Food n Fitness Thread #9837483

[DavidMn]

Well for me, I need to overhaul my eating habits for sure. On the good side, I try to walk at least 5-10 miles a week.

[carrie721]

has anyone here used resistance bands for weight training? i decided not to renew my gym membership for next month because a) i'm cheap, b) i'm super miserly with my time, and it takes too long to drive there, wait for machines, etc, and c) my car is broken and right now, i don't care if it gets fixed (see point a). i'm looking for alternatives to machines & hand weights since i don't have any machines and hand weights can be expensive. aaanyway, i bought some resistance bands today. i tried them out and got a great upper body workout and probably the best core workout i've ever done, but not so much with the lower body. any suggestions? it doesn't really have to involve the resistance bands, i just want to make sure i'm not neglecting my legs.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by carrie721

has anyone here used resistance bands for weight training? i decided not to renew my gym membership for next month because a) i'm cheap, b) i'm super miserly with my time, and it takes too long to drive there, wait for machines, etc, and c) my car is broken and right now, i don't care if it gets fixed (see point a). i'm looking for alternatives to machines & hand weights since i don't have any machines and hand weights can be expensive. aaanyway, i bought some resistance bands today. i tried them out and got a great upper body workout and probably the best core workout i've ever done, but not so much with the lower body. any suggestions? it doesn't really have to involve the resistance bands, i just want to make sure i'm not neglecting my legs.

The bands are cool and you can use them on all joints - at least we do in this aeorbics I take. You will never bulk up on bands, but they are cool for girls as they generally do not want bulk.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

The bands are cool and you can use them on all joints - at least we do in this aeorbics I take. You will never bulk up on bands, but they are cool for girls as they generally do not want bulk.

hmm. i don't really mind bulk, as long as it's muscle bulk. hmm. now i'm a little perplexed.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by carrie721

hmm. i don't really mind bulk, as long as it's muscle bulk. hmm. now i'm a little perplexed.

I mean you do not want bulging muscles like guys get. You want to be toned, which the bands can do.

Also - the more reps the better - but form is everything as form isolates the muscle you are tageting with the exercise. Bad form means other muscles are being used to help that one.

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I mean you do not want bulging muscles like guys get. You want to be toned, which the bands can do.

Also - the more reps the better - but form is everything as form isolates the muscle you are tageting with the exercise. Bad form means other muscles are being used to help that one.

Don't be trying to tell girls what kind of muscles they do and don't want.

But seriously, I've always hated the thing where people think muscles on girls are not cool, and not feminine. Most girls can only bulk up to a certain point, anyway - you gotta be very serious to get like those weightlifterey girls.
I think muscle definition is what separates the Girls from the Brick Houses. "Bow chooka bow bow!" I love looking strong.

How much definition is best? Coincidentally, the amount that I have.

But Strand is right - you could bulk up.

Some people I know care about that. I try to bulk up certain body parts, and debulk others - the point being to get an overall proportional, symmetrical thing going. In other words, I do extra weights on every body part except my thighs.
But I gotta say, my muscly arms were/are my favorite body part. I think they look good on girls. You know, definition?

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I mean you do not want bulging muscles like guys get. You want to be toned, which the bands can do.

Also - the more reps the better - but form is everything as form isolates the muscle you are tageting with the exercise. Bad form means other muscles are being used to help that one.

i do want toned, but i also want definition. i want to be lean, but i also want to look strong. wait, i just realized that everything i'm going to say, amber already said. even the legs thing - my calves could use more definition, and i don't mind working out my hamstrings, but my quads are fine just the way they are ... they don't need any more help.

[amber]

Originally Posted by carrie721

has anyone here used resistance bands for weight training? i decided not to renew my gym membership for next month because a) i'm cheap, b) i'm super miserly with my time, and it takes too long to drive there, wait for machines, etc, and c) my car is broken and right now, i don't care if it gets fixed (see point a). i'm looking for alternatives to machines & hand weights since i don't have any machines and hand weights can be expensive. aaanyway, i bought some resistance bands today. i tried them out and got a great upper body workout and probably the best core workout i've ever done, but not so much with the lower body. any suggestions? it doesn't really have to involve the resistance bands, i just want to make sure i'm not neglecting my legs.

Yeah, I got some. The legs/resistance mostly comes in from doing various squats while using the bands. But various squats are hard enough without the bands, so you could do that. There's the leg in front kind (not to hard, but great for the butt) then the legs side by side (hella hard, and easy to have improper form). For an alternate to legs side by side, you can do wall sits, which are hella hard as well, but don't do as much for the ol' assaroo. 90 degree angle with your legs, and just stand there with your back against the wall. A minute is hard. Then you can do calf raises, which is just up on your toes, and down, for a certain number of times, however many sets each. I like to hold my hand weights when I do calf raises, bands might be good, too. Also, I got my hand weights for 10 at Walgreen's, if you hit a cheap store you might be able to find some.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by amber

Yeah, I got some. The legs/resistance mostly comes in from doing various squats while using the bands. But various squats are hard enough without the bands, so you could do that. There's the leg in front kind (not to hard, but great for the butt) then the legs side by side (hella hard, and easy to have improper form). For an alternate to legs side by side, you can do wall sits, which are hella hard as well. 90 degree angle with your legs, and just stand there with your back against the wall. A minute is hard. Then you can do calf raises, which is just up on your toes, and down, for a certain number of times, however many sets each. I like to hold my hand weights when I do calf raises, bands might be good, too. Also, I got my hand weights for 10 at Walgreen's, if you hit a cheap store you might be able to find some.

ok sweet . i'll have to try these. i actually have a pair of 8 lb. weights, which are good for me for delt exercises, but not for biceps or triceps or anything else. and actually, i was doing calf raises w/ the bands earlier, just to try it out, and it worked pretty well.

now i'm sad because i have to ride my bike a lot tomorrow, and it's supposed to thunderstorm all day.

[amber]

Originally Posted by carrie721

ok sweet . i'll have to try these. i actually have a pair of 8 lb. weights, which are good for me for delt exercises, but not for biceps or triceps or anything else. and actually, i was doing calf raises w/ the bands earlier, just to try it out, and it worked pretty well.

now i'm sad because i have to ride my bike a lot tomorrow, and it's supposed to thunderstorm all day.

Um...eight should be plenty. I use 10. They're kinda heavy. actually, per arm, I guess adding two lbs is quite a bit. But you should still use them for the ones you said you don't use them for - it can't be that light for you.

Yeah, you know, if you go out and buy a Shape magazine, you'll probably find some proper form for squats thing. It's important to use proper form, else you won't get a workout, or you'll hurt your knees, or blah.
Sorry about your thunderstorm.

[carrie721]

Originally Posted by amber

Um...eight should be plenty. I use 10. They're kinda heavy. actually, per arm, I guess adding two lbs is quite a bit. But you should still use them for the ones you said you don't use them for - it can't be that light for you.

they're not terribly light, i guess, but i think i got used to doing weights at the gym, and hitting failure after 6 or 7 reps or whatever.

Yeah, you know, if you go out and buy a Shape magazine, you'll probably find some proper form for squats thing. It's important to use proper form, else you won't get a workout, or you'll hurt your knees, or blah.
Sorry about your thunderstorm.

cool. i actually think i have a mag around here somewhere that has those exercises in it. i should find it ...

[amber]

Originally Posted by carrie721

they're not terribly light, i guess, but i think i got used to doing weights at the gym, and hitting failure after 6 or 7 reps or whatever.



cool. i actually think i have a mag around here somewhere that has those exercises in it. i should find it ...

The recommended rep failure level is 10-15. Just sos you know.

Yeah, or you could probably find it online. Exercisey people are always squatting.

[CelticGypsy]

Originally Posted by DavidMn

Well for me, I need to overhaul my eating habits for sure. On the good side, I try to walk at least 5-10 miles a week.

That is great, David!!!! Everyone seems to be doing pretty well on the Ledge with their exercise/diet programs. Thanks for motivating me to get back on track.

[JazmenFlowers]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Also - the more reps the better - but form is everything as form isolates the muscle you are tageting with the exercise. Bad form means other muscles are being used to help that one.

exactly. I've always read that you know if you have the proper weight by how many reps you do. I normally do 20 reps, but you're supposed to barely be able to do the last rep and don't rest between alternate exercises. I'm actually starting to see some definition around my shoulders...fab.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by JazmenFlowers

exactly. I've always read that you know if you have the proper weight by how many reps you do. I normally do 20 reps, but you're supposed to barely be able to do the last rep and don't rest between alternate exercises. I'm actually starting to see some definition around my shoulders...fab.

Congrats!!!!!

You are gonna be beating them off with a stick!!!!!!