P90X and Resistance Bands...

[naughtoj]

Ok, what's up with these things? The learning curve is huge on these!

I ordered the Exertube Bands. I ordered red (strength training females), blue (really strong females, most males), and purple (strong males). NONE of them feel hard enough to really train me for a pull up. The purple comes close, and would be hard enough if the resistance band was not so flippin' long.


Why are they so long in length? I don't like how far I have to step back from the door to even feel it. Istead of "pulling down", I am pulling back and side, turning the exercise into what feels like more of a rear delt, arm exercise. I just don't feel it as much in the back this way.


I need tips on how to increase the intensity of these 4ft. bands for pull ups and lower body exercises. I have never really used bands before at length and am a little rusty. Do you loop it around your feet or something to make it harder? Any books on this?

I don't like how they seem so lax for the first half of the pulling movement. It only get hard at the absolute farthest back pulling point, and I am like, standing 4 feet out from the door. It scares me. I can step back further, but how far can these things stretch? Also, how do you modify your hand grip or body placement to mimic the several types of pull ups/ chin ups demonstrated in P90X. I know underhand close, underhand wide, overhand "" "". But they seem to long for the chin up motion?

Need some feedback. Thanks!

Janice

 

[kathryn]

I ordered the heaviest set of bands (men's "extreme") and the green was a bit light for pull-downs. I now use the blue. I put the door attachment at the top of the door (not the attachment that comes in the Beach Body accessory kit: it seemed too risky for me because there's not alot keeping it from slipping through the door. I got a great attachement from www.sissel-online.com )and kneel on the floor about 4 feet from the door, tilted so that when I pull down, it replicated the movement of doing a pull-up. The band is taut when I begin the movement, and I make sure to do an isometric hold at the bottom of each rep.

I only use the bands for pull-downs, so I can't answer your question about other exercises.

One woman in my P90X check-in at videofitness who uses the bands tied a knot in the ends of the bands (so that the handle holds the knot tight) and says it works well to increase the intensity.

 

[naughtoj]

Kathryn..
I knew you would reply. Thank you. I will have to get over to VF and see what they have to say over there.

I am also going to order another few door attachments. I am going to see if they have a book at the library on this.


Janice