subject: Working Out With Dumbbells [print this page] There are many available options for people who want to increase their fitness levels through home gym equipment use. Selecting which option is the correct one for the individual user is a process that requires a bit of forethought and examination.
Dumbbells are a good choice for people who want to increase their overall strength level, as well as supplementing other exercise options with weight training and conditioning. There are many pros to this type of equipment that require examination as well.
Firstly, dumbbells are inexpensive when compared to other equipment options. They are also widely available and always in stock.
This inexpensive nature is bolstered by the portability and variability of the dumbbells themselves. Since they are relatively small weights of varying sizes and shapes, they are transportable by a single person if necessary, and they can be easily stowed out of the way when they are not in use.
The variability present is also a positive attribute. The weights come in many shapes and sizes, so changing up the difficulty of the session is as simple as selecting another weight in a set line that is more appropriate for the user to exercise with.
This variability, combined with the accessibility of the equipment being located in the home, means that any person of any skill level can use these weights for any period of time and receives the benefits of the workout. The exercise session is therefore as casual or difficult as the use desires.
The key area where dumbbells shine is their ability to improve strength capacity and conditioning. They work the upper body and abdominal areas with a series of slightly varied exercise routines that target specific muscle groups.
By utilizing the right routine, people can thereby isolate specific muscle groups that they may find lacking, as well as incorporating these techniques throughout the week so that there is a thorough workout for all areas that need improvement. This ability to choose what workouts will occur when puts the power of choice within the hands off the individual, offering incentive to customize and personalize the experience.
Most vital of all to the process is the concept of repetition and incremental increase as exercise sessions progress over time. As the body is worn down and fatigued, it compensates by building muscles in response to past stimuli.
This response can be calculated and manipulated when working out, because the body adapts in appropriate levels to past stresses. By slightly increasing the weight or length of the workout session on a regular basis, the body is constantly forced to adapt and build muscle to prepare itself for incoming stresses.
Therefore, building the body in a regular pattern that does not allow latency or settling is very important if results are going to be seen. Staying engaged without overly wearing don or breaking the body is a delicate process that must be appropriately monitored.
The dumbbells exercise and improve the forearms when the user curls them toward themselves or lifts them from an idle position on the group. It is the curving motion of the arm that provides this benefit to this select muscle group.
Another muscle group that improves with curling motions is the biceps. If the user curves them toward themselves, or lifts straight toward them from the ground, then the bicep is flexed and improved as a direct result.
The triceps can be improves by doing stiff, rigid motions that force the shoulders to do the work normally associated with the biceps and forearms. An excellent example of this is a movement that outstretches the arms rigidly to the side, and requires the user to move the dumbbells vertically up and down.
Lastly, the abdominals are worked extensively during these fitness sessions, because they flex and tighten as the individual strains to life the weights. This passive effect can be enhanced by increasing the load of weight and by focusing on using the abs to lift.
Dumbbells are a good choice for people who want a variable workout that can be changed and adapted to fit their respective styles in a heartbeat. Along with improving strength levels and conditioning, the equipment also provides an excellent supplement to other exercise options, increasing the overall fitness level of the individual.
