Big Boy Dumbbells

[Baldiewonkanobi]

OK I gotta ask....why the training wheels? Man...part of the experience is grabbing those puppies off the dumbell rack and man handling them. Come on...grab em, yell at them, curse them, spit some blood on the mirror and get it on. Harry Pearl once told me that if I could not manuever a weight safely on it's own then it was too heavy to push or pull.

Baldie

[rpaul11]

Originally Posted by Do_Somethin

. Like last week I accidentally went up 20lbs in my bench press (with a bar).

OOPS....don't let that happen again

[chodan9]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

OK I gotta ask....why the training wheels? Man...part of the experience is grabbing those puppies off the dumbell rack and man handling them. Come on...grab em, yell at them, curse them, spit some blood on the mirror and get it on. Harry Pearl once told me that if I could not manuever a weight safely on it's own then it was too heavy to push or pull.

Baldie

I never was handling enough weight to justify them before, now I don't want to buy a second pair so I am just lugging them. now after every chest day I have these round indentions on my thighs LOL.
Now that is part of the challenge, getting the weight in place and getting on my back and starting that first press.

edit: one thing I did not like about the hooks were that they made the bar just a little larger to grab, especially with gloves on, the narrower bar actually helps me in handling them.

[The_Warhammer]

Grats man! Keep up the great work!

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

OK I gotta ask....why the training wheels? Man...part of the experience is grabbing those puppies off the dumbell rack and man handling them. Come on...grab em, yell at them, curse them, spit some blood on the mirror and get it on. Harry Pearl once told me that if I could not manuever a weight safely on it's own then it was too heavy to push or pull.

Baldie

While that is one way to look at it here is another.
When it is training day and someone wants to really push hard why spend more energy just trying to get the db's into position? Instead use that energy to isolate the muscle you are attacking. As that person continues to grow there will be plenty of opportunities to "wrestle" with the db's.
How many times do you see someone going really heavy by first having their partner help, by handing the db's to them?

[cawagner01]

Nice work! Repped!

[sytennison]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

While that is one way to look at it here is another.
When it is training day and someone wants to really push hard why spend more energy just trying to get the db's into position? Instead use that energy to isolate the muscle you are attacking. As that person continues to grow there will be plenty of opportunities to "wrestle" with the db's.
How many times do you see someone going really heavy by first having their partner help, by handing the db's to them?

For some people, myself included, setting up for an exercise is part of the exercise. I enjoy the single-arm dumbell rows that I do to get the heavy ones into position. I sometimes initiate my barbell presses by cleaning the bar from the floor. The way I see it is, if you're going to the gym to work hard, why short-change yourself? It's like going to the gym to do cardio, but 1st driving round and round the parking lot to look for a space that's close to the front door.

[Old_Swole]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

OK I gotta ask....why the training wheels? Man...part of the experience is grabbing those puppies off the dumbell rack and man handling them. Come on...grab em, yell at them, curse them, spit some blood on the mirror and get it on. Harry Pearl once told me that if I could not manuever a weight safely on it's own then it was too heavy to push or pull.

Baldie

Baldie is tellin the truth. Great job on upping your weights! just work on your technique of getting those weights on your thighs and rolling back on the bench and you will feel even better with that lift. again great job dude!!!

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by sytennison

For some people, myself included, setting up for an exercise is part of the exercise. I enjoy the single-arm dumbell rows that I do to get the heavy ones into position. I sometimes initiate my barbell presses by cleaning the bar from the floor. The way I see it is, if you're going to the gym to work hard, why short-change yourself? It's like going to the gym to do cardio, but 1st driving round and round the parking lot to look for a space that's close to the front door.

One arm rows are easy to set up for so nothing is needed there. Now how about trying to get into position to do very heavy declines with db's?

[sytennison]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

One arm rows are easy to set up for so nothing is needed there. Now how about trying to get into position to do very heavy declines with db's?

Oops, I guess I didn't explain myself well enough. To get dumbells into place for flat or incline bench press, I place them on the floor in front of the bench and then lean over and do one-arm DB rows to get each one up on top of my thighs.

You're right, setting up for rows is simple. Just kick the darn things up to the side of the bench and get busy.

As far as heavy decline bench press, fuggetaboudit! I don't even bother with declines because they're so damn tough to set up. Maybe there's a trick I don't know yet. The best I've seen was a guy who rolled two flat benches up to either side of the decline bench and then set a dumbell on each flat bench. That seemed to work well for him, but it chewed up a lot of equipment. As far as I can tell, the amount of weight you can get into position for declines is much less than can be pressed from a decline position whereas I can get into position anything that I can flat bench. If anyone thinks differently, I'd like to hear about it.

[OutOfStep]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

One arm rows are easy to set up for so nothing is needed there. Now how about trying to get into position to do very heavy declines with db's?

Just place them on your thighs and kick them up into position. I agree with Baldie, if you need some device to get the weight up into position, they are too heavy for you.

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by sytennison

Oops, I guess I didn't explain myself well enough. To get dumbells into place for flat or incline bench press, I place them on the floor in front of the bench and then lean over and do one-arm DB rows to get each one up on top of my thighs.

You're right, setting up for rows is simple. Just kick the darn things up to the side of the bench and get busy.

As far as heavy decline bench press, fuggetaboudit! I don't even bother with declines because they're so damn tough to set up. Maybe there's a trick I don't know yet. The best I've seen was a guy who rolled two flat benches up to either side of the decline bench and then set a dumbell on each flat bench. That seemed to work well for him, but it chewed up a lot of equipment. As far as I can tell, the amount of weight you can get into position for declines is much less than can be pressed from a decline position whereas I can get into position anything that I can flat bench. If anyone thinks differently, I'd like to hear about it.

Now we are both thinking/saying the same thing.
The reason I like the idea of the hooks or the db spotter from Sorinex is to do very heavy declines. I have taken to doing declines the past 4 months to help fill out the top of my chest and getting into position with the amount of weight I need is a PITA and risks injury to my beat up lower back. I also train in my basement so I get no help getting into position.

Originally Posted by OutOfStep

Just place them on your thighs and kick them up into position. I agree with Baldie, if you need some device to get the weight up into position, they are too heavy for you.

I know the technique and it is what I use. The picture below is my db rack and I wrestle with them all. I am simply saying that in certain situations (not all) a "spotter" comes in handy.

[Do_Somethin]

Interesting posts. While this coming week for chest is mostly bar stuff I think the following week I'll try the 90s again but moving them into position myself. I might see if I can have a spotter handy for safety but other than that I'll have to see how I'm feeling physically/mentally that day.

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Funny thing is that I was refering to incline dumbells. Harder yet...no rolling back flat on bench. You really need to kick em up hard to get into position.

Then upping the ante a bit. Today we did seated dumbell military presses. Talk about hard to kick up with the knees....got up the 90s with a guiding safety spot from the gym owners son. Right now I feel like I was hit by a truck.

Baldie

[damon3763]

Good Job !

[boathead]

i've enjoyed the perspectives expressed here. my take, having done, until this week, exclusively db bench is this: if you can do 90's for a few reps with the hooks, you most likely will not be able to get them when kicking them up from your thighs.

when using the hooks, your first reps is started under load, and you have the stretch reflex working for you. starting from the down position is a whole other ball game. that first rep from the down position is tough!

highly recommend you dial it back a bit, and kick up 80's or 85's and see how it goes.

i personally have tried the hooks. felt like a weanie, and couldn't really find a place to hook them outside the squat rack, which is not wide enough. i was banging the 100's off the pipes. not something you want to do with the big boys.

[Old_Swole]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

Now we are both thinking/saying the same thing.
The reason I like the idea of the hooks or the db spotter from Sorinex is to do very heavy declines. I have taken to doing declines the past 4 months to help fill out the top of my chest and getting into position with the amount of weight I need is a PITA and risks injury to my beat up lower back. I also train in my basement so I get no help getting into position.


I know the technique and it is what I use. The picture below is my db rack and I wrestle with them all. I am simply saying that in certain situations (not all) a "spotter" comes in handy.

I'm sure it was just a typo but usually declines are done to fill in the bottom of the pectoral and inclines for the upper part of the pectoral.

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by jtcook

I'm sure it was just a typo but usually declines are done to fill in the bottom of the pectoral and inclines for the upper part of the pectoral.

As you know the area worked on depends where you lower the weights to so I position myself to hit the top of the chest. My lower chest doesn't need as much attention as the top.
As unorthodox as this may be, it is producing results for me.

[sytennison]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Funny thing is that I was refering to incline dumbells. Harder yet...no rolling back flat on bench. You really need to kick em up hard to get into position.

How about decline DB work, Baldie? How do you get heavy dumbells onto your thighs to kick 'em up when your legs are stuck way up high in a decline bench?

[Old_Swole]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

As you know the area worked on depends where you lower the weights to so I position myself to hit the top of the chest. My lower chest doesn't need as much attention as the top.
As unorthodox as this may be, it is producing results for me.

I only posted that because you said you were working on your upper chest usually the best lifts for this is the incline press or incline flys but if declines are working for you thats great. have you tried inclines for the upper chest?..just asking no disrespect intended.

[Bando]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

OK I gotta ask....why the training wheels? Man...part of the experience is grabbing those puppies off the dumbell rack and man handling them. Come on...grab em, yell at them, curse them, spit some blood on the mirror and get it on. Harry Pearl once told me that if I could not manuever a weight safely on it's own then it was too heavy to push or pull.

Baldie

I'm 155 lbs and can muscle the 90's into place for flat reps, someone once described it like a "turtle rolling onto it's back" I can get the 80's into place and up for incline and 55's in place and up for military. I love the dumbells and workout with them a lot. As much as I work out for my own purposes I gotta admit I enjoy the few minutes with the 80 or 90's at the foot of my bench and people thinking "what the hell is he doing with those."

I could probably gain plenty of size with the 70's and lots of reps, after all I'm old and that would be safer, but damn, I just love hammering up the big boys.

Edit: I'm not trying to take anything away from OP for using the hooks, we need more OV35'ers in 90 land

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by jtcook

I only posted that because you said you were working on your upper chest usually the best lifts for this is the incline press or incline flys but if declines are working for you thats great. have you tried inclines for the upper chest?..just asking no disrespect intended.

None taken.
Yes I am also doing inclines for upper which is my main focus. I found that when I plateaued on my lower chest, it was time to focus on the less developed upper chest. I am pleased with the results so far.

[Old_Swole]

Originally Posted by thepainter5

None taken.
Yes I am also doing inclines for upper which is my main focus. I found that when I plateaued on my lower chest, it was time to focus on the less developed upper chest. I am pleased with the results so far.

I know you work out at home and I'm not sure if your equipment has one of these but a machine I have recently started using is the pec deck fly machine I hold the contraction for a two count and I my chest pumps up like crazy I usually do these after i'm done doing bench presses and flys. sorry OP I didn't mean to take this thread in another direction.

[thepainter5]

Originally Posted by jtcook

I know you work out at home and I'm not sure if your equipment has one of these but a machine I have recently started using is the pec deck fly machine I hold the contraction for a two count and I my chest pumps up like crazy I usually do these after i'm done doing bench presses and flys. sorry OP I didn't mean to take this thread in another direction.

I don't have a pec deck but (OP) I did buy some hooks

[Andre Bueno]

Doesn't it feel GR8 to grab the big DBs and just rep 'em out?

[Bando]

Originally Posted by Andre Bueno

Doesn't it feel GR8 to grab the big DBs and just rep 'em out?

yep

[Andre Bueno]

Originally Posted by Bando

yep

Only time it feels the BEST is at 6pm during Rush Hour around the 1st week after New Years when everyone and their mom are at the gym. LMAO

[Bando]

Originally Posted by Andre Bueno

Only time it feels the BEST is at 6pm during Rush Hour around the 1st week after New Years when everyone and their mom are at the gym. LMAO

The only time it feels best is when I just murder the weights, I did that today

[Andre Bueno]

Originally Posted by Bando

The only time it feels best is when I just murder the weights, I did that today

hahaha


Good ****

[sickonstorm]

not bad, the problem with commercial gyms is that they only go up to 120s if youre a serious lifter that will become too light real soon. thats why i now workout at home js.