Q&A for How to Work out With Dumbbells

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How long does it take to become muscular?
    Lachlann
    Community Answer
    If you are doing everything right (for example, doing muscle exercises for half an hour 3-5 days a week, eating well and getting plenty of sleep), it can usually take about 1-2 months before your muscles become bigger and stronger. But this can vary between people. Everyone's different.
  • Question
    I only have one dumbbell. Can I just switch back and forth?
    Community Answer
    Yes, of course. Just remember to alternate evenly.
  • Question
    Is it okay if I do all groups of muscles in the same session?
    Community Answer
    Full body workouts will only be effective if you are training no more than 3 times a week, doing 1 exercise per muscle group (3 - 4 sets per group), with mostly compound movements.
  • Question
    I am 69 and have lost muscle in my arms. I would love to try build it back up, and I bought dumbbells. What exercises can I do?
    Community Answer
    Start off slow and work your way up. If you have lost a lot of strenght in your arms, be carful as you may easily injure yourself. Start with some bicep curls, overhead presses, upright rows, overhead triceps extensions, bent-over rows, and skull crushers.
  • Question
    I am 15. Does working out affect my growth?
    Community Answer
    It does not. The notion that weight training is connected to stunted growth is only a myth.
  • Question
    Is protein required for bodybuilding?
    Community Answer
    Yes. You have to have protein for muscles to grow. You can supply enough protein through eating the right food, but you may also use powder supplements.
  • Question
    How should I breathe when lifting?
    Community Answer
    Breathe in when lifting the weight, and breathe out when putting it back in starting position.
  • Question
    What is the best method to use to make the upper arm slimmer without building muscles?
    Community Answer
    Your upper arm can be made slimmer by burning off fat or muscle. This is best addressed by performing a high number of reps in about 3 sets, combined with eating fewer in order to obtain a caloric deficit.
  • Question
    If I want to use powder supplements, which ones are the best?
    Community Answer
    It's important not to rely too much on any form of supplement, as you can consume the target nutrients with eating the right foods. However, if you want to increase protein consumption, look at whey protein powder. If your body does not agree with it, try other substitutes, such as pea or soy protein. Other supplements would include BCAA's.
  • Question
    How often do you have to do these workouts?
    Community Answer
    3 times per week is enough. Remember to work out different groups of muscles every session.
  • Question
    What are the best exercises to get rid of love handles?
    Community Answer
    I can tell you from experience, many years of boxing, bodybuilding and getting extremely fit, that there is really no such thing as targeting a specific area of fat. You can not target belly fat or leg fat etc. You can only work to lose body fat and it will melt off of your body in the order your body puts on/stores fat. I can tell you that the love handles were the very last to go for me when I was super fit. I was strong at 177lbs and 4.5% body fat, I had an 8 pack and yet I still had a little bulge on the love handle area. If you want to reduce your love handles you basically just need to focus on working out and calorie control. There's no magic answer.
  • Question
    Should my muscles be sore the next day? Is it ok if they are not?
    Tom De Backer
    Top Answerer
    They do not have to be sore. It's a myth that it's not a good workout unless it hurts, or "if you can still walk, you didn't work out hard enough". You should push yourself, but never to the point when it hurts. As soon as you feel pain, stop, then treat the pain and rest a few days until you have recovered. Sure, your muscles can be a bit sore, but it is definitely not a requirement.
  • Question
    Will carrying dumbbells affect my height?
    Community Answer
    Unless you have not hit puberty yet, then using dumbbells should not affect your height.
  • Question
    How do I increase my size when I'm lean and using dumbbells?
    Community Answer
    To increase your size, you have to increase your calories intake. Eat more food, especially protein and carbohydrates. Training will break down muscle fibers, you need food to repair and rebuild your muscles.
  • Question
    Do supplements pose any negative side effects to my body, especially my reproductive system?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the supplements, but certain supplements can definitely have negative side effects, so I would talk with your doctor before beginning any supplements.
  • Question
    Can I take protein and work out if I'm 13 years old?
    Community Answer
    At 13 years old, it would be a good idea to start training, especially if you want to start outperforming others in sports. As far as having protein supplements...I would suggest you wait until later in high school before implementing them. Simply having a healthy diet as a younger teenager will be sufficient. Eat carbs and lean protein to get big.
  • Question
    Does weight of dumbbells matter much because I have 5kg dumbbells and I am just increasing the repetition numbers. Is it OK?
    Community Answer
    That's perfect. In fact, the military trains in a similar manner. Increasing your rep numbers will help increase your muscular endurance but you will not see a significant increase in muscle mass or strength.
  • Question
    Can I do those exercises with dumbbells from 6kg? I have a herniated disc on the neck and I want to strengthen my muscles, especially that parts around neck (traps,shoulders).
    Community Answer
    If your herniated disc is not fully healed, strictly avoid any strength training that might bear a load on your spine. Talk to your physical therapist about the right approach to recovery for your particular injury.
  • Question
    How many sets should I do with the dumbbells and how long should I wait between sets?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    It depends on your goals. If you want to build strength, then stick to maybe 5 sets of 5 or 3 sets of 5 reps, and wait between one and a half and five minutes between sets. If you want to build muscle mass, increase reps and rest for shorter times.
  • Question
    Is it safe to lift weights with a hernia?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely not! It is very harmful. Even after you are recovered, wait a month or two before lifting weights again and only do so on your doctor's advice.
  • Question
    You say that we should do 2-3 sets of each exercise. Do these sets have to be done one after another with a break in-between? Or can we do 1 set of each exercise one after another and repeat?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    I would reccomend performing 2-3 sets of each exercise with a break in between each set, about a minutes' rest between sets. you could also do what you've described as doing one set of each exercise after the other, this will get your heart rate up but make sure to take at least a 2 minute break after the circuit. but again, I would reccomend the first method.
  • Question
    I have been advised to do weight bearing exercises following hip replacement and a fractured pelvis, in order to help with osteopenia and increase bone density. What should I do?
    Mzm555
    Top Answerer
    In this case, you should definitely be consulting a professional for this advice - either your doctor, a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, rehabilitation specialist, or other suitably experienced and qualified medical professional should be sought out before attempting any sort of exercise, especially following surgery.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article