So,
I've decided to go through the ingredient list of Shakeology and take one item each week to read more about. This gives me a good list of topics for the Friday feature of this blog and also gets me to do some research on what I'm putting into my body every day.
I picked bananas today just to see if there was any new information I would learn. Not that I knew that much about bananas to start with. I mean, I know about the potassium. Everyone knows about the potassium. If you have a tendency to suffer from cramping muscles, it's a good idea to add potassium to your diet in some way and bananas are a good way to do that.
It turns out that bananas do more than that, at least potentially from some of the study results. Bananas might help reduce and control blood pressure. I did not know that. They might also help head off atherosclerosis, the build up of fatty crap in your arteries. They might also help in heading off ulcers. I know a lot of people that should be eating bananas for blood pressure and ulcer protection. Bananas also might be helpful in maintaining good eyesight.
It turns out that what I knew about bananas was far outweighed by what I didn't know about bananas.
Here's something else that I know about bananas. I don't like them. It's a texture thing. No matter how firm they are, they are too mushy for me. If I eat one, I usually eat about half and throw away the other half because I just can't get myself to choke a whole one down.
Not only does Shakeology have banana powder in it but I can toss half a banana into a blender with some water, ice, and a scoop of chocolate Shakeology. This gives me the benefits of both the Shakeology and the extra banana without having to try to gag down an actual banana.
I don't make that kind of smoothie often (because I'm lazy) but it's an option. I usually just drink the Shakeology plain. The banana trick is there though when I want the extra treat.
Today's exercise is the Band Squat. Resistance bands are an inexpensive way to get some resistance training and take no space to store. I've taken my band with me on trips because you just toss it in the suitcase. You can work your whole body with them.
Band squats are one of my favorite band exercises since I packed away my olympic bars and plates. Another benefit of resistance bands that I just thought of is that you don't need a spotter. You aren't going to be crushed under a resistance band.
If you're looking to add some resistance exercises to your routine, you can certainly buy weights. I have a set of hex dumbbells that I use and I have my eye on the Bowflex Selectechs because they take up a tenth of the space as my current set (but cost several hundred dollars). Both are options but for cost and space, resistance bands are an excellent answer. You can work your entire body with a band or two and get into great shape.
The one tip from the video that I would like to repeat again is to take the band handles off your shoulders at the bottom of the move. I see people undo their position when the band is at full resistance and it really looks like they are going to hurt their shoulders as the band whips their arm behind and down. Squat down one last time and take the handles off your shoulders and then stand up. I haven't seen anyone hurt by doing the move at the top but it makes me cringe every time I see it.
So, eat a banana and do some cramp free Band Squats.
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