Ankle/Wrist Weight Exercise Review
By DFR staff member Julie
Chapman
The theory is that by adding extra weight when we’re exercising
our muscles have to work harder; giving additional toning benefits
and burning more calories. Using ankle or wrist weights sounds like
a sensible and practical way of doing this, so do they work?
I decided to try the 0.5kg weight option for use as wrist weights
and the 1kg weights for ankle weights, given that my lower body is
definitely stronger than my upper body. Nevertheless, I was really
curious about whether I would be able to actually feel the
difference from such a small amount of extra weight.
First Test: A Walking Workout with Wrist
Weights
This was brilliant. Bend your arms slightly and get a gentle
swing going to the rhythm of your pace, and it feels like you’ve
done a weight session at the gym. Using the wrist weights works
not just your upper and lower arms, but your shoulders as well. This
is an easy and time saving way to boost the benefits of a walking
workout or other aerobic exercise.
Second Test: Shopping with Ankle Weights
For me, I thought wearing the weights on my wrists
would be too heavy, especially for shopping as it might make taking
things off shelves rather hard. So off I went with them for a bit of
ankle weight walking exercise while I shopped.
I can now put my hands up and say, ‘yes, 1kg per ankle certainly
makes a difference and you can definitely feel it’. After an hour or
so my legs were pretty tired and I felt they’d had a good workout.
Third Test: Dance Class (Aborted)
I was going to do a third test and wear ankle weights to my
normal weekly dance class but, after using them for a slow hour’s
shop, decided that I’d need to improve my fitness before wearing the
weights for that level of aerobic exercise!
Verdict
So what do I think? Using ankle and wrist weights is a
practical way to get more out of a walking workout and, if you’re
fit and strong enough, an aerobic step
or dance workout. It’s also a great way to increase the muscle power
and energy used during normal physical activity such as doing the
housework or shopping – great if one of your exercise goals is to
lose weight.
Adding weight increases the effectiveness of your exercise
activity whatever your fitness level, saving time whilst you’re
toning up and burning extra calories. So, in my opinion
Reebok's Ankle and Wrist
Weights are a fitness equipment best buy.
Tip
Wear the ankle weights round your ankles with the Velcro
fastening at the front, and if you are jogging or going on a long or
hilly walk, wear a pair of socks underneath just in case they rub. |
