Excercises without weights...

Hello again! I'm just wondering if there are some good non-weight exercises to do while I am waiting for school to start (we get student rebate at the gym)? I know that I can do push ups and crunches, but what more? I tried to do squats with a dumb-bell, but that didn't feel effective.

BTW, how many percent of one's body is one lifting when doing push ups?

For legs you can do one legged squats (unless you're really coordinated you might want to hold onto something for balance). You could also try stepping up onto something like a sturdy chair or a table.

Calves = single leg calf raises.

To add weight you could use a backpack and load it with books or something.

For shoulders you can try handstand pushups with your feet against a wall. You could also get something like a spare tire and do some lifts with that.

You could try to do some sort of pullover exercise with your back on a bench or chair. Maybe use the tire for weight?

If you have a basement you could try doing pullups from the underside of the stairs - watch your head though.

You could make some dumbells out of 1 gallon jugs by filling them with sand or pebbles and use them for lateral raises (both standing side lateral raises for your deltoids and bent rear lateral raises for your read deltoids / back.)

For your lower back you can lay face down on the floor and raise your legs and your upper body off the floor.

There have got to be more out there...try using a search engine. Also, I think I saw an article headline about exercising without weights at MSN.com a while ago.

I would suggest making it a type of circuit routine - that way you can skip the bike ride if you feel like it.

Have fun,
SMF

Hi, You can try Dips for overall upperbody strength. If you don't have dip bars just use two chairs.

HI Shin

I don't know your financial situation, but if you have some money, buy a pair of dumbells.
You could do so many things with them.

Varations of Bicep Curls, Variations of Tricep extensions, deltoid raises to the front and the sides,
Chest Flys.

You probably wouldn't be able to do Bench presses with the same dumbells as they would be too light.
BUT doing the chest fly motion can be a great workout.

I don't know how strong your back is but you may be able to do a back exercize too.
If you have a realy strong back, then the weights will be too light.

I hope this helps,
Cal Man

Thanks guys! I do have dumbbells but I am limited to 16 kg (I have run out of weights). So maybe I should just do more reps with them? I tried to do squats with my brother on my shoulder (about 70 kg) but it did not work for too long because he was so ticklish... :lol

My financial situation will improve greatly when school starts again. I thought that I would get a job this summer but nope, all the companies in my city did not seem to want me... This year I'm going to save most of my money so that the upcoming summer won't be so painful. But, I am graduating this year so maybe I'll have a real job by then...