Dumbbell help....please.

This is from Fitness magazine

Ideally, a strength workout should include 8 to 10 exercises targeting the major muscle groups. Beginners can start out by using two sets of dumbbells (3 to 5 pounds and 8 to 12 pounds) or a set of resistance bands. Try the following exercises, doing 2 sets of 10 to 15 reps each.
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1. Dumbbell chest press (works chest)
Lie on a bench, elbows bent 90 degrees out to sides; straighten arms up and return.
2. One-arm dumbbell row (works upper back)
Stand with legs hip-width apart and place one hand on bench, opposite arm holding weight; draw elbow up toward ribs and lower.
3. Biceps curl (works biceps)
Stand with arms extended, palms up, and curl weights toward shoulders.
4. Triceps extension (works triceps)
Stand with legs hip-width apart. Lean forward from waist, elbows bent 90 degrees at your sides; straighten arms behind you.
5. Lateral raise (works shoulders)
Stand with arms down by your sides, palms in; raise straight arms to shoulder height.
6. Basic squat (works legs/butt)
7. Front lunge (works legs/butt)
8. Bicycle (works abs)
Lie face-up on floor, bend opposite elbow to knee, then switch sides.
9. Superman (works lower back)
Lie facedown on floor and lift opposite arm/leg; switch sides.

I google workouts a lot to vary my routines. Good Luck!!

Go to Fitness Blender (fitnessblender.com). They have hundreds of video workouts that are perfect for starting out with a weight set like that.

I agree that they will most likely be too light. They could serve a purpose for maybe a week or two, but I think you'll want something heavier. If you're really interested in strength training, and I highly recommend it, I would find the book New Rules of Lifting for Women. Though.... that may mean you can't do the workouts at home, it's a wonderful place to start.

I also have back issues and I beg of you to ignore all of the nay sayers who say you need heavier and now. When my back is at its worst, I am not supposed to lift more than 20 lbs at a time, so insisting on heavier weights would mean I couldn't work out when I most need to.

Since you have an existing medical issue, please consult with your doctor and/or physical therapist before starting a new routine. I would also ask them about other kinds of cardio, such as swimming and biking, which can put even less stress on your back than walking.

I don't think they are too light at all. Just use your heavier ones for bigger muscle groups and lighter with smaller muscle groups.

Unfortunately, they may be too light (15 to 30s is generally right for females).

Some good exercises for these are:

+ Hammer curls
+ Goblet squats
+ Overhead Press

This, plus

Single arm dumbbell rows
Overhead tricep extensions
Calf raises
Lunges
etc.

That said, I personally would return them and buy a bench and barbell with plates :flowerforyou:

Blogilates on Youtube uses low/no weights and high reps, and it's a great workout! I'll be swearing at the screen while Cassey Ho's cheerfully chatting away about her new nail polish or the next bodybuilding competition she's entering. She's really sweet and encouraging, and the workouts are killer. I can't recommend her enough.

If you've got a smart phone, grab the Nike Training Club app as well - it's free and loaded with over 100 workouts, many use dumbbells.