WEIGHTED VEST WORKOUTS – PROS & CONS
Weighted vest workouts can be a valuable tool in holistic wellness programs and in natural bodybuilding training programs. Health and wellness coaching certified trainers encourage the use of weighted vest workouts for the extra challenge it brings to everyday workouts. There are some pros and cons to using a weighting workout vest. A certified fitness consultant can help you determine if a weighted vest is beneficial in meeting your personal fitness goals. Free personal fitness plans are also available online for individuals who enjoy doing online training. One of the biggest benefits of using a weighted workout vest is that it supports weight loss training plans. The extra resistance and challenge also help to burn extra calories and supports the growth of lean muscle mass. It’s a balanced way to add resistance without having to lift heavy fitness equipment. The weighted vest is worn on the body and the resistance is evenly distributed across the upper body. The weighted vest could be made heavier by adding extra weights inside the pockets. The weights normally come in 1-lb pouches that tuck easily and securely into the pockets of the vest. These weights could also be taken out if you need to build up endurance and strength first. Weighted vest workouts also help build endurance and strength for runners, triathletes, and other competitive athletes. The extra weight that is worn in the vest while running mimics the additional effort one would use when running uphill. The extra stamina that is earned when training with weighted workout vests helps you compete and train with more power that will certainly be noticed by your competition. One of the cons of using a weighted workout vest is you need to be mindful of your form and use good posture when training so that you don’t increase your risk of sports injury. Running and training with bad form can create a variety of challenges such as chronic aches and pains and increases the probability of getting a serious injury that could negatively impact your training. Having bad form with a weighted workout vest puts extra strain on at-risk areas that are already a concern for injury. Injury could also happen if you try to do too much too fast. For example, if you have never used a weighted vest before and you decide to put on a 10-lb weighted vest and run ten miles, your gait could change as your muscles fatigue earlier creating muscular imbalances and strain. It’s best to go easy and see how your body responds to wearing a weighted workout vest before you commit to wearing one with every training session. There are many different styles, brands, and types of weighted workout vests. If you are new to wearing one or can’t seem to find one that works best for you, consider scheduling a consultation appointment with a personal trainer or fitness consultant so that you can have a fitting done as well as a demonstration on proper form and can be shown which exercises can be most beneficial to you while using a weighted workout vest.