Exercise resistance bands are rapidly gaining popularity as an alternative to weights. But what are bands and what can they do for you? Resistance bands are stretchy elastic bands that come in a variety of sizes, resistances, and colors. You attach them, most commonly to a door, and the band creates resistance for you to pull against.

The greatest advantage that these bands have over weights is the cumulative effect of the tightening band. If you lift a 5 lb. weight, it provides 5 lbs. of resistance throughout the whole movement. But as you pull against a band the resistance increases as you pull it more taut. You can build more muscle more quickly. And we all know that more muscle leads to more calorie burning and quicker fat loss!

From a safety standpoint, you’re extremely unlikely to overextend any joints, which is always a possibility with weights. And you won’t hurt yourself if you drop a resistance band on your foot! As with other forms of exercise, bands help increase endurance, reduce stress, and boost energy. The low impact nature of bands helps build joint strength and increase flexibility.

There are lots of advantages to adding resistance bands to your workout routine. They are quite inexpensive compared to other home gym equipment and very versatile.

You can add a band to many of the movements you already use, such as bicep curls or lunges, to increase the intensity of your workout. They are small, flexible, and portable. Put one in your purse and you can pull it out for a quick 5-minute workout almost anywhere!

For more information about exercise resistance bands, go to http://www.thatfigureswomensfitness.com/exercise-resistance-bands.html. For fitness information, advice, and resources for women, visit Deb Conn’s blog, http://www.thatfigureswomensfitness.com.