Loading ...If looking to build your home gym or just want to do a little exercise at home or outside then a must have buy is a set of dumbbells. For just a small amount of money you have a piece of equipment that can be used in or outside of the home, doesn’t take up any room and will work every single muscle in your body.
For those of you who haven’t been introduced to Dumbbells they typically come in various forms. Some come with a small bar and integrated weight on both ends. Some come in one piece form made from foam or plastic. Other types include weights or various size that can be swapped or added on as you wish.
The moulded and integrated dumbbells generally cost less but are sturdy and safe to use. However you can end up buying several pairs of varying weight as your training progresses, which can offset the savings, made initially plus you have more equipment to store and move around. If you train regularly the adjustable sets give you more scope to progress because the weights can increase as you get stronger. The only downside is swapping around the weights between exercises which can take a little extra time.
From a safety perspective always make sure the weights are securely fastened before performing any exercise as the last thing you want is a 5kg weight flying off the bar as you perform a bicep curl or overhead press. When training at home it is easy to not be dressed properly. Always wear suitable footwear because a 5kg dumbbell landing on your exposed foot is not a pleasant experience. When you first start to use free weights I would advise to select a light pair of dumbbels. This allows you to control the weights confidently when performing the exercises. When training with dumbbells for the first time it is normal for your arms to shake or move around as you try to perform an exercise.This is especially common when attempting pressing movements like the dumbbell bench press. After practice you will find this does get easier and after a few weeks you should be able to handle the weights more comfortably. As a final note if your not sure how to perform any exercise please consider investing in some professional fitness adviser to teach you correct technique
The main reason I recommend getting a set of dumbbells is that from a training perspective they offer you so much flexibility and variation. Every single muscle in the body can be trained with just one set of dumbbells due to the masses of various dumbell workouts available. It doesn’t matter if you are complete novice or have been training for years everybody can have a effective and safe workout using dumbbells.
Because a dumbbell is free weight the range of motion you can apply to your exercises allows you to work your muscles far more effectively than say a weight machine. Also by training with free weights such as dumbbells you use so many more muscles during the session meaning that burn up loads of calories while at the same time improve your body’s coordination and functionality.
If you’re a complete beginner I would recommend to start with a small set of dumbbells that range from 2kg –5kg. If your willing to spend a bit more than average then you can get some great adjustable dumbbell sets. The Bowflex Range is a well known adjustable dumbbell set. They come as a pair of dumbbells with a weight range from 2kg-21kg. The great benefit this offers is no more messing about with weights and locks, just a turn of dial and you can go from 4kg to 20kg. The advantages of this are a saving in time as you don’t have to keep changing weights, less storage space required and you have a piece of equipment that will last for a long time. If you are serious with your training and know you would bet value from your investment then these are a good buy. For those of you who are not as committed then these may not be for you.