All dumbbell workout

[bentleyjazzie]

Hi everyone,

I do pretty much an exclusively all dumbbell workout, with the exception of maybe one or two barbell exercises, in which I use my cheap WalMart dumbbell.
Does anyone else do an all dumbbell workout? What do you guys think of this type of exercise regimen?
Thanks.

[dazlittle]

Weight is weight as long as you have heavy enough dumbells to tax you then you should make decent progress. There are of course exercises that you can't really do without barbells like deadlifts and squats but you can do a bastardised version of them if thats all you have access to.

[DubfromGA]

On days when I train chest using the gym at work, I will mainly do this. Our bench is in a narrow cage and I can't get my grip wide enough.

I'll warm up and do sets with 225 on the bb bench and then move over to the db area for the real workout.

[ironwill2008]

Does anyone else do an all dumbbell workout? What do you guys think of this type of exercise regimen?

Why limit yourself to such a narrow range of training options? If it's economics, I guess that's understandable, but otherwise, you're cutting yourself out of additional potential growth.

[Old School]

I have just been using my powerblocks at home for the last few months, I can get a real good workout in with just them and an adjustable bench.

[keyboardworkout]

Dumbbell Goblet Squats offer a good way to work the legs if thats all you have access to or if you don't have a power rack to safely squat in. Achieving a 1/2 bodyweight Goblet Squat for 10 reps is respectable.

http://www.dieselcrew.com/killer-goblet-squats

http://www.dieselsc.com/diesel-stren...weight-entries

[PumpMachine123]

I dunno about this, i think its good to alternate between the two eg. on my chest days, i have 4 different orders for incline and flat

1: Incline DB first Flat BB second
2: Flat DB First Incline BB second
3 Incline BB first Flat DB second
4 Flat BB first Incline DB second


This keeps by body guessing, as i can go heavier with a barbell, it doesnt know what area of the chest is going to go heavy and what is focusing on balance on which day or whats going to go first, therefore im always shocking the muscle to promote damage and growth as quickly as possible

[hardball]

Hi everyone,

I do pretty much an exclusively all dumbbell workout, with the exception of maybe one or two barbell exercises, in which I use my cheap WalMart dumbbell.
Does anyone else do an all dumbbell workout? What do you guys think of this type of exercise regimen?
Thanks.

I use DB only when working out at home because I exercise alone in my garage. I use them for the safety aspect because I can always drop them to the side or forward. When I can make it in the local gym then I will try to use BB because of safety features (smith, rack or as much as I hate to say it a machine) You have to decide what works for you and under what conditions you have to workout. Good luck

[ljimd]

Weight is weight, but it can limit you.

[Benjarmin]

You can do a lot with just dumbbells as long as they're heavy enough for you. As above, if it's economics, don't forget body weight exercises. Dips and chins would be a cheap way to improve your workouts. If not, a little investment now would pay dividends.

[MontyMagpie]

Hi everyone,

I do pretty much an exclusively all dumbbell workout, with the exception of maybe one or two barbell exercises, in which I use my cheap WalMart dumbbell.
Does anyone else do an all dumbbell workout? What do you guys think of this type of exercise regimen?
Thanks.

I like doing dumbbells for arms and shoulders (laterals and dumbell presses etc), bent over rows. As someone said weight is weight as long as you are progressing along with bigger and bigger dumbells.

[MontyMagpie]

Weight is weight, but it can limit you.

I fail to see how it can limit you, if you keep adding weight. Plus you can get more range of motion with dumbbells. It has it's advantages of several types of grip including neutral and the ability to rotate it in motion a la Arnold Press.

[ljimd]

I fail to see how it can limit you, if you keep adding weight. Plus you can get more range of motion with dumbbells. It has it's advantages of several types of grip including neutral and the ability to rotate it in motion a la Arnold Press.

Heavy squats and deadlifts tend to be awkward with DB's IMO. Positioning hvy db's for bp's and inclines can get difficult without a spotter. Sure, you can w/o with buckets of sand or concrete blocks, but why would you? But then again, if you have the proper mindset, it shouldn't matter, right Monty?

[bigtallox]

Does anyone else do an all dumbbell workout?

Nope, it'd never happen for me. Good luck with that though.

[bigtallox]

Why limit yourself to such a narrow range of training options?

See, even ironwill and I agree on this. Exactly, why limit yourself?

[vms4evr]

I'm doing a DB only workout routine as far as free weights. However I'm doing a lot of chin/pull ups and several variations of push ups and ab crunches. Then a couple of days of cardio work. I'm getting a little bigger, much leaner and a fair bit stronger. I'm happy with my progress and feel much better. I'm not looking for big gains and am not supposed to be doing squats. So working within my limits. I can see how if you want bigger gains you'll need to push big weights and then DBs would get sketchy trying to balance them at heavier weights. I use a pair of adjustables that go from 5 - 25lbs. Then an extra one that I use 35-50lbs for a couple of single arm movements.

[MontyMagpie]

I'm doing a DB only workout routine as far as free weights. However I'm doing a lot of chin/pull ups and several variations of push ups and ab crunches. Then a couple of days of cardio work. I'm getting a little bigger, much leaner and a fair bit stronger. I'm happy with my progress and feel much better. I'm not looking for big gains and am not supposed to be doing squats. So working within my limits. I can see how if you want bigger gains you'll need to push big weights and then DBs would get sketchy trying to balance them at heavier weights. I use a pair of adjustables that go from 5 - 25lbs. Then an extra one that I use 35-50lbs for a couple of single arm movements.

You'll need more weight as you progress. For instance I do 50Kg dumbbell bench press and 35K dumbbell shoulder presses. You shouldn't have any problems handling the weight you suggest. For heavy weight dumbbells, what you can do is use your knees against the weight to support the weight as you lean back on the bench.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=622ku8i0M14

[GuyJin]

OP, if d'bells are all you got then you have to make do. (If you have the cash to go to a gym, then I would suggest that).

I work out with kettlebells due to financial constraints and while I would rather go to a gym, I can get in a really solid workout with them. I have two 16-kilo 'bells and two 24-kilo ones, which translates to 35 and 53 pounds respectively. I also have some other, lighter d'bells (regular ones) which I strap on my wrists. (Awkward, but it works). I can do lunges, presses, calf raises, shrugs, rows of all sorts, pullovers, front squats (very awkward) and high-rep regular squats. Also stiff-leg deads and some other exercises. Granted, it's more than a little difficult to do deadlifts and since I don't have a dip bar handy, I have to make do with pushups.

If you have the adjustable plate-loaded d'bells, just buy more plates. However, as someone mentioned earlier, if you can go to the gym, then go.

[MichaelCJ]

Yeah, a gym can be pretty handy (unless you have the most specced out home gym, I guess) in lots of ways. Do you have some kind of community gym anywhere nearby? If so, and particularly if money's a bit tight, maybe check one out. I go three times a week, and all in all, it costs me less than $5 a week! Can't complain, eh? Maybe it won't be that cheap, but you never know.