Dumbbells Are Your Smartest Choice

I’ve never understood why they call them “dumbbells”. These little bars that come with plates secured to the ends of them in various sizes and weights are the most practical and efficient way to work out any muscle group in the body. Whether you’re in a crowded gym, or at home on the couch, you can do a simple, quick set of curls, extensions or raises anytime. You can keep your sophisticated health club machines, I’ll stick with the basics.  Here’s why dumbbells are your wisest choice in workout equipment.

Dumbbells force you to use better form. Working with expensive specialized equipment doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a successful workout, especially if your form sucks. With a dumbbell in each hand, you can better feel the impact of the weights on individual muscles. You can also get a better perception of whether you are executing each rep of each set properly. Dumbbells are great for basic exercises as well as isolation movements where you want to target a specific muscle. Sure, if you’re an Olympic power lifter requiring hundreds of pounds to lift, dumbbells may not suit you, but I’d say 90% of all fitness enthusiasts can do everything they need with dumbbells.

Dumbbells are more practical and cost efficient. If you’re working out at home all you need is an adjustable bench and a few sets of dumbbells. Cost: $100 or less if you find a decent used set. You can store them under a bed or in a closet easily and whip them out at any time for quick access. In a crowded commercial gym, all you need is to grab your dumbbells and find a small space or corner to do your thing.

Using dumbbells can give you a great cardiovascular workout. Yes, if you use lighter weights and do faster reps, you can easily get your heart rate up into the target zone. Once you get it there, go from set to set with little rest to keep that heart pumping. Anyone who does circuit training where you combine cardio with weights will tell you how invaluable dumbbells are to their program!

With dumbbells you are capable of anything because they are really versatile! If it’s shoulders you’re working, try dumbbell military presses and front and side raises. You can perform many different types of curls and extensions for biceps and triceps. Any chest or back workout should include flat and incline dumbbell bench presses and one arm dumbbell rows as well as shrugs. There are also myriads of different kinds of squats and lunges you can perform with dumbbells for butt and legs.

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2018/10/16/dumbbells-are-your-smartest-choice/