It is more important than ever to keep your muscle mass and overall strength up as you get older. Strength training is good for women over 50 because it keeps muscles healthy and makes you healthier, more balanced, and able to move around well.
That’s why I have designed this 30-minute full body dumbbell workout for muscle growth for women over 50.
This full-body dumbell workout ensures that all major muscle groups are engaged, leading to balanced muscle growth and improved functional strength.
The Full Body Dumbbell Workout for Muscle Growth
This dumbbell workout for muscle growth involves 45 seconds of exercise followed by a 15-second rest, covering seven exercises in three sets.
Start the exercise session with a warm up. Warming up prepares your muscles and joints for the workout ahead, reducing the risk of injury. A good warm-up includes dynamic stretches and light cardio, such as marching in place or arm circles, to get the blood flowing.
As you warm up your muscles, get ready to give it your all and appreciate your body’s strength and potential. Believe in the process; the work you do today will pay off tomorrow.
Let’s get started!
Round 1: Exercise Breakdown
1. Single Hand Row
Start by rowing with one hand. Pull in your abs and use your elbow to help you lift the dumbbell to your chest. Do the exercise for 45 seconds and then rest for 15 seconds.
2. Dumbbell Sumo Squat
The dumbbell sumo squat works the glutes, thighs, and legs next. Keep your feet wide apart and your knees turned outward. Hold your back straight and engage your core as you squat for four counts. Then, rise through your heels while squeezing your glutes.
READ ALSO: The Ultimate Strength Training Blueprint For Women Over 50
3. Shoulder Press
Getting stronger in the shoulders is the next goal. Straighten your back and make sure your elbows are in line with your shoulders. When you lift the dumbbells above your head, let out a deep breath. When you bring them back down to shoulder height, let in a deep breath.
4. Bicep Curls
Lift the dumbbells to your shoulders for one count and then lower them back to your thighs for four counts. This will strengthen your biceps. If the weight makes your elbow hurt, change it.
5. Sumo Squat Upright Row
Perform a sumo squat upright row by widening your legs, facing knees outward, lowering dumbbells to the ground, then rising through your heels and lifting the dumbbells to your chest.
6. Tricep Extension
Lift the dumbbell up and down with your triceps while keeping your elbows close to your ears. This will tone and tighten your triceps.
7. Core Stabilization
End the round by firing up your abs and burning belly fat. Stabilize your core, lift the dumbbell to shoulder height with straight arms, hold, and then lower it over four counts.
READ ALSO: 10 Strength Training Rules Women Over 50 Need to Follow For the Best Results
Round 2: Intensify the Challenge
Take a short break to drink some water, and then get ready for the second round. Make sure you keep good form and pick a weight that challenges you. Remember that the goal of this workout is to push you to your limits and help you build muscle and get stronger.
There is a big health risk if you do not stay active. What you are doing now is very important for staying healthy and living a long life.
Round 3: Final Push
In the third round, push yourself to the limit of your endurance. Try to finish each exercise so that you feel like it would be hard to do one more rep.
At this point, muscles start to get bigger. Be proud of what your body can do and make it a priority to stay healthy and strong.
Cool Down and Stretching
As you cool down, your body goes back to a resting state, which makes your muscles less stiff and sore. It also helps keep blood from pooling in the limbs, which can make you feel dizzy or pass out.
Effective Stretching Exercises
Hamstring Stretch: Sit on the floor with one leg extended and the other bent. Reach toward the toes of the extended leg.
Quadriceps Stretch: Stand on one leg, pulling the opposite foot toward your buttocks, to stretch the front of your thigh.
Shoulder Stretch: Bring one arm across your body and use the opposite hand to pull it closer.
Closing Thoughts
Strength training with dumbbells is a good way to keep your health in good shape and build muscle, especially if you are over 50. This 30-minute workout works out all of your major muscle groups, making you stronger, more balanced, and able to last longer.
You can get a lot of benefits from staying active and strong if you stick to this routine and pay attention to your nutrition and recovery. You should try to do this workout two to three times a week, with days off in between.
After and during workouts, pay attention to how your body feels. If you feel pain, which is different from the normal soreness that comes from working out, change the exercise or take a break.
Explore More
You should also try this effective workout: 4 Best Strength Exercises To Do Regularly in Your 50s
For a more organized plan, you can also check out our 14-day glow-up fitness course, which includes strength training, low-impact cardio, walking exercises, stretching, and balance exercises.
You can also check out the Fabulous50s Youtube channel for some amazing mobility workout routines.
Everything you need for healthy aging is just a click away.