Suggestions for Resistance Bands??

slowturtle1
slowturtle1 Posts: 284 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm turning to the community for suggestions because I've seen some great advice about home workouts. A while ago I started carrying two 5 lb weights with me on my outdoor walks so I could get in a little arm work with my cardio (an attempt to multi-task my workout, and to keep from getting bored on the days I don't really want to get out there). I work biceps, triceps, and shoulders while walking. With the heat of the summer now the 5 lb dumbbells are a pain. My hands get sweaty and it's hard to run with them. I thought resistance bands (loop bands?) might be a better choice, but I don't really know anything about them. Are they all basically the same? I noticed on Amazon that you can buy a set of 3 different strengths. I can't see that I would ever be able to use the heavy one, but then again I don't know much about using them. I'm assuming they may come with some suggestions for various ways to use them? Any advice or information would be wonderful! :happy: THANK YOU!

Replies

  • AliciaBeth78
    AliciaBeth78 Posts: 437 Member
    I don't have any real information but I do love my resistance bands.... even if I really don't know exactly what to do with them other than a few home things.

    For biceps - I really like standing on the band and just doing bicep curls
    For triceps - I will wrap it around a piece of furniture and do tricep extensions

    I'm pretty sure there are a ton of exercises you can do with them, but you know me... I'm not much of a home workout person :)
  • jkeeling39
    jkeeling39 Posts: 30
    I'm a big fan of the Lifeline bands. Below is a link for the handles you can buy that accommodate up to three different cables. Because there are 3 slots you can tailor these for any resistance level. Plus when after you buy your first set of cables and max those out you will be able to easily replace those with a higher resistance.

    http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3903125&cp=693940&pg=8&sr=1&origkw=Resistance+Bands&parentPage=family
  • slowturtle1
    slowturtle1 Posts: 284 Member
    I don't have any real information but I do love my resistance bands.... even if I really don't know exactly what to do with them other than a few home things.

    For biceps - I really like standing on the band and just doing bicep curls
    For triceps - I will wrap it around a piece of furniture and do tricep extensions

    I'm pretty sure there are a ton of exercises you can do with them, but you know me... I'm not much of a home workout person :)

    True, but you are riding that real bike now! ;) I have those kinds of resistance bands and never use them because like you said I have to stand on them or wrap them around something. Years ago I took an aerobics class that used these giant rubber band things, like rubber loops. I can't remember what we did with them, but I remember I loved them.
  • _Punjab
    _Punjab Posts: 67
    I'm not an expert on advice for using them, but I bought these and love them! I didn't think that I would really use the heavier ones, either, but I like to try maybe one set every once in a while with them just because it's fun. I really recommend this kit because it does give you 5 different "weights" to be playing around with, and the door anchor and ankle strap, which you'll be glad you have because they add a lot of variety.


    http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mountain-Products-Resistance-Exercise/dp/7245456313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341890654&sr=8-1&keywords=black+mountain+resistance+bands
  • NerdyTXChick
    NerdyTXChick Posts: 155 Member
    I've also been looking into resistance bands, but I too am a complete newbie on the subject. I found this website that I was just starting to read and thought I would share:

    http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/a/resistance.htm
  • slowturtle1
    slowturtle1 Posts: 284 Member
    I've also been looking into resistance bands, but I too am a complete newbie on the subject. I found this website that I was just starting to read and thought I would share:

    http://exercise.about.com/cs/exerciseworkouts/a/resistance.htm

    Very helpful article! Thanks! I didn't know what to call the ones you could use while walking (don't have to step on). It looks like they are CIRCULAR BANDS or FIGURE EIGHT BANDS. I'll try putting that into Amazon and see what comes up. Maybe there's a YouTube video showing how to use them. :happy:
  • slowturtle1
    slowturtle1 Posts: 284 Member
    I'm not an expert on advice for using them, but I bought these and love them! I didn't think that I would really use the heavier ones, either, but I like to try maybe one set every once in a while with them just because it's fun. I really recommend this kit because it does give you 5 different "weights" to be playing around with, and the door anchor and ankle strap, which you'll be glad you have because they add a lot of variety.


    http://www.amazon.com/Black-Mountain-Products-Resistance-Exercise/dp/7245456313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341890654&sr=8-1&keywords=black+mountain+resistance+bands

    Thanks! I saw those on Amazon. They got good reviews!
  • slowturtle1
    slowturtle1 Posts: 284 Member
    I'm a big fan of the Lifeline bands. Below is a link for the handles you can buy that accommodate up to three different cables. Because there are 3 slots you can tailor these for any resistance level. Plus when after you buy your first set of cables and max those out you will be able to easily replace those with a higher resistance.

    http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3903125&cp=693940&pg=8&sr=1&origkw=Resistance+Bands&parentPage=family

    Thanks! I didn't realize they had ones with removable handles. I wonder if you can shorten them with those so that you can use them while walking. If so that would be great!

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