Dumbell workout - bench a neccesity?

I've been using dumbells more and more lately, but my preference is to lie on the floor on my back whilst watching tv etc. and do a 'light' workout while watching the news etc. How much 'less effective' is this than using a bench? I do have a bench but use it mostly for my barbells.

Typically I'll do quite a variety of exersizes this way, one I like in particular is to push the weights straight up from my body, then let them down very slowly to the floor beside me with my arms straight, then curl them in to my chest using my biceps and repeating. Another is keeping my arms straight and raising the weights straight above me, lowering very slowly, sometimes pausing 1/2 way down for as long as I can, then lowering and repeating.

Would I gain much by doing these on a bench? The only difference I can see is that my arms would be lowered that much more below my body.

:: 'light' workout while watching the news etc. How much 'less :: effective' is this than using a bench? I do have a bench but use it :: mostly for my barbells. :: :: Typically I'll do quite a variety of exersizes this way, one I like :: in particular is to push the weights straight up from my body, then :: let them down very slowly to the floor beside me with my arms :: straight, then curl them in to my chest using my biceps and :: repeating. Another is keeping my arms straight and raising the :: weights straight above me, lowering very slowly, sometimes pausing :: 1/2 way down for as long as I can, then lowering and repeating. :: :: Would I gain much by doing these on a bench? The only difference I :: can see is that my arms would be lowered that much more below my :: body.

I believe so. Better range of motion...more progress. use your bench, bud.

You could also try using one of those Swiss balls for a bench if you're not pushing really big weights on your DB's. It'll help your stabalizer's while you watch TV.

i sometimes use my swiss ball for a bench, but i find that i have to be careful because the lack of head support makes my neck do funny things that almost always result in a headache. most of the time, i use a reebok step that i got at the swap meet for three dollars.

i highly recommend the swiss ball as a computer chair, though.

I would be very reluctant to do any heavy dumbbell bench pressing while lying on the floor. If you hit failure and have to dump one or both of the dumbbells, you don't want them falling onto the ground on the same level as your head and body.

I'm not a bodybuilder and by no means an expert, but I've heard that for the chest, 'dips' (basically a push up between two chairs) are one of the most effective exercises... no bench required. Maybe some of the experienced muscle guys here can comment on that.

There was once a man on MFW who advocated said dips.

I think he died.

I just started doing that too. Good for the abs and back! I was looking at backpacks on Healthyback.com and saw that they had swiss balls on sale, so I picked one up cheap. Best thing I've done for my back since I had some rolfing sessions a couple years ago.