Adding weight

[gelizzy]

So currently I am only lifting 5 pound free weights. I double them up with I have to do 1 arm at a time. Would jumping from 20 be a bit drastic? I don't know anything about weights so i don't know how I will go about increasing them. Please let me know because I am getting really frustrated at the fact that I am killing myself exercising and every time I take the tape measurer out i seem to have lost an inch here and there but gained it somewhere else! I don't know what I may be doing wrong. I must admit I have had a lot of cheat days this month. That's probably what is slowing down my progress. But for the most part I have stayed on it. I promise yall make it look so easy

[Amanda76]

I'm not sure what rep range you are lifting in, but if it's easy to complete, you need to move up in weight.

Unless you're doing a high rep routine, for most lifts, you probably NEED to jump to at least 20. Bench presses, OH presses, rows, deadlifts and squats...I'd say most people can handle at least 15-20 lbs on all those kinds of lifts if they give themselves the opportunity to do so.

Lifts like lateral raises will probably remain in the 5-10 lb range for a while. But if you can do more than 12 with the weight you are using (and you aren't purposefully working in a higher rep range), I'd suggest moving up in weight.

[matthewluke60]

It depends on the lift. If you can lift 20's with proper form then do so, if you find yourself cheating or using momentum, then take it down a notch. Something that you might try is the dumbbells that are made with 2.5 lb incriments rather than 5 lbs incriments. Its much easier to find the right weight for you rather than having too little or too much.

[gelizzy]

It depends on the lift. If you can lift 20's with proper form then do so, if you find yourself cheating or using momentum, then take it down a notch. Something that you might try is the dumbbells that are made with 2.5 lb incriments rather than 5 lbs incriments. Its much easier to find the right weight for you rather than having too little or too much.

Well I am about to invest in these
stamina versa 50 lb adjustable weights. They have an adjustable dial on them.