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Dumbbell Weight Training Program

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A great way to tone muscles and build strength is through weight training. Weight training can not only bring out latent physical character and improve your appearance and perhaps self-esteem, but it will significantly increase your stamina and pave the way for workouts of greater intensity.  While many less experienced body builders can be seen at the gym working out on fixed weight machines and occasionally with barbells – their results are often less than optimal.  There is a more effective weight lifting method as well as a more inexpensive and convenient method: that method is the time-proven workout with dumbbells. 

Dumbbell training is arguably the longest enduring form of resistance training to build muscle and strength known.  The ancient Greek athletes made use of hand-held halteres made of stone or metal in their training. The use of the English word dumbbell as referring to equipment for resistance training goes back to the early 18th century and originally referred to a heavy handheld device used to ring a large church bell. This device was often used for exercise as well. As ringing church bells by hand faded – working out with the metal dumbbells gained popularity.  

Today, one can buy all-metal, one-piece hexagonal dumbbells of varying fixed weight and these are quite inexpensive and effective for home use.  For a little more money, there are the Block-type dumbbells that are adjustable in weight increments thus giving the user the benefit of easily varying weight as well as conserving storage space.  

Benefits that dumbbells offer over other forms of resistance training include:  

• Greater flexibility training
• Low cost for equipment
• Convenient home use and easy equipment storage
• Joint and tendon strengthening
• Exercises a greater range of muscles as opposed to fixed-resistance movements
• More variety in exercises
• Dumbbells can be used to enhance calisthenics or other forms of training
• Because of the smaller weight loads involved – dumbbells are safer and suitable for any level of training
• Physical therapy and recovery training uses

Many veteran trainers will attest that a dumbbell weight-training program is the best method of weight resistance training for a total body workout.  Unlike the slang use of the word dumbbell (as in a stupid person), owning dumbbells is a smart idea for anybody involved in weight training: the equipment cost is low and the workout potential is high. Like any form of exercise, if you are suffering from any medical problems, consult your doctor before embarking upon a weight training regimen.