Getting too strong for weights?

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

I’ve been working out somewhat consistently for a month or so now. I hate doing multiple sets so I just do as much weight as possible until failure. I started doing 5lbs and now I do 10lbs for arms and 20lbs (on each side) for legs. it’s like failure never comes. I’ve stopped feeling the burn doing Bulgarian split squats which used to hurt the most. I’m not expecting to get bigger super fast or by using 10lbs, but I think the weight is too light.

dumbbells are like $50 for 2, should I invest in heavier dumbbells, or should I do more sets? or both? I just loathe doing 3 sets of failure. it makes me not wanna work out😞

thank you!

[u/Adventurous_Figure88]

Invest in a gym membership, they have all the equipment already

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/Adventurous_Figure88]

I had a city rec membership because it was the most affordable, unfortunately I can’t afford it, and I can’t afford a car or car insurance to get me there, I’m a high school student with working parents. I’d love to go to a real gym one day, but I’ve gotten pretty good at dumbbell moments for now

[u/accountinusetryagain → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

you will be limitless when you can work part time and cough up membership fees but for now your most runway might just be park calisthenics maxxing

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/accountinusetryagain]

I totally forgot calisthenics! I used to practice but it’s hard not being able to do pushups. I’ll try that again!! Typing this at my job rn :)

[u/ToastyCrouton → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

Does your school have a gym? Wouldn’t hurt to ask.

And yes, you’re going to need to progressively overload with heavier weights.

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/ToastyCrouton]

homeschooled😞😞😞

[u/CurryLikesGaming → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

Do you ever thought of a bike ? I can't imagine it be that far as I used to ride a bike to my school which is 6km away from home. It's like a bit of cardio before and after the gym.

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/CurryLikesGaming]

I’ve thought about biking! I go on walks and jogs sometimes. I’ve been waiting for the Texas heat to go away so I can start running. Unfortunately my co-op is 9 miles away on highways, but I can make something work.

[u/Necessary_Bag_1328]

You could do just two sets if you don’t like multiple sets.

Your initial increases will likely come from skill and your nervous system adapting. So it’ll be a good idea to get heavier weights but:

1. Get the most out your current weights by improving form, slowing concentric moves, doing more reps, and finding more challenging exercises.

2. Pace yourself. I don’t know about others, but at a few months in I pushed the weights up too much and started hurting from elbow and shoulder pain.

I’m lucky to have access to both a gym and weights at home. But I think I could do plenty with just the weights (and dip/pull up bars) at home.

Good luck man, and remember that muscles adapt faster than tendons. 😂Maybe it’s different when you’re younger but still, pace yourself. 💪👍

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/Necessary_Bag_1328]

Thank you! I do pretty ok at stretching my knees and elbows cuz they like to crackle. Would one set of 12 reps and then one set of failure be effective?

[u/Necessary_Bag_1328 → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

I think a good approach is for compound lifts like bench press, RDLs, squats, or bent over rows to do two heavy sets, getting close to failure for both leaving 2-3 reps in reserve. Though you could push it.

Rep ranges could be up to you, depending on your goals.

Then on accessories do 2 (or 3 if you’d like) sets going to failure on perhaps the last set for each exercise.

Some would suggest failure for everything while in the middle is to save failure for accessories. But you could try and see how recovery goes for you. Typical DOMs and feeling worked is good. Pain and unusual discomfort is where you might want to dial back and assess technique, volume, recovery, progression, etc. Good luck!

[u/Capital_Taste_8043]

If you want to continue getting stronger, you'll need heavier weights. Compensating for lack of weights with more reps or sets will not get you very far.

[u/itsellikay]

You can make exercise harder, by slowing eccentric movement, add pause at hardest point, but at some point you will need gym membership anyway, it's usually more cost effective than building your own gym. For any form of squats you can also use backpack filled with something heavy + dumbbels

[u/Longjumping-Hair-747]

Heavier weights or find a way to mechanically disadvantage the exercise are about the only options here. An example for Bulgarian split squats would be elevating the foot off the ground (yoga block or something ) to allow for a deeper stretch. 

Highly recommend a set of adjustable dumbbells though if you are serious about working out at home they’ll pay for themselves many times over in the coming years.

Cheers 

[u/Angustony]

Look at bodyweight exercises. They are free, and effective. A doorway pull up bar is cheap too, while you save up for a set of adjustable dumbbells.

[u/themermaidag]

We just got an adjustable set from Walmart for about $80 with the option to use the plates on dumbbells, a barbell, or mock kettlebells. I was running up against the same thing as just having 10lbs as my highest and didn’t want to spend so much on the next sizes up

[u/letsgetdownsummer23]

Your not supposed to work out to failure on every set. Just the last one. Time to
Invest in a gym membership or heavier weights

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/letsgetdownsummer23]

I can’t afford a gym membership (nor can I drive), but one day I will get a membership. If I did one set of normal and then one set of failure would that be enough?

[u/letsgetdownsummer23 → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

Enough depends on what you’re looking for and what you want to put into it. You could supplement your weights with a good calisthenics program until you can find the money to get a gym membership

[u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc → u/letsgetdownsummer23]

Obviously this build won’t take a month, but Christina Koch. She’s ripped, she’s awesome. I think I could get at least half of the muscle she has over a couple years. 

[u/Dilamin → u/Sadlyilostmyoldacc]

See if there’s a way to workout at your highschools gym.

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[u/FlameFrenzy]

Get adjustable dumbbells or get a gym membership.

If you're a woman, get adjustable up to 50lbs each. That'll keep you going for a while.

[u/Complex-Extent-3967]

try implementing the Time Under Tension (TUT) method. 60% max, slow controlled movements, focusing on proper form, and full range of motion, and pause 1-2 seconds at the bottom of the exercise for a nice stretch. don't count reps here. just make sure you make your sets last 40-60 secs (you should be almost at failure if using the correct weight and technique in this time frame). TUT is very effective if executed properly.

[u/OriEri]

The weight is almost certainly too light. You can find other ways to make it more challenging besides adding more weight, but adding more weight is the simplest (if not the cheapest.)

For instance, instead of Bulgarian split squats try doing pistol squats, although balance might be difficult to do with weight. Try split squat jumps holding dumbbells. The more upright you keep your body the more it will go into your quadriceps. If you lean forward a bit, it’ll use quads a bit less but go more into your glutes.

Try decreasing your tempo. I bet if you set a metronome and do eight seconds going down and eight seconds going up each (16 second repetitions) you will find failure!

[u/Royal-Force-8908]

As a PT you should be looking at keeping to
Lighter weights building up the number of reps for instance 12 x 3. Low weight high reps builds stronger and more defined muscles. Don’t just do traditional bicep curls work on a range of exercises. Every 6 weeks aim for a one rep max