boy lifting weights

Photo by kittykat1919

I don't have time to do exercises that aren't worth it. Take this week: Things happened so quickly that I didn't make it to the gym. Today, as I was planning my weekend so it included some sweat, I ran across this Redbook article about 9 Exercises to Avoid. Who knew wearing weight belts was about as helpful to fitness as a bowl of Ben & Jerry's Karamel Sutra?


Here are the nine least effective exercises...


  • Lat pull-down behind the head
  • Military press behind the head
  • Upright row
  • Lying leg press with knees bent too deeply
  • Squats on the smith machine
  • Any exercise wearing the wrong shoes
  • Spot-reducing exercises
  • Using bad form on the cardio machines
  • Always lifting with a weight belt

In search of more exercise ideas, I found this a post about what CafeMoms do when it's time to work out.

What are your favorite and least favorite forms of exercise?