Strength training is vital to overall health and fitness for everyone, regardless of age. Don’t have access to a gym? No problem. All you need is a few dumbbells at home in order to get an effective, full-body workout.
Adding dumbbell weights to your workout routine is an excellent way to boost the amount of calories you burn, increase your muscle tone, promote bone density, and ramp up your metabolism. Even if you don’t want to bulk up, everyone should aim to increase the density of their muscle mass.
The structure of an AMRAP workout is simple. Perform “as many reps as possible” (AMRAP) within a given time period. This way of exercising can be highly motivating, as you are racing against the clock.
Lunge and bent row
This hybrid move primarily tones your glutes and hamstrings, along with your upper back.
How to:
- Start upright with a dumbbell in each hand and feet shoulder-width apart.
- With your left leg, take a large step forward and drop your bottom down so that your leg forms a 90-degree angle.
- While holding this position, lean your torso forward and then perform a row by clenching your back muscles, pulling your should blades together, and moving your upper arms and elbows toward the ceiling.
- Repeat the same movement with your right leg and concentrate on driving your weight down through your heels as you come out of the lunge.
- Focus on keeping your chest out and your shoulders back throughout the row motion.
- Perform 20 repetitions (1 lunge + 1 row = 1 repetition).
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Squat and shoulder press
The squat coupled with a shoulder press primarily strengthens your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and shoulders.
How to:
- Stand up with your feet shoulder-width apart and a dumbbell in each hand.
- Drop your bottom down into a squat, so that both legs are at a 90-degree angle.
- Push your weight down through your heels to propel your body upward.
- Make sure to keep your knees in line with your feet and don’t let them cave inward. Don’t let your toes go past the forward bend of the knees.
- As you come up from your squat, press both dumbbells overhead, straightening your elbows at the top.
- Focus on keeping your chest up, core tight, and hips forward throughout the squat motion.
- Move into the next rep immediately after you perform the shoulder press.
- Perform 20 repetitions (1 squat + 1 press = 1 repetition).
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Sumo squat and upright row
This dynamic move targets the outside of your thighs, upper back and posterior aspect of your shoulders.
How to:
- Begin upright with your feet placed wider than shoulder-width apart, with your toes pointing outward at a 45-degree angle.
- Let your arms dangle between your legs, with your dumbbells in hand.
- Drop your bottom down and perform a squat, keeping your feet turned outward.
- Focus on keeping your knees pressed outward as you come out of the squat. This isolates the outside of your thighs and prevents knee pain.
- As you come up, pull the dumbbells upward to chest level with elbows out, and at about shoulder level.
- Make sure to keep your torso upright, not bent over.
- Perform 20 repetitions (1 sumo squats + 1 upright row = 1 repetition).
Related article: Use This Nine-Move Home Workout To Build Lean Muscle Using Only Resistance Bands
Dumbbell sit-ups
Dumbbell sit-ups are a great way to ramp up this traditional abdominal move.
How to:
- Start by lying flat on your back, feet flat on the ground, knees bent, holding the dumbbells in each hand next to your chest.
- Sit up, bring your torso upright, and push the dumbbells overhead, as one combined movement.
- Resist the urge to let momentum bring your body off of the ground.
- Control your body as you come back down by clenching your abdominal muscles and keeping them engaged.
- Perform 20 repetitions.
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Glute bridge and chest press
This hybrid move tones your glutes, chest, and shoulders.
How to:
- Begin lying flat on your back with your legs bent, feet flat on the ground, holding one dumbbell in each hand right, next to your chest.
- Drive your weight down through your heels and elevate your hips so that they’re in line with your shoulders and knees.
- At the same time, push the dumbbells upward directly above your chest.
- Bring your hips and dumbbells back down to the ground simultaneously.
- You can isolate your quads more by driving your weight down through your toes.
- Perform 20 repetitions (1 glute bridge + 1 chest press = 1 repetition).