Ab work & resistance bands

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
OK so this chiropracter at my gym was giving me a really hard time about doing crunches w/a 45 lb plate on my head. He said if he felt my neck muscles they're probably about as tight as they can get (OK he's really hot & I wanted to say well then feel them already......but that's a story for another day :p ) & that I'm risking long term damage.

So I'm thinking about replacing the plate w/a resistance band--maybe in the stretching area of my gym, looping it around one of the posts & holding both ends to the back of my head.

Has anyone tried this? Am I being silly & repetitious b/c Cathe is already doing it on a strength training workout I don't own?

If not, I still know nothing of resistance bands. What kind of band should I have that could replace a 45 lb plate? Any other thoughts?
 
Well personally I think you're nuts to put a plate on your head and can definitely see your chiropractor's point of view! I can only imagine the kind of damage that would do to me. The only weights I've ever seen used in ab work is the medicine ball (Core Max!), but then I'm no pro here. Girl, be careful and don't use that 45 lb plate ust as an excuse to see a good-lookin' guy!
 
But I've been using it since 1997--OK I started w/25 lbs & worked my way up, but still..........ALL my muscles are tight so I never thought anything about it.

And as far as an excuse to see a good looking guy, well crap, I hope I don't have to go to such great lengths that that I have to pay for it. ;-)
 
LOL Laura! Yes, let's hope it doesn't come to that!

Maybe you could take a break for a week or so and just do abs without any weights and see what happens.
 
<gasp> ab work without weights! OMG!

That's actually what this guy was telling me. Then he started showing me some wacky exercises that required two people--one basically lying across the other's legs to keep them from moving while the upper body moved.

But I just can't imagine an ab workout w/o weights. My abs barely show at all--I think it's a genetic thing--& the only way I can get that 6 pack is with weighted workouts. I also do cable crunches, which apparently (according to this guy) are just fine. It's the weight on top of my head that's a problem. Although I'm not sure I'm buying it b/c the weight is really supported by my hands, not my neck.

I think I'm gonna try the resistance band, maybe at home first (I got a free one w/my pilates mat) & then take it from there.
 
Laura, do you hold the weight behind your head? I can't even picture this for some reason, it sounds painful! LOL! Maybe if you hold the plate to your chest instead? Just a thought.
 
No, it's more toward the front of my head, close to my forehead. With a towel across the middle.

I can put it on my chest but it's not as effective--if you think of the crunches on the stability ball at the end of section 3 of Core Max when you're holding the med ball with your arms out & Cathe says put the ball behind your head if your neck gets tired. I guess the longer the range with the weights, the more effective the exercise.
 
Laura,

Would this guy be willing to be your partner on those two person exercises ;-)

You have great abs, so obviously what you have been doing works for you. On the other hand, I would hate to see you injure your neck. That's serious stuff.
 
I'd really think about this Laura...no one wants to have permanent damage to their neck. I've gone to a chiropractor regularly for about 9 years. My sister hurt her neck in a water skiing fall and to see what she has gone thru would make you cringe. You have great abs and giving up the 45lbs I bet won't hurt you at all...just give it a thought...and besides this Chiro is hot, right???...:)...Carole
 
Wow , you never cease to amaze me.
Using an 8 lb medecine ball or a 10 is plenty for me.45 lbs is a lot of weight.
That boy would be on my chest.
I think you will still get the benefit without the strain.
You don't want neck problems and headaches.
What if you pinch something, then need surgery to fix it.
Down for 6-8 weeks and loosing your gains?
We don't have the men muscle.
You may not have the genetics for big muscle.
I know i don't.
I just don't want you to hurt yourself for big muscle. After all we do workout to look good and be healthy.
Anne
http://www.picturetrail.com/acatalina
 
1997? Dead-give-away that it's time to re-think your routine! There are a LOT of very good ab exercises out there that require no weight.
You may want to do some research on this. That exercise with the plate does not sound very safe, so I'd listen to the Doc.

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain ;-)
 
Try the plate on your chest. Yes, it will feel like less weight because of the shorter lever, but use a heavier plate, then.

I've seen photos of a version similar to the resistance band version you mention, but using the pully system in the gym. That would definitely put less strain on the neck.

For resistance bands, Lifeline makes some very heavy duty resistance cords with handles that would work. www.power-systems.com sells their most heavy-duty strength (which can be equivalent to up to 80# of resistance, depending on how far it's stretched).
 
Kathryn! LOL! There's no such thing as a plate heavier than 45 lbs. Well, that's not totally true--I've seen some metric plates that are something like 47.5 lbs, but they don't have them at my gym.

I think I'm already doing the second exercise you mentioned--the cable crunches. Except when I do them I have the cable & rope on the top of the machine & am kneeling on the floor, so I'm pulling the weights down.

What I'm trying to figure out is whether I can get the same workout doing normal floor crunches with a resistance band rather than the big plate.

I'll check out the power systems bands, sounds like what I'm looking for. Thanks for the tip!
 
>Kathryn! LOL! There's no such thing as a plate heavier than
>45 lbs. Well, that's not totally true--I've seen some metric
>plates that are something like 47.5 lbs, but they don't have
>them at my gym.

Yes there are plates more than 45lbs. In my gym we have 75lb & 100lb plates which usually the guys use for leg presses or neck exercises.



http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
Hey LauraMax --

Yes, the resistance bands are a good alternative. The ones with the handles are better for this type of exercise. Wrap the band around something and hold the handles *next* to your ears (not behind your head). So it is kind-of like simulating the cable crunch -- except you're in a regular crunch position.

My trainer used to have me do crunches on a stability ball this way. He would stand on the band behind me. I would do a crunch on the ball with the handles in my hands next to my ears (that way I didn't try to pull on my neck).

Good luck,
Shonie
 
>Kathryn! LOL! There's no such thing as a plate heavier than
>45 lbs. Well, that's not totally true--I've seen some metric
>plates that are something like 47.5 lbs, but they don't have
>them at my gym.
>

Another option I just thought of. How about holding two dumbbells in front of your shoulders?

Did the chiro guy make any suggestions? (about alternatives, I mean
;-) )
 
>Hey LauraMax --
>
>Yes, the resistance bands are a good alternative. The ones
>with the handles are better for this type of exercise. Wrap
>the band around something and hold the handles *next* to your
>ears (not behind your head). So it is kind-of like simulating
>the cable crunch -- except you're in a regular crunch
>position.
>
>My trainer used to have me do crunches on a stability ball
>this way. He would stand on the band behind me. I would do a
>crunch on the ball with the handles in my hands next to my
>ears (that way I didn't try to pull on my neck).
>
>Good luck,
>Shonie



Ooooh - love this idea!!!!!

m.
 
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