I recently bought my first resistance band, the black one from Freeletic’s own store (15-38kg, 35-85lb to be exact).
First workout something was called a reverse chop where you have your band underneath one foot and with both hands extend the band infront of you and over your head, towards the opposite side of the foot which is holding the band.
It might be just because of either lack of strength or inexperience with resistance bands, but I had no chance of getting the band anywhere close to that height, perhaps to chest level or so. Any more than that and I started to worry about the band snapping.
Not being able to extend it above my head makes me wonder if the workout is even effective or completely useless.
Any tips on how to improve this workout? Should I buy a band with lower resistance or just try to force it a bit more to see how far it stretches?
First workout that I have had this kinda technical issue with so far (+1month in), great app!
Ps. For some weird reason I can’t find the workout under the Explore section on the app.
Edit: the resistance band used in the video was black too, but it didn’t look as thick and had no text on it like the ones you can buy from the store.
Hi @Joels
You try this exercise with the most difficult strength band. I’m not sure … Is there a band with more resistance? I guess not.
Tri it with a lower resistance. I’m sure this will fix your issues getting it overhead
It’s not only the strength however, this band definitely looks shorter than the ones used in the workouts.
It’s a bit disappointing that the app is including these workouts although it seems like some of them would either not be possible to do at all because of the length, or simply too difficult to do for beginners because of no recommendation on band resistance.
I’m said to have decent strength in my shoulders and arms - and I use the red strength band for this exercise - with light traction. And I’m really struggling with 16 repetitions.
To make a recommendation here is like a lottery (as with KB and DB). If the exercise with your resistance band isn’t feasible for you, I would either get a lighter resistance band or skip the exercise.
Quite possible. My black resistance band is definitely shorter and wider.
And this is exactly the problem with the resistance bands. With both a physio and OT in my immediate family, we have a myriad of therapy resistance bands lying around. I do have bands that work for reverse chops in my case, but I never have an idea of how strong it should be.
The freeletics response refers to the band streng in their shop. In principle I believe exercise should be free or at least very affordable for all, and having to buy equipment from the shop defies that principle? The reason I got sold on freeletics in the first place was the easy, always and everywhere approach.
To be more constructive:
Could a few chaep long low resistance rubber bands using one or more together work, grading it that way?
Freeletics, can you please give us an idea of how to select bands in terms of length and strength? (saying red/ blue/ green/ black is really unhelpful).
I usually use the thinnest from decathlon. It is very “flexible” so I suggest you to maybe buy a 3rd party band. See the kgs of your band and look for an easier.
I think this exercise is to aim the core as you rotate so the lift should be the easiest part (I saw this in the description of the exercise or maybe it was in a day where only the core appeared blue in the body diagram where the body parts targeted appear).
In my case 12 is quite hard after 3-4 series and because of the shoulders, but I think my core is much stronger than my shoulders.
Hope this serves as an insight and take this with a pinch of salt
