Need lifting advice

So I'm a skinny guy and over the summer I gained 10+ pounds due to a pretty lax schedule. However, now things are a bit busier. I'm wanting to buy a set of adjustable dumbbells. I was wanting a minimum 20 lbs on each side, not really quite sure what the maximum should be. My next semester will be intense and when I don't have time for the gym I don't want to skip my workout entirely.

My budget constraint is also pretty low (econ majors anyone?). I was thinking about buying a set of adjustable dumbbells on Ebay instead of Amazon. I don't want to spend over $200, and if it were POSSIBLE it would be great to not buy over $100 but I'm not sure if that's possible. Could anyone point me in the right direction with this? I'd appreciate it

 

Check Craigslist. There are always weights for sale, and usually, they are dirt cheap. That being said, you probably will not find quality adjustable dumbbells (e.g. Iron Master or PowerBlock) for under $200. I would just join a gym. Planet Fitness is $10 a month and has more than enough weights for a beginner. Your school should also have a gym, and if it's like most schools, students can use it free of charge.

I would take some time to read this thread. BodyBuilding.com has a lot of good info.

 
Sil:
Your school should also have a gym, and if it's like most schools, students can use it free of charge.

:/ wish my school was one of those schools.

OP, adjustable weights may have a bit more functionality then you need right now. Check craigslist, try and pick up a set of like 20-35lb dumbbells and go from there. That weight range will cover your needs for now, and you can always buy more as you get stronger.

spend whatever money you have left on protein and get massive

"My name's Ralph Cox, and I'm from where ever's not gonna get me hit"
 

Herschel Walker never lifted weights, pushups and situps only. He won the Heisman and then had a good NFL career. You're no HW but pushups and Burpees will serve you well.

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Herschel Walker never lifted weights, pushups and situps only. He won the Heisman and then had a good NFL career. You're no HW but pushups and Burpees will serve you well.

While I agree that for his goals pushups, burpees, jogging (aka the free stuff) will serve him well along with a calorie restricted diet if he is just trying to be in shape (or slightly over maintenance high protein if he is trying to gain a small measure of muscle) I don't think HW's anecdotal workout routine is good advice for most. He could have done absolutely nothing and been successful in sports. IMHO many gifted athletes do ridiculous workout routines that A) serve no purpose or B) they work BECAUSE of their genetics but are in no way OPTIMAL.

Just my .02

 
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Herschel Walker never lifted weights, pushups and situps only. He won the Heisman and then had a good NFL career. You're no HW but pushups and Burpees will serve you well.

While I agree that for his goals pushups, burpees, jogging (aka the free stuff) will serve him well along with a calorie restricted diet if he is just trying to be in shape (or slightly over maintenance high protein if he is trying to gain a small measure of muscle) I don't think HW's anecdotal workout routine is good advice for most. He could have done absolutely nothing and been successful in sports. IMHO many gifted athletes do ridiculous workout routines that A) serve no purpose or B) they work BECAUSE of their genetics but are in no way OPTIMAL.

Just my .02

I met michael phelps and asked him his workout routine, he said he never lifted weights in his life.. similarity between him and QB's is that it's not necessary for them to have strength training, but agility training & conditioning.

Although not a very good rebuttle seeing Phelp's very sub-optimal extracurriculars.

 
Best Response

I thought I would use at home weights, it's hard to stay motivated (for me anyway) and if you're lifting religiously you'll end up spending more on the dumbbells and benches you need than 1 year of a gym membership. for $200 you could maybe get a couple sets of DBs, but if you just get say 20s, 30s, and 40s, that will probably become too light within 2-3 months if not sooner, and therefore would largely a waste of money. in order to do it right, you'll need to drop over $1k I'd bet.

the bowflex ones go anywhere from $350-$800, not only out of your price range but that doesn't even include a bench. planet fitness does have a lot of narps (Non-Athletic Regular Person), but it's perfect for your price range. I've never been so I have no idea how it actually is, but they have benches, racks, weights, and towels, that's about all you need.

the way I see it, you should do one of 2 things:

  1. join a gym (like planet fitness)

  2. work out at home but without weights: iron gym is like $20, that covers pushups if you flip it on the ground and pullups on a door frame, that gets most of your upper body, then do ab stuff, clap pushups, things like that. you can get strong from bodyweight workouts, you can also build lean muscle, but it's not for everyone.

 

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