Dumbbell Workouts
Dumbbell Workouts have a very real necessity in any weight or strength training program. There are several exercises that use barbells or machines to work specific muscle groups. Don’t get me wrong, barbells and exercise machines have their purpose. However, I just want to point out, that at a certain point, your body becomes unbalanced. That is, that one side becomes more dominant than the other. For instance, with a chest press using a decent amount of weight on the barbell, one arm will eventually take over. You can see this, by a crooked bar pushing away from your chest. The right or left arm is stronger than the other arm.
Now, when using dumbbell workouts, both arms have to work equally to move the
weight. Doing a unilateral workout (one leg or arm works independent of the other leg or arm) helps you eliminate dominance of one side, the right or the left. You want your body to be balanced physically and emotionally!
Another little trick to even out stronger and weaker sides, is to start with the weaker side first. If you are doing chest presses with one arm at a time, push the “left” (weaker) arm first doing a specific number of repetitions. Then do the same number of repetitions with the “right” (stronger) arm. Do the same number of sets with each arm, starting with the weaker arm. Eventually, that weaker arm will become as strong as the other arm.
This can also be done with the legs using the Leg Extension/Leg Curl machines and even the Leg Sled/Leg Press Machine. Start with the weaker leg first for a set number of repetitions. Then do the same number of reps with the stronger leg. With the legs, you will have to drop the weight to an amount that is challenging for each leg. Do not use more weight on one side than the other…ever!
I hope these little tips help out with your dumbbell workouts. Stick with dumbbell workouts or unilateral workouts for 4 or so weeks. You should begin to see more strength come to the weaker side. Feel free to use these dumbbell workouts as you need. Happy training and stay well balanced!
