Sweet Caroline

1 lurker | 23 watchers
GimmeMedals
GimmeMedals
9 May
3:32pm, 9 May 2024
26,965 posts
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GimmeMedals
I'm on Day 5 today. It's all arms and abs. I had a late lunch, so waiting for that to settle before I start all those crunches.

I'm enjoying it so far but am limited to using a pair of 3kg neoprene dumbbells, the heaviest of that kind that I have, which I use for lat raises and my weaker muscles plus a pair metal dumbbells with those frustrating twisty nuts that hold the plates on. Every day feels like I'm compromising as I'm not able to use the best weights. I'm only as strong as my weakest exercise, or something like that.

I need to get some more weights but am dithering about which (neoprene I've decided as I like the feel of them) weights to go for:
do I buy a 4kg as that is what I was using for lat raises at the gym
do I skip the 4kg and go for 5kg, which will be better for shoulder presses but will leave me having to use 3kg for lat raises (5kg would be far too heavy) and how long until 6kg would be needed instead
8kg is what I use in the gym for bicep curls but I'd improved a lot when I was going regularly so would be looking to increase to 9kg soon; but they are far too heavy for Arnold press (I'd just started with 7kg for these)
Or do I go 12kg (or even 14kg) for RDL, BOR and squats then I can adjust the metal dumbbells to 7/8kg.

I don't really want to spend £400+ on a full set but it feels like that is what I need 🙄
Or maybe I just need to accept that I should stick with metal dumbbells and get another set so I have 2 pairs of adjustable weights with a selection of plates to play around with. If only they were less faffy.

What's a girl to do?
EvilPixie
EvilPixie
9 May
3:45pm, 9 May 2024
54,074 posts
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EvilPixie
I bought a dumbbell set last year that you add plates to
Gives more weights but much bulkier than individual dumbbells

I have kettle bells I can use for goblet squats or when 1 dumbbell used
Sharkie
Sharkie
9 May
3:49pm, 9 May 2024
22,539 posts
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Sharkie
Tricky isn't it? I have a similar problem here in London. I've never regretted buying a rack of heavy duty weights for Hastings - (complete with the rack). Pairs of 3- 4- 6- 8 - 10. Raffo already had the adjustable type but they're too fiddly for me. I already had a bulky set of 5kgs and a 'Jennis' set of pretty bone shaped 1s, 2s and 3s. AS IF Jessica Ennis ever used anything that light! (Personally I STILL need 3kgs for stuff like lat raises.)

That set are serious looking cast iron with black rubber, but I like neoprene too.
EvilPixie
EvilPixie
9 May
3:53pm, 9 May 2024
54,075 posts
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EvilPixie
When I get mega rich I’ll buy a rack!
Sharkie
Sharkie
9 May
3:54pm, 9 May 2024
22,540 posts
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Sharkie
I'm not rich - I just skimp on other stuff!
EvilPixie
EvilPixie
9 May
3:57pm, 9 May 2024
54,077 posts
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EvilPixie
Oh I have dreams of my own mini gym sharkie

Nice treadmill

Proper turbo set up
Weight racks etc
Sharkie
Sharkie
9 May
3:58pm, 9 May 2024
22,541 posts
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Sharkie
Oh I don't mean a proper rack - more of a stand. This sort of thing.

fitness-superstore.co.uk
GimmeMedals
GimmeMedals
9 May
4:00pm, 9 May 2024
26,967 posts
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GimmeMedals
I'll keep an eye on FB marketplace and see if anything pops up on there.
Years ago I got a set of 0.5kg, 1.5kg and 2.5kg neoprenes then bought a 3kg pair last year. I don't use the 3 lightest ones at all anymore, though I recall them being very handy when I first started resistance training.
Sharkie
Sharkie
9 May
4:02pm, 9 May 2024
22,542 posts
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Sharkie
GimmeMincepies you seem to respond very well indeed to strength training so I would skip the 4kgs and go for a useful pair of 5kgs. You can aways do lat raises r-e-a-ll-y slowly for a while.

Here in London until TODAY I only had 5kgs heaviest (and they only arrived last week - 4.5 before that) plus an 8kg kettlebell - which has come in handy.

Today the 6kgs and 7kgs I ordered on Tuesday arrived. I spent AGES wondering what to get. I considered a pair of 10kgs (I use them for squats and deadlifts in Hastings) but they are still very heavy for my dinky (but long - that's important) arms. These 6s and 7s seem very heavy today!
Muttley
Muttley
9 May
4:05pm, 9 May 2024
3,200 posts
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Muttley

About This Thread

Maintained by Shark the Herald Angel
Caroline Girvan - tiny but tough, sweet but strong.

Here's a thread rather in the manner of the Shred craze that swept Fetchland some years ago, or perhaps more recently (and less bossily) Adriene's 30 Days of Yoga each year. I found Caroline Girvan via geordiegirl (ta, GG!) and am well impressed with her workouts. I'm currently on Day 27 of her 30 day Iron Series and have STUCK TO IT. Wonders will never cease, I was beginning to despair of the likelihood of me getting any sort...

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