Starting Dumbbell Training

To help me start my weight training, I got several books on using dumbbells. The one I ended up using most is Dumbbell Training for Strength and Fitness, by Brzycki and Fornicola. It is aimed at the beginner starting with a home gym. The exercises in there are basic but cover all the muscle groups. I like the clear description of each exercise, and the indications on whether to skip it or how to adapt it in case of injury. The last part of the book is a collection of dumbbell workouts submitted by different coaches. It was fun to work through some of them and helps break monotony. The book has a good introductory section about safety practices and general advice. I still refer to it for reminders of the proper form for each exercise, and occasionally for new exercises to do.

Overall, if you're a beginner to dumbbells, this is the book!

The other popular book, Dumbbell Training, by Allen Hendrick, was useful for finding additional exercises. However, and I attach a strong warning label: NOT FOR HOME USE. At least, this book is ultimately not for me. The book is clearly written for professional coaches. The exercises are intended to be performed by trained athletes already in good shape. Some are advanced and outright dangerous for a beginner to perform without a coach and / or a spotter. The part about Power is particularly dangerous because it advocates weight-lifting type "explosive" training, with weights near the maximum limit you can lift. I'm not going to go there. For one, I'm not a professional athlete. Moreover, my goal is to reduce and prevent injury, not instigate it.

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