Bowflex 2 manual Defining Your Goals

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Defining Your Goals

Your body will do what you train it to do. That’s why it’s important to define your goals and focus on those goals. Here are some fitness components that will help you define your goals and choose your fitness program.

MUSCLE STRENGTH is the maximum force you can exert against resistance at one time. Your muscle strength comes into play when you pick up a heavy bag of groceries or lift a small child. It is developed when a localized muscle is worked both positively (concentric) and negatively (eccentric) at a resistance great enough to perform only five to eight repetitions of the exercise before the muscle fails. Each set of repetitions is followed by a rest interval that typically runs three times longer than the set. Later, between exercise sessions, the muscle overcompensates for the stress and usually increases in both strength and size.

MUSCLE ENDURANCE is the ability to perform repeated contractions. It comes into play when you cross-country ski or work on your feet all day. Endurance training addresses the slow twitch, endurance muscle fibers, which depend on oxygen for energy. To develop muscle endurance, use low resistance and high repetitions — about 15-20 repetitions in each set, three sets to each exercise, working the muscle only to fatigue.

MUSCLE POWER is the combination of strength and speed of the muscular contraction. This is often misinterpreted as:

a)Being directly associated with certain skill or sport and/or

b)Meaning that you must move fast.

Load is actually a more important factor than speed when attempting to improve power. When training to achieve muscular power, pick a resistance that fatigues you in the 3- 5 repetition range. When performing these reps, it is more important to think of contracting the muscles faster rather than attempting to move faster. Performing sport simulation exercises usually results in a deterioration of the motor pattern or skill. The biomechanically sound method of improving power in your sport is to train for power using the correct joint movements, as described in this manual. Then practice the skill associated with your sport, learning to apply this newly achieved power.

BODY COMPOSITION is the ratio of fat weight (fat) to lean weight (muscles, bones and tissue). As you age, the ratio shifts. The fat weight increases and the lean weight decreases. Training for muscle strength will generally increase muscle size and aerobic conditioning will help burn extra calories. Performing these two forms of exercise, either at different times or together, will create the greatest changes in body fat weight.

BALANCED STRENGTH and alignment is the result of equal strength developed in all parts of the body. It comes into play in your standing and sitting posture, and in your ability to perform just about any activity safely and effectively. An over-development of the back will round the shoulders; weak or stretched abdominals can cause lower back pain. You want a balance of muscle strength in front and back. In addition, you need a balance of strength between your middle, lower, and upper body.

FLEXIBILITY is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to move the joint through a full range of motion. Flexibility comes into play when you execute an overhand serve or stretch for the top shelf in the kitchen. It is a cooperative movement of opposite muscle groups. When a muscle contracts, its opposite muscle group must relax for the action to occur. Increased flexibility means an increased range of motion, made possible by this simultaneous contracting and relaxing. Good flexibility is important in protecting the body from injury and can be achieved through the balanced strength training programs included in this manual.

CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE is the ability of the heart and lungs to supply oxygen and nutrients to exercising muscles over an extended period of time. It comes into play when you jog a mile or ride a bike. It is a critical component of overall fitness and health. Any exercise program must be supplemented with cardiovascular training, such as rowing on the Bowflex.

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Contents Bowflex Table of Contents Getting To Know Your Machine Bowflex UltimateUsing Your Machine When You Are Not UsingAdjusting And Understanding Resistance Hooking The Power Rods To The CablesWorkout Bench Using the Bowflex Hand Grips Using the Bowflex Adjustable Pulley System Using Your Machine Folding & Moving Your Bowflex Safety About Your Bowflex AttachmentsFor Your Safety Please Follow These Instructions Defining Your Goals Reaching Your Goals Exercising Properly Warming UpAerobic Rowing Position Performing Your RoutineWorkouts Minute Better Body WorkoutMinute UPPER/LOWER Body Body Building Circuit Training ANAEROBIC/CARDIOVASCULAR True Aerobic Circuit Training Strength Training Chest Exercises Chest Exercises Pulley position Narrow only Starting position Flat Barbell Bench Press Pulley position Wide only Starting positionPulley position Low pulleys only Starting Position Shoulder Exercises Pulley position Wide or narrow Starting Position Pulley position Narrow Starting positionScapular Protraction elbow stabilized Scapular Depression Shoulder Rotator Cuff Internal RotationShoulder Rotator Cuff External Rotation Shoulder Extension Elbows StabilizedBarbell Shoulder Shrug Scapular Elevation Pulley position Narrow or wide Starting positionLying Front Shoulder Raise Military Press Back Exercises Pulley position Lat tower Starting positionLying LAT Pulldowns Pulley position Wide Starting positionAlternate motion Back Exercises Scapular Retraction Barbell Bent Over ROW Pulley position Low pulley Starting positionArm Exercises Lying Triceps Extension Elbow ExtensionLying 45 Degree Triceps Extension Elbow Extension Triceps Pushdown Elbow ExtensionPulley position Lat tower Rope Pushdowns Elbow Extension SINGLE-ARM Pushdown Elbow ExtensionCross Triceps Extension Triceps KickbackSeated Triceps Extension Elbow Extension Seated Wrist Extension Pulley position Narrow Seated positionStanding Wrist Extension Seated Wrist CurlStanding Wrist Curl Position Barbell Curls Elbow Flexion in supination Abdominal Exercises Seated Resisted Abdominal Crunch Spinal FlexionResisted Reverse Crunch Spinal Flexion Pulley position None Starting positionTrunk Rotation Abdominal Crunch Spinal FlexionLeg Exercises LEG ExtensionLEG Curl Pulley position Low pulley Starting position Lying Prone LEG Curl Knee flexion Standing HIP Flexion With knee flexion Seated Straight LEG Calf Raise Kneeling LEG Kickback Hip extension and knee extension Standing HIP Abduction Seated HIP AdductionSeated HIP Abduction Ankle InversionAnkle Eversion DeadliftSTIFF-LEG Deadlift Hip extension Now Introduction Bowflex Body Leanness ProgramPersonal Guarantee From Dr. Ellington Darden Measurements Two inches above navel belly relaxedTwo inches below navel belly relaxed Record each measurement on your Results Summary SheetSkinfold Measurements SuprailiumOptional Picture Taking Starting body-fat percentageDetermining Your Body Fat To Use The NomogramCalculating Lean Body Mass For ExampleYour Results Your Results Summary SheetGuidelines Week 1&2 Eating Guidelines Follow a Carbohydrate-Rich, Descending-Calorie Eating PlanSuperhydrate Your System Eating Plan Week 1Week 3 Week 5Bagel CerealBanana-Orange Chocolate or VanillaTuna Salad Dinner Steak DinnerFrozen Microwave Dinner Late-Night SnackShopping List StaplesMay I have dinner for lunch and lunch for dinner? Is it possible to drink too much water?Is bottled water better than tap water? Page Maintenance Routine Adhere to a carbohydrate-rich, moderate-calorie eating planEat smaller meals more frequently Drink at least 1 gallon of cold water each dayExercise Log 120Muscle Chart Bowflex
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