weights

~*Regina*~

New member
I have been wanting to buy those little 5/10 pound weights so I can do something with my arms. How do I determine what size weight to get?
Thank you :)
 
What do you think these little weights will do for your arms?

Here's the thing.... you can't spot reduce the fat away from your trouble spots. Most people know this. Or at least they have heard this before. Yet, the first thing they do when they start resistance training is focus solely on their 'fatty trouble spots.'

Weights train muscles, which doesn't do much in terms of the fat storages.

You'd be better served getting equipment that would allow for you to perform balanced routines targeting all the major muscle groups.
 
I can not afford any other equipment, I also do not have the room in my apartment. I also can't afford a gym membership. I'm working with what I have unfortunatly. Its very hard to find things I can do with the funds I have.
 
Who said anything about spending a fortune.

I'm thinking things like bands and whatnot.

Buying one set of DBs really limits what you can do.
 
Honestly, I would start out with push ups before you spend money on weights. 5 pound weights will become useless fast.
 
:seeya: I filled up two plastic juice jugs with water and use those for my weights. They each weigh 7 lbs, I think. I do 3 different exercises with them, each 10 x per arm. I have definitely noticed a difference; mind you some of it is just the flab disappearing as my weight goes down. They do seem more firm, now, though.

Best wishes!
ABBA
 
I think its a great idea to buy a few dumbbells in a few different weights. They are definitely cheap enough and store easily under your bed or in your closet.

10 lbs for biceps and triceps (the front and back muscles of your arms) is not exactly light for a chick. Its not ultra heavy either, but its not like it would have no effect. In fact, I cannot imagine a beginner even trying to start out with higher weights for her arms or shoulders, or other areas for that matter. What weight would y'all recommend she start out with?

You can do a great full body work-out with some 5 and 10 lb DBs. Use the fives to do exercises for your arms, shoulders and abs, and the 10s for your chest, back, and legs. There are lots of exercises that you can do at home with the DBs, check some videos or magazines for form and ideas.

Depending upon one's body type and probably a host of other factors, weights can manage one's weight a lot better, or at least as good as, cardio. Weights practically on their own kept me in a size 6 for years, and that is combined with a huge appetite and being one who easily puts on weight (i.e. not "naturally thin").
 
I think its a great idea to buy a few dumbbells in a few different weights. They are definitely cheap enough and store easily under your bed or in your closet.

10 lbs for biceps and triceps (the front and back muscles of your arms) is not exactly light for a chick. Its not ultra heavy either, but its not like it would have no effect. In fact, I cannot imagine a beginner even trying to start out with higher weights for her arms or shoulders, or other areas for that matter. What weight would y'all recommend she start out with?

Nobody is suggesting that she starts out with heavy weights, lol.

If you reread what's been suggested, there are better, more economical options. Yes, light DBs is what she should start out with if she were going the DB route. But the point that's been made is that she'll outgrow these things real quick assuming she does things correctly. By outgrow, I don't mean muscularly.

When funds are limited you have to buy what's going to give you the most bang for your buck as well as give you the most mileage in terms of progression before having to buy new stuff.

That being said, bands, jugs, and bodyweight are probably her best starting point.
 
Thank you everyone for the comments, I really appreciate it :). I'm going to get the bands and a set of "chick" DB's lol this weekend. I feel that anything that I didn;t do before will help a great deal.
 
Before you spend the money on new dumbbells - check your local area for used sporting goods stores (play it again sports is my personal favorite) or check the classified or even freecycle.org for people giving them away... you will outgrow the dumbbells pretty quickly - so you don't' want a huge investment in them
 
Remember, gallon jugs can go a long way in place of DBs. And you can 'modify' how much gallon jugs way by adding/subtracting whatever you're filling them with.
 
Lots of solid advise above. Body weight exercises can be great for the space and money challenged as well.
 
is an excellent resource.

There's also such a thing as adjustable DBs. These are your best option if you can find them. This way as your body adapts to the weights you stress it with, you can add increasingly challenging weights.
 
the chick dumbbels come in 1, 2, 3 and 5lb weights..

Now I still use my 5lb dumbbells sometimes...

in place of 1lb dumbbells - you can put a can of beans in each hand (16 ounces = 1lb)

A bag of brown rice can be 2 - 3 lbs - put one of those in each hand....

and when you're bored with that weight - you can eat the weights and move on to the next set
 
I started out with just my own body weight in my parents basement.

Then I went to chopped wood and rocks.

Finally I got my first weight bench when I was 14-15 or so.
 
DBs cost around $10; I prefer them to bands, and they're a lot easier and neater to use than a milk bottle or whatever.

Nobody is suggesting that she starts out with heavy weights, lol.

If you reread what's been suggested, there are better, more economical options. Yes, light DBs is what she should start out with if she were going the DB route. But the point that's been made is that she'll outgrow these things real quick assuming she does things correctly. By outgrow, I don't mean muscularly.

When funds are limited you have to buy what's going to give you the most bang for your buck as well as give you the most mileage in terms of progression before having to buy new stuff.

That being said, bands, jugs, and bodyweight are probably her best starting point.
 
DBs cost around $10; I prefer them to bands, and they're a lot easier and neater to use than a milk bottle or whatever.

You're missing the point.

If you're doing things correctly, especially when just starting out, you'll outgrow the use of the DBs unless you want to be doing things sub-optimally.

You'll outgrow things like bands too, but the point is, you'll get more mileage out of them.

When funds are tight, mileage is a good thing.
 
After lifting very erratically over the course of the past several years (but at least 6 months of the year 2 x per week) I sometimes still use 10 lb DBs on my arms and shoulders. The reason is that I never intended on being a pro or anything even close to that level, I have used weights to maintain strength, maintain some nice tone to my muscles and burn some calories, and generally those have been my results. I dont spend much time on my arms either as I'm happy with the way they are now and I catch the muscles with the chest and back exercises.

Last time I went reasonably high on my shoulders, doing military presses with 25 lb weights, for some reason I really injured my right shoulder, which still hurts when I work it. So I now have to keep it really low. My knees are also pretty shot and cant handle a very heavy weighted squat and lunge.

A lot of women are afraid to lift higher weights for various reasons, and I think those fears are misplaced, but on the other hand, not everyone's trying to progress further and further with the weights. At some point you can maintain what you have with moderate weights.
 
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