AIMC Health Solutions - #Fitness Tip - The Use of Resistance Bands to Exercise

With the recent pandemic, we all had to adjust our lives as well with the way we worked out to maintain our fitness health.  Gyms were closed all across the country and we had to think of creative ways to stay in shape.  I have personally been working out for many years consistently going to the gym four days a week for strength training and then do cardio another day in the week, so it was definitely an adjustment.   

Despite my local gym closing back in March, I transitioned pretty seamlessly to doing body weight and resistance band workouts and I have actually gotten more cut and focused during this time.

I got my resistance bands on this amazing online shopping site and has put them to great use for the past three months.

I wanted to provide some great tips/reasons why I think you should continue to use resistance bands as part of your routine even as we start returning to normal and going to the gym.    Here they are.

1. ADAPT EASILY FOR MULTIPLE FITNESS LEVELS... Resistance bands come in multiple resistance levels, usually light, medium or heavy. You can further adjust the amount of resistance during exercise just by giving more or less slack on the band, as well as by combining multiple resistance bands to increase the challenge.

2. MODIFY FAMILIAR EXERCISES... Resistance band exercises are often based on familiar strength-training moves. For example, if you stand on one end of the cord and curl your arm up while holding the other end, you've replaced your standard dumbbell bicep curl.

3. EXERCISE YOUR WHOLE BODY... Many resistance band kits come with suggested exercises for nearly every major muscle group in your body. Stepping on one end of a resistance band or looping it around a stationary object, for example, opens up many exercise possibilities.

4. SAVE ON STORAGE SPACE... When you don't have a lot of room for a home gym, resistance bands are a great option that store in very little space. You can hang them on a hook after you exercise, or coil them up to store in a box or drawer.

5. EXERCISE ON THE ROAD... Because they are so small and portable, resistance bands are a great way to take your workout with you when you travel. There are many resistance band exercises that can easily be done in the small space of a hotel room.

7. ADD VARIETY TO YOUR WORKOUTS... Over time, your muscles adapt to any new exercise routine. It's a good idea to mix it up by cross-training with free weights, machines and resistance band exercises. Each will work your muscles in a slightly different way. 

8. EXERCISE SAFELY, EVEN WHEN ALONE... Resistance bands offer strength-training without the risk of dropping a heavy weight on your foot or crushing your fingers between weight plates. That makes them ideal for working out when you don't have a personal trainer or exercise partner to spot you.

9. COMBINE WITH OTHER EXERCISE EQUIPMENT... While resistance bands work great on their own, they can also be combined with other exercise equipment. Performing bicep curls with both a resistance band and a dumbbell will give you the combined benefits of each type of equipment. 

10. GET AN EFFECTIVE WORKOUT... Although there are differences between free weight and resistance band exercises, both are effective. Picture the arc motion your arm makes while doing a bicep curl. Free weights will feel heaviest at the beginning of that arc, while resistance bands make your muscles work harder at the end of the arc (when the band is most taut). Either way, your body is moving against resistance, and that will give your muscles an effective workout.

There you go.  If you like to chat about fitness, please let us know and join our Facebook Page for AIMC Health Solutions.