A wonderful alternative to weights to tone muscle, and more effective than cardio for fat loss, are resistance bands. Not only are they lightweight and portable, but resistance bands are also versatile and take up very little space in your home. These huge rubber bands with handles come in different levels of resistance indicated by color for easy identification. Often they come with a door jamb attachment to use for additional exercises and a guide illustrating specific movements to work each muscle group. One of the best features of resistance bands is their price. You can spend hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars on fancy resistance machines, or you can get the same results from a very affordable resistance band. This workout tool is so useful and safe, it is often used for the purpose of rehabilitation as well as by pregnant women.

One of Wii’s latest games comes with a resistance band and many exercises that utilize it. EA Sports Active is due out in the Spring and makes use of this valuable workout tool.

Find resistance band workout charts for medium, heavy, and very heavy bands here.

Always get your doctor’s go-ahead before starting any new exercise regimen.