If you find dumbbells difficult to hold, try switching to this piece of equipment

Woman exercising at home. She is sitting on an exercise mat with her feet raised, holding a weight plate and her torso turned to the right-hand side.

I recently started training with a weight plate after writing about my experience of weighted vests and I’m amazed how versatile it is. A weight plate is flat and some varieties feature built-in handles to make gripping easier. While they are typically used to load barbells or to attach to machines, they can also be used on their own for a variety of exercises.

As a personal trainer I sometimes hear from clients that a weight plate is easier to hold than dumbbells, particularly during triceps extensions because the load feels more evenly distributed.