Have you ever watched an infomercial that sells an exercise workout? If so, you probably saw a number of excited people extol the virtues of the program. The product usually consists of exercise videos and a diet, and may include some type of gadget. Many of the products feature one or more exercise bands as their "special bonus".

Do they work? There are several kinds of exercise bands available. One type is a circle of stretchy material with two handgrips at opposite "sides" of the circle. Another is a long piece of stretchy stuff with handles attached at both ends. Others resemble things like rubber scarves and slingshots. All are easily portable.

My personal favorite is the long piece of stretchy material with handles at the ends. These may appear to be flimsy gadgets of little value. However, I have found them to be useful and versatile. They are available in several tension levels, from "light" to "extra-heavy". Medium is good for starting out, as you can always move up to heavy or extra-heavy later, if you want to.

The band usually comes with an exercise chart that demonstrates various ways to work out with the device. As always, do warm-up stretches before you begin your workout.

The benefits of band workouts are similar to those you would get with hand weights or with barbells. Some authorities say these are even better, because you get constant tension during the exercises, both in the up and the down movements.

At first it may seem easy, and you will wonder if this is doing any good at all. But afterwards, you will feel well-worked-out. If you have one — or an assortment — of these bands, you can duplicate most of the movements of a whole gym-full of exercise machines. Quite a feat for such a seemingly simple gadget!