Thread: Strength Bands!?

Just read an article in flex on strength bands, at 1st i thought it just meant the ones you pull apart but apparently you tie them to the weight, like if your doing bench press you'll tie the resistance band on each side of the bar and under the bench so itll put more resistance on at the top of the movement. I was just wondering if anyone has used them before or knows where the best place to get them is?

http://www.strengthshop.co.uk/index....a5f2c7466b60b3

there you go dude. they are pretty advanced and generally only used by competing powerlifters who have trouble with lockouts on certain movements. do you really need them?

I've used them a fair bit with my strength & conditioning coach, for quite a range of exercises.

Got my own bands from here: http://www.reachfitness.co.uk/flexband.htm

I just thought it might be a different way of doing it and might shock my body, ive never seen anyone else use them though. Do u not reckon theyre worth it? How did u find them glenn? What i dont understand is say i normally deadlift 100kg would i use 50 on the bar and then a 50kg band?

I did find them beneficial and I personally think they are a useful variation to have in your routines.

It's not as straight forward as your deadlift example, due to the load changing through the range of the movement.

I'm a bit restricted as to what I have access to here at work, but will post up some useful links that will explain it when I'm at home.

I was really close to buying some bands the other week, decided against it cause of the price & thought they'd end up in my gym bag not being used much. I love the idea of the variable resistance provided by using them. Things like chins and dips would be really cool using the bands (maybe I like the idea cause it'd make them easier!)

I have always wanted to do lifting with chains, I think the variable resistance you'd get from them on bench and squats would be great, lighter at the bottom so you can drive the weight up, heavier on the negative for extra muscle stimulation.

Have a look at some of these to get you started:

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a..._for_big_gains

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...rubber_vs_iron

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_a...e/the_band_man

Yea thats my worry aswel, that and i dont want to look stupid using them in the gym! It says in flex people who trained with bands gained more than twice the amount of muscle mass than those who trained with just free weights! And 2 or 3 times more strength on bench press and squats! Definately worth considering looking stupid!

Cheers for that pal, reckon im gonna get sum, just cant decide which ones!

To give you some idea, I use the Flex Bands in the following way:

1 x black mini band for upper body warm up/stretching and Jettison barbell curls
2 x black mini band for bench press (one each side, doubled up round a 50kg dumbell)
2 x purple band for squats (one each side, attached to the bottom of the squat rack)



Oh and I gave up worrying about looking stupid/giving a **** what other people in the gym think long ago....