Chest exercises with dumbells

Flamed Diving

Hello. I got a set of dumbells for home use as I don't have time to get to/from the gym and I want to bulk up a bit as I have been losing mass lately. I have done weights before, but I don't have a bench or anything in the house. Are there any chest exercises I can do with just dumbells, without a bench? I know I could do dips and press-ups, but I'm just wondering what I can do with these. I can't get a pull-up bar either, so any suggestions should be restricted to the free-weights I have and/or using my body as weight.

Thanks.

dave80

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Hello. I got a set of dumbells for home use as I don't have time to get to/from the gym and I want to bulk up a bit as I have been losing mass lately. I have done weights before, but I don't have a bench or anything in the house. Are there any chest exercises I can do with just dumbells, without a bench? I know I could do dips and press-ups, but I'm just wondering what I can do with these. I can't get a pull-up bar either, so any suggestions should be restricted to the free-weights I have and/or using my body as weight.

Thanks.

Dumbbell floor press (mainly works the triceps though)
bentover dumbbell rows (For back)

Vegeta

For chest development I would do dips (on rings if possible) holding the dumbell between my feet and press ups (on rings too if you could) with raised feet

How heavy are the dumbells?

GoneShootin

Vegeta wrote: »

How heavy are the dumbells?

Not want to hijak the thread completely, but I'm looking at buying a 20kg set for this kind of activity also.

dave80

GoneShootin wrote: »

Not want to hijak the thread completely, but I'm looking at buying a 20kg set for this kind of activity also.

argos do a cast iron set for 40.49 cat no 300/82432 and a 50kg barbell and dumbbell set for 79.99 cat no 302/9590

GoneShootin

dave80 wrote: »

argos do a cast iron set for 40.49 cat no 300/82432 and a 50kg barbell and dumbbell set for 79.99 cat no 302/9590

Yep was looking at the dumbells. Not so sure on the barbell though. For one I dont have the space [window would be dangerously close] and two I'm not if I'd get the use of it. Would the barbell be THAT much of an advantage?

rubadub

I would still get the 50kg set, you will outgrow the 20kg quite fast.


50kg has 6 x 0.5kg, 6 x 1.25kg, 4 x 2.5kg, 4 x 5.0kg discs
20kg has 4 x 0.5kg, 4 x 1.25kg, 4 x 2.5kg discs

so you get 2 extra of the small ones, and the 4x5kg ones are €34 in argos and will rise, steel is going up.

Actually some poster here was looking for a 5ft bar recently and was going to pay €25.

I stared on the 20kg set and was kicking myself since I ended up getting the bar later, at much greater cost.

This guy has some good (and some bad!) ideas. He does sort of flyes rolling out on dumbbells
http://ie.youtube.com/profile?user=scooby1961&view=videos

I used to rollup a duvet and stick it on the ground to lie on, to get a greater ROM. Now I just do weighted dips.

logic

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/PectoralSternal/DBFly.html

you can do this on the floor, cushion your back though. I find it good for the chest.

Flamed Diving

I got the Argos ones just now, 20 kg. They are good quality, too.

Anyway, I was tempted to get the bigger set but:

a) I haven't lifted weights in ages, and even then I was only doing 3x10 20kg bicep curls

b) I don't have a car, and live far from Argos. Getting the 20kg set home on my shoulder was a workout in itself!

Mhmm...weetabix

Flamed Diving wrote: »

Hello. I got a set of dumbells for home use as I don't have time to get to/from the gym and I want to bulk up a bit as I have been losing mass lately. I have done weights before, but I don't have a bench or anything in the house. Are there any chest exercises I can do with just dumbells, without a bench? I know I could do dips and press-ups, but I'm just wondering what I can do with these. I can't get a pull-up bar either, so any suggestions should be restricted to the free-weights I have and/or using my body as weight.

Thanks.

If you cant get a bench get a swiss ball as a cheap sub for it. You'll be able to bench better then on the floor and do fly's on it.

rubadub

Flamed Diving wrote: »

b) I don't have a car, and live far from Argos. Getting the 20kg set home on my shoulder was a workout in itself!

Fair enough. I would still get the 4x5kg set, did you get the new catalogue? if so check it, I think the prices are going to go up soon, but are still cheaper than the catalogue until 17th feb (I think)

Flamed Diving

rubadub wrote: »

Fair enough. I would still get the 4x5kg set, did you get the new catalogue? if so check it, I think the prices are going to go up soon, but are still cheaper than the catalogue until 17th feb (I think)

Yeah, I had a quick go off the weights and I reckon I will need more. I reckoned I would have lost a lot of the strength I had in the past, but it's still there despite my arms getting thinner!

I will pick up an extra couple of discs later.

Flamed Diving

Mhmm...weetabix wrote: »

If you cant get a bench get a swiss ball as a cheap sub for it. You'll be able to bench better then on the floor and do fly's on it.

I considered that, but is it safe?

Mhmm...weetabix

Like anything else when it comes to weights you have to be careful, I've never had a problem pushing weights on a swiss ball when I've had to although I cant remember attempting to press more then 60kg when I had to use the ball. It's worth a try imo, it beats not getting full range of movement doing floor presses...

brianthebard

Flamed Diving wrote: »

I considered that, but is it safe?

`Yes, you'll just have to try harder to balance yourself. try floor presses and shoulder presses, and pullovers as well.