[alozcarney]

Can you work out most/all of your major muscle groups with just dumbbells (except legs)? I was thinking of working out but was wondering whether I should pay for a gym membership and drive out there three times a week or just workout at home. I am not training to be a heavyweight champion and just want a good workout.
https://fitnessgeko.com/fitness/powe...ll-set-review/

[IndotagSwizz]

Originally Posted by alozcarney

Can you work out most/all of your major muscle groups with just dumbbells (except legs)? I was thinking of working out, but was wondering whether I should pay for gym membership and drive out there three times a week or just workout at home. I am not training to be a heavyweight champion, and just want a good workout.

you can def work out all your muscles with dumbbells including legs, and for a beginner that's more than enough, look up youtube videos, check out "Athlean X"

[eatsleepboost]

Yea u can. I would still suggest going to a gym though. How far is the drive? Most health insurance companies will reimburse membership costs.

[Wolf 335]

You can definitely do it. Sometimes there will be a lack of motivation.

You can try P90X, I've tried it and it was pretty good. I only did a month and a half as I got bored of it.

Now I have a gym membership and weights at home. I alternate to keep things interesting.

[JP10]

Yeah you can get a full body workout at home w/ dumbbells, including legs! You better not be one of those guys that refuses to workout legs, most important part to increasing general health in my opinion.

As others have mentioned a lack of motivation is often associated. Also, at least in my case, I tend to make more excuses if I am working out at home. More distractions also(dogs/girlfriend). I push myself much more at the gym compared to at home, not intentially, just the way of the road.

[Hawkeye]

For the OP - you definitely can get a great workout with only dumbells or bodyweight if you are not looking to maximize strength.
Most people like a gym because it is easier to get motivated to do something, as opposed to a home gym. I am one of those people.

Originally Posted by eatsleepboost

Yea u can. I would still suggest going to a gym though. How far is the drive? Most health insurance companies will reimburse membership costs.

I wish this was true... but *most* health insurance companies do not reimburse membership costs. There may be a small financial kickback, but definitely not a reimbursement of costs.

[ScottSinger]

For legs you can do dumbbells squats and standing calf raises and get significant results.

Overhead press I've seen described as "possibly the best upper body workout..."

You don't need to buy a bench.

Do those exercise outside in fresh-air and really feel pumped.

[scotty91ss]

Dumbells are all Arnold Schwarzeneger had when he was young when he won his muscle building competitions. So dumbells work for muscle building, but not great for cardio.

[tdott]

I would definitely encourage doing as much of your workout/exercise at home if you can. Many often feel more comfortable working out at home.

Like others mention, motivation is used as an excuse to goto a gym, but imo it is also used as an excuse for not working out (distance, time, etc).

Lookup some good workouts if you need ideas and get started.

[ScottSinger]

I was watching a Mark Rippetoe youtube video and he said a lot of people like bench pressing barbells because they're lying down. It is kind of true that at the gym a lot of people are SITTING on benches, machines and rowers.

[iamwingman]

[Alpine_F82]

Originally Posted by alozcarney

Can you work out most/all of your major muscle groups with just dumbbells (except legs)? I was thinking of working out, but was wondering whether I should pay for gym membership and drive out there three times a week or just workout at home. I am not training to be a heavyweight champion, and just want a good workout.

You can but it is very convenient and easy to workout at gym but I don’t know how far the drive is to gym from your house ymca is always good. Plus if you make friends in gym they will help you out and you can not be bored it will push you more to do it than want to lay in bed and eat.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by scotty91ss

Dumbells are all Arnold Schwarzeneger had when he was young when he won his muscle building competitions. So dumbells work for muscle building, but not great for cardio.

I don't believe this is true. I've seen Pumping Iron at least 3 times, so I'm pretty much an expert.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by alozcarney

Can you work out most/all of your major muscle groups with just dumbbells (except legs)? I was thinking of working out, but was wondering whether I should pay for gym membership and drive out there three times a week or just workout at home. I am not training to be a heavyweight champion, and just want a good workout.

You can excercise your entire body, hitting all major muscle groups with dumbbells alone. This is actually many trainer's preferred method of strength training over barbells and what my old trainer would call "health club machines."

[eatsleepboost]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I wish this was true... but *most* health insurance companies do not reimburse membership costs. There may be a small financial kickback, but definitely not a reimbursement of costs.

I have had 3 different insurance companies that all give up to 300$ a year for a health club membership reimbursement. It's definitely at least worth a call into your provider to find out. You still have to front the bill but it's nice getting paid back at the end of the year for something I would be paying for regardless of reimbursement.

[stbm5]

yes absolutely doable. just have to get creative. the only things that might be hard would be pull-up/lat-pull down kinda stuff. depending on dumbbells it might be hard to get the weight you want... meaning say you are ready to press 80lbs in each hand - would you buy 80s? heavy dumbbells cost a lot.

then if you buy a range of dumbbells you need something to hold them. if you want ones that don't roll and hit your walls then you need hex shaped which cost even more...

but with range of 10-50s you could easily have a ton of variation.

[Redd]

Actually I much prefer dumbbells to bars and machines. With dumbbells, each hand has to carry its own weight, no strong side compensating for the weak side.

[F30dud]

im so bored at home and no ass to look at while i work out, thats like an extra +1 on the pump, i also did p90x but it gets to easy after


pamp it

[stbm5]

I concur that working out at home is boring. its also easier to slack and get distracted. but thats just me. i certainly do enjoy that my gym has many popular yoga classes...

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by stbm5

I concur that working out at home is boring. its also easier to slack and get distracted. but thats just me. i certainly do enjoy that my gym has many popular yoga classes...

That does happen. Helps me to do stuff with wife when at home bit more motivation.

[irishbimmer]

For legs-walking lunges with 45 pounders should make it happen.
And I agree with whomever said dumbells are great to get both sides of your body strong; believe me, putting up large amounts of weight on a bench press may sound great but one side of your body will dominate leading to problems.

[Redd]

I'm also able to bench more with a bar vs dumbbells. Dumbbells definitely more difficult.