Did my first workout tonight with bands...

[|3ossman]

Wow! these things are crazy, and i can definatly see how they would make you stronger.

My partner and I did Rack Pulls (set under the knee) with Doubled Mini's tonight. We worked up to a max triple. holy shit where these fuckers hard, much different than using straight weight. We both worked up to 455 on the bar with the doubled minis on each side, it felt like atleast 650 to me at the top, whatever it was it was fuckin heavy.

Anybody else here train regularly with bands? Im psyched to use these things.

 

[Quadsweeps Sister]

Well, I used to train regularly with bands....

Beware, these bands have been known in their evil state to staple you to various pieces of weightlifting equipment (benchs, squat boxes...) and staple things to you....barbells, etc.

I had two 'band' incidents. The first with the mini's, choked off of dumbells outside the squat rack and attached to the barbell. It was speed day so I was in a speedy frame of mind. Mind you no weight was yet on the bar, just the mini's. I grab the barbell and proceed to watch it arc outward past any natural groove and land somewhere rapidly into my stomach.

The second time was much more sinister....I was up at Westside for an early morning workout and there was one other guy and Louie in the gym. Louie knew my weights but the other guy didn't he just kept piling it on. The green bands were choked off the texas powerbar to the bottom of the monolift and I had a low box. Needless to say at around ~ 350ish I sat down - didn't come up, then folded in half like a taco. I sat there stapled to the box until the got the weight off me.

Ah yes, I love bands........

Good to hear you are using them. Just make sure to take breaks from them. Using them too frequently can seriously tax your central nervous system and you'll be shot for awhile.

We used them everywhere; tricep DB extensions, skulls, leg curls, hypers, tri pushdowns...so much more all with bands. Of course there is deads, bench and squat with bands, but there are infinite uses. Ask about anything if you are wondering. Enjoy!!!

 

[|3ossman]

Yeah, i can definatly see myself getting into an incident or two. Lol @ stapled

My back is a little sore today but nothing like i expected, im pretty surprised.

Ive checked out every single band use they have listed on elitefts and you're right when you say you can use them everywhere. I tried doing tricep DB extension with a mini and just some 25's, didnt seem to have much tension, it was there, but didnt really seem worth it. Was i using the right band?

If you could make a list of the top 5 or 10 assistance movements WITH bands, #1 being most effective/important, #10 being lowest priority, what would they be?

btw...how god damn cool is it training at Westside with Louieand Tate and all the others around. Im jealous, i want to go there soo bad

 

[Quadsweeps Sister]

Well, to train at Westside was something I will always have the best memories of. They are the most down to earth people and the most amazing athletes. I was and am in awe. I was lucky and I worked hard while I was there. I truly had no where else to go while I worked there 5 straight weeks and I just was lucky, that is all I can say. They are very kind people and I feel such gratitude for all I learned.

As far as the 5 most important exercises with bands? Others I hope will give their opinions, but mine are as follows:

Squats with bands
Deadlifts, pulling against bands
Speed Bench with bands
Hypers with bands (unless you're lucky enough to have a GHR)
Ham curls with bands

These are my favorite, but there are many variation of the core exercises as I am sure you are aware from the EFS and Westside articles.

By the way, I think you had not much benefit from your lying DB tricep extensions with the mini's because you needed to increase your DB weight. Try that next time... mini's should be fine. Also make sure you have them doubled under the bench and try gripping them in your hand (palm) then place the DB in your hand on top of the band in your palm.

 

[|3ossman]

i check out elitefts all the time, and from all their posts and articles i can definatly see that they are all great people.

Thanks for the list of exercises, but i was actually looking for the top assistance exercises. Whats your take on that?

Thanks QS

 

[Chambewy20]

Assitance exercise with bands....

Blue band good mornings for accessory or warm ups
Seated blue band leg curls
Band pull aparts http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=33907&tid=101
Band tricep DB extensions
Same as above but on incline and elbows out
Push ups with band across back, do this as a pre-exhaustive exercise before speed bench http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=36587&tid=101
Band kick backs
Band push downs
This movement on floor presses helped me learn how to tuck me elbows http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=4185&tid=101

There's a ton more but this is what I've used personally

 

[Quadsweeps Sister]

Assitance exercise with bands....

Blue band good mornings for accessory or warm ups
Seated blue band leg curls
Band pull aparts http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=33907&tid=101
Band tricep DB extensions
Same as above but on incline and elbows out
Push ups with band across back, do this as a pre-exhaustive exercise before speed bench http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=36587&tid=101
Band kick backs
Band push downs
This movement on floor presses helped me learn how to tuck me elbows http://asp.elitefts.com/qa/default.asp?qid=4185&tid=101

There's a ton more but this is what I've used personally

Sorry I misunderstood you needed assistance exercises, but glad to see Chamb came back with all you need and then some! He uses them "all" the time so he would certainly be of more help to you!