Dumbbells - how heavy for home workouts?

[Yourownpersonaljesus]

What weight would you recommend for a beginner (me) and intermediate (DD)? I've been doing Team Body Project workouts on YouTube for the last two months after 20 years of no exercise at all!

If you're planning on sticking with TBP, Alex uses very light weights ive noticed, I think they could only be 1kg dumbbells.

I tend not to use weights when I TBP, and just do the movements as I do Les Mills BodyPump for strength exercise. My dumbbells are 2kg and my kettlebell is 4kg.

I’d say 3kg for dumbbells and 4kg for a kettlebell for you. 5kg dumbbells and 6kg kettlebell for your daughter

I use 3kg and I do Davina Mccall. I would start with 2kg if you're a beginner though

Thanks very much for the quick replies. I do love TBT so I'm sure I'll stick with them. I probably won't use the weights for every workout.

Not enough information to answer because it depends on what exercises you have planned. For example a beginner might struggle to complete tricep kickbacks using 3kg dumbells but find 5kg dumbells too light for lunges, single arm rows and shoulder press etc. A big mistake a lot of people make is using the same weights for every exercise.

As there will be two of you I recommend going halves on a set of a used set of dumbells form Ebay or Facebook. Perhaps something like 2kg,4kg,6kg and 8kg dumbells or whatever you can find in your area. Yes it will cost a little bit more but you will get so much more out of your session by using an appropriate resistance for your various exercises.

Best of luck in your training goals.

Dawnlassie thanks for the very detailed reply. As a beginner I have no idea what the exercises are called! I just follow the Team Body Project instructors! DD doesn't live with me - she's away at university. If I was to just buy one set for myself to start with what would you recommend?

Sorry I have not heard of TBP training. If anybody else can list the exercises in the routine I am happy to make an educated guess.

I think Alex uses 1kg-3kg. Daniel often uses much heavier. Which TBP workouts are you doing? I’ve been doing their workouts for over four years and still love them!

@Todayisanewday75

I think Alex uses 1kg-3kg. Daniel often uses much heavier. Which TBP workouts are you doing? I’ve been doing their workouts for over four years and still love them!

Basically all of the free beginner workouts I can find on you tube. Found this one yesterday - it's my new favourite!

@Yourownpersonaljesus I use 2kg for that one. You should check out their website, that workout is part of the Energise plan that they brought out during lockdown, all low impact and standing, I did it three times through. I think you can get a weeks free trial

I do online weight training with fitness blender and you do get stronger quite quickly so worth getting a range. I have 1kg (which I don’t really use any more apart from this one killer exercise with outstretched arms that goes on forever!), 3kg which I use for triceps and lateral raises, and 5kg which I use for shoulders and squats. The 5kg is a bit light for squats now so I’m looking for an 8kg one. I also have a 10kg kettlebell but it’s a bit heavy - I’m working up to that one.

It’s really hard to find dumbbells and kettlebells at the moment though. If you see any in stock for a reasonable price let me know!

Start with 2-3kg for you and then add. You'll need a range for different exercises.

I use mostly 7kg and 10kg but I've been exercising at home for years. I do drop down to 5/6kg for some stuff.

I am and have desperately been trying to get some heavier stuff for months but can't. Lighter weights are easier to pick up but people who are missing the gym snapped up all the serious weights and they're like hen's teeth.

Remember the golden rule low (weight) and slow (movement).

@Hobbes8 have you got a chin up bar? I use that as much as I use weights and it does provide a good workout and is surprisingly versatile.

@ShowOfHands I’m both weak and heavy and couldn’t do a chin up to save my life! Perhaps I’ll work up to it...

Thanks so much for your really helpful replies everyone.

Good luck in finding dumbells, I have been looking for 10 and 12 kg and they are either out of stock or the price of a small house

I agree I use 3kg and 5kg in my workout depending on what it is. I would always use 5kg if I just have one weight etc and how I am feeling. I use 1/2kg weights if doing as an addition for a dance/cardio workout

I would get a set

There is one exercise in Shred that I can only do using baked bean cans (a lateral rise maybe...?) Once I've been doing it for a few weeks I do manage move up to an actual dumbbell though.

If you have nothing else and only need a light weight, don't dismiss your kitchen cupboard!

I agree that different exercises need different weights.

I have just ordered some 2kg dumbbells from John Lewis to start with. I'll see how I get on with them. Thanks again everyone.

Soupy is right. If you haven't got a small weight, tins, bottles of waters etc are a good substitute for beginners. And important that you have somewhere to go because you do something like a lateral raise with too heavy weights and you risk really hurting yourself. Plus you need heavier ones in the other direction because you do an upright row with a tin of beans and you won't feel a thing.

Chin up bars are great and if you use a chair, you can start small and build up. They're infinitely easier to get hold of than weights right now too.

@ShowOfHands how do you start small and build up with a chin up bar? I’d always assumed that you had to lift your whole body weight, which I can’t do.

There are loads of things you can do (Google will link you to progressive work). But for example, using a chair you can raise yourself up to put your chin above the bar and hold yourself there, increasing time each time. You can start with your chin over the bar and lower as slowly as you can and repeat. Use a chair to start with arms bent and aim to raise just an inch. Just hang with arms straight. Hang with arms straight and do leg raises. Hang with arms straight and do shoulder and back tenses and twists. Hang with arms straight and swap hands/change position. You can get special resistance bands to take some of your weight too so you can build up or ask a family member to provide support.

They're way more versatile than you'd think!

I’ve bought weights from Fitness Superstore, they had some today (I was buying a mat, I have enough weights). Their customer service lady was lovely when I spoke to her.

I see what you mean about using different weights for different exercises now. I did a TBT workout with lots of upper body work today and found some exercises quite easy and some much more challenging. I used the 2.5lb (just over a kilo) weights that I already have.