Any lady lifters in the house? :)

T_Ciku
T_Ciku Posts: 133 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm looking to start strength training soon and I'd like to know how heavy the weights you lift are, and how long it took you to build up to that weight. I would seriously hate to buy a pair of dumbbells and outgrow them in like 4 weeks. I know the weight varies depending on the exercise you're doing, so in case it helps, I'm particularly asking about dumbbells. I don't see myself buying a barbell ever cause I hear it's better if you have a partner and I work out alone.
Much appreciated!

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
    I work out at home alone with a barbell. I also have. A bench and a safety rack.

    That being said, I'd go with plate loadable dumbbells or a set of adjustable dumbbells instead of buying multiple sets at varying weights.

    How fast you progress varies so widely from person to person. You'd be shocked at how heavy you can actually lift. I think it was about a year when I maxed out my "little" bar and plate which went to, I think 120 and had to get heavier plates and an Oly bar for squats.
  • MandyH1991
    MandyH1991 Posts: 65 Member
    I'm in the same boat! Everyone is telling me to check out "you are your own gym".
  • T_Ciku
    T_Ciku Posts: 133 Member
    I'm in the same boat! Everyone is telling me to check out "you are your own gym".

    Thank you! I've checked it out on YouTube just now. It looks pretty great. I'll start with something like that. Do bodyweight exercises until I feel like I've gone as far as I can go and then move to weights.
  • T_Ciku
    T_Ciku Posts: 133 Member
    Thank you for your reply. 120 lbs? Wow! That's heavier than I am. Haha.
  • cgatherton
    cgatherton Posts: 2 Member
    I've been lifting for 16 years and I'm trying to remember how long it took me to reach really heavy weight. Not long I know, maybe 6-9 months? Depending on what I'm training for or how consistent my workouts are my lifts will go up and down. Right now my max lifts for reps (5-8) are: should press-35 lbs; chest press-45 lbs; curls-25 lbs; rows-40 lbs; stiff leg deadlifts-40 lbs. (these are all with dumb bells) I have lifted heavier and I prefer the bar w/ plates for most of my exercises.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I workout with heavy weights at home alone most of the time.

    I have my bench, 2 barbells, my plates and my husband and son built me a squat rack with safety bars. For my birthday they are building me a power rack out of metal because atm I need a spotter for benches only...and if I am benching and no one is home I have a setup that works it's just a pain in my butt...but I do it.

    And yes you would be surprised at what you can lift without failing...

    My squat is over my Body weight and my bench is 128.5lbs...25lbs from my bodyweight (I am 153) after 10 months...
  • MandyH1991
    MandyH1991 Posts: 65 Member
    I can barely lift 10 pounds. I need to get into gear.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I'm just starting out with StrongLifts for about a month, and I'm up to deadlifting 125 and squatting 105. Arm lifts are less impressive, around 55-70 for the various lifts, but I look forward to progressing to lifting my bodyweight.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    well here's the thing about DB's- they are great for certain things- but because your body is not equally strong across the board- having just one or two pairs isn't a good idea.

    This is why barbells are a great option- they are expandable as you grow- and they can accomdate such a vast array of exercises to target different body parts and because the weight's are very mobile- you can do 45 lb curls and then in 30 seconds do a 300 pound DL.

    Barbell gives you the most bang for your buck and flexiblity for your training.

    I train alone. Exclusively. Most people train alone- they just have a squat rack or power cage they can set up with safety rails so it catches you're weight when you fail.

    as far as weight- it's 100% relative- but I can promise you - you are stronger than you think!!!

    My numbers will mean almost nothing to you.
    But
    Bench 180
    DL 205
    Squat 215
    Piddly OHP is like 85-95 (haven't done it in a while though)

    Should have new numbers to post up this weekend when I test my maxes.
  • Fujiberry
    Fujiberry Posts: 400 Member
    I suggest buying a barbell instead. It will be easy to outgrow dumbbells, and you'd need a larger variety of weights (from 10 lb for lat raises to 25 lbs for shoulder presses, to 45 lbs for rows to 60+ lbs for squats. You get the point. :P)

    I've been on a routine for about 8 months, I think, so my numbers might be able to help. :)

    Bench - 95 lbs. x 2 I didn't start benching until mid May, but I've done DB Bench before that.
    Deadlift - 165 lbs x 3 Same with deadlifts. I did single led deadlifts starting March, then switched to barbell in May
    Squat - 230 lbx x 1 I squatted with a smith from Nov-May since it was the only thing available. Switched to a barbell in May.
    I do overhead presses with dumbbells. I'm at 25 lbs. x 8 for those.
  • rachelrb85
    rachelrb85 Posts: 579 Member
    I also lift with dumbbells since that's all my gym offers. I've been doing Stronglifts 5x5 for a couple weeks and I'm about to max out with my deadlift (100 lbs) since the highest dumbbell my gym has is 50 lbs. Also, close to maxing out my squat since I'm at 90 lbs right now. Not sure what I'm going to do, probably find alternative workouts. You'll be surprised by how much you can increase your weight in lifting! Good luck!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    jo-I wish my OHP was as piddly as yours......but i have major shoulder mobility issues
    5'8-132lbs-7 months training-38 years old

    Squats - 195x5
    zercher squat-145x5
    split squat-100(50eachhand)x8
    zercher lunge-105x8
    hip thrust-205x8
    Deadlifts - 185x1,175x3
    1 leg Romanian Deadlift 60x15
    barbell rows - 90x8
    1 arm rows-45x10
    neutral grip pullups-2
    cable row-95x8
    neutral grip lat pulldown- 105x6
    kb swing-60x15
    OHP - 55x3-I suck at this
    Bench - 75x3-I suck at this,1 arm db-30x8
    pushup-bw+10lbsx10
    curls-40x8
    skullcrusher-30x8

Categories