Are you getting tired of lifting weights day in and day out? Are you looking for a fresh new way to keep fit? If so, then maybe it’s time for you to consider getting some exercise rubber bands. Also known as resistance bands, these fitness tools have been around for quite some time, but only a few exercisers actually take the time to include them in their exercise programs. Perhaps it’s time to take a new look at what these bands have to offer in keeping you in shape.
These rubber bands have the unique ability to provide resistance throughout a particular movement. When you use free weights, you do not necessarily get continuous resistance as you lift and lower it repetitively. What usually happens is that the free weights, along with gravity, works to give your muscles resistance when you lift your arms. However, you lose much of that resistance during the lowering portion of the movement and you often simply drop the weight at this point. With resistance bands, you can focus on both the lifting and the lowering part of the entire movement. Your muscles are therefore being challenged in a totally different way, thus helping you avoid those pesky weight loss plateaus.
Control is the most important aspect of performing lifting exercises with resistance bands. If you do not focus on what you are doing, you could lose control of the band and hurt yourself when it snaps back and hits you. What’s good about exercise rubber bands is that it allows you to perform hundreds of resistance exercises other than lifting. Furthermore, it is very light and can easily be rolled to fit into your gym bag or suitcase, thus making it very handy for those who often travel. With this little piece of fitness equipment, you can exercise wherever and whenever you want.
Now, you might think that all resistance bands are made the same. That is not the case. There are actually several different kinds. Primarily, these bands can vary in thickness. As a general rule, thicker bands provide more intense workouts. It would be wise to get several bands of differing thickness because some exercises actually require less resistance than others. Once you have your exercise bands, you can start using them for upper body exercises like chest and overhead presses, lateral raises, and bicep curls. You can also use these bands to get some great thigh, leg, and butt workouts.
Remember to warm-up before doing resistance training with your bands. Five to ten minutes of cardiovascular exercise should be enough to prepare your body for the rubber band workouts. Similarly, it is important to cool down after using exercise rubber bands. This means spending another five to ten minutes for stretching exercises. This is a part of your workout that should absolutely not be skipped because it serves to bring your body back down into its natural, resting state. You should never forget to cool down. Take note that rubber band exercises must be done on non-consecutive days, two to three days each week. Remember to talk to your doctor before starting on rubber band exercises, in case you need to work around certain medical conditions or physical limitations.
Author Resource:-
I am very much into interior design, fashion, and fitness. My latest articles are about the Betty Boop shower curtain and bathroom shower rods. Stop by sometime if you would like to read them.
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