New variant on Exer Gym concept.

[s4l4dr3ss1ng]

Great feedback, guys.

I wonder what the advantages and disadvantages are re: using weights as resistance vs. strap/device assisted self-resistance.

I’m wondering why I’m just learning about the latter now...

I would say that weights provide consistent resistance throughout the range of motion, whereas self-resistance varies according to how strongly you’re resisting with your leg (or other limb).

But this is also the advantage of self-resistance - that the resistance provided by the leg can instantly be cranked up to isometric-level, or even to “negatives”-level, and you can also stop resisting altogether if a break is needed (without having to drop a weight).

One possible drawback that I do find, however, is that when pressing the strap (as in a single arm press), while resisting with my leg, which I press backwards (as opposed to downwards) for resistance, my front deltoids fatigue very quickly... possibly more quickly than in other presses, such as weighted push-ups / archer push-ups.

[Alan OldStudent]

Jan 18, 2020 2:25:52 GMT s4l4dr3ss1ng said:

Great feedback, guys.

I wonder what the advantages and disadvantages are re: using weights as resistance vs. strap/device assisted self-resistance.

I’m wondering why I’m just learning about the latter now...

I would say that weights provide consistent resistance throughout the range of motion, whereas self-resistance varies according to how strongly you’re resisting with your leg (or other limb).

But this is also the advantage of self-resistance - that the resistance provided by the leg can instantly be cranked up to isometric-level, or even to “negatives”-level, and you can also stop resisting altogether if a break is needed (without having to drop a weight).

One possible drawback that I do find, however, is that when pressing the strap (as in a single arm press), while resisting with my leg, which I press backwards (as opposed to downwards) for resistance, my front deltoids fatigue very quickly... possibly more quickly than in other presses, such as weighted push-ups / archer push-ups.

My opinion only.

It depends on your goals. I think both are valuable. They both require a bit different kind of coordination and power. The key is putting the muscles under stress in an organized and deliberately planned way.

[s4l4dr3ss1ng]

Alan, in my early engagement with strap-assisted self-resistance, I have been giving thought to, and observing my body’s response to, which ways of applying resistance seem to be most challenging to me.

Using the example of the one-armed forward press against the resistance of my leg pressing the strap backwards, I’ve noticed that I can apply pressing force versus leg-generated resistance in a few different ways:

i. (starting with my arm outstretched and ending with it tucked in close to my body) applying just enough resistance to maintain an overcoming isometric press and then applying slightly more resistance to effect a negative/eccentric press, doing this at three different joint angles

ii. (starting with my bent arm tucked in close to my body and moving outwards from there...) pressing forward, allowing for just enough resistance for concentric movement, but (every few inches) increasing the resistance to stop the movement and force an isometric press, before decreasing the resistance again to continue the concentric press

iii. (starting with my arm outstretched...) applying more resistance than I can maintain isometrically, thereby slowly forcing my arm closer to my body, even while I press outwards with as much force as I can generate (i.e., a yielding isometric). Repeating this 5x.

And re: goals, I would say that my goals at this point in time are to be able to continually build and maintain “real-world” strength, which I understand to mean the ability to apply as much force as necessary (via upper- and/or lower-body pressing, pulling, hip hinge, gripping, and/or torquing) to both daily strength demands, as well as to emergent situations that may arise.

[Alan OldStudent]

Jan 19, 2020 6:16:16 GMT s4l4dr3ss1ng said:

Alan, in my early engagement with strap-assisted self-resistance, I have been giving thought to, and observing my body’s response to, which ways of applying resistance seem to be most challenging to me. .............

That is key. I've emphasized the parts I think are spot on.

---

Jan 19, 2020 6:16:16 GMT s4l4dr3ss1ng said:

........And re: goals, I would say that my goals at this point in time are to be able to continually build and maintain “real-world” strength, which I understand to mean the ability to apply as much force as necessary (via upper- and/or lower-body pressing, pulling, hip hinge, gripping, and/or torquing) to both daily strength demands, as well as to emergent situations that may arise.

You're aware of how your body parts feel as you move them, down to the individual muscles, and you focus on that, according to your goals and plans. Sounds to me like you've got the right approach, m8.

[s4l4dr3ss1ng]

Appreciate the feedback, Alan.

I’ve steadily moved away from machine and free-weight exercises and towards more minimalistic strength exercises. Even once I began to exclusively strength train via bodyweight exercises, I moved from weighted bodyweight movements to more minimalist “unilateral assisted” bodyweight exercises, which require no external weight, instead relying on leverage disadvantages in the body for resistance to one limb at a time.

I think this is why my interest has peaked in strap-assisted self-resistance - namely, that it is minimalist, not requiring the storage of weights, and therefore executable almost anywhere. My hope, however, is that it can *also* be as effective a “functional strength” builder as free weight exercise, and it seems to me that you’d agree with that.

Do you mind my asking if you yourself have any go-to methods of strength training?

[Alan OldStudent]

Jan 20, 2020 17:35:07 GMT s4l4dr3ss1ng said:

Appreciate the feedback, Alan.

I’ve steadily moved away from machine and free-weight exercises and towards more minimalistic strength exercises. Even once I began to exclusively strength train via bodyweight exercises, I moved from weighted bodyweight movements to more minimalist “unilateral assisted” bodyweight exercises, which require no external weight, instead relying on leverage disadvantages in the body for resistance to one limb at a time.

I think this is why my interest has peaked in strap-assisted self-resistance - namely, that it is minimalist, not requiring the storage of weights, and therefore executable almost anywhere. My hope, however, is that it can *also* be as effective a “functional strength” builder as free weight exercise, and it seems to me that you’d agree with that.

Do you mind my asking if you yourself have any go-to methods of strength training?

I would consider not abandoning free weights. Just do them once every 3 or 4 workouts. Because of my age, condition of my joints and spine, as well as my strength levels, I tend to use lighter weights and go for higher repetitions. That might be something you could consider for yourself.

[Deuce Gunner]

A somewhat similar item from Bullworker USA that they posted a video of on YouTube last night:

[moxohol]

Jan 22, 2020 9:20:13 GMT Deuce Gunner said:

A somewhat similar item from Bullworker USA that they posted a video of on YouTube last night:

Joe Weider marketed a similar item during the 70's & did quite well with sales.

[chanduthemagician]

Jan 22, 2020 9:20:13 GMT Deuce Gunner said:

A somewhat similar item from Bullworker USA that they posted a video of on YouTube last night:

Wow, those short femurs and long tibia.  This dude squats very upright I would bet.  

[s4l4dr3ss1ng]

Appreciate the advice, Alan.

And Deuce, thanks for posting the new Bullworker product; what are the odds that a self-resistance product would be released right in the middle of a forum discussion about self-resistance?!!

I have the Apollo exerciser, which can be unwound to zero tensile resistance and, much like this Iso-Flo, be used as a pulley system for limb v. limb resistance.

My guess would be that two advantages of the Iso-Flo over the Apollo is that the distances between the handles and pulley can be adjusted by the strap buckle -and- that the flat nylon strap distributes the friction over a wider surface than does the thin Apollo exerciser rope, meaning less wear over time.

[gruntbrain]

A suspension device with a rotating component is worthwhile and easy to configure.

[ganesha]

Jan 23, 2020 18:44:04 GMT gruntbrain said:

A suspension device with a rotating component is worthwhile and easy to configure.

I am wondering how you might ideally set up a diy solution, gruntbrain.

[gruntbrain]

Place a suspension device over a pull up bar( or any anchor point that allows your strap or rope to move freely) to get the "iso-flo effect" .

[togotooner]

Getting back to the T2 Iso Trainer product,......Yeah...I have been burned by Kickstarter and Indi"No-Go" campaigns before. heck...even the T2 Iso Trainer media hype page has issues when you try to click on a few of the buttons and tabs. Not off to a great start. I think I
will wait until the campaign is over and then grab one on Ebay if I'm still interested (which is highly unlikely).

[Bruce Tackett]

s4l4dr3ss1ng......

You took the screen name I was planning to use.