


In reality, your chances of “accidentally” bulking up from lifting weights are about as good as replacing Danica Patrick on the racetrack because hey, you drive a car too right? After all, fear of getting too bulky is one of the most common concerns among women who are new to strength training. I understand the concern my new Instagram friend has. If I gain muscle and I don’t lose any fat from that area, I can’t imagine…” They are so big already and resistant to losing weight. WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS by am afraid that if I workout, my arms will get bigger. Most can be adjusted from 5 pounds up to 52.5 pounds and start at $249.

They allow you to do the most exercises, target all muscle groups, and they take up little space. These will vary anywhere from $13 to over $300 depending on the weight ranges you need and whether you buy just one or multiple kettlebells.Īdjustable Dumbbells: Although these can be expensive depending on the weight range you need, I consider them to be the best investment of all of these pieces of equipment. Kettlebells: These allow you to do compound exercises, core exercises, rowing and pulling, curling, functional movements, and metabolic conditioning. However, if you are unable to do a single pull-up or chin-up at this time, I would start with resistance bands and/or the TRX first. Pull-Up Bar: Pull-ups and chin-ups are very efficient because they work your biceps, triceps, forearms, lats, shoulders, core, and they improve grip strength. These start at $149 with the door anchor included. TRX Suspension Trainer: Many of the same exercises can be done with the TRX as resistance bands, however, the TRX also allows for some more challenging exercises that are performed suspended (feet hooked into the straps). A good set of 5 resistance bands with handles and a door anchor starts at $21 on Amazon. Resistance Bands: These allow you to do exercises you cannot do with your bodyweight alone, particularly, exercises for your back muscles that involve pulling. Jump Rope: Effective for high-intensity cardio, warm-ups, speed and agility, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and metabolic conditioning. If you don’t have any workout equipment at home and need to make the switch, below is a list of what I believe to be the best pieces of in-home equipment, prices included. You don’t need them all, but it’s a good idea to invest in one or two of these items to allow for a complete full-body workout. With gyms shut down everywhere for the foreseeable future, it’s as important a time as ever to make sure we are staying active and healthy.
