Weights- Toning
onedayatatime12
Posts: 577 Member
Soo I've cut back on cardio with the advice of some people on here 
and now I'm lifting. Lifting, as in not heavy weights, because I don't have access to a gym (neither can I afford it).
I bought two of those eight pound weights from Walmart and I do exercises every day with them from this site http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/articles/the-full-workout-library-of-the-free-30-day-dumbbell-challenge/
I do thirty five reps of some exercises, and for others I can only muster strength for around 20 reps total.
If I do this every day for thirty days will I really be able to see a difference? And followup question: if I keep doing this forever, will it let me *stay* toned? Tips on strength training with the resources I have access to are much appreciated. Thank you everyone
Oh, and also I know lifting heavy won't make me bulk up- I just want to lose the last few pounds by incorporating more strength training. (At 131.2 lbs now-want to get to 124 but with a toned flat tummy)
and now I'm lifting. Lifting, as in not heavy weights, because I don't have access to a gym (neither can I afford it).I bought two of those eight pound weights from Walmart and I do exercises every day with them from this site http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/articles/the-full-workout-library-of-the-free-30-day-dumbbell-challenge/
I do thirty five reps of some exercises, and for others I can only muster strength for around 20 reps total.
If I do this every day for thirty days will I really be able to see a difference? And followup question: if I keep doing this forever, will it let me *stay* toned? Tips on strength training with the resources I have access to are much appreciated. Thank you everyone
Oh, and also I know lifting heavy won't make me bulk up- I just want to lose the last few pounds by incorporating more strength training. (At 131.2 lbs now-want to get to 124 but with a toned flat tummy)
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Replies
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Hi.. good start. There are work outs you can do at home without having a gym membership or equipment. These work outs use your body weight and little rest between sets. High intensity etc. You don't have to be a fitness guru either to do the work outs. I ound a lot of good work outs on my Men's Fitness Twitter account. I believe there is Womens Fitness twitter account as well.lso Shin Ohtake was a great life changing investment for his work out programs. Cost at the time $40.00. Good Luck!!!0
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If you look up HASfit on YouTube, they have a ton of strength training videos so you can mix up your routine. Some use dumbbells and some just body weight. No need for a gym or anything fancy. I've been doing some of their workouts and really like them. Best part, it's free!0
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really you need to be lifting heavy or there will be little or no effect.
if you can do 35 reps the weight are too light, you need to be struggling on the 8-12th rep
Weights are very cheap to buy if you're on a low income as you can buy the plates as you progress0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.0
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Body weight exercises can do wonders! Lots of push ups, pull ups, planks, dips, squats...ect. There are ways you can lift even though you don't have weights. I have even added water bottles to a backpack to give me some extra weight to workout with, when you become proficient in the push ups and pull ups (you can do pull ups at most playgrounds thanks to monkey bars) put the back pack on and make it more difficult. You don't need a gym membership or lots of weights to do this, it does open options but not a requirement.
Also, don't know where you live, but I know when I started to workout I joined planet fitness at $10 a month because I could not afford anything else and cut my budget elsewhere, but I know that is not always an option.
Good luck!!! Try body Rock as well, love their videos and they are free!0 -
Some places don't have cheap gyms, but, if you can't afford $10, your dedication is lacking. If u want to workout at home u can do a lot with body weight and resistance bands. Then again. a used barbell is like $40 and plates are .50 cents a pound or less.0
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Some places don't have cheap gyms, but, if you can't afford $10, your dedication is lacking. If u want to workout at home u can do a lot with body weight and resistance bands. Then again. a used barbell is like $40 and plates are .50 cents a pound or less.
Haha I can very well afford $10, but I'm not lacking dedication. I'm a student and my schedule is rather busy, but I'm giving equal importance to my studies and health/fitness, so it's kind of time-consuming. But thanks for the good part of the advice anyways.
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Body weight exercises can do wonders! Lots of push ups, pull ups, planks, dips, squats...ect. There are ways you can lift even though you don't have weights. I have even added water bottles to a backpack to give me some extra weight to workout with, when you become proficient in the push ups and pull ups (you can do pull ups at most playgrounds thanks to monkey bars) put the back pack on and make it more difficult. You don't need a gym membership or lots of weights to do this, it does open options but not a requirement.
Also, don't know where you live, but I know when I started to workout I joined planet fitness at $10 a month because I could not afford anything else and cut my budget elsewhere, but I know that is not always an option.
Good luck!!! Try body Rock as well, love their videos and they are free!
Thank you very much for your helpful info. I'll check out the website for that gym!0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
:huh: Is taking care of your health a HOBBY? It isn't for me. It's something I expect myself to do on a daily basis.0 -
use your body weight if you cant go to the gym. get your hands on heavy weights, that will burn calories and make you lose weight fast. but dont cut back on cardio. dont take advice from amateurs0
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If you look up HASfit on YouTube, they have a ton of strength training videos so you can mix up your routine. Some use dumbbells and some just body weight. No need for a gym or anything fancy. I've been doing some of their workouts and really like them. Best part, it's free!
Thank you so much for your advice- I will look that up!0 -
use your body weight if you cant go to the gym. get your hands on heavy weights, that will burn calories and make you lose weight fast. but dont cut back on cardio. dont take advice from amateurs
Thank you. I won't cut back on it TOO much 0 -
Since you don't have any other weights than the 8 pounds ones, I think you would benefit more from doing bodyweight stuff. Look into programs like You are your own gym or Convict conditioning.
I agree that lifting progressively heavier would be the best thing to do, but I would not go as far as to say that anything else is useless.0 -
So wait.. let me get this straight.. you wanna tone so you cut back your cardio??? OK.. weird??? But yes. I'll agree no need to lift "heavy".. using your own body is very good and very helpful.. you can always make bw exercises harder by changing a few simple things.. check out the hasfit. And do no more than 2 hours of cardio a week.0
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says the guy with no muscle toneIf you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
As much as I personally believe that heavy lifting is the best thing since sliced bread, advice like this is discouraging. Not everybody can, should or wants to be lifting heavy. To imply that anything else is a waste of time is silly.0 -
Can you do 35 pushups? If not, then doing that (or aiming to eventually) will be much more beneficial than doing light weights.
Other ones to look into, 100 pushups, 100 pullups,
Simple "program". Pushup, pullup, lunge.
Day 1: 1 rep of each
Day 2 2 reps
Day 90: 90reps of each
It's hard.0 -
You're exchanging one form of cardio for another. Reps over 12 are considered "muscle endurance" training and NOT strength training. And endurance training usually means cardio type workouts. Try learning pushups.....one of the best ways to get some strength started.Soo I've cut back on cardio with the advice of some people on here and now I'm lifting. Lifting, as in not heavy weights, because I don't have access to a gym (neither can I afford it).
I bought two of those eight pound weights from Walmart and I do exercises every day with them from this site http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/articles/the-full-workout-library-of-the-free-30-day-dumbbell-challenge/
I do thirty five reps of some exercises, and for others I can only muster strength for around 20 reps total.
If I do this every day for thirty days will I really be able to see a difference? And followup question: if I keep doing this forever, will it let me *stay* toned? Tips on strength training with the resources I have access to are much appreciated. Thank you everyone
Oh, and also I know lifting heavy won't make me bulk up- I just want to lose the last few pounds by incorporating more strength training. (At 131.2 lbs now-want to get to 124 but with a toned flat tummy)
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
You Are You Own Gym (there is also an app) and Convict Training as others have said.
Walmart and Amazon have dumbbell/barbell sets w/plates up to 50lbs for $25-$50. You can also look into Iron Gym Pull Up Bar- about $25.0 -
I agree with the body weight crowd... 8 lb weights are really aerobic weights.... You can also use heavier objects around the house to help increase strength training.0
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Soo I've cut back on cardio with the advice of some people on here and now I'm lifting. Lifting, as in not heavy weights, because I don't have access to a gym (neither can I afford it).
I bought two of those eight pound weights from Walmart and I do exercises every day with them from this site http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/articles/the-full-workout-library-of-the-free-30-day-dumbbell-challenge/
I do thirty five reps of some exercises, and for others I can only muster strength for around 20 reps total.
If I do this every day for thirty days will I really be able to see a difference? And followup question: if I keep doing this forever, will it let me *stay* toned? Tips on strength training with the resources I have access to are much appreciated. Thank you everyone
Oh, and also I know lifting heavy won't make me bulk up- I just want to lose the last few pounds by incorporating more strength training. (At 131.2 lbs now-want to get to 124 but with a toned flat tummy)
pls use a structured strength training program..lifting a weight for 20+ reps is not 'strength' training...thats endurance training.0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
WTF?0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
WTF?
And this all or nothing attitude is why people rage quit.0 -
Thank you for all the supportive and useful comments! I will look into bodyweight exercises and try to get some heavier weights, ones that will challenge me in 8-10 reps.
I absolutely cannot do pushups or pullups so I think the suggestion one of the commenters provided me with is very helpful! I'll set goals like those, and that should increase my strength over time. :flowerforyou:0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
The OP has just said why they are unable to do that, why the negativity?0 -
Bump0
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Some places don't have cheap gyms, but, if you can't afford $10, your dedication is lacking. If u want to workout at home u can do a lot with body weight and resistance bands. Then again. a used barbell is like $40 and plates are .50 cents a pound or less.
Haha I can very well afford $10, but I'm not lacking dedication. I'm a student and my schedule is rather busy, but I'm giving equal importance to my studies and health/fitness, so it's kind of time-consuming. But thanks for the good part of the advice anyways.
If you're a student, don't you have access to the college gym for free? Look up "starting strength," scope out the weight room and teach yourself how to lift.0 -
If you aren't going to lift heavy, you should find a more productive hobby.
The OP has just said why they are unable to do that, why the negativity?
Wasn't really a solid reason though. They bought dumbbells, just really light ones.0 -
Great job on starting strength training! I'm sure what I'm going to say has already been said, so forgive me. I just woke up after a bad night's sleep and didn't feel like reading the whole thread.
If you can do 35 reps of some exercises, you're lifting too light. 8lbs isn't a bad place to start, but could you invest in some heavier weights as well? If you had a range of 8-20 or so pound weights, that would be way more helpful for you. Then aim to do 3 sets of 6-12 reps of each exercise. If you can't manage 6 reps, you're probably going a little too heavy; if you can easily do 12, you're going too light.
As far as "staying toned" yes lifting regularly can help you with that. But progression is key. Again, once it gets to the point where you can do 12 reps of an exercise easily, you need to increase the weight! This is the quickest and easiest way to see your body change and stay strong.
Also check out bodybuilding.com because they have a ton of amazing free lifting programs! A lot of them require gym equipment, but you can totally modify and do the programs at home with dumbbells. I've done this several times when I couldn't afford a gym membership, and I did see great results I hope that's helpful and good luck! 0 -
Some places don't have cheap gyms, but, if you can't afford $10, your dedication is lacking. If u want to workout at home u can do a lot with body weight and resistance bands. Then again. a used barbell is like $40 and plates are .50 cents a pound or less.
Haha I can very well afford $10, but I'm not lacking dedication. I'm a student and my schedule is rather busy, but I'm giving equal importance to my studies and health/fitness, so it's kind of time-consuming. But thanks for the good part of the advice anyways.
I don't know. I have a full-time job, I'm preparing for the CPA exam, I don't have a gym membership, and I still manage to lift heavy. When you want something badly enough, you make it happen.
And yeah, don't give up the cardio if you're only lifting 8 lb weights 35 times. You're not going to lose weight like that.0
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