How to Get the Most Out of Your Workout With Dumbbells

Sometimes fitting in a full workout with multiple pieces of equipment can be too difficult for a variety of reasons including being short on time, limited equipment, or you may be wanting to focus on a certain muscle group.

This may lead you to choose to do a workout with just a pair of dumbbells. You can still achieve a highly effective strength training workout with dumbbells, but there are certain tips that will help ensure you get the most out of your workout. With these tips we know you will see the results you desire from your dumbbell workout.

Use the Proper Weight

In order to get the most benefit out of your workout with dumbbells you need to be using the proper weight. This means you do not want it to be too light or too heavy. It can be tempting to use a weight that is as heavy as you can stand, but that will not always give you the best results. 

If you have a weight that is too light then your muscles will not be challenged enough, but if it is too heavy then you may not be able to keep correct form when doing certain exercises. Finding a weight that is heavy enough to be challenging, but will still allow you to keep correct form is key. 

Pay Attention to Your Form

Utilizing dumbbells for your workout will not give you the results you desire unless you have the proper form. You want to be sure that you are keeping your body straight and using the correct muscles with each movement. 

Not having correct form can also potentially lead to injury including muscle strains and joint issues. If you are unsure of your form then it can be helpful to watch videos online or download a workout app so you can follow the form of an expert in the industry.  

Fuel Your Body

Working out with dumbbells is hard work. In order for your body to reap the benefits of your workout, it is important to refuel your body following your workout. Giving your body the proper nutrients following your workout will allow your body and muscles to recover and give you the energy to do it all over again at your next workout. A good way to refuel after a workout with dumbbells is with a good protein bar or a smoothie with fruit and protein powder. 

Make Sure to Breathe

How you breathe while working out will affect your workout as a whole. If you do not breathe through your diaphragm then your body is not going to get as much oxygen as needed in order to power through your workout.

A great way to pay attention to this is to make sure that when you lift the weight you will want to exhale and when you lower the weight then you want to inhale. 

Seek Expert Advice if Needed

If workouts with dumbbells are something newer to you or you are unsure of where to start, it can be a good idea to seek the help of a fitness professional in order to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly. 

This doesn’t mean you need to hire a full time personal trainer, but enlisting the help of someone initially to make sure you are getting the hang of the exercises and keeping your form correct will pay off in the long run. If you can’t seek the help of someone in person then consider watching videos or seeking the help of a virtual trainer for a couple of sessions until you feel confident in doing the exercises on your own. 

Have Proper Grip

The way that you grip the dumbbells will play a critical role in what muscles you use with each exercise. Almost all dumbbell workouts will be done with either an overhand, underhand, or neutral grip. Each exercise that you do may require a different grip in order to target the correct muscle group. 

You also want to be sure that you are not gripping the weight too hard or too soft. It should be a comfortable, yet snug grip so that you can utilize the weight properly. 

Discover More Fitness Tips

Getting the most out of your workout is important and there is nothing more frustrating than putting in the time and effort and not seeing the results you are hoping for. These tips for your dumbbell workout will ensure that you are doing everything necessary to reach your fitness goals. Check out theXTERRA Fitness blog for more.