The process of achieving fitness goals can be exhausting and demotivating at times. Therefore, keeping your workout routine versatile and interesting is the key to staying committed to your fitness goals. Wielding heavyweights isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Most of us like to work out at home, away from other people’s grunts and foul odors.
So, adding a portable piece of equipment that can supplement your workout is a fantastic choice. If you want to make your workout a bit more fun and challenging at the same time, resistance bands should be your go-to partner.
Resistance loop bands have gained immense popularity in the fitness industry due to their top features. It adds challenge, zeal, and portability to your workout routines, all at your convenience. As a result, you can build strength, definition, and firmness in your abdominal area in the most seamless manner.
Many people avoid using resistance bands because they are unfamiliar with the appropriate usage. Some people believe that resistance bands aren’t as influential as weights, but studies have proved that workout bands respond to strength training just as free weights or machines.
The characteristics and benefits of the different kinds of resistance bands are discussed below:
- Tubed: These are made of hard and dense rubber, making them tough to grip. They usually come with handles for convenient use. Resistance tube bands are amazing for upper body workouts and can support carabiners to perform lower body workouts.
- Sheet: Resistance sheet bands are continuous and thin latex sheets. They are an ideal choice for stretching, warmups, and rehabilitation exercises. However, they offer lesser resistance as compared to other bands. Nevertheless, this can be a good start if you begin with resistance bands.
- Looped: Resistance loop bands are large rubber bands. They come in different lengths and thicknesses as per your desired resistance level. Traditional loop bands are around 4 feet long and perfect for upper and lower body workouts. You can wrap them at anchor points or around your body. They also come in mini sizes, which are way more portable. They offer less resistance but are great for glute workouts.
- Color-coded: As the name suggests, they come in different colors, representing a different resistance level. Every brand has a separate rule for representing colors, so you’ll have to look at the color-coding of the brand before purchasing.
Benefits of Using Resistance Bands
1. Enhances Coordination
Resistance bands are a great way to maintain tension in your muscles. Since your muscles have to keep the band in alignment through each exercise that you perform, they develop the ability to enhance coordination. Due to this, they recruit stabilizer muscles that support larger muscles and joints. As a result, you are better able to maintain the perfect balance for a longer period.
2. Elevates Athletic Abilities
Resistance loop bands work the same way as free weights. For example, if you wish to perform bicep curls, you can stand on the resistance band and grab the handles to perform bicep curls. You can attach it to a door to perform triceps pushdowns or wrap it around a pole to do chest exercises. Due to decreased loads, these powerlifters can elevate your athletic abilities.
3. Core Activation
Since workout bands require stabilization from your body to maintain form, you will have to activate your core to get that balance. Throughout your exercise movements, you have to prevent the bands from snapping back in place.
This means the greater need for strength and stimulation through a full range of motion. You can’t cheat through the exercise using momentum; you can only make it by using full strength and focus.
4. Adds Diversity
You can perform many exercises with resistance bands, from lateral raises to upright rows to pulldowns. It creates resistance from all directions and keeps tension in your muscles, whether you’re pulling it up or down. Since they support low-impact exercises, they don’t put any strain on your joints. No matter you’re at home or on vacation, you can easily pack it in your suitcase and work out wherever you like.
5. Burns Fat
One of the best benefits of using resistance bands is burning fat. If your goal is to lose fat and gain lean muscle mass, resistance bands can be your ideal choice. It increases the after-burn effect from exercising. It works by increasing muscle size, which influences the number of burnt calories when your body is at rest. Increased muscle mass boosts your metabolic rate, resulting in burning more amount of calories.
6. Increases Mobility
Our muscles deteriorate with age, which adversely affects our range of motion. Resistance bands can play a beneficial role in improving your muscle mobility and flexibility. Research from Tufts University concludes that strength training can be an antidote to age-related muscle fiber loss.
7. Builds Strength
A 2017 study that focused on 17 soccer players compared the results of conventional resistance training with resistance bands training over six weeks. They concluded that workout resistance bands and free weight training improved strength and power.
This deciphers that you do not need to lift hefty weights to build strength in your muscles. Instead, resistance bands can fulfill the exact purpose for you without any expensive equipment.
8. Safe
One of the biggest reasons resistance bands are recommended for older adults and injured people is that it is a safer alternative for heavyweights. Keeping proper form, you can adjust the resistance of the band. Unlike the traditional weights, you can’t injure yourself due to the weight landing on top of you.
At the same time, you need to ensure that you’re not allergic to latex and be careful not to snap yourself with the loop band.
Tips to Choose the Right Resistance Bands
1. Select Your Type
Since there are different resistance bands, you need to be well aware of the type you want. For example, some people like the flat band to easily tie a knot for a looped leg brand, while others find convenience in tubed bands due to handles.
If you wish to focus on multiple muscle groups, it’s better to buy resistance bands of at least three tension levels; light, medium, and heavy.
2. Start With the Basic
If you are a beginner, the variety can confuse you a lot. It’s better to start with a simple and basic resistance band to figure out your way around them. Simple tube bands with handles are the best resistance band weight for beginners. Once you are familiar with the usage, you can try different varieties.
3. Choose As Per Your Needs
Do not pick up a resistance band as per your preferred color. As stated, every color depicts a resistance level. For example, choosing a red color because it’s your favorite is okay, but it will not help beginners with their workout as it is a heavy resistance band. So, make sure your purchase resolves around the description, not the color.
4. Focus on Your Workout Goals
While purchasing the resistance bands, you should focus on your workout goals. You need to be clear if you want to work on your endurance level or improve your strength. If endurance is your focus, it’s preferable to get a lighter resistance band, whereas it is better to go for a heavier one for strength exercise.
5. Go for Quality
No one wants their purchase to start ripping within a couple of months. To get value out of your purchase, ensure to get a rip-resistant loop band. This would prevent your bands from going through any wear and tear or showing cracks within a short period. This feature vouches for the band’s durability, deriving satisfaction from the money spent.
A resistance band must have a quality design, a comfortable fit, and be durable to enhance the body strength. The resistance loop bands by DMOOSE are the absolute best if you are looking for a quality one. Whether you wish to train, stretch or strengthen your muscles, they work with finesse to cater to your needs.
Conclusion
Resistance bands have become quite popular in the fitness world due to the multiple benefits to fitness enthusiasts. The bands work extraordinarily and help enhance your strength, increase mobility, prevent injuries, and improve your athletic abilities.
Whether you want to stretch, rehabilitate, or build muscle, resistance bands perfectly suit your fitness needs and help you achieve your goals. When making a purchase, make sure to check the resistance level, type of band, and rip resistance to get value out of your money.