Working out without weights

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Working out without weights and other creative practices for true fitness

Getting to the gym can be a burdensome task when coupled with the week’s worth of work, family, and social appearances. It can be not only burdensome, but expensive, too. Buying your own personal weights can be an expense that, in this day and age of cutting costs, doesn’t make much sense.

So, what is a person to do? Why not try working out without weights? Working up a sweat releases endorphins, makes you feel better about your day, and creates a new, healthy you.

Fortunately, there are simple, easy to implement ways in which to accomplish a chiseled and healthy body using alternative means to lifting.

Below, we’ll take a look at a few quick fixes for those looking to build muscle and get leaner without cutting into their pocket book.

Techniques for Weight-Less Exercise

At Bodybuilding.com, find ideas on how best to accentuate your “weight-less” exercise regimen. From reducing the time between sets to making your own weights, they offer a wide variety of ideas on the subject.

Instead of barbells one can use a variety of heavy objects in order to perform tougher sets. Use books, water bottles, and more, to get a burn without the need for expensive disks. Get your son or daughter to go for a ride on your back as you try to do your daily push-ups. Get creative with the types of objects you use in your workouts and you’ll see similar results without the need for expensive equipment.

At Bodybuilding.com, they delve into using only one limb for an exercise, like doing push-ups with only one arm or one-legged squats. One can slow down their exercise routine as well and feel the effects as it becomes much tougher to complete a rep when slowing down the up and down movements for a greater burn.

Sit-Ups

Try full sit-ups or crunches to help strengthen your core. Pair these with cardiovascular activity and a proper diet based on fresh foods and you’ll be moving in the right direction. To do correct sit-ups, simply lie on your back with your legs bent. Your heels should be down close to your backside.

Pull your chin up, with your hands placed behind your head, and return to the starting position. Repeat for as many reps as feels comfortable if you’re just starting out. Go 1/3rd of the way up as compared to going all the way with regular, full sit-ups.

Pull-Ups

To strengthen one’s back, shoulders, and arms, look no further than the pull-up. You can buy pull-up bars at sporting goods stores or can use ones found at your local high school field, elementary school, or playground. Once again, you can get creative and find a school on your running or bike route and finish with some weight-less exercises on the bars to help build and maintain muscle.

Push-Ups

For those looking to build up their chest, triceps, and shoulders, the push-up can be an effective means to do so. For a more difficult push-up, try elevating your feet. Or move (space) your hands differently than normal, either placing them closer or farther apart.

Work in a routine of push-ups in addition to your cardiovascular exercises like running, biking, swimming, walking, and the like. To do so, lie on the floor and place your arms palm down, either at your shoulder level or below. Push your body up until your arms are straight and then return as far down as you can. Repeat.

While the above mentioned sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups are the old standbys for many, there are a variety of other potential exercises. Calf raises, deep knee bends, hyper extensions, and even grip exercises can all be done to build muscle and create a lean looking body.

Working out without weights doesn’t have to be boring or mundane. For more information on building muscle and creating a sculpted look, head over to the Bodybuilding.com page and check out proper ways in which to implement these ideas into your next workout.

Resources:

Bodybuilding.com: Workout Without Weights.

Livestrong.com: How To Workout Without Weights.

Above photo attributed to SuperFantastic