Does Bodylastics Really Work?

Bodylastics are resistance bands that are trying to make the case that they can be like a home gym. For several years now bands like these have been used in aerobics classes, since they provide lighter resistance in a smooth motion, without the bulk and clunk of using heavy free weights or machines. So can these really give you a strength training workout that rivals the gym?

Overview
When building strength there are a few pieces of equipment that most people use in order to get results. You’ve got your machines at the gym, with a dedicated machine for each major muscle group. This lets you use more weight and not use a spotter. You can use dumbbells, which help you use stabilizing muscles because you have to hold the weights in place and keep them steady.

And then there are dumbbell exercises like bench presses and squats, which you typically will want a spotter for since there’s a chance of dropping the weight onto yourself. Resistance bands try to offer the best of all worlds, with no spotter needed, and the ability to use them in creative ways to get a full body workout.

The Claim
Bodylastics is claiming that their resistance bands are a cut above what you’ll typically find at your local department store, or even at your local gym. They say that the difference is in the way they’re constructed, with patented processes that make them more durable, less likely to break, and provide smooth resistance during your workouts. If you’ve ever hand a band break on you in the past, you’ll appreciate that these are 99% snap resistant, but you might also still be concerned about that 1% possibility.

The Hype
Most any fitness program comes with its share of hype. When it’s something that you’re supposed to be able to do at home there’s even more hype heaped on. Resistance bands aren’t exactly a new invention, but these are supposed to be super strong, so you don’t have to worry about breaking them, and you don’t have to worry about getting an intense enough workout.

The Cost
There’s a Super Strong Man set that sells for $78 and comes with a total of 202 pounds of resistance that you can arrange in 90 different increments. This would be enough for just about anyone to evolve to and never complain that there isn’t enough resistance to keep things challenging. They also have packages from $29 so there’s an entry point for just about anyone that would want to add these to their collection of fitness equipment, or get started on creating a respectable home gym.

The Commitment
This is the one part that many people might struggle with. Resistance bands take a little getting used to if you typically use machines or free weights at the gym, or if you’re totally new to the world of strength training. The nice part about using bands is that they provide resistance in both directions. This forces you to use stabilizing muscles as you return the weight to your starting position. While this makes it more effective, it also requires learning the proper form, and sticking with it until it feels natural.

Evaluation
They make a very strong argument that these could be a suitable replacement for the gym by showing dozens of exercises for each muscle group that you can perform at home. Many at-home workout machines are unable to replicate the kind of exercises you can do at the gym, which is why so many people are still relying on their fitness club membership to keep them in shape. But with this you not only get the bands, but you get a lot of instruction on how to use them, and how to do different exercises with them. That combination is huge, and something that’s hard to find in any workout system.

Without the instructional videos that come with these bands, you might be lost on how to use them. That lost feeling is what prevents many people from finding a workout program that suits them and sticking with it. They’ve got pre-designed workout programs that can help you target specific muscle groups depending on your goals. And they even provide spreadsheets so that you can track your progress, stay organized, and stay focused.

Final Bodylastics Review

We’re giving Bodylastics our Thumbs Up rating, as these are

some of the best resistance bands you can buy. They provide all of this quality but don’t take advantage on the price, offering good value for the dollar, which is something we can all appreciate. Just be sure that you’ll be able to stay committed to using them, because even though they’ll last longer and provide a better workout than substandard competing bands, you’ll still have to use them to the point where you feel comfortable doing the motions, and of course find the motivation to work out on a regular basis.

Our Recommendation
While you might not be looking to replace the gym completely, these could be a great supplement to a gym membership, especially for rainy days, snowy days, busy days, or when the only time you’d be able to make it to the gym is when it’s all crowded and you’d have to wait to use the machines. These would definitely be a suitable surrogate, and many might find that they can cancel their membership and rely on them entirely.

What do you think? Does Bodylastics work or not?