Can I do a full workout with just dumbells?

[freegeeks]

?

 

[BeauJangles]

No, not if you want to do the good stuff (squat, deadlifts, cleans, ohp, etc).

 

[Kaido]

Scooby is big on dumbbells:

http://fitness.scoobysworkshop.com/homeEqpt.htm

I was actually just talking with a friend about this earlier. He's a big fan of the Ironmaster barbell set:

http://www.ironmaster.com/stor...et-with-Rack-pr-2.html

Not cheap at $489, but it's a 75lb set with a stand and no plastic parts, as well as a lifetime warranty and a mod kit to go up to 120lbs.

 

[brikis98]

You can get a good workout, but it gets very tricky when you do exercises that involve sufficiently heavy weight - namely, the squat and deadlift. These are two of the most effective and important exercises you can do, but it does not take long before even relative newbies require weights on these exercises that are impractical (or impossible) with dumbbells. Hell, the first time I ever tried deadlifting I pulled 225lbs, which is close to the max weight you'll ever be able to use with dumbbells, and I'm far from a "gifted athlete". Dumbbells are also less than ideal for many other exercises: for example, getting into position for the OH press can be tricky, and any sort of olympic style lifts (clean, snatch) are pretty uncomfortable.

So, if you have no other choice, then yea, use the dumbbells and you can still get a great workout. Otherwise, barbells are the way to go.

 

[MotF Bane]

Brikis has it. One thing though...

Originally posted by: brikis98
Hell, the first time I ever tried deadlifting I pulled 225lbs,

:shocked::shocked:

 

[freegeeks]

for the moment my only option is a home gym, the problem is that I don't have the space for a full barbell setup

 

[conorvansmack]

As long as you have a bench and some creativity/imagination, you can get a pretty good workout. Adding a pull-up bar would help. Like Brikis said, heavy lifts like squats and deadlifts will be pretty limited.

 

[Eric62]

Yes - with limited results.

If you subscribe to the anything is better than nothing theory, you're good to go.

If you prefer a better return on your time investment I strongly advocate centering your training around the 3 competition style powerlifts, all requiring BB's. Then use DB's and machines in a supporting role to balance your physique, then further improve your stabilizer muscles with DB's.

Years ago I tried DB deadlifts. All the pain / half the results. Why deadlifting two 150 pounders for 10 reps is more exhausting, yet less productive than deadlifting one 405 lb BB for 10 reps remains a mystery to me. Sheer poundage has always made a bigger difference for me (speaking for myself only) than other aspects like technique, strict form, time under tension, rest between set intervals, ect.

Rest between bodyparts is also a huge factor for me - personally. Most disagree with my train to an all out single rep max, then rest 9 to 10 days between bodyparts, but it works for me.

That's my 2 cents - LOL.

Also - there's NO substitute for a training centric (rather than social centric) commercial gym.
Here in Vegas I pay $99 a year to train in the same Golds Gyms as Mr. Olympia x2, Jay Cutler. A Noob can expect to pay about $25 a month. Hard to put together even a minimalist home gym for that price!

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

beginner yes.
intermediate/advanced no.