Hi
September 15, 2021
In this newsletter . . .
Thumbing Your
Nose at Gravity
Since entering the very senior of my senior years, I’ve become more and more a resistance band user. Free weights (most recently kettlebells) may always be the gold standard when it comes to resistance workouts, but now, I have to say, bands have even overtaken my kettlebells.Here’s why:
Gravity is a factor when lifting iron, and aging tendons and ligaments can be over-stressed because of it. However, gravity is not a factor when working with resistance bands. For example, think of a simple movement like the barbell curl. As the barbell descends, tendons are sometimes over-stressed to control the weight, particularly at the bottom of the lift. But the same curl movement using resistance
bands works the same arm muscle but with much less tendon stress.
Aging seniors or even younger trainees with achy joints often say they find relief using a good set of bands instead of weights.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who’ve been around gyms a long time may pooh-pooh the thought of resistance bands. “They’re just for old geezers that can’t lift real weights anymore,” you might hear. Don’t believe them. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
Here are a couple of examples of what I mean:
Professional football quarterback Tom Brady works out with bands. So does former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens, to name just two. We are talking about elite athletes who play or have played (Owens) at the highest level in one of the toughest of all sports. They wouldn’t waste a minute of their time if bands didn’t get results. They aren’t alone either. Many top-level athletes in most sports use bands.
Bands are also one of the great bargains in the fitness world, being inexpensive and compact. At home, you can stash an entire set in one drawer. Try that with a set of weights or a stationary bike. And they’re perfect for travelers.
By now, I must sound like a salesperson pushing a product. Full disclosure: One resistance band company, the Bodylastics brand, was once an advertiser on my website. But for years now I haven’t had any connection and receive no compensation from them.
Still, I use their bands and like them a lot. There are probably others that are good, too. At Amazon, for example, you can find many companies, as well as Bodylastics, selling resistance bands.
For seniors especially, I hope you’ll give them a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. And your joints will love you for it.
Stay healthy. Stay fit.
Logan
Senior Exercise Central
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Newsletter Policy
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter is a free publication sent twice monthly to subscribers. The purpose is to provide honest and realistic fitness information for people age 50 and above.
I have never been paid or received compensation of any kind to write a positive review or endorse a product. If I say that I personally use a product or service, it is because I find value in it and have paid for it with my own money.
Like newspapers, magazines, and television, this newsletter and my website contain advertising and marketing links. Naturally, I am compensated for these.
The newsletter and website provide information to help users establish and maintain a fitness lifestyle. But fitness information is not the same as fitness advice, which is the application of exercise and dietary practices to an individual's specific circumstances. Therefore, always consult with your physician for assurance that fitness information, and
your interpretation of it, is appropriate for you.Your comments and questions are always appreciated. Simply click on the "Reply" bottom.
Sincerely,
Logan Franklin
The Gray Iron Fitness Newsletter
www.senior-exercise-central.com
