Weight Vest Training

MikeInAZ

I decided to step up my training a bit. Under the advice (constant nagging) of a friend, I picked up a 20lb weight vest. I only added 8lbs to it to start. I did my normal workout routine;

~3 miles of jogging, burpees, sit ups, tricep dips, push ups, stuff like that.

I wear a Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor when I workout. In the same amount of time, I burned over 200 calories more than I normally do. 815 vs 620ish. This is roughly about 33% more calories in the same amount of time.

Personally, I think this is awesome! The vest slowed me down for sure, I couldn't run as fast or do as many reps as I normally do. But that's good, it means I can get stronger! I'm excited to see where this takes me.

I bought the "Golds Gym" vest at Walmart for $39. It's OK, the straps pull backwards instead to the front, and the zipper is left handed. It's like the whole thing was designed backwards. Other than that, it has 20 pockets to put 20 - 1lb weights into. There's also a neoprene pocket for your phone, which I was able to cram my GIANT Galaxy S4 in there.

If you're looking to step up your game a bit or want to see what it was like when you were 20lbs heavier, try one of these on. BTW, they do make them in 40lb and 60lb vests too!

DavPul

yeeeeeeaah, 8 extra pounds carried is highly unlikely to result in an additional 30% of calorie output. well, unless you only weigh about 40 pounds. proceed at your own peril

uconnwinsnc

yeeeeeeaah, 8 extra pounds carried is highly unlikely to result in an additional 30% of calorie output. well, unless you only weigh about 40 pounds. proceed at your own peril

8 extra pounds on a 3 mile run+workout should probably make a noticeable difference. 20 lbs definitely will.

MikeInAZ

It wasn't just 3 miles. it was a lot of other HIIT activities too. I'm telling you the truth. I usually do about 600+ calories in an hour, today I did 800+. 600 to 800 is 33% unless my math is wrong.

DavPul

it's ain't the math that's wrong

MikeInAZ

So you think my Heart Rate Monitor is wrong? No seriously, I'm interested in Statistics. Why would the same workout be 200 calories more from 1 day to the next when the only thing different is I wore a weight vest.

When I was 220 I would burn 900 calories an hour. When I was 210# I would do about 750-775. Down to 190# I was burning about 700. 180# I burned 600.

I don't think the numbers are that off.

RoyBeck

I'd follow your HRM but don't eat back ALL your burnt calories. If it says 800 in an hour I'd subtract my bmr first (Mine is 80 approx.) leaving 720 so I'd eat back 4-500 personally.

Your HRM is gonna be a lot more accurate than anyone's opinion on here so don't sweat it. Also 8lb will make some sort of difference yes.

DavPul

I haz no links. Google "hrm HIIT accuracy" and see what you find. It's not made for anything but steady state cardio. Every other type of activity that causes spikes in heart rate is ridiculously inaccurate.

I'm out. I've been way more helpful here than usual and I have a reputation to keep

uhhhDoodle

I'd follow your HRM but don't eat back ALL your burnt calories. If it says 800 in an hour I'd subtract my bmr first (Mine is 80 approx.) leaving 720 so I'd eat back 4-500 personally.

Your HRM is gonna be a lot more accurate than anyone's opinion on here so don't sweat it. Also 8lb will make some sort of difference yes.

Exactly. I would go off of your HRM as well.

MikeInAZ

I'd follow your HRM but don't eat back ALL your burnt calories. If it says 800 in an hour I'd subtract my bmr first (Mine is 80 approx.) leaving 720 so I'd eat back 4-500 personally.

Thanks! I usually never eat back my exercise calories. I used to do that religiously, but I hit a plateau in my weight loss. I started eating back about half of that and then the weight started coming off again. I don't believe that your body will "starve" if you don't eat back your calories. I've read that if you have large deficits for several days/weeks that your body will go into starvation mode. But a couple times a week, isn't going to negatively affect you.