Fitness Fridays - Resistance Bands

TGIF Everyone!

I want to start a new segment of this blog called Fitness Fridays. Now I can't guarantee that it will come around every Friday, but as I start doing more and more activities, I want to share both my progress, as well as the activities that I am doing with you.

When I had my first back surgery 3 years ago, I went through physical therapy for about 2 months because of the nerve damage that occurred from the herniation. One of the things that we used a lot during physical therapy was resistance bands, and they are deceptively a very good work out for weight training beginners, and even for regular resistance training.

For someone like myself who has very rarely been active or worked out in their life, starting to do so is not only very difficult to do physically, but can be very intimidating mentally. Where do you start when you have so far to go? You start at the beginning, with very small steps, and slowly build as time goes on.

So, about a month ago I purchased some resistance bands and an activity workbook from Amazon.com.

This is precisely the kit that I purchased. Resistance bands get thicker with each level of difficulty, so the thinnest band is the beginner band with the least amount of resistance. I especially like resistance bands because you get a strength training work out without having to pay for a gym membership, and for someone like myself who is still under lifting restrictions, these are a gentle way to ease in to strength training.

Part of my insurance requirement for this surgery is that each month I have a fitness goal. Resistance training has been part of that goal for the last month.

Now don't get me wrong. Resistance training is a great way to start for beginners, but it can also be a great work out for people who are more physically fit as well. For a higher level of difficulty, simply look for a thicker band.

There are a lot of great workouts that you can do with resistance bands to strengthen your arms, legs, back, etc.

Here is an example of just one of the great arm work outs that you can do with resistance bands. The name of the workbook that I purchased is called Resistance Band Workbook: Illustrated Step-By-Step Guide to Stretching, Strengthening, and Rehabilitative Techniques by Karl Knopf M.D. It's very easy to use and comes complete with pictures and suggestions for stretches for knee pain, back pain, shoulder pain, etc. I highly suggest it.

Have a great weekend!
Jenelle