The No-Excuse At-Home Resistance Band Workout

I know what you’re thinking… “Matt, I lift free weights — heavy ones at that. Why would I do or even consider a resistance band workout?” Well, for many reasons actually. People like to downplay a resistance band workout or utilizing resistance band exercises in their training as if it’s worthless — it’s not. And this article is going to show you why and how to utilize this strategy.

Why YOU Should Use a Resistance Band Workout

There are many reasons you should implement resistance bands into your training program. The first could be because you are strapped for time and can’t make it to the gym or you’re at home and the weather outside doesn’t make it ideal for traveling to the gym. Rather than completely skipping your workout, you can utilize resistance band exercises to stimulate muscle fibers. Additionally, resistance bands (even as a set) is extremely compact to the point where you can pack it in your suitcase and take it with you on business trips or vacations. You have no excuses when you have resistance bands and can fit in a resistance band workout anywhere.

Now, be realistic with your expectations here. You’re not going to have 315 pounds of resistance like you would on a bench press with three wheels on each side. So, simmer down He-Man. What you are able to do is get an amazing squeeze out of each rep of your resistance band exercises and completely exhaust the muscle and feel a deep burn in the tissue. Some resistance band companies sell their products as a set that includes various resistance bands as well as attachments. This allows you to hit your entire body in the privacy of your own home. If I were to make one suggestion, it would be to find a brand (like Bodylastics) and purchase one of their complete sets based off of your strength level and needs/goals.

Something else to think about is the constant tension you get from resistance band exercises. If you think about it, there is constant tension on the muscle at all times pushing and pulling on a muscle where you won’t have the ability to “rest” or “relax” during an exercise. While you may not be utilizing the same weight you use in the gym, a resistance band workout is more than enough to help stimulate muscle growth and help you achieve your fitness and physique goals.

Resistance Band Exercises

To start off, let’s look at all of the different resistance band exercises you can do at home.

Crunch
Twisting Crunch
Trunk Rotation
Side Bend
Various Grip Pull-Down
Row
Back Fly
Straight-Arm Pushdown
Chest Press
Incline Press
Decline Press
Chest Fly
Squat
Leg Extension
Leg Curl
Deadlift
Calf Raise
Shoulder Press
Side Lateral
Front Lateral
Bent-Over Rear Lateral
Upright Row
Biceps Curl
Concentration Curl
Hammer Curl
Triceps Kickback
Triceps Pushdown
Triceps Extension

And this is only the tip of the iceberg. You can get creative with your exercise variations as well. But, as you can see, you can utilize a variety of resistance band exercises to compile a complete resistance band workout. You can even take exercises from workout programs you found online or books, only using resistance bands to change things up and stimulate the muscle fibers differently.

Leave a minimum of one day’s rest in between your resistance band workout to allow your body to properly rest and recover. So, for instance, if you do a workout on Monday, wait until Wednesday at the earliest to complete the workout again (this is assuming you are following the exact full-body workout shown below). Cardio, on the other hand, can be completed each day (seven days a week) if you wish to do so.

To complete the resistance band workout, the only thing you will need is enough room in your home to complete the exercises safely, as well as your resistance band(s).

*As with any exercise plan, it is advised that you consult with your doctor prior to ensure you are healthy enough to engage in such a program.

For each of the resistance band exercises, complete 10-15 repetitions. Complete anywhere from two to four complete circuits based on your current fitness level. Push yourself each workout to achieve more reps or more total circuits. While the program is fairly basic (to allow all fitness levels to utilize it), you can make it more challenging by slowing down your reps to increase the time-under-tension.

For the resistance band workout I’m providing below, complete one exercise after the other without resting in between until you reach the end, then allow yourself a 45-60 second rest period before starting over again. This style of training is called a “circuit.” It’s where you are continuously moving from one exercise to the next with no rest in between to keep your heart rate elevated and help you burn more calories during your workout.

The At-Home Resistance Band Workout

Warm-up before beginning each workout by engaging in some low-intensity cardio such as jumping jacks or walking up and down the stairs for five minutes to get the blood pumping and help get the muscles warmed up. Once your warm-up is completed, you can move ahead with the workout below.

If you intend on doing cardio the same time you plan on doing your resistance band workout, complete your cardio AFTER you are completely done with your resistance training.

Exercise	Reps
Squat	10-15
Deadlift	10-15
Calf Raise	10-15
Pull-Down	10-15
Row	10-15
Chest Press	10-15
Chest Fly	10-15
Shoulder Press	10-15
Side Lateral	10-15
Triceps Pushdown	10-15
Biceps Curl	10-15
Crunch	10-15
Side Bend	10-15

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Why YOU Should Use a Resistance Band Workout

Resistance Band Exercises

The At-Home Resistance Band Workout

Matt Weik