Build Muscle – Get Strong

Skeletal muscles not only provide stability for bones for good posture, but their contractions allow the body to move.

In order for muscles to get stronger they must be progressively worked more than what they are accustomed to. This process is referred to as “overloading”.

When the muscles are stimulated through resistance, the fibers of the muscles thicken causing them to increase in size. This growth is called hypertrophy.

Performing the same exercises day after day will initially cause an increase in muscle strength and mass, but eventually muscle growth will reach a plateau and cease to increase. This is fine if your body is already in shape and all you want to do is maintain it.

In order to increase strength and muscles, it is necessary to increase repetitions and/or sets and vary the workout routines. Try alternating workouts between the various major muscle groups on alternating days. Safely decreasing the time between workouts can also help, but keep in mind that muscles do need a resting period between strenuous exercise.

A good way to vary routines is through the use of resistance bands. Unlike machines and free weights, the range of motion and angles available with resistance bands are almost unlimited, making them very popular with pro athletes, trainers, the military and law enforcement.  Jr. high, high school, and college athletes can also benefit from resistance band strength training.

Strength band resistance training offers built-in tension that exceeds anything offered by a dumbbell or pulley system. The smooth resistance of bands gives you a greater contraction generating greater force for more intense workouts.

Resistance bands work as well as expensive machines and free weights, but without the cost. You get a comparable workout and the angles possible with bands are unmatched by gravity bound equipment.

Bands are compact, portable and quiet. Just toss them into your gym bag, briefcase, draw or in a closet and workout in the privacy of your own home, hotel room, or dorm room. And because they are so convenient, you don’t have to juggle your time-restricted schedule to make trips to a gym. Workout before you shower in the morning, while watching TV, while the baby sleeps, or on your lunch break.

In addition to the physical aspect of working out with resistance bands, there is also one more benefit…they are extremely cost effective.  A set of space-age rubber, high tension resistance bands, complete with workout manual costs less than $50, less than one month in the gym.