what do you do with your dumbells?

zahra1975
zahra1975 Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
how do you workout with your dumbells.? what is working for you? how often do you increase your weights? How many reps do you perform?
I do compounds movements of twenty reps! i'm searching for better ideas to to target all body parts. I hate floor workouts!
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Replies

  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    I read books to them so they can become smartbells.
  • Jenni129
    Jenni129 Posts: 692 Member
    mine are dust collectors
  • rbrooks14760
    rbrooks14760 Posts: 11
    Depends on what your goal is. I do a program based on Wendler 5/3/1 which involves three extremely heavy, low rep sets followed by five sets of ten. This is on chest and shoulders, and my accessory lifts include lateral and forward raises, tricep skullcrushers and kickbacks, incline wide and narrow db press as well as all flyes.
  • giggitygoo
    giggitygoo Posts: 1,978 Member
    I pick them up, and then I put them down.

    =) I HAD to.

    I do a ton with dumbbells.

    Legs: Goblet squats, weighted lunges, calves, stair runs, squat jumps
    Arms: Incline press, overhead press, bench press, bicep curls, incline bicep curls, triceps extensions, lateral rows, chest flyes, ect

    There is more, but I'm not caffeinated enough yet to remember.

    I also use an olympic bar, but I could get by with just dumbbells if I needed too.

    Edit: I realized I answered nothing.

    I don't follow a specific program, currently just targeting weak areas. My arm/chest/back days are: 4x12. When I can get to 15, I up the weight. I mostly use the oly bar for legs, so I'll be curious what others say there.
  • jchite84
    jchite84 Posts: 467 Member
    http://getfitandlivebetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Spartacus_Workout_2.0.pdf

    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/spartacus-workout-the-triple-set-scorcher.html

    I do either of these, or a combination of these. I mostly train for triathlons, so it's important for me to not lose flexibility. These work out well. The general rule for lifting for building mass and power as I've always read is that if you can do 3 sets of 12, you need more weight.

    You might also check out ExRx.net - it has a ton of resources.
  • BlueBombers
    BlueBombers Posts: 4,064 Member
    I read books to them so they can become smartbells.

    ^ Winner!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Depends on what your goal is. I do a program based on Wendler 5/3/1 which involves three extremely heavy, low rep sets followed by five sets of ten. This is on chest and shoulders, and my accessory lifts include lateral and forward raises, tricep skullcrushers and kickbacks, incline wide and narrow db press as well as all flyes.

    That is more of a barbell routine, and is an intermediate program, I am assuming the OP is a beginner.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    You could get some ideas from Youtube.
  • Murph1908
    Murph1908 Posts: 125 Member
    I use them as door stops.

    When I DO get back to using them, I'll do curls, bench presses, butterflys, and tricep extensions.

    I really want to get a lifting cage and do the 5x5 heavy routine. But I am afraid I'll do that about as much as I am using the dumbells.
  • svsl0928
    svsl0928 Posts: 205 Member
    I use them with my Leslie Sansons Walking and Biggest Losers DVDs. Also, use them for toning my Arms and shoulders -Bicep and tricep curls and Chest press.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    mine are dust collectors

    Pretty much this ^^

    I have ChaLEAN Extreme and think it's a good program for dumbbells, but I just don't like lifting weights so I didn't finish it.
  • KylaDenay
    KylaDenay Posts: 1,585 Member
    I do the all pros beginner routine on bodybuilding.com. I like it to get me started.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    paper weights
    door stops
    rolling triceps extensions
    heavy pants
    back flys
    push ups (increase range of motion)
    prancercise

    (one of these is a lie)
  • itodd4019
    itodd4019 Posts: 340 Member
    favorite move with dumbell is the renegade row
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    front squats and bicep curls...

    I'm not exactly sure I understand the question though...
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Put dumbells on floor shoulder width apart. Place hands on dumbells and assume plank position. Do a push-up. At top of push-up lift right dumbell to your armpit while maintaining plank. Return dumbell to floor. Do a push-up. At top of push-up lift left dumbell to your armpit while maintaining plank. Do a push-up. Repeat until cannot do push-up.

    Yay for back and chest in the same move.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!

    You know, they do make them bigger.
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!

    You know, they do make them bigger.

    And they are useful for a variety of great accessory muscle work that can help improve your big lifts.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I think it depends a lot on how heavy they are.. I use my adjustable dumbbells a lot (typically 15 lbs for shoulders, rest is between 20 and 45 lbs). My 5 lbs dumbbells are collecting dust.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    how do you workout with your dumbells.?

    I pick them up and put them down. Generally across different planes of movement depending on my goals.

    You'll want to do a little research on that, and form.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!

    You know, they do make them bigger.

    I'm aware. Mine that are no longer being used are 5 lbs....before I discovered heavy lifting.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I read books to them so they can become smartbells.

    Last time I heard that playing music to them helps, too...
  • RainRedfield
    RainRedfield Posts: 597 Member
    Anchor my boats and children
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I love my bowflex and use them for my current weight training...they can be dialed up to 52.5 pounds each...
  • cheripugh1
    cheripugh1 Posts: 357 Member
    I use them with my Leslie Sansons Walking and Biggest Losers DVDs. Also, use them for toning my Arms and shoulders -Bicep and tricep curls and Chest press.


    Try not to drop them on my toes :) OK and I use them like this quote for Walking Away the Pounds DVD's that I use... mainly I target my upper arms (the ugly wings)
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!

    You know, they do make them bigger.

    I'm aware. Mine that are no longer being used are 5 lbs....before I discovered heavy lifting.

    Well okay, but how does this help the OP with regards to dumbell training. Never understood the elitism of barbell training ive noticed here on MFP. There are some exercises best performed with a barbell and some best performed with dumbells. Hard to do lateral side raises for your delts with a barbell and even the buffest of bodybuildets can lift plenty heavy with dumbells doing those.

    Dumbells allow additional axis of rotation and degrees of freedom that can add functional strength you just wont get from a barbell. Barbells in turn allow you to stack heavier weight on compound moves like squats or deadlifts that you cannot practically get on a set of dumbells. You can be proud of your barbell training but there is no reason to sneer at dumbells.
  • DWBalboa
    DWBalboa Posts: 37,259 Member
    I’m all about the kettle bells but I do use db’s for renegade rows and hammer curls.
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    I haven't touched a dumbbell since I started 5x5, and I don't miss them.

    5 lb dumbbells, HA!

    You know, they do make them bigger.

    I'm aware. Mine that are no longer being used are 5 lbs....before I discovered heavy lifting.

    Well okay, but how does this help the OP with regards to dumbell training. Never understood the elitism of barbell training ive noticed here on MFP. There are some exercises best performed with a barbell and some best performed with dumbells. Hard to do lateral side raises for your delts with a barbell and even the buffest of bodybuildets can lift plenty heavy with dumbells doing those.

    Dumbells allow additional axis of rotation and degrees of freedom that can add functional strength you just wont get from a barbell. Barbells in turn allow you to stack heavier weight on compound moves like squats or deadlifts that you cannot practically get on a set of dumbells. You can be proud of your barbell training but there is no reason to sneer at dumbells.

    Oh boy boy...let's not start another debate on no-winner arguments...
  • albayin
    albayin Posts: 2,524 Member
    To answer OP's question, ChaLean Extreme is an awesome program for beginners with dumbbells. Check it out if you have chance...I love it and still do after like 3 rounds...but of course the number on my dumbbells has gone up.

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