{"id":248725,"date":"2020-06-24T06:00:17","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T05:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formnutrition.com\/us\/?p=248725"},"modified":"2020-06-24T11:50:26","modified_gmt":"2020-06-24T15:50:26","slug":"resistance-bands-are-a-must-have-for-anyone-missing-the-gym","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formnutrition.com\/us\/inform\/resistance-bands-are-a-must-have-for-anyone-missing-the-gym\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Resistance Bands Are a Must-Have for Anyone Who Is Missing the Gym"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dried pasta, toilet roll, and dumbbells; the mass stockpiling at the beginning of lockdown drew up some odd insights into us as a nation. Putting the first two to the side, the frantic hoarding of gym equipment readily suggests the importance of resistance training<\/a> for a great many of us. Google Shopping saw a 170 percent increase in searches for weights between February and April, but unfortunately with the demand came rampant profiteering as retailers ramped up their prices to near extortion.<\/p>\n

That’s where our humble protagonist enters the story. In the weights pricing madness, resistance bands have offered a cost and space effective alternative as well as a comparable resistance workout at home<\/a>. In the same timeframe, searches for resistance bands have risen by 300 percent.<\/p>\n

So, with the future re-openings of gyms<\/a> still unclear at the moment, we’ve put together a guide to this newly crowned home-gym staple, from the benefits and the different types to some top tips from fitness consultant and personal trainer James Pisano<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Which Resistance Band Are You?<\/h2>\n

A resistance band in its simplest form is a lightweight elastic band used to induce muscular contraction. This contracting motion builds strength in the muscles as the user pulls against the band. There are five main types of resistance bands:<\/p>\n

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  1. Loop Bands:<\/strong> Massive rubber bands, essentially, these are the most versatile and can be used to train all parts of your body. Be warned though, they can cause a lot of friction on your hands so remember to wear gloves.<\/li>\n
  2. Tube Resistance Bands With Handles:<\/strong> These bands have handles that attach to both ends and are made to mimic gym machine and dumbbell exercises. They easily anchor to the door and are best used for upper body exercises.<\/li>\n
  3. Mini Bands:<\/strong> These are like loop bands but are smaller, thinner, and wider. Best for lateral movements, place them just above your knees or at your ankles to get a great hip and glutes activation<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  4. Therapy Bands:<\/strong> Very long and thin, therapy bands aren’t meant to loop (although you could tie them into one). They are designed for people who are regaining strength after an injury and elderly people who want a low impact workout.<\/li>\n
  5. Figure 8 Bands:<\/strong> Shaped as the name suggests, these bands have soft handles at the top and bottom of the figure eight shape and target both your upper and lower body.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    To further complicate matters, resistance bands have five different weight categories depending on the resistance they offer. To get more resistance from a band simply move your hands down the band. Loop band’s weight categories are usually differentiated by the following colours:<\/p>\n