Posts Tagged ‘workout’
Resistance Band Workout
[flickr]tag:pilates(,1)[/flickr]
We all know that we should spend less time lazing around and more time exercising, however with all the fad workouts and conflicting information out there, it’s hard for a beginner to decide on the most suitable plan. Fortunately, there is little argument among pros that low impact, muscle building workouts are highly beneficial to beginners.
There are a variety of ways to get the benefits of low impact strength training. The most beneficial – and convenient – are resistance bands. These rubber circles are highly economical and come in a wide range of resistances and sizes.
The most notable benefit of resistance band workouts how portable they are. Because the bands can be folded, balled or shoved into extremely small spaces, you can pack a band (or several|or a few|or two or three) into your bag and sneak in a little exercise whenever you have a few spare moments. Since they don’t need any setup, you can sneak in a short five minute workout a few times a day, without being conspicuous or frustrated.
Resistance bands are also the perfect exercise aids due to their deiverse usage. You can use them to tone nearly any muscle in your body, from your triceps to your stomach to your legs. They can be utilized in most any normal exercise, or you can use them to design exercises that are suited for you.
While weights need lifting and moving, resistance bands move with your body. This main difference makes the bands immeasurably safer than normal weights. When using the pilates bands for strength training, you won’t need to worry about dropping or overextending a weight. The band will not go farther than your body will allow. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation with it, you can slowly reverse the tension using your body’s movements.
The safety features of resistance bands extend beyond just the use. Anyone who has kept a few free weights around the house knows that they inevitably end up hiding under furniture and causing stubbed toes, trips and falls. Resistance bands, on the other hand, are remarkably problem free. They can be easily shoved under a couch or in a corner without a second thought.
The fitness benefits of resistance bands are many and far reaching. The low impact exercises build joint strength without causing damage, as exercises like pushups are more likely to do. These exercises build lean, long muscles, which are more attractive than the bulky muscles created by weight training. The process that builds this muscle will also increase your flexibility and range of motion. After the muscle is built, your body can burn more calories (and stored fat) than previously.
Most fitness experts agree that the best workout is one that you’ll keep up. Resistance bands offer any easy, simple, highly portable fitness option that will let you sneak in exercising when the mood strikes.
Visit Resistance Bands website for further information and product reviews.
Pull Up Bar Training Routine
The pull up bar is a conventional muscle training tool, and many fitness instructors have used it successfully to gain more muscle, or to improve their overall strength. You can use the pull up bar to train your upper body muscles. Here is how you can start a pull up bar training routine.
The 1st thing you want to do, is to decide whether you want your palms to face towards you, or outwards. When you try to do pull ups with your palms facing towards you, you are exercising more on your biceps. If your palms face outwards, you are using more muscles in multiple muscle groups – your chest, your shoulder, and your Teres muscle.
Next, you will need to make a decision on the intensity of the pull up routine. The more intense the program, the shorter the amount of rest time, and the higher the number of reps in each set.
Usually, a routine consists of 3 sets. In each set, depending on your needs, you will be conducting a series of pull ups. For example, you can try something like twelve in set 1, eight in set two, and 4 in set 3. So how do you know how many chin ups to do in a single set? To determine the amount of reps, try to do just 1 set of pull ups until you can’t pull yourself up anymore. How many did you do? If you did ten pull ups, you can start with 8 to 10 pull ups for your 1st set. If you do just 4 pull ups, you can start with 3 to 4 for your 1st set.
After each set, give yourself some time to rest. The rest time is needed for the blood to get oxygen to your muscles. If you shorten the rest time, you increase the intensity of your training. For instance, if you are training for power and strength, you can start your second set after just 30 seconds. But if you are training for endurance, you can rest for a minute before starting your next set.
The break time also depends on your level of fitness. In the beginning, you may need a full minute rest before starting on the 2nd set. Over time, you may then reduce the rest time to 50 seconds, then 40 seconds, and so on.
As your strength and fitness level gets better, you can also try to do a higher number of reps per set, or you can try spreading your hands further apart. You will find that it’s much harder to do 1 pull up with your palms further apart. This is because the posture needs you to use more of your upper body strength instead of your arms. If you just beginning, just spread your arms across your shoulder length.
To further increase the intensity of a pull up workout, try strapping weights to your waist or limbs. Then try to continue the same work out.
Read more about Chin Up Bar and Powerbar