What is the difference between bodybuilding and functional strength training? Body building in my opinion is more about the cosmetic; you know bulging muscles, veins pressed against the skin.

Those men/women are dedicated; there isn’t a doubt about that. They spend hours in the gym they watch what they eat, it takes a lot of devotion. My question is how practical is that for the average person? A person that does not have hours upon hours to spend in the gym, and may not have the best diet.

Not very practical at all I would have to say. I guess it just depends on what you want. There are those of us who might not be gym rats (I mean that in a good way), but what to be able to keep in shape and not kill ourselves doing it. Those who just want to get through the day without aches and pains while we do the everyday around the house chores that have to be done.

This is where a good functional strength-training program would come in handy. Have you every lifted a laundry basket and felt a little pain, or picked up your kid/ grand kid up and felt that little something that just didn’t feel right?

I am sure we all have are own incidents we could think of. Sure, a lot of it is just getting older, and some of it comes from a lack of activity. You don’t need to join a gym or go out and buy a bunch of weight equipment that you don’t need. Everything you will need can be found in the comfort of your home.

Here are a few simple and quick exercises you can do. The first is a leaning push up. You can use a counter or strong table. Lean against it and push yourself back until your arms are fully extended. You can do 8-10 while you wait for the microwave to finish. This firms the arms, the chest, abs, and back.

The second exercise is the lunge. Why lunge because most reaching involves some element of the lunge. Just remember not let your knees go farther forward then your toes. This exercise is good for toning the legs and firming up the behind.

The third exercise is the curl to help strengthen the biceps. Normally you would use dumb bells, but if you do not have dumb bells you can use paints cans, or milk jugs filled with milk or water.

My name is Luke Wilson and I am an avid consumer writer. I write about everything from the basic day-to-day items to the latest in technology and health. http://www.affordable-gifts.info/toning.htm