what types of resistance band do you recommend (for gaining muscle)?

[Semidevil]

I'll be soon moving to a place where a gym is not convenient. I still plan to go to the gym maybe once to twice a week, but I want to continue working out and gain as much strength as I can from home. Besides running and body weight exercises, I also want to try resistance bands. I understand that it wont be equal as free weights, but I figured it is better than nothing on days where I can't go out.

What bands do you recommend that will assist with gaining muscle, size, and strength? I am in no way a strong person (29 years old, 128lbs, deadlife 155, squat under 100, bench press under 100), so I would think the bands that are currently made are still good for me. I want to be able to use the bands to replicate the workouts I will do at the gym: shoulder press, flys, bench, curls, tris, squats, and maybe even deadliest.

any suggestion? I currently have a spri blue band and that seems fine, but I think I want something that has more resistance and makes me work harder.

[Saint Nick]

I don't think a workout band could replace an olympic bar and weights.

[IHateMyJob2004]

Agree with Saint Nick.

If you use olympic weights at the gym twice a week, you could do things like pullups and situps at home. And grab some limitted weights. Dumbbells to do curls (I know, it's a targetted exercise). You could even buy the kings of crush grippers.

[Lounatik]

If you are set on getting bands, go on Ebay and search for Gold's Gym bands. Three bands which can be hooked together or used separately. Pretty decent quality as my 70lb 7 yr old loops one around my chin up stand and uses it for assisted pull ups. Plus they go for about 25.00.


Peace


Lounatik

[tedrodai]

My recommendation for gaining strength at home, if you don't want to buy a nice weight set, is to work bodyweight progressions towards stuff like

1 leg squat
1 arm pullup
handstand pushups
body levers, planche, L-sit

That would be a heck of a lot better than what you could gain with bands, unless you bought tons of bands.

There's plenty of good resources online and/or books that show you step by step progressions.

[thirdeye]

I started using bands with the P90X workout in the spring and purchased a bunch of Lifeline USA bands specifically because I didn't want to spend money on weights and am pressed for space to store stuff. I liked them, but have since purchased a set of Powerblock adjustable weights that I like a LOT more than the bands.

I'm still doing the same types of workouts, but I feel the weights give me a better workout and are easier to determine the amount of weight your working with since it's the same all the time vs. how you hold the band, whether you're using a loop, etc.

[episodic]

I like bands. They can help you gain muscle. Is it as good as 'weights' probably not. Depends on your goals. I'm a runner and cyclist - and they give me all the muscle I need.