The 8 BEST Dumbbell Exercises | Made Better!! (NEW) – ATHLEAN-X™

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The best dumbbell exercises are tough to come up with when you realize just how many options you have to choose from. That said, I did this in a very successful video I made awhile back where I selected the 8 best dumbbell exercises for building muscle and athleticism. If you haven’t seen that then you should really check it out. In the meantime, we are all about progress here and I am looking to raise the bar once again. Here I am going to make those incredibly effective dumbbell exercises even better by putting the science back in strength yet again.

One of the most impactful concepts that you can bring with you to the gym is that of the science of strength curves. Did you know, an exercise can have a very different effect on your body depending on whether you perform it with a dumbbell, barbell, bands, cables, etc. In fact, the exact same exercise movement done with a different training tool can be felt in an entirely different way even though the move is the same to a bystander watching you perform it.

This is due to the varying strength curves of exercises when done with different pieces of equipment. For instance, when doing a dumbbell curl, the strength curve is such that the exercise starts out rather easy and gets incredibly difficult in the middle of the range of motion (when your elbows are bent to 90 degrees). From here however, the tension once again dissipates and the exercise becomes easy again at the top of the movement. This is because the force of gravity acting down on the dumbbell is now parallel to the moving limb and very little work is being done by the biceps.

On the other hand, if you were to perform the same curl but with a band your muscles would experience something very different. The band would become increasingly harder as the hands were lifted further and further. This is because the tension in the band would get more difficult as it was stretched more and more beyond it’s limits. If you applied both a band and the dumbbells in the same movement, you would instantly feel the power of strength curves as you could make the exercise more results producing throughout the mid range and end of the exercise.

In this video, I show you how to do exactly that to the original 8 best dumbbell exercises. To recap again those exercises were:

Dumbbell curl and press
Dumbbell Thrusters
Farmers Carries
One Armed Dumbbell Bench Press
Crush Grip Goblet Squats
Dumbbell Pullovers
Swings
Three Point Dumbbell Row

Each of these dumbbell exercises can be made better by the inclusion of a band. Using either overlapping strength curves or ones that accentuate the control of the negative portion of the rep, each of these great exercises is made more intense with the addition of a single band.

If you are looking for a program that puts these and only the most effective exercises in your workouts, head to and get the ATHLEAN-X Training System. Start training like an athlete and see how much more quickly you can expect to see results from your workouts.

For more videos on how to build muscle with dumbbells and the best dumbbell exercises you can do at home or at the gym, be sure to subscribe to our channel here on youtube at

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44 comments

ATHLEAN-X™ December 20, 2018 - 11:15 pm

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Shinesh Ramballi June 12, 2019 - 10:16 am

Jeff “Add the band” Cavaliere

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Nostalgia June 25, 2019 - 8:40 pm

I only have a light weight resistance band😬

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Adamska Shalashaska July 2, 2019 - 8:55 am

Should I put some rubber bands in my protein powder to make it better?

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Del Hatcher July 3, 2019 - 1:12 am

What are the best exercises for old people like me ( 65 ) and out of shape. Just had a stint put in, and supposed to be doing cardiac rehab, but VA can't seem to get it together to get me started on it. I'm still pretty strong, just no stamina or endurance.

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Project Management July 13, 2019 - 7:30 pm

What if the band snaps during the farmer carry?

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Alien Barnacle August 19, 2019 - 9:58 am

New title: bands are good with dumbells

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Mario August 26, 2019 - 2:54 pm

5:35 Imaging doing that entering from the shore to the sea and fight against the waves resistance

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Mario August 26, 2019 - 3:05 pm

0:48 , 2:10 , 3:19 , 4:13 , 5:12 , 6:14 , 7:29 , 8:52

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Sonny August 27, 2019 - 2:54 pm

I don’t fuck with any other channels anymore , whatever Jeff says is the way she goes boys

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Ian barber September 8, 2019 - 8:06 pm

This should be titled “how bands make dumbbell exercises better”

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Giwrgos Mavrommatis October 3, 2019 - 11:27 am

what type of bands are you using on the video?

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Prathik Kumar B October 7, 2019 - 1:57 pm

How often am I supposed to train with these 8 exercises to gain muscle mass ??? Provided with proper nutrition…

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Reizermo October 27, 2019 - 11:35 am

Nice one Jeff. Good work out today following these exercises (as closely as practical with the equipment I have at home). Very effective. Thanks

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Zenith Gaming November 21, 2019 - 1:57 pm

How to make anything in life more difficult: Add a band.

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gavilanes07 December 12, 2019 - 5:08 am

Thank you Jeff, I've been following you for 2 yrs now. Lost 80+ lbs I was weighing 368lbs now at 276lbs. I don't go to gym I just do my 5am routine exercise 3 times a week implementing your exercise techniques. You're awesome and I appreciate the anatomical knowledge you provide in each video. I am study to be a physical therapist as well. God Bless you in his name Jesus Christ!

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D. Chunk December 13, 2019 - 5:21 pm

Jeff would also argue adding bands can make your marriage better

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Charlie MMAFAN December 17, 2019 - 3:27 am

I'm sure all these exercises would work great but I think it's a little bit too time-consuming and complicated getting the bands all situated right when you're trying to make the most basic, simple and short duration dumbbell workout because I honestly think most people wouldn't have the interest at all in getting those bands situated right but your video is still interesting to watch just like all your videos are but I just don't think hardly anyone regardless of the effectiveness of adding bands would actually care to take the time and energy to situate the band's right but great video none the less.

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Vollick January 7, 2020 - 7:22 pm

Now we know why Jeff is hairless, the bands pulled it all off.

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TechniQue January 26, 2020 - 3:12 am

Is this workout effective

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Brittnee Treco February 4, 2020 - 12:00 am

what are these type of bands called?

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Paul Muir February 21, 2020 - 12:08 pm

You gotta love Jeff. The man is serving up the knowledge. Listen and learn. 💪😁

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Jeannie Jones Spagirl February 22, 2020 - 1:47 am

I think the original is the BEST! Everyone COPIES me at 24 Hour Fitness Apopka because it is a GREAT Dumbbell Workout. Thank you.

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N M February 23, 2020 - 3:44 am

Exercise + band = better

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FreddyDMV March 27, 2020 - 7:38 pm

Id like to know which bands is he using cause the ones I got wont stretch as much.

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Martín Falabella May 14, 2020 - 4:33 am

You are a master

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Tmk777 May 30, 2020 - 5:35 pm

I can see why Jeff likes the face pull so much. It involves external rotation, a band, and looks deceptively easy.

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Kavi arasu June 12, 2020 - 10:26 am

What is that band names?

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Voice of Treason June 12, 2020 - 7:03 pm

ye i can't do any of these exercises, they all require a band. should have been in the video title that this is all about adding a band to dumbbell exercises.

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Spaoaj Aikn June 18, 2020 - 3:20 am

1 curl to press military
2 squat to press military
3 DB swings
4 1 arm bench press
5 carrier
6 DB row
7 squat goblet
8 DB pullover

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Ash June 29, 2020 - 12:28 am

I’ve watched like 30 athlean x videos in a row and I’m so confused

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Bane Gamboa July 12, 2020 - 4:47 pm

I want to try this with a weighted vest. Good or bad idea?

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AGB Music July 18, 2020 - 6:25 pm

Imagine the band snappin and slapped his face or sumn😂

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Michael Kleinert July 19, 2020 - 4:21 pm

Tell me more about this black band. Brand, where to purchase etc. Thanks

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Eric Mcgowan November 12, 2020 - 4:03 am

Anybody know the name of those bands?

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Marbles November 16, 2020 - 5:07 pm

The dumbbell pullover is killing my rotator cuff, pulling my shoulders out of their sockets. So sad, cause it seems to work my lats better than anything else.

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The Chef November 23, 2020 - 10:21 pm

I have to say" Jeff you are a genius and are not wrong about what you say about how many wrong ways you see in the gym". I'm as you would say a beginner but I use your methods and techniques to learn and train as an athlete and I see results already with less pain and injuries. Thank you and keep teaching the proper ways to stay fit.💪💪💪

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JHW December 3, 2020 - 5:06 pm

What bands do you use?

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Eric Mcgowan December 27, 2020 - 12:04 am

Anybody know the name of that band? I would really appreciate any help.

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Raja Krishnamoorthy January 21, 2021 - 2:07 am

Awesome use of bands!

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Milan Pavlović February 6, 2021 - 6:53 pm

Having sex ?
Want to make it better ?
.
.
.
Add a band

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Thomas J February 20, 2021 - 6:54 pm

Gonna get the band back together 😎

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Jordan Asir August 30, 2021 - 6:17 am Reply
Jenish Shah September 25, 2021 - 9:08 am Reply