Dumb bells

[flabbyflabbyflabguts]

I'm lucky enough to own some dumb bells, which I've had for a year or so. I have 10,15, 3 and 5 kg. I don't have the ones with plates, just solid dumb bells.

I've been putting the 10 and 15 I'd dumb bells together in each hand, by crossing one over the other, to equal 25 kg in each hand for dead lifts and squats. What can I do to increase the load on my muscles apart from more reps? If I put the smaller weights in a rucksack, would that work without affecting form?

Do you have resistance bands?

You can incorporate them to make your weights harder to lift.

I do, yes! Thank you, that's very helpful

Slow down the eccentric phase - it loads up the muscle.

E.g.: Squat: 3 seconds down; hold at the bottom for 2 seconds; come up in 1 second
Bent over row: Take 3-5 seconds to lift the weight, release in 1 second
Chest press: Take 3-5 seconds (or longer) to lift, release back in 1 second

Slowing down makes it really, really hard...