weights to get over that hump
    they have magnets that stick to your DB
  • booyainyoface
    booyainyoface Posts: 409 Member
    depends on your goals... women don't bulk unless eating an excess and taking some testosterone style booster or something. i have been trying to bulk for 10 years without luck!

    i do powerlifts/olympic lifts usually maxing out around 5 reps...

    deadlift 200, squat 150, overhead press 100, bench 115, clean&jerk 100, snatch 85... don't worry about getting big- you might hold a little water until your muscles get used to lifting, but if you shed the fat you will be a lot more compact.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    I use mostly big barbells for squats (70kg or 160 lbs.), lunges (70kg or 160 lbs.), deadlifts (65kg or 145 lbs.), bicep barbell curls (about 25kg or 55lbs.) and chest press (45kg or 100lbs.). Dumbbells/plates are: reverse flyes (two 8kg or 20lbs. since I just started incorporating it), shrugs (two 20kg or 45 lbs. plates), weighted push-ups (one 5kg or 15 lbs. plate)

    EDIT: Correct me if I'm wrong with the lbs equivalent as I'm not very familiar with pounds.
  • OkieTink
    OkieTink Posts: 285 Member
    what i've discovered is, it's harder to lift dumb bells. it's much easier to lift with the barbell.

    Easier and I can lift heavier with a barbell, but it hurts my wrists for some reason :/

    20# preacher curls
    25# shoulder press
    30# rows
    30# overhead extension
    25# hammer curls
    15# front and lateral lifts
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    55# shoulder presses
    115# back squats
    95# deadlifts
    75# lat pulldowns
    75# rows
    35# bulgarian split squats
    95# barbell stepups

    I am a new lifter (2 months or so) and I don't start bench presses until the next stage of my workout routine.

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