If you’ve noticed, we are adapting to the change in our community by offering workout videos with resistance bands instead of free weights. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, many of those in our community have limited options and no access to the gym. The free weights that our videos have featured so prominently are suddenly out of reach. So we’re adapting and extending our core value of generosity!

We’re offering discounts throughout FASTer Way Shop, including special pricing on different sizes of bands. The FASTer Way Shop has bands of all sizes, including packs of 3 Mini Resistance Bands with ratings up to 12 lbs.

We know so many of you are struggling and don’t have access to gym equipment. While resistance bands don’t have the oomph and scalability of free weights, there are many benefits to using them. Here’s why we made the switch during the Coronavirus pandemic.

THE BENEFITS OF RESISTANCE BANDS

Resistance bands give you tension that builds progressively the more you stretch them. So you can increase or decrease the “weight” depending where you are in the workout. They also help you gain more power and speed because you’re getting resistance through the entire movement.

Another major benefit of resistance bands is they aren’t bound by gravity. Free weights only pull in one direction – down – which means it’s on you to put your joints and muscles in the proper position to balance against it. Resistance bands give you a more free range of motion and you can get a variety of pull. You can target muscles all over your body with just a couple of positioning tweaks and do hundreds of workouts you can’t do with weights.

Free weights are the most-commonly used because they build power and strength in your muscle groups. This is partially due to the fact that at some point during your exercise move, you will relax and the dumbbell will feel weightless. Then you can reload and power through the weight.

VERSATILITY

A 10-lb. dumbbell is a 10-lb. dumbbell. It will be a 10-lb. dumbbell if you’re doing curls, lunges, butterflies, hopscotch or tic tac toe. It is what it is.

Because of progressive resistance, a band rated for 20 lbs. is a lot more versatile because it depends on how much you stretch it. If you only need about 5 lbs. for a light warm up, you can adjust your pull and ramp up from there. This makes it great for doing a variety of workouts without having to drop off and pick up new weight.

PORTABLITY

The most obvious benefit is probably also the greatest right now. Instead of finding space in your garage or lugging them around the house like you do weights, resistance bands weigh next to nothing and can be stored in a drawer. And with so many of us doing our workouts from home, it’s a major benefit for the time we are in.

You can also take them with you on walks or runs to keep your muscles toned as you go. Burning fat with our awesome virtual team is so much fun, but it’s important to get outside and get some fresh air. Not only will you get a healthy dose of vitamin D, the sunlight will give you a healthy burst of serotonin, which can turn into melanin for a more restful sleep at night.

OTHER BENEFITS OF RESISTANCE BANDS

·        Enhances your posture

·        Increases circulation

·        Increases flexibility

·        Decreases chance of injury

SOME RESISTANCE BAND WORKOUTS TO TRY

These are great exercise routines to do in between FASTer Way workouts.

Monster Walk – Tie band together and wrap around your thighs, just above the knees, and bend down about 40 degrees. Keep your trunk posture tight and sidestep with knees separated. Go about 10 steps and then return to your starting point.

Leg extensions – This requires a little balance as you are going to stand on one leg and push the other out.

Hold the band in both hands and use one foot to step in the middle, creating a jump rope look. Keep your foot down on the band. Shift your weight onto the leg holding the band. Use your other leg to stretch out to the side and back. Keep your trunk tight and feel the burn in the leg you’re standing on.

Bent over row – Step on the band with one foot, holding the ends with both hands. Place your other foot behind you and lean forward on your front foot. Your weight should be on your front foot. Keep your core tight and begin pulling on the band. Your shoulder blades should squeeze together like you’re rowing a boat. Do this 10 times and repeat as needed.

RESISTANCE BANDS CAN ONLY GO SO FAR

The stronger you get, the less you will need resistance bands for a full workout. That’s because at some point, if you progressively load your band it will break. It can only go so far. So once your muscles are toned and past the band rating, you’ll want to move on to free weights to keep building strength.

The FASTer Way to Fat Loss is all about burning fat and building muscle tone, so if you have access to dumbbells, keep them in your routine.

CAN I DO BOTH?

Of course! If you have access to both, you can start your workout with a band and move to weights as needed. Or you can do something called variable resistance where you attach a band to weights for squats, sprints, etc. Just tie a weight to the band and exercise normally. It’s the best of both worlds.

There are so many frontline workers doing late shifts and odd hours to help the communities around them and resistance bands are also a great item to take with you to stretch and get a little exercise wherever you are. If you know someone who could benefit from our resistance band workouts, pass this article along so they can learn about the awesome community we’re a part of. We want to be the light that helps everyone move forward with positivity and energy. 

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