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So I've decided I need to get my arms toned up a bit & was planning to buy myself some dumbbells or something as I'm pretty fit anyway & can't really justify gym membership fees just for weight training but not really sure where to start weight-wise so if anyone could recommend how heavy I should go as a good place to start it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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I'd recommend going to a gym once, one of those gyms where you can pay on the door and don't need a membership, so you can experiment a bit, because it's too risky just guessing and running the risk of getting something impossibly heavy or pointlessly light. You're really looking for a weight you can lift easily over 10 times, but really struggle to lift over 15 times. That range is apparently perfect. Anything that's easy to lift over 15 times is too light and not doing anything, anything that's a struggle to lift 10 times is too heavy and you'll injury yourself.

 

I've got a set of 25lb dumbbells, 45lb dumbbells and an 70lb kettle bell. That does me fine for home, but I like to go to the gym too for heavier weights, because I just don't have the room at home for a 120lb brench press rack or whatever.

Hancock's advice is pretty sound, but you don't need to go to a gym to determine weights; if you're careful, you can do it at home. I'd definitely advise against fixed weight dumbbells, just get the ones you can use weight plates with. You'll only have to make it heavier soon. But before doing anything heavy, make sure your core strength is rock solid and your technique is perfect because if it lets you down, you will get hurt. Form before weight.

 

Argos is actually great for weight kits on a budget. I'm only just getting back into weight training as I've been injured for a while (unrelated), but for generalized training you're going to want to do : Squats, kettlebell swings, deadlifts, bench presses and military presses and planks. For arms and shoulders, you'll want to do flys, curls, rows and shrugs. And chinups. Holy hell, chinups.

 

There are tons of good videos on youtube for each exercise, and I'd start with a weight you can comfortably hold horizontal at arms length for a slow 20 count (this'll be less weight than you imagine). Then build slowly from there, but never add more weight until your form is perfect at your current weight.

While gym helps with lifting heavy weights. Press ups and pounding a punch bag does the job

 

I'm currently doing this work out when I'm on a shift

 

200 press ups

200 sit ups

200 squats

75 calf raises

100 triceps pushdowns

While gym helps with lifting heavy weights. Press ups and pounding a punch bag does the job

 

I'm currently doing this work out when I'm on a shift

 

200 press ups

200 sit ups

200 squats

75 calf raises

100 triceps pushdowns

Bloody hell that's good going. I did a Crossfit WOD yesterday of:

 

100 pull ups

100 press ups

100 sit ups

100 squats

500m cash out row

1km lunge walk

 

And I was fudged at about the 60 push up mark, so 200 is tremendous :xyx.

 

Cheers!

Working out, running etc. all sucks. Weight training is possibly the only exception because it leaves you feeling awesome. If you have the option of sports instead, that's great because sports are mostly fun, but not everyone can play enough sport to even maintain a basic level of fitness.

 

Personally, I've got to do 45 minutes to an hours worth of physio every day to rehab then maintain my back, then I use a gym for cardio and weight training for general fitness and to help shift some of the weight I put on while injured. I doubt I'll ever love the gym (or some sections of it. Treadmill, I'm looking at you), but it's a necessary evil if I don't want to land up in a wheelchair or having major back surgery, so I've learned to at least like it.