Dumbbell Gain: exercises become dangerous/impossible with heavy weights

🇬🇧 English speaking Forum
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Hi everyone, I’m a proud Freeletics users since 2020. I started with journeys based only on body weight, while in the last two years I’ve enjoyed the “Dumbbell Gain” Journey to focus on muscle mass.

I have to say that it is working pretty good and I’m seeing real improvements on my body. Maybe for genetics, I easily increased the weight of the dumbbells over and over, but now I am facing a serious problem with some exercises…

For example, now the app asks me to perform 8x Dumbbell Triceps Extensions with 32.5 Kg (!!).

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I can lift them, yes, but let’s image having a 32.5 Kg weight, for some seconds, right over your head. My hands could be slippery, or for whatever reason I might let go of the weight by mistake. Something really bad can happen :skull:

Another one: Dumbbell Pull Overs with 35 kilos.

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I really like that exercise, but again, having so much weights over you head is very dangerous.

Another side problem, some time it is practically impossible to keep heavyweights with just one hand for more than 2-3 reps. Example: Dumbbell Squat with 42.5 Kg!

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For this particular one, I’ve solved it by using a barbell and doing classic squats.

Anyway, I’m honestly becoming pretty scared to perform those exercise. Maybe I am reaching a point where it is better to go to the gym and use machines?

Have you ever faced this kind of issue? Maybe the Journey should set a maximum weight for those particular exercises, and increase reps or switch to different, more secure, exercises?

Thanks for your help!

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I know exactly how you feel. I decided to eliminate the problem by removing the heavier weights from my equipment list. I know it automatically means that they are not available for other, safer exercises but that’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make.

On the other hand, dropping even much smaller weight on your face can be pretty nasty so I guess it’s really a question of what kind of weight you feel comfortable with.

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Thanks for sharing! I understand but, yes, this is mostly a workaround rather than a practical solution. Hope this will be considered by Freeletics devs…