Is this any good...

[SonOfCrusader76]

....for toning up? I'd like to build a little muscle as well, but toning is my priority:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

and if so, what's the difference between that one and this one, besides the name and £10 price hike?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

[vizi]

God, no idea, those things still exist?

[SonOfCrusader76]

God, no idea, those things still exist?

Appears so, and the cheap one got a lot of good ratings.

[veteran hawkeye]

Yeah, they work, though they're a bit old fashioned. The difference between the first and second is a carry bag for them, and it might have an extra band. There are better exercises out there though (try asking about kettlebells in the kettlebells Q&A thread).

[MarcusCorneliusMarcellus]

....for toning up? I'd like to build a little muscle as well, but toning is my priority:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

and if so, what's the difference between that one and this one, besides the name and £10 price hike?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

If toning is your priority, then you can do a lot with these. That, and some yoga and/or body weight exercises, and you will get pretty good muscle tone and feel good too

[Shaun]

....for toning up? I'd like to build a little muscle as well, but toning is my priority:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

and if so, what's the difference between that one and this one, besides the name and £10 price hike?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...ANCE+BANDS.htm

Just join a gym or buy your own equipment. They won't do .

[MarcusCorneliusMarcellus]

Actually, going to disagree with you on this one Shaun.

These exercisers, used properly, can give you a very intense workout. Unfortunately, how they are often popularized on the shooping channels etc makes people think they have very limited use. A lot of body builders use them too for finishing work.

You will get some light muscle building effect, but primarily tone will be the most obvious result.

With good instruction, they will make you tired indeed.

[Shaun]

Well tone, in this context, means a high muscle to fat ratio. Resistant bands such as those are pretty much useless for that job. Barbells, dumbells, kettlebells, all good. Resistance bands, unless they are the ones which powerlifters use, are going to be pretty much useless.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Well tone, in this context, means a high muscle to fat ratio. Resistant bands such as those are pretty much useless for that job. Barbells, dumbells, kettlebells, all good. Resistance bands, unless they are the ones which powerlifters use, are going to be pretty much useless.

I may be incorrect, but isn't a high muscle to fat ratio achived more by catabolic exercising like cardio then an anabolic exercise? And why is one form of resitance "useless"? Isn't the entire point of resitance training to overcome the inherint force acting upon an object? The energy of reisistance is the same regardless if it comes from the kinetic energy to move a weight against gravity or to stretch a band against elasticity. So I don't understand why you think they are useless when the energy required to overcome the resistance is the same.

[SonOfCrusader76]

Yeah, they work, though they're a bit old fashioned. The difference between the first and second is a carry bag for them, and it might have an extra band. There are better exercises out there though (try asking about kettlebells in the kettlebells Q&A thread).

Thanks for your help so far guys. Can they help with pecs as well? I know they can't do anything for quads/calfs etc, but they're not too bad to be honest!

[Shaun]

I may be incorrect, but isn't a high muscle to fat ratio achived more by catabolic exercising like cardio then an anabolic exercise?

No. Unless you want to look anorexic that is. Fat loss is about, unless we're taking drugs into the equation which I really don't know much about (I'm a diet, training and basic suppliments guy), expending more than you take in, generally. (This is also assuming he's eating a diet of balanced macro nutrients. Remove nearly all carbs from the equation or all protein then it's a bit more complicated; but most people eat a relatively balanced diet.)

Other things to consider are:

- the more lean body mass you have the more calories you use just to function. So if you train hard and gain, say, 10lbs of lean body mass, that is around 500 extra calories (I think) you'll need to function.

- anabolic exercising burns calories too! A heavy set of 5 squats is extremely difficult, and so are a set of widowmakers (20 rep squats).

- if you're disciplined in the kitchen, you can get shredded without doing any traditional cardiovascular work like the treadmill or exercise bike. (Of course, cardio should still be performed daily for general health, just low enough intensity as to not affect your training goals.)

- HIIT is better for burning fat than low intensity cardio.

And why is one form of resitance "useless"? Isn't the entire point of resitance training to overcome the inherint force acting upon an object? The energy of reisistance is the same regardless if it comes from the kinetic energy to move a weight against gravity or to stretch a band against elasticity. So I don't understand why you think they are useless when the energy required to overcome the resistance is the same.

Because if the resistance is not enough it will be absolutely pointless. You can curl a soup can all day long and not do a single useful thing for your arm muscles or fat loss.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Because if the resistance is not enough it will be absolutely pointless. You can curl a soup can all day long and not do a single useful thing for your arm muscles or fat loss.

I am curious to see what the equivalent wieght to those bands would be. Most likely it would be more than soap. Regardless, I think the product reviews for these products will answer the OP original question:

"the bands were easy to use and appear to be durable.
these bands have been used to engage older aged people in physical activity. The handles are good for those who need a more substantial handle to hold whilst exercising.

Bands have been used in chair based exercises as well as in the standing possition.

You do have to be aware that they can't be adjusted to fit the height of the individual."

"great for beginers, and people who have led a sedentary lifestyle, helping them to start getting fit."

Seems these particular bands would be better for older people or someone needing rehabilitation.

[Shaun]

I am curious to see what the equivalent wieght to those bands would be. Most likely it would be more than soap. Regardless, I think the product reviews for these products will answer the OP original question:

Since they are resistance bands, there is no constant weight for them; it changes during different tensions, i.e. the more it is stretched the more weight it is the equivalent of.

Seems these particular bands would be better for older people or someone needing rehabilitation.

Yes, although I know nothing about either of those.

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Since they are resistance bands, there is no constant weight for them; it changes during different tensions, i.e. the more it is stretched the more weight it is the equivalent of.

Actually the resitance in these bands depends on the loading rate of force rather than the length they are stretched too. Think of a balloon, it is really hard to fill a ballon with your lungs when you slowly force air into it, however, when you quickly force a lot air into the ballon you can fill it much easier. The same goes for resistance bands. Going slow will make them much harder to pull apart then going fast. The reason why it feels harder to pull them apart when they are streched isn't because they are exerting more force, it is because the ability of your arms to apply and maintain the force required to stretch the band is much less when they are outstreched than when they are closer together.

[SonOfCrusader76]

Well, I'm not old and I don't need rehab, but I have got out of the fitness habit in a big way over the last few years, this seems like a way to ease myself back into it. I haven't got really fat or anything, but I would like to lose some inches around the stomach/waist area, usual thing...

[Sosobra]

I personally hate any bad exericse (including things that use bands looking at you Bowflex) as it puts to much pressure on small joints.

If you want to start add muscle just start doing bodyweight exercises , the more muscle you have the more calories you burn at rest.

[ShangTang]

What the hell is toning? I never understood this concept.

[SonOfCrusader76]

What the hell is toning? I never understood this concept.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...35#post4730235

[SonOfCrusader76]

I personally hate any bad exericse (including things that use bands looking at you Bowflex) as it puts to much pressure on small joints.

If you want to start add muscle just start doing bodyweight exercises , the more muscle you have the more calories you burn at rest.

Do you mean pushups? What other exercises are there like pushups, but that exercise other muscle groups? Also, no matter what I do, I can't get my stomach firm! My diet isn't that bad...

[ShangTang]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...35#post4730235

That doesn't make any sense. You can build muscle. You can lose fat. They are two separate entities.