[Erinyes74]

Hi all,

Does anyone here use a weight vest? I am interested in trying it on my lunch-hour walk. I love to lift weights, but frankly, I don't always have the time. I think this might help fill the gap.

If you have one, have you had success with it?

Thanks!

[Mel]

How are you planning to use it?

I incorporate weight vest training when I'm training young and already fit high school or off-season college athletes. They do short sprints while wearing it- much like pulling a weight sled and sprinting, or being attached to a large stretchy band. It increases the load and increases explosive strength.

If you are using it just to try to burn more calories, I think it would be detrimental to your joints.

Just my opinion--

Mel

[Erinyes74]

Hi Mel,

Thanks for the response!

I'm a former rugby/semi-pro football player who has let the baby weight linger just a little too long. Now I have this sweet metabolic-syndrome-looking gut that I'm trying to get rid of...ugh...

So, despite my ticker weight (eek!) and this enormous post-baby paunch, I'm in pretty decent shape and I'm looking to eventually better develop some explosive power, maybe running some fartleks with it?

Right now I weigh too much for sprinting (everything jiggles...ugh!) but as you suggest, I thought it might help me burn more calories if I could throw it on and do nice slow sets of stairs (sort of like a body-weight + 20 step-up) in my work building until I get closer to 155-- which is a more comfortable running weight for me.

Thanks for your thoughts though-- my knees probably would not be too excited at the prospect, so I should probably reconsider =)

[Mel]

Another way to look at it is you would just be doing your workout as if you weighed X pounds more on top. Whenever I pick up a pair of 30 pound dumbbells and do step ups, I'm amazed that I walked around all the time with more than that weight on my poor knees!

I would add more intensity and more actual weight training before you add a weight vest!

Mel