Thread: Training with only Dumbbells?

Originally Posted by wayne_ca

Hi, I have been training for a while with only dumbbells and other dead weights, but now that I want to get serious, I'm thinking that it may not be the most effective method. Do I need to go to the gym? To me there aren't enough dumbbell / deadweight exercises to fit in 4 days a week of training. Mine are also too light. I've even tried to attach leg weights to them and they still don't exceed 30 pounds.

Is it better to have a combination of dead weights, body resistance, and gym machines/

much appreciated

I didn't quite understand your question but I think your asking if you can workout with just dumbells? The answer is YES or NO because the exercises are only working your chest, biceps, and sometimes triceps I believe.

I just switched from a dumbell, shoulder press, lat pull workout only for about a year, but now I'm in a class at school thats just freeweights.. man let me tell you the difference, i've only been in the class for 3 days (workout mondays and wednesday, tuesdays and thursdays agility days)
and already on monday my legs were so burned just from doing squats and powercleans. Today I did squats, power cleans, bench press, bp inclines, and auxilarry weights. The difference is great, and if your serious about gaining muscle than I hope you take the path I took or find a real gym!

I do beleive you can do a full body workout with dumbells. I certainly have before.

I didn't quite understand your question but I think your asking if you can workout with just dumbells?

The answer is in fact YES, but 30lb DB's are too light (or oughta be) to get down into rep ranges that will build muscle.

Of course, a combo of DB's, barbell and machines is optimal.

The answer is NO because the exercises are only working your chest, biceps, and sometimes triceps I believe.

Um, your'e assuming he's only bench pressing and doing arm curls. There are other exercises.

The biggest problem is that the dbs are too light; with more weight and some imagination all the muscles can be hit, though there's a little more immediacy when accessing dedicated equipment.

Originally Posted by KarlW

The answer is in fact YES, but 30lb DB's are too light (or oughta be) to get down into rep ranges that will build muscle.

Of course, a combo of DB's, barbell and machines is optimal.

Um, your'e assuming he's only bench pressing and doing arm curls. There are other exercises.

Yes ok, I realize I am wrong, but still just keep in mind I think just DB's would be a very weak workout, but correct me if I am wrong.

Why would dumb bells be a weak workout. As long as the bumbells are heavy enough, you can do every excercise, or a form of every excercise and get great results.

Yes ok, I realize I am wrong, but still just keep in mind I think just DB's would be a very weak workout, but correct me if I am wrong.

mmmmmmm matter of opinion I'd say.
If they were heavy enough (relative to the trainee) then you can still get a very good workout. Not what I'd prefer but you could use just DB's (and a bench) for some time, and not suffer IMO.

Squats and Deadlifts are typically done with barbells..

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

Squats and Deadlifts are typically done with barbells..

yuh, so?

Bent over rows are too, and cable cross overs are typically done with a cable station. Doesn't mean DB's can't do the job.

So?

I've never seen anyone deadlift 500 pounds with dumbells. I've never seen someone do dumbell squats. The deadlift and the squat are the best exercises you can do, and you can't do them with dumbells. The fact that you'd mention cable cross-overs with those exercises makes for a ludicrously poor comparison.

Originally Posted by LittleKid

I didn't quite understand your question but I think your asking if you can workout with just dumbells? The answer is YES or NO because the exercises are only working your chest, biceps, and sometimes triceps I believe.

I just switched from a dumbell, shoulder press, lat pull workout only for about a year, but now I'm in a class at school thats just freeweights.. man let me tell you the difference, i've only been in the class for 3 days (workout mondays and wednesday, tuesdays and thursdays agility days)
and already on monday my legs were so burned just from doing squats and powercleans. Today I did squats, power cleans, bench press, bp inclines, and auxilarry weights. The difference is great, and if your serious about gaining muscle than I hope you take the path I took or find a real gym!

Yes, mostly. The only things I have are dumbbells (up to 30lb dual hands or 50 lb single hand), very sucky leg weights (only 20lbs per leg can you believe that!), an exercise ball for thigh exercises and a bench to do chest flyes. I wish I had a barbell so I could bench press but my parents would never approve. The only truly intense workout I've done was doing leg squats by grabbing a bunch of weights together to make it 50 lbs per side.

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly are deadlifts?

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

So?

I've never seen anyone deadlift 500 pounds with dumbells. I've never seen someone do dumbell squats. The deadlift and the squat are the best exercises you can do, and you can't do them with dumbells.

The question was, can you get a full body workout with DB's? The answer is yes. You can squat and DL with DB's, not 500 lbs mind you but I'm guessing the guy that started this thread isn't into those kinda weights.

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

The fact that you'd mention cable cross-overs with those exercises makes for a ludicrously poor comparison.

hehe you missed the sarcasm!

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

So?

I've never seen anyone deadlift 500 pounds with dumbells. I've never seen someone do dumbell squats. The deadlift and the squat are the best exercises you can do, and you can't do them with dumbells. The fact that you'd mention cable cross-overs with those exercises makes for a ludicrously poor comparison.

My thoughts exactly.

The question was, can you get a full body workout with DB's? The answer is yes. You can squat and DL with DB's, not 500 lbs mind you but I'm guessing the guy that started this thread isn't into those kinda weights.

Yes but if really wants to gain muscle than I would suggest looking into some gyms or making some friends who have their own .

If you are looking to grow you will need more weight, barbells are good. If you are just looking for fitness, what you are doing is probably fine.

Originally Posted by Duncans Donuts

So?

I've never seen anyone deadlift 500 pounds with dumbells. I've never seen someone do dumbell squats. The deadlift and the squat are the best exercises you can do, and you can't do them with dumbells. The fact that you'd mention cable cross-overs with those exercises makes for a ludicrously poor comparison.

Actually, I bought olympic adjustable dumbbells a while ago when I was working out at home. Although bulky and hard to work with, you can put about 4 or 6 45 pound plates on each dumbbell.

With that said, buying a bench and a barbell would be a lot more practical. It's the best investment you will ever make. Dealing with dumbbells that size is a pain the the fucking ass, and there's really no reason for it.

Originally Posted by wayne_ca

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly are deadlifts?

http://www.bsu.edu/webapps/strengthl...s.asp?exid=166

Thanks for the help
So if I plan to gain 20+lbs in the next 4-5 months, I will need to find a gym? (my parents would never get barbells just for me) That sucks because the nearest gym is only open to adults. But has anyone here made very good gains with only dumbbells?