What do you do when you get to the max of the weight you want to lift? I can see continuing to add weight to the bar bells, but with dumbbells I'm pretty happy with my 25 pounders. I don't have any desire to go heavier than that. So what do you do when you reach a weight that is pretty much your max? I'm not a guy, so curling more than 25 pounds on a dumbbell just doesn't appeal to me.
Now the barbell...that's a different story. Just how much can I bench press?
If you don't want to lift anymore than that, then you don't? Or switch exercises?
I don't know, I'm a fan of compound exercises so I don't do bicep curls or anything like that. For the weights I do use (barbells, body weight), I just keep increasing. At some point, my body will not be able to do anymore or increases will be incredibly slight.
I guess you can always do more reps? Until your workouts get too long. Like if you lift 25 lbs for 3 sets of 10 reps you could move up to 12 of 15 reps per set. Or you could try variations that target the same muscle groups but that you're not as good at. I can think of three ways you can do bicep curls, three ways to hit your triceps, etc. If you're only doing one of the types now you could switch to half normal and half a variation.
I asked a guy at the gym today, but he just didn't get it. He kept telling me "You're not going to bulk up. You have too much estrogen." I tried to explain that isn't what I mean and I know that.
My routine is to increase the reps, increase the weight, increase the reps, etc. I've been doing this a year now and on SOME exercises I feel like I have maxed out. On the machines, I can continue adding, adding, adding. Bench press, sure! More pull ups? Absolutely. There's just something about dumb bells for smaller muscle groups like my shoulders or for hammer curls and the like. I don't feel the need to lift heavier than 25 lb dumb bells. They're heavy! They're hard to hold. They hurt my hands. My hands aren't strong enough for much more than that. And moving from 25 pounds to 30 pounds is a huge jump!
I think my answer is to just keep changing up what I do.
I don't feel the need to lift heavier than 25 lb dumb bells. They're heavy! They're hard to hold. They hurt my hands. My hands aren't strong enough for much more than that. And moving from 25 pounds to 30 pounds is a huge jump!
I think my answer is to just keep changing up what I do.
I know we've talked in my "hands hurting" thread about this a little, Eliana, but I hope you mention if/when you find a solution.
The gaps in dumbbell weights are SO annoying to me! I know it's not practical to have weights go up in pound increments, but right now I can do 12 lb dumbbells for squats, but not 15. I'm pretty sure I could do 7lbs for lateral delt raises, but forget about those 8s!
I know we've talked in my "hands hurting" thread about this a little, Eliana, but I hope you mention if/when you find a solution.
The gaps in dumbbell weights are SO annoying to me! I know it's not practical to have weights go up in pound increments, but right now I can do 12 lb dumbbells for squats, but not 15. I'm pretty sure I could do 7lbs for lateral delt raises, but forget about those 8s!
I brought that up with this guy too and he looked at me like I had three heads! His look said, "What are you talking about? It's five pounds?" But 5 pounds is a lot when you're talking about smaller muscle groups. My old gym, most machines increased in 1-2 pound increments. Only the leg equipment increased by 5.
Of course I have to consider the source. This guy is built like an NFL football player, and is a football coach. That's why I went to him...I thought he'd know a thing or two about it. No, he just things more is better.
I have a set of Plate Mates (tm), "donut" or hex-shaped weights in 1.25 and 2.5 pound increments. Each weight has a set of super-strong magnets on one side so that they can be attached to "regular" dumbbells. (You can attach just one, giving a minimum of 1.25 lb jump, although this throws off the balance of the dumbbell a bit.) I've never had one come off while I'm lifting, even in explosive dumbbell lifts like one-handed snatches.
I bought a set for my home gym, because I only wanted to buy regular dumbbells in 10-pound increments. But, I've seen people bring plate mates to the gym in their gym bag. You might even ask an accommodating gym owner to purchase a set for everyone to use -- they aren't that expensive, although I suppose they are small enough to "walk away."
Plate Mates are available on Amazon, but I didn't put the link because I don't know if it's OK per 3FC rules. No affiliation, blah blah blah.
We have three types of DBs at my gymn. They're all in kilograms. 1kg = 2.2lbs
The hulking great big ones go up in 5kg (from 5kg to ?) More or less like this.
The silver ones go up in 1kg (from 1kg to 10kg; 2.2lbs to 22lbs)
The coloured ones with fuzzy covering go up in 1kg (from 1kg to 4kg).
I like the silvers because they give a lot of flexibility. They are also leaner than the hulking great big ones so I don't bang them as easily on my hulking great big thighs.
I think I remember Mel talking about magnetic weights (a pound or two in weight) which you can attach to produce the weight you'd like. It was in a thread years ago and the problem got a decent airing. You're not alone.
Last edited by silverbirch; 03-11-2011 at 03:50 PM.
Hi Eliana: I understand what you are describing. It can be a big adjustment going to the next five pound increment. The type of dumb bell you are using can also make a difference in grip. I prefer football handle grips and feel they are much more secure in my hands.
It may be helpful to use magnetic weights with the dumb bells. I've provided a link to some from Perform Better. But there are other versions of these elsewhere if you shop around.
I also agree that there is a point where the goal for the next sized dumb bell is not a priority. If you have found a range of strength that has made you satisfied then look into other ways of training that muscle group. I would suggest adding flat bands into your training. It just adds another dimension and keeps the workouts interesting.
And yes, doing a pushup with these bands is sadistic fun.
May I suggest the monster black mini...
You have the correct idea of changing reps and set schemes. Also consider changing the rotation of your workouts. Make sure that you are not always placing maybe the chest press first or the pullup first. Try working the chest in another way like maybe cable fly, followed by a lat exercise then add the chest press...those dumb bells are going to feel a whole lot more challenging if they are introduced in a new place of your workout.
Maxed out on weight
Just how much can I bench press? 
