Q&A for How to Work Out at Home Using Hand Weights

One way is to hold one or two dumbbells at chest height while doing crunches. The "Straight Arm pullover" described above, can work the abs, especially if you raise your legs up to meet the dumbbells as the arms pull the dumbbells from overhead to above the chest.

Cardio will burn fat overall, and arm exercises will build muscle and tone which will improve the shape of your arms.

Aim to do exercises for all the major muscle groups: bent over rows for the back, held dumbbell lunges for the legs and gluteals, overhead press for the shoulders, and pec flyes for the chest. Build on those to add variety and work the smaller muscles.

Yes, you can build muscle using the resistance of your own body weight, as with pushups, lunges, squats and calf raises, to name a few exercises.

Yes, the pectorals help support your body weight in the plank exercise, which means you're working them as you perform planks.

The bench press or dumbbell presses and pec flyes are the most effective exercises for working the pectoral muscles.

You can develop your pecs by following a specific exercise plan of weight lifting, bench presses, pec flyes, and push ups, in combination with a healthy diet containing sufficient protein to build muscle.

Milk jugs, laundry detergent containers filled with sand or water, or even cans can be useful weights.

At least 150 minutes of exercise per week is recommended. You should distribute this time evenly by exercising regularly. Exercising 5-6 days a week is ideal.

No, they should have no impact on height whatsoever.

Squeeze in small exercises when you can. If you're stuck on a homework problem or don't know what to write next, just do some short but intense sets.

It depends on you. Pick something light enough to lift, but heavy enough to make you work.

Exercising your hands can help with your forearms. The tendons in your hands are connected to muscles in your forearms, the grips that you squeeze in your hands or simply squeezing a hi-bounce ball (most commonly used for handball) can help you with this.

Weight lifting and exercise won't target fat in a particular area. Spot reduction in weight loss is a myth. Weight lifting regimens that are core-strengthening will help with your abdominal area and leave you with nice looking abs, but you might need to lose some weight first. I'd recommend you start with doing some cardio.

Normally, exercise is split between different body areas, then alternated every other day. This allows the muscles to rest and grow larger.

Lie flat on your back, holding a 10 lb dumbell in each hand straight behind you on the floor (like you would to start floor pullovers, only just keep them on the floor to stabilize your torso). Now, lift both feet about one foot off the floor and, holding them together, do figure 8's with your feet. Since this is not a 'weight lifting' exercise, you can pretty much do them every day.

Do high knees and hold at the highest for three seconds. It will really help your leg and thigh muscles. You can also do squats, lunges, or leg lifts.

No, you will only stress your muscles and make them more sore. Your arm tendons are connected to your neck tendons, and if you try to work out, you will only make the pain worse.

I would advise squats using body weight first, then small weights. Cycling is also good.

Yes, because this would build up your abdomen muscles. Perform this exercise by only using one dumbbell or weight plate, holding it in the center of your chest. This is even more effective on an inclined sit-up bench.

Lifting heavy weights or running marathons might not be a good idea if you have significant disc degeneration or many DDD symptoms. Instead, your goal should be doing regular, moderate exercise, which will help strengthen your muscles, bones, and joints.