Let's talk weights

Let's talk weights

I am not talking about your physical weight. 

Let's talk dumbbells. 

So many questions 

Have you ever felt confused, wondering "which one do I use? Do I go light or heavy? Do I use it for 30 seconds or 1 minute? How many repetitions do I do?" So many concerns and too much influence from social media giving inconsistent information.

Are you feeling the same way?

Well, let me make this easier for you by telling you my story of how I came to understanding dumbbells. As a newbie, knowing nothing about using weights, I grabbed a weight and then used it until I felt my muscles hurting. Then, I put it down and moved on to the next workout. 

Can anyone relate to this? 

Well,  apparently I was doing it wrong. Who knew that it was more complex than that? I certainly didn't. Fortunately, I had my fiancé, who is a personal trainer, and he guided me and showed me how to properly use a dumbbell.

Quick note- if you are a beginner to lifting weights, then absolutely start light and work your way up to heavy. Never, I mean NEVER go straight to heavy. You can seriously injure yourself if you do that. 

Now, the first thing I learned was to let go of my ego and stop trying to lift heavy when I am not using it properly.

Second, less weight and more repetition is the best way for me to really put my muscle under tension and work it until failure. You may be like me, or you may be the opposite and like to lift heavier weight with and fewer reps. Do what feels best for you and, again, understand that heavy doesn't always mean better.

I sometimes even use bottled water or cranberry juice as an alternative to a dumbbell, and it can still give you an amazing workout as long as you are contracting the muscle you are trying to work.

It is heavier than It looks LOL

Third, please do research or talk to personal trainers (NOT JUST ANYONE AT THE GYM) they may know just as much as you do. Don't be afraid to ask questions from the professionals. They are there to help you learn, to prevent injuries, and to perform each workout correctly. I have seen so many people who are too stubborn and unwilling to ask questions and learn proper technique. That is why there are so many people who have shoulder or knee surgeries every year. 

Fourth, when you are doing any type of weight lifting, ALWAYS tighten your abs. It is the core foundation to everything, and it will prevent injuries to your back. Once you have your abs tightened, then focus your mind on the muscle you are trying to work. I cannot tell you how much of a difference it makes when you are focused on the muscle you are targeting.

 Your mind and body are connected!

Finally, know your limits. If you can't do the exercise with proper form, just don't do it. 

It is ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH IT!

I hope that this helps you understand more about using dumbbells. If you have any other questions regarding dumbbells, please feel free to ask in the comments below!