Resistance Band Workouts

Resistance Band Workouts

As a busy mommy I want to stay in shape. However I do not have a lot of time to work out. This is where a resistance band work out has really helped save my life.

As we all know anaerobic exercise helps you keep burning fat long after you stop exercising because the lean muscle keeps burning fat for quite a while after you done exercising and are at rest. Using a resistance band is simply the easiest way to create fat burning muscle. The band is convenient because band is not as bulky as weight lifting equipment and yet after working out with it you still get the same type of results. You can take it anywhere.

Working out with a resistance band is also an effective way to lose weight if you do a resistance band workout along with aerobic exercises such as swimming or running.
The great thing about it is that it is as easy to pack. It is just a band of stretchy cloth. You simply take it to the office or take it with you in your suitcase on a plane.

Here is a simple guide to some resistance band workout exercises-

Curls

Stand on the center of the band and pull the handles upwards until you are holding them with your palms facing outwards. Keep your tummy muscles tucked in and your knees slightly bent. Bend your arms and bring palms forward towards your shoulders to accomplish a bicep curl.

Squats

Stand on the band with your feet at shoulder-width. Pull the band up by the handles and hold tension on the band by holding your arms in a position that is a half-bicep curl. Dip into a squat, keeping knees behind toes, and pulling on the band to add tension. Return to starting point and repeat.

Outer Thigh Criss Cross

Lying on the floor wrap the band around your feet. Raise your legs straight up to create tension. Hold the band on either side in the opposite hand. Squeeze your buttocks and widen your legs out to the sides of your torso as far as you can.

Butt Blaster

On hands and knees, wrap band around right foot, holding onto handles with each hand. Wrap the resistance band around your hand until you feel that it has enough tension. Begin with your right knee bent and flex the foot while extending the right leg straight back. Keep your buttocks as taut as you can while you do this.

Chest Press

Wrap the band around a sturdy object behind you and hold handles in each hand. Be sure that whatever object you choose is completely stable or you could hurt yourself.

Begin this move with your elbows bent and arms parallel to the ground. Squeeze the chest and press the arms in and out. Try to keep your moves smooth and fluid.

Remember to warm up with five to ten minutes of cardio beforehand. You should also cool down with stretches afterwards as well just as you would any other type of exercise!

Parenting Tips
, , , , ,

Bread is the Stuff of Life

I know carbs are bad but my children and I will never do without our bread. I even bought a breadmaker a few months ago. I make good healthy bread every day for them to eat. They don't get fat eating my bread because it is not store bought and full of refined sugars and grains.
I am in my early forties so I grew up eating that supermarket bread. My parents baked their own bread because they grew up in that lifestyle where making bread was part of a daily lifestyle. Buying bread only became in style during the post World War II era in the 1950s. This is when as a society we were introduced to the concept of being able to buy anything that we want.
The art of breadmaking was almost lost when I was young. In fact you had to go to a restaurant to get fresh bread – usually an expensive Italian or French one. As I was raised in that supermarket era of white bread eaters I never really knew how great eating fresh homemade bread could be until I got this breadmaker. I was introduced to the concept after tasting some fresh made bread at a friend's house. I was intrigued because she was having us dip it in flavored olive oil rather than smothering it in butter which is why I had been avoiding home baked bread in the first place. The temptation to slather cow fat all over it was just too much.
My homebaked bread is the centerpiece of every meal we have in my home. The kids love it. It is healthy for them and I get to control what goes into the bed. My bed is all natural and there is no preservatives in it. I make a new loaf every day or every second day depending on how much of it we actually gobble up.
I got so enthusiastic about making my own bread that I even bough a Magic Bullet for grinding up my own grains. I make ordinary breads but I also make savory and sweet loafs as well. My olive and sundried tomato bread with coarse salt is to absolutely die for.
Now I also know that my bread is always fresh. The worst thing about buying bread from a store is that you never know how truthful the expiry dates on it are going to be. Remember opening up those bread boxes and seeing loafs of breads covered in green or black mold. Those days are completely over for me. This is why I can now truthfully pray 'Give us our thanks this day for our daily bread!'

Parenting Tips
, , , , , , , , ,