ColumbusSports.com : Your place to stay informed and talk about the sports scene and sports teams in and around Columbus.

Just the other day, I ran into a woman who started asking me about Your Live Trainers.  I always love talking to people about Your Live Trainers because almost every person I talk to has never heard of a concept even similar to how we help people become more fit.  The funniest part to the whole conversation has to be when they ask me what equipment they need, and I tell them just their bodyweight and some exercise tubes we ship to them.  I would have to say that over 75% percent of the time, they have a very surprised look on their face.  So many people think that in order to get fit or lose some weight, it either takes expensive weight equipment, cardio equipment, or a gym membership.  What a lot of people don’t realize is that everybody already has all the equipment they need to lose the weight; they just don’t know how to use it.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that everybody already has all the equipment they need to lose the weight; they just don’t know how to use it.

For anybody that has gone through an up-paced bodyweight workout, you know that after you’re done, you feel just as worn out as if you worked out with some high-priced gym equipment.  The key to getting results isn’t about what fancy equipment you have; it’s about maintaining an intensity level that will challenge you.  Intensity is dependent on a number of different variables; the amount of resistance is just one of those variables.  Think of a runner; could you go out right now and run a mile in under 6 minutes?  A lot of people couldn’t, you may be one of them, but whether you could or not, most people would be sucking wind after finishing that mile.  Were any weight machines, barbells, or dumbbells used during that mile run?  Obviously not, but that’s not to say the body wasn’t being challenged. 

Please realize that using the excuse of not being able to afford a gym membership or exercise equipment isn't a valid excuse for not staying fit.

Here’s another example; let’s look at the way the Navy SEALs used to work out when they were on missions.  They used to use parachute webbing to create a harness that would allow them to use their bodyweight as resistance.  Today, those same bodyweight methods are being marketed as the TRX Suspension Training system.¹

Bodyweight training has another enormous benefit over expensive machines; you aren’t limited to the design of the machine.  If you want to do a push-up, followed by a row, you can because you can be as creative as you want with bodyweight training.  Plus, with bodyweight training, you have the ability to challenge your core on a whole new level.  There are so many stability and balance exercises you can do with bodyweight workouts.

Now I’m not saying weight machines and free weights are a bad thing.  I think they’re a great resource to utilize, but just be aware that they aren’t a necessity for improved fitness and weight loss, and because of that, your places to work out are unlimited.  If you want to work out at home, work out at home.  If you want to work out in your office, then do it.  If you want to work out in a park, the sky is the limit.  Please realize that using the excuse of not being able to afford a gym membership or exercise equipment isn't a valid excuse for not staying fit. 

If you truly want to be healthier, money doesn’t have to stand in the way.

OK, so what if you feel your bodyweight isn’t sufficient enough for an exercise?  For example, what if you want to do a row?  Well, unless you’re doing something like a pull-up on a tree in a park, it might be kind of hard to figure out how to be challenged by a row-type movement.  Here’s where the second neatest exercise resource enters in.  It’s called an exercise tube.

Other than your bodyweight, exercise tubes are one of the most effective cost-efficient workout tools on the market.  Why is that?  It’s because not only are they dirt cheap, they also can provide resistance levels similar to dumbbells.  In sessions with our clients, we use a light tube, a medium tube, and a heavy tube; these tubes can have a resistance level that produces anywhere from around 5 lbs. all the way up to 20+ lbs., and when combined together, the resistance level can start to get up there.  Besides the low cost, with tubes starting as low as under $5, they’re also very versatile; there are so many exercises you can do with a stretchy band and two handles.  Plus, even though they produce resistance levels of 20+ lbs., they only weigh a pound or less, so that means you can take them anywhere with you.  I’ve taken tubes to work out at places like on a tennis court, in a hotel room, on vacation, and in a college weight room.

Exercise tubes can add so much to a workout because not only do you have all kinds of bodyweight exercises to choose from, you can also have even more exercises to choose from when using exercise tubes too.  And if you recall from when talking about maximizing your calorie burn, you remember that the more muscles you can work with one exercise, the better.  Instead of just doing a squat with clients, I might have them do a shoulder press with an exercise tube … while doing a bodyweight squat. 

I may sound overly excited about bodyweight and exercise tubing workouts, but it’s just because I know that there are many people out there that think they need to empty their pockets on a gym membership or a home gym, you may be one of them, but that’s what I’m so excited about.  I’m so excited because that’s simply a complete myth!  If you truly want to be healthier, money doesn’t have to stand in the way.  Using your own bodyweight and some $5 exercise tubes will give you such a good workout that you’ll never think about needing money for a gym membership or a home gym again.   
        
References:

¹ “TRX Company Information”, provided by the company website, http://www.fitnessanywhere.com/company/about.php, accessed September 5, 2008. 

Dan Falkenberg, BA, ACE-CPT, NASM-PES

Dan Falkenberg is the cofounder of Your Live Trainers.  He can be reached at DanFalkenberg.com.

Don't miss my new fitness book, tentatively scheduled to hit stores soon!  Put your name on the VIP waiting list to be notified when and where it’s available for purchase.

Tags: cardiovascular exercise, exercise selection, weight loss