I’m a female who started working out last year, but I only recently stopped eating in a deficit. I typically use weights ranging from 8 to 25 lbs, depending on the exercise. I just bought some 30 and 40 lb dumbbells to start increasing my weights.
It varies by exercise: I use 12 kg for strict curls, 15 kg for hammer curls, and 20 kg for dumbbell shoulder presses, among others.
One of the best purchases I’ve made for home fitness recently is an adjustable kettlebell that allows you to add plates. It can reach about 32 kg, including the weight of the handle, which is great for goblet squats and similar exercises.
I love the PowerBands. They give me a great burn, and I can easily take them with me when I travel. They’re a fantastic piece of equipment.
I use weights of 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 lbs. I no longer use the 5 lb weights, and the 35 lb ones make my wrist ache the next day.
For tricep kickbacks and bent-over wide rows, I use 10 lbs. I need to stick to 15 lbs for overhead presses due to a left shoulder injury. Curls and other close-to-body movements are typically at 20 or 25 lbs, depending on the day or rep set. For presses or butterflies, I go with 25 or 30 lbs.
I’m in my late 40s and have been lifting three times a week for about two years.
I have a pair of 10 lb weights, but I typically do HIIT workouts or individual exercises while waiting for emails or calls.
I really like my adjustable dumbbells, which can be adjusted from 3 to 65 lbs. It can take some time to unscrew the ends to change the weights, but they’re very versatile.
I also have adjustable dumbbells. From what I’ve heard, you can get an effective workout by doing one rep of various exercises until exhaustion. It’s best to start with a moderate weight to maintain good form. Naturally, the lighter the weight, the more reps you’ll need to do, but if your dumbbell options are limited, this approach could work well for you.