hope this is ok..

i am just beginning ( trying to figure out ) a program for excercise, which will include aerobic excercise with a rebounder and alternating with free weights routines, as was mentioned in the 'over 50's' thread when it was at the main raw foods discussions section..

a couple people said that they had done such a routine, and this " filled all the bills' for good workout, weight-bearing excercise, variety, and something which we can keep up..without 'going round the bend' ( which, admittedly , i am already half there.. with all this diet stuff.)

ok.. i have not done this for years.
i have a little sheet with four or five excercises.
1. dumbell squats..( who is the dumbell?)
2. dumbell lateral raise
3. dumbell curls
4. dumbell overhead triceps extension
5 dumbell bench press
6 dumbell one arm row.

these , hopefully, will sound familiar to someone.

If not , that is ok.

my question:
it says,on the instructions: "beginners should start with one set of 8-12 reps of each excercise, using 5-8 pound weights.

is this what any of you experienced people do?
i was going to begin with 2 pound weights.
but maybe i should increase the weight for it to be effective??

is that the point, or can i do , say, two and increase to three sets of 8-12 reps of each excercise using 2-3 pound weights.

i hope this is not all gobbledegook.
i am just wondering
where to begin.. and i definitely want to make it simple!

thanks in advance i hope
struggling weight bearing excerciser