Weight Problem (The kind you lift)

Loon · Jan 27, 2008

Sorry about the weird title, the subject is about lifting weights.

My problem is that I don't have a proper set of weights. So for one thing I'm limited to the kinds of exercises I can do, and I can't really control how much weight I'm lifting.

For awhile now I've just been doing various curls to work on my arms using a milk jug filled to the brim with water. when I first started that worked fine if I lifted alot. But now I can do reps of 40 at a time and it doesn't even make my arms remotely sore.

Anyone got any ideas of what I use as make-shift weights?

Omnis · Jan 27, 2008

Depends on the exercise. See what you can do with a suitcase full of stuff.

Loon · Jan 27, 2008

Omnis
Depends on the exercise. See what you can do with a suitcase full of stuff.

No suitcase, at least not the old kind that comes to mind. You think a duffel bag would work if I was to lift it standing up? Sorta like doing curls with a dumbell.

Kylehnat · Jan 27, 2008

Get a few real dumbells. They don't take up much space and are pretty cheap. Search around online to find some exercises/reps which will work all the muscle groups. Also do curls standing up. It's a lot harder, and will work other core muscles besides your arms.

Loon · Jan 27, 2008

Kylehnat
Get a few real dumbells. They don't take up much space and are pretty cheap. Search around online to find some exercises/reps which will work all the muscle groups.

Thats a good idea except that I've thought of that already and the reason why it doesn't work for me is because I have zero dollars in my wallet. But that's a whole other problem. But that's why I'm using milk jugs as weights.

Casio · Jan 27, 2008

Go outside and steal some rocks.

Slick6 · Jan 27, 2008

5 gallon buckets with sand in them. Add or remove sand to acheive desired weight. The handles will be much easier to work with than 1 gallon ice cream pails because they generally have a piece of plastic that rotates around the metal part of the handle. Redneck sure, but if you're looking for free or really cheap, good looking equipment isn't in the equation.

Giancarlo · Jan 27, 2008

Don't you have a school gym or something?

Kylehnat · Jan 27, 2008

Loon
Thats a good idea except that I've thought of that already and the reason why it doesn't work for me is because I have zero dollars in my wallet. But that's a whole other problem. But that's why I'm using milk jugs as weights.

Dumbells are really cheap. You can get a couple of different weights for $20-$30. You can probably find better deals if you look around for used/unwanted stuff. If you're really strapped for cash, then sand is your best friend. It's about $4 for 50 lbs., and it's easy to fill milk cartons, containers, buckets, etc... (or it's free if you scrounge the beach, and don't mind glass, bugs, and sticks

). The only problem I see with that is that the weight will be unbalanced, putting a lot of unnecessary strain on your wrists and forearms. I also don't know how well the carton handle will put up with that much weight.

Loon · Jan 27, 2008

Giancarlo
Don't you have a school gym or something?

I do, but I don't have a gym class where I could use it. I also don't have a car so I can't get to school early and lift or stay after and lift.

Kylehnat
Dumbells are really cheap. You can get a couple of different weights for $20-$30. You can probably find better deals if you look around for used/unwanted stuff. If you're really strapped for cash, then sand is your best friend. It's about $4 for 50 lbs., and it's easy to fill milk cartons, containers, buckets, etc... (or it's free if you scrounge the beach, and don't mind glass, bugs, and sticks ). The only problem I see with that is that the weight will be unbalanced, putting a lot of unnecessary strain on your wrists and forearms. I also don't know how well the carton handle will put up with that much weight.

How will the be unbalanced? If I fill two jugs slap full shouldn't they be equal? If anything I could just fill one jug and just do an arm at a time.

Blake · Jan 27, 2008

Unbalanced refers to where the ‘handle’ is compared to the weight. In dumbells the weight is on both sides of the handle, so if you hold it by the handle it should feel balanced. A milk container on the other hand is unbalanced, because the handle is at one end while the majority of the weight is at the other, so when you hold it by the handle it puts strain on your wrist.

Loon · Jan 27, 2008

Blake
Unbalanced refers to where the handle is compared to the weight. In dumbells the weight is on both sides of the handle, so if you hold it by the handle it should feel balanced. A milk container on the other hand is unbalanced, because the handle is at one end while the majority of the weight is at the other, so when you hold it by the handle it puts strain on your wrist.

Oh I see now. I suppose a 5 gallon bucket as suggested above would be better all around use anyways.

Picc84 · Jan 28, 2008

Why not just to old fasion push ups! After you get used to normal pushups (say, 150) do them on your knuckles, than your fingertips >.>

What are you trying to accomplish? Overall strength? Or get Cut?

Gil · Jan 28, 2008

for arm exercises, watch the old western Hannie Caulder with Raquel Welch, and Robert Stack.
It should give you some ideas for a proper conditioning use of a string, a portion of a broom stick, and that gallon jug.
It's also loads easier than describing what they did to condition Ms. Welch to make a quick draw artist out of her.
Plus, you get to see one of the most beautiful women in the world as a gunfighter.
A lot more credible than "the quick and the dead".

Submerged · Feb 7, 2008

Picc84
Why not just to old fasion push ups! After you get used to normal pushups (say, 150) do them on your knuckles, than your fingertips >.>

What are you trying to accomplish? Overall strength? Or get Cut?

Knuckles then fingertips? Trying to go Bruce Lee stylin'?

Another way of using press-ups is to do inclined push-ups and declined push-ups. Basically find a chair, put your feet on it straighten right out (the whole body) and start doing press-ups as that will work the shoulder area if in the down slope. On the up slope (press-up on a table) will feel easier but will work the chest area a bit more and also you'll have to tighten your tummy to be controlled.

Can always do standard press-ups and then close press-ups. Close press-ups would be where you have your hands almost right next to your chest with your elbows tucked in almost like you were straight-line from feet to head and push up then. This is a bit harder I find as its all about maintaining the position of the body well enough to effectively push up and then down. Gives great shape to your triceps though!

You seem to be needlessly obsessed with doing bicep curls. Why? Why not do other sort of excerises? Can always do back, chest, shoulders, triceps, biceps and legs pretty easily without really needing weight machines. Free weights and body weight excerises are more than enough to start off with when maintaining fitness. People use weights and gyms when they want to improve their explosiveness, power, strength and staminia more than their bodyweight workout would give them in my opinion.

Loon · Feb 7, 2008

Picc84
Why not just to old fasion push ups! After you get used to normal pushups (say, 150) do them on your knuckles, than your fingertips >.>

What are you trying to accomplish? Overall strength? Or get Cut?

I'm trying to get cut.

Submerged
Knuckles then fingertips? Trying to go Bruce Lee stylin'?

Another way of using press-ups is to do inclined push-ups and declined push-ups. Basically find a chair, put your feet on it straighten right out (the whole body) and start doing press-ups as that will work the shoulder area if in the down slope. On the up slope (press-up on a table) will feel easier but will work the chest area a bit more and also you'll have to tighten your tummy to be controlled.

Can always do standard press-ups and then close press-ups. Close press-ups would be where you have your hands almost right next to your chest with your elbows tucked in almost like you were straight-line from feet to head and push up then. This is a bit harder I find as its all about maintaining the position of the body well enough to effectively push up and then down. Gives great shape to your triceps though!

You seem to be needlessly obsessed with doing bicep curls. Why? Why not do other sort of excerises? Can always do back, chest, shoulders, triceps, biceps and legs pretty easily without really needing weight machines. Free weights and body weight excerises are more than enough to start off with when maintaining fitness. People use weights and gyms when they want to improve their explosiveness, power, strength and staminia more than their bodyweight workout would give them in my opinion.

I mainly want to work on my arms, but I have started doing a few other execises to start work on my shoulders. I already do inclined pushups,they seem easier than a regular pushup, I didn't think about reversing it and doing pushups off a table though.

I really don't care a whole lot about the excercises concerning my legs, right now I feel they are built up enough, unless there's something that could increase my speed. What I really want to work on is my upper body, arms, chest, and stomach. Not to necessarily get stronger but to get cut, which is going to take quite awhile because of my weight.

Year.Zero · Mar 15, 2008

Construction yard > Cinderblocks (concrete blocks, or if you're in the UK, "breeze blocks"). Those things are typically 20lbs (the American ones, anyway; Brit ones tend to be a shade lighter), so you know how much you're lifting.

Anyway, because of their shape, they're easy to tie ropes around and curl.

Weight Problem (The kind you lift)

Loon

Omnis

Not Even A Real Mod

Loon

Kylehnat

Z#

Loon

Casio

Born From Jets

Slick6

Giancarlo

Totally new & improved!

Kylehnat

Z#

Loon

Blake

Loon

Picc84

Gil

Bird man

Submerged

Loon

Year.Zero

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