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Does anyone know what weight dumbells I should start with?

17 replies

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 11:27

On the net it says between 0.5kg to 5kg. I am a beginner to weight training and over 50, however I am fairly strong (mucking out horses twice a day).

I was thinking 2kg to start with?

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 17/05/2020 13:29

It depends what you want to do with them. What are you working on? 2kg is not much heavier than a standard packet of flour, so see what you can do with that and get something heavier if it's too light. It's really hard to tell you what you can cope with without knowing you or what you want to do with them. I use mostly 5-7kg dumbbells and 8-12kg kettlebells but I've been lifting for a couple of years now. You might want to start with bodyweight or resistance bands as then you can vary how hard the exercises are more easily when you're beginning.

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 13:32

Thank you. I want to tone and build muscle in my arms.

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 17/05/2020 13:45

It will vary depending on the exercise you are doing. For example you would be able to use a heavier weight on bicep curls than lateral lifts. Maybe start with a dumbbell tree with a variety of weights 1-5ish kgs. Unfortunately choice is limited and prices are high right now.

dementedpixie · 17/05/2020 13:50

Good luck finding any btw. I would get a mix of heavier and lighter if you can source any

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 15:19

Argos have some.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 17/05/2020 15:24

Well it depends tbh. I don't muck horses out and need a 9kg minimum. Anything lighter is no good.

dementedpixie · 17/05/2020 15:37

Argos may say they have some but when you click on the item it is normally out of stock online and instore

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 16:02

Thanks! Managed to get a 3kg and 4kg pairs. Will see how I get on.

OP posts:
EvenPhilip · 17/05/2020 16:09

Are you following a particular programme OP?
I'm on a bit of a mission myself to 'reshape' Hmm a bit .

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 16:57

I am 50+ so use the Pahla B workouts in YouTube.

OP posts:
Lisette1940 · 17/05/2020 19:03

@Itonyah - thanks for mentioning Pahla B. Great for me!!

ITonyah · 17/05/2020 19:07

She's really great and the progression and levels are easy to follow.

OP posts:
EvenPhilip · 19/05/2020 14:36

Thanks, I shall have look.

Hazelnutlatteplease · 19/05/2020 14:39

At the gym most used 2kg. They started with 1kg and worked up. The instructor and the more experienced used 3-5kg.

I mostly use 2kg sometimes get up to 3kg if im consist and offer drop down to one for anything above my head using my shoulder

Mystraightenersarebroken · 20/05/2020 15:47

Just checking out Pahla B - thanks for suggesting!

oldpaint · 22/05/2020 13:58

For building muscle, and to see results quickly, you need to start using the heaviest weight you can manage a 'set' with. I didn't know that, when I started, and I started using a 2kg dumbbell, but it was too easy. I'm now using dumbbells at 5kg, that's about my max for a set of 10 reps on, say, a single arm tricep extension. You should really find the last rep difficult but still be able to complete the move with good form and without hurting yourself.

For bicep curls, however, the 5kg is quite easy, for me: I could easily move up to a 10kg for a set of ten reps, but there's no way I could do a 10kg x10 reps set of tricep extensions, so I've opted for the 5kg for now. I just increase my reps on a bicep curl set to 20 instead.

It mainly depends on your current level of fitness, and your current muscle mass, though. I don't think 2kg is much use, unless your arms are like twigs. Yeah, good for toning, if you perform a million reps, but rubbish for building. I'd suggest starting with the 5kg, as you've probably already got a good upper body strength if your mucking out horses, hefting hay bales, etc.

I also think you're better off going through the whole range of exercises you'll be doing, first, with the heavier weight, and if you find one of the exercises more difficult than the others, use the hardest to perform exercise as your base point. Take off a kilo, maybe two, if the weight is too heavy, and then strengthen the 'weakest' muscle first, so to speak.

I also think you're better off buying a set of bar and lock type dumbbells, and then you can always add/buy more plates later, and increase the weight easier, rather than buy one of those 'cutsie' rainbow coloured 'fixed' weight sets which might be too light and which are quite expensive.

In a few weeks, I'll be increasing my dumbbell weight to 7kgs. It gets easier, quickly. And my arms? They make men weep bitter tears of jealousy. I am struggling, though, to buy jackets: the arms are just not big enough, these days.

EvenPhilip · 22/05/2020 15:12

@oldpaint How long has that taken and following what regime?💪

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