5 Exercises Not To Do
Before we get to the exercises, a quick weekend update…
On Saturday, 45 of my friends, family, and EarlyToRise.com team members visited three Wal-Marts in Denver where we were able to buy $60,065 worth of toys in our Toys for Tots drive.
Thank YOU for supporting TT so that we could support Toys for Tots.
Here’s Bedros Keuilian standing in front of the flatbed truck that our group filled. Next year we’re going for $100,000.
And here’s a funny photo of Bedros’ daughter and I at dinner.
And NOW on with the exercise show…
Just last week I received an email from my editor at Men’s Health where he asked:
“What are five exercises that trainers hate, and what smart replacements are for each?”
My answers on the Five Exercises Not to Do:
1) Situps or crunches
Why: These are terrible for the low back/spine, as shown by research from Dr. Stuart McGill. These exercises compress the discs in your spine and can cause serious low back injuries.
Alternatives: Stability Ball or Power Wheel Rollout, TRX Mountain Climbers, Plank or Bodysaw/Rocking Plank, or Stability Ball Plank (30% harder on your abs than a regular plank)
2) Broomstick Twists
Why? Useless. Just useless.
Alternative: Cross body mountain climbers, spiderman climbs, side plank (with TRX)
3) Leg Extensions
Why? Possibly dangerous for knee, but more important, these are inefficient for everyone but pro bodybuilders
Alternatives: Split Squats, Forward lunges, Narrow-Stance Barbell Squat, Goblet Squat
4) Behind the Neck Pulldown or Presses
Why? Likely dangerous for rotator cuff and also leads to terrible form where people strain neck forward and contort themselves just to do the movement. Just NOT worth it.
Alternative: Pullup, TRX row, V-grip pulldown to chest, db row
5) “Bodybuilder bench press” – with elbows out and bringing bar down close to neck
Why? Terrible for the shoulder joint and rotator cuff
Alternatives: Barbell bench brought to bottom of pecs with elbows tucked into sides, DB chest presses (all varieties), TRX or Ring Pushups
BONUS: Long slow cardio – Why? Ineffective and a waste of time
Alternative: Intervals, metabolic conditioning, bodyweight circuits, burpees
You just don’t have to exercise for a long time. You can get amazing results with short, BURST workouts.
Click here to get a NEW body with shorter workouts
You’ll discover 5 steps to looking 10 years younger.
This free article will reveal exactly what you MUST AVOID if you want to slow the aging process, reclaim your health, and achieve
your ideal body.
Read this article here
Hope that helps,
Craig Ballantyne, CTT
Certified Turbulence Trainer