If you're thinking of investing in some free weights, I would encourage you to take a look into the resistance band. This little number was about $15 at Canadian Tire and can serve a variety of functions that would otherwise require an entire set of free weights. And at $7 a piece, who can afford all the different weights?

The nice thing about the tube is that you can adjust the intensity level by either giving yourself more slack or making it tighter, and thus harder to move. It was recommended to me by a personal trainer at my gym when I had such bad shin splints a few months ago. She suggested I sit on the floor with the rubber tubing around my feet and flex my feet until the tubing felt tight. That exercise will help build calf muscle and reduce the splints.

Since then I have looked up a number of different exercises and am finding resistance training challenging but also very effective. For this shoulder and ab exercise, you stand on a piece of the band and lift the end in the air, and then crunch down to the side. When the band is at the peak in the air it's the hardest and is working all those arm muscles.


This is the crunch back down. If you exhale while you crunch this way you are working your obliques.

If you stand on the tubing in the middle in a lunged position you can do bicep curls with it. The lunch makes it a core workout too.

Staying in the lunch and pushing your arms back works your triceps...oh boy does it ever.
Anyhow, for a few bucks this investment is awesome and I recommend it to anyone. Plus its easy to store and light as a feather!

Weight Today: 167
Workout: Elliptical and resistance training yesterday, probably more Elliptical tonight
Feeling: anxious about the weight I'll probably gain on my upcoming trip to Florida. But confident in my ability to bounce back. My goals for the new year are exciting and challenging! tba