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When I work with clients who are new to strength training, travel a lot, or don’t have time to go to the gym, I love to recommend resistance bands. They are an easy, accessible workout tool that you can use anywhere — which is especially helpful this time of year when many of us spend a lot of time traveling.
If you’re looking for a way to build strength and get a more defined look without expensive equipment, resistance bands are a great option. Plus, they offer a unique form of strength training that also works your stabilizing muscles, which adds an additional core challenge. And, let’s be honest, toning your abs while you’re exercising other parts of your body is a pretty major bonus.
The benefits of resistance band workouts
It’s easy to assume that you need giant weights to get strong, but that’s just a myth. Resistance band workouts are great for anyone looking to improve their balance, coordination and core strength. They take up little space, making them a good option for people who travel a lot or live in a small apartment. They are also a great way to get a full-body workout without having to spend a lot of money on equipment.
In fact, there are some things that resistance bands can do for you that weights simply can’t. Resistance band workouts really work because there is constant tension throughout the entire movement of an exercise. With dumbbells and body weight, there’s only tension on the exertion portion of the movement. For example, when you do a bicep curl with a resistance band, there is tension on the way up to curl and also on the way down as you return to the starting position. When you use dumbbells, there’s only resistance on the biceps on the way up — and that resistance is what creates strength.
Resistance bands also make it easier to target smaller muscles. Because larger muscles frequently take over when you use weights or your body weight, resistance bands can be used by people in rehabilitation or physical therapy to help safely activate all of the smaller muscles, as well as the larger muscles.
30-day walking and full-body resistance band workout
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You can use resistance bands to target every major muscle group — and that’s exactly what we’re going to do! I’ve devised this 30-day resistance band and walking routine to strengthen the entire body, plus give you a cardio workout, too. Suggested walking days are included to give your body a rest from strength training, but I encourage you to keep up your current walking routine. You can walk on strength days, too!
Full-body resistance band routine
For the upper-body exercises you will use a resistance band with handles. For the lower body and core exercises you will use a looped resistance band.
