Resistance Bands - Your Thoughts

[willpower]

I've been getting some really good workouts from them, especially arms but how do they compare to regular free weights? One big thing with the bands is I don't know how much "weight" I'm lifting.

 

[suited]

I do a tricep band complex every once in a while at the gym. Basically, I'll use the band for a press-down (it's attached to an overhead bar) and super-set it with dips, also using the band. The dips are done on my knees.

They serve their purpose in a routine but I certainly wouldn't rate them anything close to a staple.

 

[pronov]

I bought some bodylastics style bands to use at home, watched the videos of terrell owens doing various workouts at the cowboys facility and tried it myself. it seems like a good substitute for at home use and doesn't take up much space but it definately isn't the same as lifting free weights. I snapped on a 25lb band and a 20lb band and repped out 350 curls in each arm one day, wasn't sore at all that day or the next. If I tried to do that with free weights my arms would fall off.

I'm kind of on the fence about them just because I already bought over 250lbs worth of bands, you can do lunges and squats with them but I wish there was a bar attachment that I could put on my back instead of holding them behind my shoulders. What they say about it really being up to your imagination on how to use them is really true (watch the bodylastics youtube channel to see the various exercises you can do). I could definately see taking these traveling with me and getting a workout in at the hotel.

 

[willpower]

Originally Posted by pronov

I bought some bodylastics style bands to use at home, watched the videos of terrell owens doing various workouts at the cowboys facility and tried it myself. it seems like a good substitute for at home use and doesn't take up much space but it definately isn't the same as lifting free weights. I snapped on a 25lb band and a 20lb band and repped out 350 curls in each arm one day, wasn't sore at all that day or the next. If I tried to do that with free weights my arms would fall off.


I watched a bunch of the bodylastics vids last night, thx.

Did you try the suggestion of holding onto the band directly rather than via the handle?

This particular exercise just killed me:

 

[mm84321]

Originally Posted by willpower

Did you try the suggestion of holding onto the band directly rather than via the handle?
I do this all the time. Personally, I prefer resistance bands to free weights.

 

[texas_jack]

I put them around my ankles and step side to side.

actually I'm thinking of a thing that looks like a big rubberband

 

[dimshum]

I thought about them for traveling purposes, but after some thought realized they're kind of useless - bodyweight exercises are far more effective. The resistance/weight is inconsistent with bands, unlike free weights/bodyweight.

 

[embowafa]

I have a set of bodylastics...used to use them all the time, but have transitioned to using actual free weights. If done properly with enough resistance, they can provide a killer workout. I love using them for resisted pushups.

 

[bbaquiran]

I have a set of bodylastics. I use them mostly for specific rotator cuff prehab/injury prevention exercises. Other than that I don't see what else I could do with them that free weight or bodyweight exercises could do better.

 

[suited]

Originally Posted by texas_jack

I put them around my ankles and step side to side.

actually I'm thinking of a thing that looks like a big rubberband

These are also popular at my gym.

 

[ThatGuy]

I use resistance bands for my outdoor sessions. Use them for:

- Lateral raises
- Bent over flies
- Hammer curls (a few varieties)
- Dips
- Push ups

They're good. I only need one. if I want more resistance, I'll bring my grip closer

 

[reactmma]

+1 as long as you know how to use them, IT WORKS!

 

[Kajak]

Originally Posted by bbaquiran

I have a set of bodylastics. I use them mostly for specific rotator cuff prehab/injury prevention exercises. Other than that I don't see what else I could do with them that free weight or bodyweight exercises could do better.

This.

 

[eltoshan]

Can you also use them for assisted pull ups?

 

[JoelF]

Originally Posted by eltoshan

Can you also use them for assisted pull ups?

Yeah they work for that. My pullups still suck (stuck at 6 or 7 unassisted) but the bands definitely help for pullup training.