Elastic Exercise Bands

Exercise Bands: Techniques

For weightlifters who have not worked out with exercise bands before, it is recommended that they begin with the lightest tension cord to get the technique down and awaken the stabilizer muscles. A common mistake that avid weightlifters make is to begin with one of the heaviest cords on their first try. Please try and put your ego aside. It will not take long before you are able to move up, but you will not get the negate the full benefits and may injure yourself if you do not start with a low tension. Ripcords says "We offer 5 tensions (lightest to heaviest: yellow, green, red, blue, black) and I've witnessed time and time again big guys who shoulder press 100 pound dumbbells not be able to shoulder press the black cord 3 times without shaking profusely. Most people's arms shake when they first start with Ripcords. They should at first. Say hello stabilizers. Unfortunately weightlifters often feel a sense of impotence here, especially when they see the little guy out lift them with the cords. The shaking will go stop and your strength will both the cords and free weights will improve drastically in only a few short weeks."

The Value

Ripcords is currently trying to educate the weightlifting market about the importance of adding resistance in their routine. Ripcords offers all consumers a full refund of their purchase price if they do not see an increase in their free weight strength within 10 days. A Ripcords spokesman explains: "We challenge all weightlifters to abstain from the gym for 10 days and do at least one Circuit7 every 2nd day, moving up a cord whenever it feels natural (and doesn't cause stress on the tendons). After this 10 day period go to the gym, if you are not sore, and see that you have not lost any strength, but in fact gained some. For the remainder of the first month adding elastic resistance, we do not recommend lifting free weights more than once a week. After the first month, just be sure to always include at least 1 or 2 Ripcords Circuit7 in your the first month someone adds resistance training. After this first month, just be sure to include AT LEAST 1 Ripcords Circuit7 each week. Many weight lifters choose to do a Circuit as a warm up at the gym prior to lifting weights, or after weights as a final exhaustion/ cool down. Both of these techniques are good, but Ripcords recommends waiting 6 weeks before mixing free weights and resistance on the same day.

Don't forget, they are also ideal for travel. Many people always keep one in their car. Workout at the beach, camping, hotel rooms, or even the airport while you're waiting for your flight.

Summary Points:

• The majority of weight lifters neglect resistance training.
• Resistance bands will build stabilizer muscles that will:
  • (a) prevent injuries like twisting an ankle or rotator cuff and
  • (b) dramatically increase strength in weight lifting.
• What are the reasons why the majority of weight lifters ignore resistance training? Perhaps the most common reason is because they consider resistance bands to be "wimpy" in comparison to cold, hard iron which oozes machismo. Research proves that this type of thinking is just ignorant and stubborn.
• Please keep in mind that no one is suggesting a replacement of free weights. However, the resistance band industry, currently lead by Michael McDonald's (likely the most shredded 41 year old in America) RIPCORDS and his 7-minute full body Circuit Training "Circuit7"
• To clarify, these are not the small "pilates bands" you may have seen around, these are much more versatile, full tubes with varied tensions and handles on the end and the ability to perform hundreds of regular gym type exercises.
• Many woman looking for a sleek and sexy, toned muscle type look may opt to exclusively use resistance tubes and not lift weights. This will provide appropriate results as long as you're not trying to get big and chiseled.

Read more about Ripcords at www.ripcords.com

Read more about Circuit7 at www.circuit7fitness.com