Trivia time! What do Jennifer Lopez, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jennifer Aniston have in common... besides holding the title of WH #GirlCrush? Answer: All three use resistance bands to help sculpt and strengthen their bods.
In fact, Aniston's trainer Leyon Azubuike swears by 'em. "Resistance bands with handles are amazing for upper-body work," he says. Turns out, using these rubber tubes to get stronger can be more effective at activating ancillary (a.k.a. helper) muscles that assist your primary movers than picking up dumbbells, per a small study in the Journal of Human Kinetics. That's likely because the added instability fires up these secondary muscles, which are often hard to target and train.
Giving this support system some extra attention is oh so necessary - but often overlooked, according to Azubuike. "Too many people are building a superstrong house on a weak foundation," he says. This can happen when you don't strengthen your joints and the muscles around them, says personal trainer Chelsey Wilkens. The solve: Focus on moves that'll challenge (and toughen!) these little muscle wonders.
Put the following workout on heavy rotation and you'll build a routine on solid ground, finally...
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2023-Ausgabe von Women's Health South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July - August 2023-Ausgabe von Women's Health South Africa.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
