OK, here it is almost spring and already you have given up on ever getting to the gym. The record breaking snow fall has all but kept you a hermit this winter. Good excuse, right? Well, it would be except for that still unopened box of exercise tubing band you gave yourself for Christmas.
It is hard to believe that those little, thin, strands of rubber could do everything it advertises. For example, the ad reads something like this. Exercise tubing bands will build muscle, burn fat and strengthen bones. These colorful, balloon type bands with handles on the end, do not look anything like the free standing equipment you used at the gym. After all, you used them everyday last year with no improvement. Maybe if you had gone to the gym more than twice a month, there might have been more results. But that is beside the point.
What could these inexpensive pieces of rubber do to help you have that slender, toned look you have always wanted? For under $20, this safe portable piece of exercise band, can be taken with you on a trip or to the park for some exercise in the sun. That can't be said of any of the stand alone pieces of equipment at the gym. And talk about the difference in price. For the expense of a years' membership at the gym, you might be able to purchase half a piece of bulky, stand alone, home equipment. Or, you can spend very little money and purchase exercise bands online or at most outlet stores. For this low, low price, why not purchase several? Use one for at home use, one to use on breaks at work and one to keep in the car to use when traveling.
Just how do these exercise bands do anymore than the expensive, free standing, home gyms? The difference is in the way the muscles of your body are manipulated. Free standing home gyms are normally designed to work several muscles groups from one machine. This is so you don't have to go to the gym. At the gym, there is one machine for each target area. A home machine is designed to target all the problem areas with just one machine. That said, free standing weight machines only move your muscles in one direction at a time, up or down.
The wonder of these exercise bands, also called resistance bands, is that they create tension in two directions at the same time. The "concentric" contraction causes muscles to shorten. The "eccentric" contraction, lengthens the muscles. Together, they sculpt the body to make it lean and beautiful. The concept of putting these two actions together, has been used in Pilates and other resistance type training. Rather than bulking up the muscles, resistance works with the way the muscles were intended to relax and stretch without strain. It is this action that puts the elasticity back into the muscles and in doing this, creates that lean, long, look everyone wants.
So take those new exercise bands out of the box and follow the instructions. Prepare to see your body change into that slight, svelte body type, right before your eyes.