My health club only has one strength training machine and no free weights. I would like to build some muscle and boost my metabolism, plus there's nothing like the satisfyingly sore feeling the day after I have a good work-out. Our budget does not permit me to have two health club memberships, and the pool allows me to do an exercise routine that I love. (Plus, the kids really enjoy it as well.) So, I've been looking at reasonably priced alternatives, and if they work, I would like to try them. Anyone have any experience with them? Robin - I'd be particularly interested in hearing your personal training expertise.
Not Robin, but I use the bands in a couple of my workout programs and when I'm on vacation. They usually come with an exercise booklet and there are websites (e.g., http://exercise.about.com/cs/exercis...andworkout.htm) that have routines you can use. My personal trainer actually gave me a set as a gift, and incorporated a couple of exercises into my routine. Just as you would with weights, you have to go up a size once it's easy to do the standard number of reps.
Hi LaurieDawn. Yes indeedy. I LOVE my resistance bands. It's definitely an inexpensive at home way to get in your strength training. Here's a very infomative and useful link to some resistance band exercises. I do some of them myself and some others that aren't on the link. They're definitely hard to explain. I don't as of yet do the ones with the stability ball. I alternate days, one day upper body, one day lower body.
Also, I do weights at home. I have a pair of 5, 8, 10, 15, and 20 lb dumbbells. I also have an adjustable dumbbell set. I do lots of weight workouts with all of those.
I have home bands that I bought--I think I got them for a fabulous price at TJMaxx, originally. But I bought some additional ones at Target when they were on sale. However, the ones I love the most, are the flat kind that my physical therapist gave me. They come in a roll in a box. If you haven't bought any yet, you might want to check with a physical therapist and see if you can get them from them. I bet they are cheap, cheap, cheaper. They are awesome and fold up so nicely for traveling. For some reason, I find them easier to hold onto than the others.
strength training bands
