Isometrics

If you want to look pumped, put your weight training on hold. Isometrics can help inflate the veins in your muscles, according to a new research in The International Journal of Vascular Medicine .In the study, U.K. scientists had men do four sets of an isometric exercise—holding a forceful muscle contraction without movement—three days a week. The result: After eight weeks, the participants' veins were 11 percent wider. What's more, their blood pressures also dropped. (Small changes can make a huge difference in your health. Start here: 20 Little Changes for a Healthier Life .)"We think that the exercises caused an increase in nitric oxide in their blood," says lead study author Dr. Tony Baross.For the experiment, the men held an isometric contraction of the leg extension for two minutes, and then rested two minutes. That counted as one set.However, you can perform isometrics with almost any exercise. For example, hold the down position of a pushup or squat, or the mid-way point of a b...

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