We've recently moved and are now about 30 minutes drive from any workout facilities. Hubby and I are looking into eventually getting a home gym, but I'd like to start building muscles now. I'm one of those women who does want muscle to bump up my metabolism, and, because I think it looks great. I also would like to strengthen my quads, gluts and hammies so I can run again while protecting my knees. If I purchase some good quality resistance bands, can I expect to build significant muscles or are resistance bands more of a starter to eventually working with free weights?

I don't know how typical my experience is...but I gained -more- muscle on resistance bands than on free weights, or at least, my body fat % reduced more quickly and my muscles became more visible. So...plenty! And if they get too easy, you can buy a band with more resistance or switch to free weights if you so desire.

You can definitely build muscle with resistance bands. Eventually, though, the bands will not provide enough resistance to challenge you anymore, and your muscle gains will taper off.

How long that takes will depend on how strong you are now, whether you're getting enough cals and protein to build muscle, how much resistance the bands provide, your specific mix of muscle fibers, whether the prevailing winds are from the north or south, etc etc.

Kim

You can get a great workout with bands- and some have so much resistance that I can barely budge against them. Check out the stickie at the top on Resistance Band Workouts. And get creative! Think of the motion you want to perform, the muscles used, then think up a way to make it harder with bands.

Mel

You could always wrap them around your hand if you notice you're becoming too strong for the bands.

I'd also recommend Billy Banks' Taebo bootcamp series. You get a good cardio workout then there is a total body resistance band workout series at the end of the DVD's. It's awesome, and moderately paced.

Even P90X (sorta the gold standard hardcore home lifting DVD program) gives the option to use bands, so I'd say they are pretty good, but I've never been to the fitness level yet where I'd notice the difference (yet!)

Thank you to all who provided answers to my question. I have purchased some bands and I look forward to letting everyone now how they work for me.