This full-body dumbbell strength workout is geared towards women and can be done at home or in the gym. The dumbbell workout targets mostly the posterior chain (back of the body) to help improve posture and strength. With only five dumbbell exercises this strength workout for women takes about 25-30 minutes.
As a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, staying strong is important to me. It's why I love resistance training and work out the way I do (along with all these other benefits!). Maintaining and improving my strength makes me feel good, it allows me to keep up with my girls and it keeps me injury-free.
But to be honest, being strong takes work. It's not something that comes easily and that makes me feel even better. I want both my girls to grow up loving exercise, movement and always feeling like they can (just one of the reasons I work out with my toddler). For me, resistance training does that.
Want to know more about easing in or starting to strength train? Read more about it and check out the tips in the video below.
Don't want to read? JUMP to the workout.
What Is A Strength-Based Workout?
Many women are familiar with using circuit workouts. These workouts are done quickly and usually combine 4-7 exercises to be done back to back without rest.
While circuit workouts can leave you breathless, sweaty, and fatigued when your goal is to develop sheer strength you need to both lift weights but also rest and recover between sets. The goal isn't to get through the full-body dumbbell strength workout as fast as possible but to really engage and activate the muscles during the exercises.
[bctt tweet="The goal isn't to get through the workout as fast as possible but to really engage and activate the muscles during the exercises." username="fitasamamabear"]
Likewise, the purpose of this full-body dumbbell workout for women is to really focus on using, recruiting, and strengthening your muscles throughout each and every repetition.
It is this style of workout that over time, gives your muscles the lean, toned look most women strive for. Learn more about toning and how it really works.
You need to focus and develop your mind-muscle connection. And while you can definitely become stronger if you complete this workout as a circuit (back to back exercises), you'll target your muscles just a bit differently if you slow it down, lift a bit heavier and rest between sets.
So instead of rushing your way through the exercises, take your time and feel each and every repetition. Make yourself work for it but not fully fatigue your muscles. It's a delicate balance but a great one.
Exercises In The Full-Body Dumbbell Strength Workout For women
I chose these dumbbell exercises because they're simple, most people know them and they're effective. Exercises like the front squat are critical for everyday movement (especially with kids). In fact, most of the exercises are part of the five movements every mom needs to master.
These are exercises that help busy moms:
- carry kids easier
- ease back pain
- do the things they enjoy
It's natural for me to focus more on the back of the body (posterior chain) because most people are weaker there due to poor posture, pregnancy, desk jobs, and a lack of activation. Training the posterior chain also helps prevent injury. Improve posture and more specifically train the glutes.
Most of the exercises focus on muscles we normally overlook when going through a circuit (the upper back muscles and the hamstrings and glutes). But it's these muscles that keep us strong and healthy which is why it's important not just to do them but to really feel them working as you use them.
How To Use This Full-Body Dumbbell Strength Workout
This full-body dumbbell workout is best performed at a slow and controlled pace. Try to challenge yourself with your weights while maintaining proper form and engage each muscle within the exercise.
Ideally, this strength workout is performed with straight sets. This means that you'll complete all the prescribed sets and repetitions of one exercise before moving on to the next.
However, if you're severely short on time, you can use the exercises like supersets (two exercises back to back). Thus, this would pair an upper and a lower exercise for the first two groups and thus you shouldn't be too fatigued to keep your weights heavy.
Make sure you're giving lots of time between sets (1-2 minutes) for your central nervous system to recover.
For this workout, if you're not hitting the gym you're going to need some equipment! I snag a lot of my equipment from Pro Source and if you use code "mamabearfit" you'll save fifteen percent on the best price on the site!
The Dumbbell Workout For Women
A1. DB front squat 3 sets x 8 6 6 reps
B1. Bentover DB Row 3 sets x 8 6 6 reps
C1. DB Lunge 3 sets x 8 reps
D1. Standing Shoulder Press 2 sets x 8 reps
E1. DB Romanian Deadlift 2 sets x 10 reps
F1. Single Leg Hip Thrust 2 sets x 12 reps
For the exercise, perform eight repetitions of a dumbbell front squat. Rest for one minute and then perform six repetitions. Take a rest for one more minute and finish by performing another six repetitions. Rest. Then, move on to the bentover rows.
Note: when the repetitions go down (8/6/6) the weights your holding should go up.
Need a warm-up? Learn more about warm-up exercises and how to make them effective! Plus grab a five-minute warm-up.
How Often Should I Use This Dumbbell Strength Workout For Women?
You can use this full-body dumbbell strength workout in two ways. The first is to use this workout and perform it three times each week (on non-consecutive days to give your body rest) for a total of 4-5 weeks.
Or, you can combine it with two other workouts and make that your weekly routine. Meaning:
Monday: this dumbbell workout for strength
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: strength workout for a strong back
Thursday: rest
Friday: dumbbell workout for strong legs
You would then repeat that workout routine for 4-5 weeks before you either changed your workouts, variations of the exercises or your weights to keep progressing towards your goals.
Don`t forget to pin this 30-minute full-body dumbbell strength workout for women!
thatssodarling
I love the pictures with what to do, so nice.
fitasamamabear
Thanks!
kate
Super glad to see you including warm ups! So easy to pull something while lifting!
fitasamamabear
Thanks! I HATE warming up but if you're lifting heavier weights you need it- it's not worth the pain from pulling or injuring!
lau
this was very nicely explained. I used to workout at home after work until i joined a gym. But truth is i even workout less now!! I will try some of these at home, thx
xx
lau
http://www.malibluemymind.com
fitasamamabear
Sometimes having to actually go to the gym makes it so you skip it lol it's a lot of work to get ready and out the door!
chrissy
I am in desperate need of this! guess what I am trying out tomorrow?
fitasamamabear
Ahh perfect! Let me know how you like it 😉
Laura
I'm right there with you mama!! I'm surprised at how much I lift my son all day and running around after him as he wanders and explores. It is so important to be strong so that you don't end up hurting yourself!
xo, Laura
http://www.have-need-want.com
fitasamamabear
Yes!! Kids keep you active much more than you think- so might as well stay strong to keep up with them and make it easier on yourself!
Agness of Fit Travelling
This is an awesome workout which I will definitely try to incorporate into my daily workout routine, Shelby! How many time a week would you recommend repeating it?
fitasamamabear
Awesome Agness! If you're new to lifting weights I'd say start with twice per week. Otherwise bump up to three. It's a full body one so no muscle is targeted TOO much which means after the initial shock to your system you shouldn't be too sore. Just remember to give your muscles a day or so between to recoup 🙂 Let me know what you think when you try it!