Walking with weights

UKChloeT
UKChloeT Posts: 29
edited 5:33AM in Fitness and Exercise
Afternoon All!!

I walk my dog for 1hr 30mins to 2hours a day, seven days a week. It is the most regular form of exercise I get and because the days are getting shorter & the mornings & evenings are pitch black before/after work, I don't ever really feel like going out for a run aswell as the walking.
So, I thought I'd walk with a weighted backpack to help increase the calories burnt. I figure the heavier "I" am, the more my body will have to wrk to get me round.

FYI - I am 5ft7, SW-162 CW-157 GW-140

Hoping someone with exercise knowledge can answer a few questions for me;

1) How much weight will make a difference? I know the more weight I carry the harder I'll work but I don't want to hurt myself!

2) Will I end up gaining a lot of muscle? If so, where will tone up? (I don't want big shoulders!)

3) Is there anything else I can do to make the walk burn more calories? I am restricted on time and my dog will not jog alongside me, she's easily distracted and it can be quite dangerous because she darts round all over the place!!


Thank you in advance!!

Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Probably around 50lbs per hand.

    if you just want to increase calories burned, try walking faster. Or jogging.
  • Rum_Runner
    Rum_Runner Posts: 617 Member
    If you're putting in a backpack I'd keep it at 25lbs. Don't want to hurt your back.

    Now you can also add ankle and wrist weights to add more to the burn!

    You also don't want to crawl....for a good burn you need to be around a 3.5mph + pace.
  • UKChloeT
    UKChloeT Posts: 29
    Thank you for the replies, I should say I cover around 4 miles a day in the two walks, it might actually a bit more than that. I'm definitely walking at a pace.
    I'll try 25lbs and see how I go!
  • roro73
    roro73 Posts: 153 Member
    I like the idea of the wrist/ankle weights. I may need to invest in those. Since we moved to an apartment I have to walk my dogs before and after work and sometimes we even do a third walk (when I had a yard I really didn't walk them much at all). My dogs are little and dart around as well so I wouldn't feel safe jogging with them either. I try to get in some other type of exercise at least 3 days a week, but walking is absolutely my most consistent exercise now since not getting the girls out to go potty & exercise isn't even an option anymore. Thanks for the idea of increasing the intensity with weights!
  • Narla444
    Narla444 Posts: 41 Member
    I've used 2lb ankle weights before and I'm a similar size to you. I was just thinking this week that I have to start that up again.

    I like the idea of using a backpack too. I'd make sure that your back has a good chest/waist strap if you are going to use much weight. I also walk my dog up and down a nearby hill - tuckers us both out!
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