DIY Dumbbell Add-on Weights

Hat tip to the body building forum that gave me the instructions to make my own "PlateMates(©)" which are 1.25 or 2.5 lb magnetic plates that you can add to your dumbbells to incrementally increase your free weight weights. My cheapness prohibited me from purchasing the real deal, and Google took me to the afore mentioned forum that said some rare earth neodymium magnets (usually available at your local hardware store) and Gorilla Glue to turn my 2.5 lb plates into magnetic add on weights that secure to the end of hex dumbbells. The glue is to attach the magnets to the plates so you can slide the plates on and off the dumbbells because these suckers attract hard, and I mean hard. You have to re-glue the magnets every once in awhile. Plus they are brittle, so you don't want to be smacking them on there or they will break. They seem to stick fine, just have to leave my wallet out my pocket lest my credit cards get erased. I've used these on 55 lb hex as well, but use at your own risk. 

Free Weight Dumbbells

I used to use dumbbells with collars so I could change plates and various weights as needed. The two problems with the collar type dumbbells are the time it takes to change weight and the bulky nature of the bar that sticks out either side. The time problem was never much of an issue for me, since you are supposed to be resting in between sets anyhow. However, the portions of the bar that stuck out started to bother me, after I read that this bothered someone else. Thus, I invested in some hex dumbbells, but only when I could get them on sale or with a coupon or something. Don't talk about those smart dumbbells (great oxymoron) that adjust on the fly; they look like silly and are uber expensive. Of course, to buy a complete set of hex would be less than the adjustable, but that is so far-sighted. I wonder when free weights got their name. It is not like there were machines at first that had the name bound weights. Shouldn't they just be weights? 

Treadmill

Not only do you still get that all high-impact stress on your body, you also get to look at the same scenery the whole-time!