Barbells are only 45 pounds. I can't imagine that anyone would start off deadlifting or squatting less than that. The only exercise that you might need to start with dumbbells with is the press, maybe also bench if you're really out of shape or female. Doing the dumbbell variations of the major exercises is ok, but the reason I didn't mention them is because most people can do 45 pound lifts.
But you're right, you need to be careful to do the lifts right. The SS book is several hundred pages only devoted to the exercises in the program (squats, bench, power clean, press, and deadlift) and is an excellent guide to make sure you're doing every exercise correctly.
Barbells are only 45 pounds. I can't imagine that anyone would start off deadlifting or squatting less than that. The only exercise that you might need to start with dumbbells with is the press, maybe also bench if you're really out of shape or female. Doing the dumbbell variations of the major exercises is ok, but the reason I didn't mention them is because most people can do 45 pound lifts.
But you're right, you need to be careful to do the lifts right. The SS book is several hundred pages only devoted to the exercises in the program (squats, bench, power clean, press, and deadlift) and is an excellent guide to make sure you're doing every exercise correctly.