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Advice on using dumbbells without a spotter.

planetfuzz

planetfuzz

Active member
When I first started using dumbells proping a couple 50 pound dumbbells on my knees and boosting them up to do a chest press was easy. I'm getting to the point where it's tough to prop them up and then lay down. Any advice?
 
I did some inclines last night with 90's,... I hear ya totally. I actually have to get psyched to lift the weights off my knees, I always get afraid I'm gonna pop something like a bi or pec just lifting it up. I have no advice, just *****in', but thanks for listening!
 
When it gets to the point where getting it on your shoulders is a workout on its own, you might need to have someone put them up there for you. I usually get the first one up there myself. It's the other one that is the issue. yeah, having someone else get them up there for you is my only suggestion.
 
you can try doing 1 set of barbell bench presses to warm up your chess then do your set of dumbbells with less weight and got to failure.
 
All you can do is rock your body and really give a big kick with your knees.

Incline with 110s isn't bad at all for me, but 90-100s for shoulder press gets a little interesting.
 
i ran into that same issue last night rugger with db shoulder press getting those 100s up is a pain in the arse, i end up just having a buddy give me a hand
 
just noticed the updated stats as well rugger that would make you rather choad like lol
 
Rugger said:
All you can do is rock your body and really give a big kick with your knees.

Incline with 110s isn't bad at all for me, but 90-100s for shoulder press gets a little interesting.
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Inclines are tough but manageable for me (100#), but I have failed multiple times trying to hoist DBs up for seated shoulder presses, and I haven't gone over 70#. I haven't tried it, but it may help to clean the DBs up to your shoulders while you are standing and then attempt to sit down on the seat... ?

Or, use a combo of the DB hooks and Smith machine bar.
 
For me, I just sit way up on the edge of the shoulder press seat so I can get a good rock going, then I just give a humongous knee kick. Once I get em up in the air I scootch my arse back into the seat.

The first two sets I am usually alright but the last one is difficult. I think I've only had to cease the exercise once because I couldn't get them up.
 
jesus **** i was happy when i started pressing 50lb db's i feel like a little ****ing girl now

in me defense i had shoulder surgery though so i have to take my time with shoulders and cant push to hard

but in theory you can shoulder press me pretty easily
 
Rugger said:
Incline with 110s isn't bad at all for me, but 90-100s for shoulder press gets a little interesting.
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i know what you mean. My training partner gets me to place one of the 90's in his hand when hes doing shoulder press, he gets the other one up ok himself. i think hes just lazy :icon_lol:
 
I don't really have a problem with should presses. When I'm going chest presses I can get them up but then I kind of have to do a reverse worm with my body on the bench while I lay down so I don't drop them.

I swear once I win powerball I'm going to pay two extremely fit and hot women in my private gym to just spot me and make my protein shakes.
 
I would check out the dumbbell hooks if you have something to hook them to, or get a couple sets of bands and use those for additional resistance with a dumbbell you can manage. I know personally for me the hardest part of dumbbell pressing is just getting my grip right but if I use less weight and make up the resistance in band tension it usually isn't as much of an issue.
 
pmiller383 said:
I would check out the dumbbell hooks if you have something to hook them to, or get a couple sets of bands and use those for additional resistance with a dumbbell you can manage. I know personally for me the hardest part of dumbbell pressing is just getting my grip right but if I use less weight and make up the resistance in band tension it usually isn't as much of an issue.
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Band tension! Now that is something I should try. I'm not familiar with dumbbell hooks. What are those?
 
planetfuzz said:
Band tension! Now that is something I should try. I'm not familiar with dumbbell hooks. What are those?
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I have tried a homemade pair and they were pretty cool, the only problem is you have to have a bar to hook them to. The band tension is pretty nice though, all you need is a mini and monster mini band and you can get some really good additional tension out of those on db movement.
 
Why not have a small standing rack you can post at the end of a bench that holds the edges of the dumbell to the sides of your head, at about 80% of your arms reach. Then you just lay down and get em just like you would a barbell. Would be cheap and effective. And in a worst case scenario, you can always drop a barbell off the side, assuming no ones foot is nearby.
 
I am pretty good about getting the weight up to myself with knee kicks. Once I am done with the set I just do the opposite of what I did to get them up, then carry them back to the rack. I go up to 100lbs on incline and 80 on seated presses.
 
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