Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers!
The gym was closed today, and it’s weights day today.
Being a holiday, of course I can choose to skip a workout. I chose to skip one earlier in the week due to sleep deprivation1, so on a day I was well-rested, not all that busy and the weather being gray and gloomy, I did want to go ahead and get in the mood enhancement of a short workout anyway.
When I started lifting, I started with a set of adjustable dumbbells. I made great progress and was happy with them. I figured though, since I’d “graduated” to a big ole macho gym workout that today would be light.
HA! I had a wonderful, sweat pouring off me workout quite as good as any I get in the gym.
Friends, if you cannot afford a gym membership and want to lift, do save up and treat yourself to a cheap set of adjustable dumbbells, no kidding. Mine are a set of Athletic Works that come in a case with 40 lbs of plates in the set, but each bar can take closer to 75lbs if you have the plates for it. I don’t, nor do I need them yet! (The heaviest weight I put on them is about 35 lbs for a total of 70 lbs for dumbbell squats). The original set cost me about $30, and I may have spent an additional $30 on more plates. Plates are relatively cheap.
Now, do I like the gym? Good lord yes! The feedback and the motivation is wonderful, and exploring all the neat gadgets, machines and whatnot is all kinds of fun. But they’re not necessary. If I’m in a situation where I can’t afford a gym membership any more, my good friends the dumbbells will always be there for me.
And if you don’t believe me, check this out:
All Dumbbells, All The Time!
Dumbbell Exercises
The Complete Dumbbell Workout
1Up with a child having an asthmatic attack. He’s fine now, thank goodness!