Ankle and wrist weights

brittneyalley

I’ve read that they aren’t safe and can cause injury. Is there an alternative that is safer? Something I can use while walking that is light. Just found out I’m pregnant, but I’d like to stay active. Thanks!

ruqayyahsmum

A backpack with a couple bottles of water and a snack in it

mph323

brittneyalley wrote: »

I’ve read that they aren’t safe and can cause injury. Is there an alternative that is safer? Something I can use while walking that is light. Just found out I’m pregnant, but I’d like to stay active. Thanks!

Maybe a weighted vest? That distributes the weight more evenly and you can adjust the weights as needed. Make sure you check with you doctor, of course Congratulations!

ruqayyahsmum

Thats presuming you mean when walking

You can continue your regular exervise during pregnancy so long as your low risk. For any new exercise consult your doctor

brittneyalley

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

middlehaitch

Second that using weights that wrap around the wrist/ankle, especially the ankle, should not be used.
(The ankle ones are good for weighted leg raises.)

If I am walking on the park path, just outside my back gate, I will take a couple of 2-5 lbs weights and do some arm exercises along the way, otherwise I just carry them for the lap, then dump them over the gate.
I also stop and do squats, bench push-ups, and lunges along the paved part.

I do all kinds of unweighted arm movements, mainly just to amuse myself, but they do help with shoulder mobility. Windmills, large, medium, and small side circles, and high-low front punches.

As you can see I walk the park path and get bored easily, but it is convenient.

A pack or a vest could work, but do check with your doc first.

Cheers, h.

VintageFeline

You can use them for pilates but yeah, not for walking. Weighted vest or backpack is the way to go.

Azdak

Exaggerated arm swing where your thumb reaches shoulder height with each step will add more aerobic intensity to walking than any added weight. That or going on a treadmill and walking at an incline.

yirara

What do you hope to achieve with those?

Walking burns about the following calories:
weight in lbs * distance in miles * 0.3

Thus say you are 170lbs and you walk 5 miles you burn 255kcal.
If you add 4lbs of weights you burn 261kcal.

kenyonhaff

You do burn a bit more calories carrying a load, whether it's a backpack, weights, fat, baby, or diaper bag.

However, as above has been pointed out, it's not a heck of a lot. And you will be putting more pressure on knees, ankles, and so on than you need to.

Is there a particular reason this is the way you want to work out?

stanmann571

kenyonhaff wrote: »

You do burn a bit more calories carrying a load, whether it's a backpack, weights, fat, baby, or diaper bag.

However, as above has been pointed out, it's not a heck of a lot. And you will be putting more pressure on knees, ankles, and so on than you need to.

Is there a particular reason this is the way you want to work out?

But if you want to add weight, add it at the core, where you're already carrying weight, and where you're designed to carry weight.

If you're going to carry a pack or bag or whatever to increase difficulty, make sure it's properly fitted so you don't cause shoulder/back injury and don't get excess chafing.

Maxxitt

Rather than add weight, you can also add minutes/distance/speed. Even if you are only adding 10 or 15 minutes to each walk, adds up.