the first one with weights
So today I did my first hike with my new weighted vest. I didn't know what to expect, but it was good!
I put on 4 kilo's for my first try and wanted to do a short round to get used to the weight. But I automatically walked the longer route and realized too late :') So I was on my usual 6km round and decided it would be good to take a break somewhere.
The 4 kilo's felt heavy, but still doable. It felt a bit like carrying our 1 year old daughter around everywhere, like 4 years ago ;) I read online, that if you start with weighted vests, you should start with a maximum of 10% of your body weight. So the 4 kilo's was ok for me. In principle I could even do a lot more, but I want to be careful with my granny body ;)
It took me a bit of time to get the straps adjusted to a size that was feeling good. I tried to be extra mindful of my shoulders. Because straining them in a wrong or too heavy way is a recipe for headaches. After a stop around 1km to adjust the straps, it felt better and I could hike on without problems.
I could feel my body was working hard to carry the weight. And it made me automatically walk straight up. I had the feeling it's really good for getting a strong and straight posture. But I also noticed at the end of my hike, that I have to be careful with my sciatica. But that's something I always have to be mindful of.
I usually need 1 hour for the 6km hike and with the vest and some short breaks it took me 1.5 hours today (writing it down so I can check my progress later).
When I got home I felt like I got a nice workout. Hiking with weights is something I will try to do at least once a week. It feels good to challenge my body in this way!
leave a comment