Now I’m no fitness freak but I do like to get my daily dose of exercise because it keeps me healthy and slim. So when my gym membership proved too expensive for me and I could no longer jog because of a problem with my knee, I was at my wits’ end as to how to get an effective workout within the confines of my home. And then a friend introduced me to dumbbells, and life was perfect again, because I could work out from home at no cost at all. If you’re wondering how, read on:

  • Lower body: If you‚Äôre a woman, you want toned thighs that look long and sexy in jeans or pants. So use dumbbells to get the legs you want. Hold them to your side when you do squats and lunges. They add to your weight and make these simple exercises more effective. Once you get used to a certain weight, move up or increase the number of repetitions. In just a few weeks, you‚Äôre going to notice your butt tightening and your thighs toning up.
  • Upper body: Use them to tone your arms, especially your triceps (the flab normally found under your arm). Hold one dumbbell in each hand and get a trainer to show you how to work your biceps and triceps using these nifty tools. Once you get the hang of working out with dumbbells, you‚Äôre never going to want to go back to any other kind of exercise.

Dumbbells are great exercise tools for women who are looking for a comprehensive home workout that is neither too strenuous nor too easy. The intensity can be stepped up with either a larger number of repetitions or by increasing the weight of the dumbbells. Dumbbell workouts are flexible and allow you to train and build specific muscles. And best of all, you tend to sweat as much as you would if you ran on a treadmill or used a stationary bike in much less time – so in essence, you gain all the benefits of a one-hour jog in a 20-minute session with your dumbbells.

If you are unsure of the right workout for your physique and weight, talk to a trainer before you begin. Knowing the right technique and method helps you prevent injuries and makes you lose weight faster. The right posture is also necessary to avoid sprains and aches, so work out with a good trainer or someone who knows what they are doing before going it alone.


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This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of physical therapist assistant schools . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1@gmail.com