No I don't mean like that. I mean build some muscles.
Working out in the gym is great for building strength and muscle. Heavy iron is responsible for some of the best physiques of all time.
But there is another way to build muscle and strength.
Most of us have owned Chest Expanders/Bullworkers with steel springs at one time or another and had great results from them. Then one day we go to the gym and see everyone working out with iron and think "that is the 'only' way to do it".
Nowadays you can get chest expanders with rubber strands instead of steel. These have fewer disadvantages (i.e. pinched chest hairs) and are lighter.
Many of the old time strongmen performed feats of strength and set records for strand pulling.
Exercising with traditional weights, the resistance is the same throughout the exercise but, with springs and strands the resistance increases as it stretches.
This will work the muscles in a totally different way, starting with very low resistance and increasing as you get to your strongest point.
Want To Add A New Twist?
How about a few sets of slow motion exercises. These can be done with iron or strands.
You will need to reduce your regular resistance by at least 30. If you can not complete the first set of eight in slow motion educe the weight so you can do at least 2 of the 3 sets for eight reps.
Do the exercise in perfect form without using any other cheating moves, if you do a curl, just use your biceps, not your hips or back.
You can perform many exercises with a set of strands and keep in shape if you can not get out to the gym.
With a little imagination you can do a variety of exercises in addition to the standard chest pulls.
You can put one foot in one of the handles to do one arm curls or upright rowing.
You can hold a handle behind your back and do overhead presses or tricep extensions.
Hold a handle by your abs to do lateral side raises.
Now There Is A New Kid On The Block And The Name Is Bodylastics.
Bodylastics are different sized rubber strands of varying resistance and you can exercise each body part with any resistance.
They come with, a door anchor that can be used on most doors at any height, 2 hand grips and 2 ankle straps.
With a little thought you can emulate any exercise you can do in the gym (and a few you can't). The Bodylastics website shows 140 different exercises.
What about the times when you cant get to the gym? Bodylastics are light at less than 2 pounds weight and can easily be packed in your hand luggage when travelling.
Bodylastics absolutely works. After only a few short weeks of using Bodylastics you will discover improvements in muscle building, toning, posture and confidence.
