Barbells...
- Thread starter Dsha
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fit_fairy
Cathlete
I think it depends on what level you are lifting at. If you are a ,absolutely YES, you can get good results with DB. But as you progess with the wt it gets hard to do certain things with DB. For instance squats become difficult once you get much past 15# DBs in each hand. Bench press gets more difficult with heavier DBs. So the answer is it just depends on you and your goals. How heavy do you want to lift etc. You can do alot with DBs but at some point you may want a BB.
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A
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This is a great question.
I have dumbbells only, and have no plans of buying a barbell at this time.
Cathe says it is fine to substitute dumbbells for barbells if we do not have one or the other. I wrote to her about this.
Good luck!
"Life is too short - Be the best you can be every single day!"
I have dumbbells only, and have no plans of buying a barbell at this time.
Cathe says it is fine to substitute dumbbells for barbells if we do not have one or the other. I wrote to her about this.
Good luck!
"Life is too short - Be the best you can be every single day!"
kathryn
Cathlete
I think many exercises are actually better with dumbbells than a bar, because both sides are worked equally, and more stabilizing muscles are called into play.
(I just read in FitnessRX for Women that dumbells bench presses make more attractive chest and front shoulder muscles than do bar presses, but it was a passing comment, with absolutely no justification given.)
I agree that there are challenges using dumbbells for squats and lunges: like where the weight is held for best balance and comfort. When I squat with dumbbells, I prefer holding the dumbbells right in front of my shoulders, like at the top of an extended hammer curl. Holding them to the sides is another option, but it can make one tend to round over. And holding them ON the shoulders is something done in Firm workouts, but that I find rather painful.
Another option: use the dumbbells, and add either a weighted vest or weight belt (www.ironwear.com has some 5# each ankle weights that can be attached for a 10# weight belt. They also sell weight vests. And the flexible weights fit both.)
(I just read in FitnessRX for Women that dumbells bench presses make more attractive chest and front shoulder muscles than do bar presses, but it was a passing comment, with absolutely no justification given.)
I agree that there are challenges using dumbbells for squats and lunges: like where the weight is held for best balance and comfort. When I squat with dumbbells, I prefer holding the dumbbells right in front of my shoulders, like at the top of an extended hammer curl. Holding them to the sides is another option, but it can make one tend to round over. And holding them ON the shoulders is something done in Firm workouts, but that I find rather painful.
Another option: use the dumbbells, and add either a weighted vest or weight belt (www.ironwear.com has some 5# each ankle weights that can be attached for a 10# weight belt. They also sell weight vests. And the flexible weights fit both.)
fit_fairy
Cathlete
I don't have a bench rack either (plan to get one). I have a harder time holding heavier dumbells 25# and > to do BP. But I can the BB without any problem. I do have DH spot me when I am going 60# or > though
Of course as Kathryn said DB make it harder to cheat on certain exercises like BP. And you do have to stabilize more which means you are working a bit harder with DB sometimes.
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Of course as Kathryn said DB make it harder to cheat on certain exercises like BP. And you do have to stabilize more which means you are working a bit harder with DB sometimes.
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