Which kg weights should I upgrade to?

[Maria53]

I have been lifting 10kg, 5kg dumbbells in each hand since lockdown started. Actually it has been impossible to buy heavier weights

I am mostly managing ok with 5kg, I break a very decent sweat and am totally red faced by the end. But I could lift heavier. I thought of going for 20kg next but that may be too much of a jump?

Should I try 7.5s next?

Anyone? Also what is the reason for using dumbbells versus plates?

Try and get some dumbbells where you can change the weight. I got some from Argos that go up to 12.5kg for about £40 for the pair. That way you won’t need to keep buying to increase weight for a while

It kind of depends what exercises you're doing with the weights, eg my bicep curl goes up slower than my overhead press. And how many reps.

Can you give us an idea of what your routine is?

It depends on the exercise- what exercises are you doing with the dumbbells? I use dumbbells for certain exercises (lateral raises, some shoulder presses, Romanian split squats) and a barbell with plates for others (squat, deadlift, overhead press). Some exercises like deadlifts are pretty much always done with a bar and plates, whereas some can be done with dumbbells if that's what you've got to hand. I highly recommend looking for dumbbell home workouts on YouTube or Instagram to make sure you're getting the most out of them. :)