references
Harvard Health Publishing: "Wearable Weights: How They Can Help or Hurt"
Strap on a pair of ankle weights for this full-body workout.
Image Credit: Gabriele Maltinti/iStock/GettyImages
Image Credit: Gabriele Maltinti/iStock/GettyImages
If you are looking for more resistance while walking or running, Harvard Health suggests a weighted vest instead of ankle weights as this distributes the weight more evenly and doesn’t overly stress your joints. If you have arthritis or other joint issues, make sure you talk to a doctor before using ankle or wrist weights.
If you have arthritis or other joint issues, make sure you talk to a doctor before using ankle or wrist weights.
Image Credit: Dasha Einhorn/LIVESTRONG.com
Sets
3
Reps
15
Region
Full Body
Start on all fours, shoulders over wrists and knees over hips. Place one ankle weight on your right wrist and the other on your left ankle. Lift and extend your right arm and left leg off the ground. Keep your core engaged, hips square and lower back neutral. Draw your left knee to your right elbow by rounding the spine and lifting the bellybutton in. Repeat for 15 reps on each side.
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Image Credit: Dasha Einhorn/LIVESTRONG.com
Sets
3
Reps
15
Region
Full Body
This full-body exercise improves the stability of your core, as well as strengthening your arms and legs.
Sets
3
Reps
10
Region
Full Body
Place weights on your wrists. Lunge forward, feet parallel and hip-width apart and both knees bent to 90 degrees. Raise bent elbows to the side, in line with the shoulders, palms facing forward. Straighten both legs and lower your forearms parallel to the floor, palms facing the floor, elbows in line with the shoulders. Do 10 reps on each side.
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Sets
3
Reps
10
Region
Full Body
If you experience any shoulder pain with this movement, lift your arms straight up as you do your lunges.
Place weights around both wrists. Sit on the mat with legs bent, feet on the floor, legs squeezed together, arms extended forward. On an exhale, round your spine and roll down half way. Rotate to the right from the navel and up, bringing the hands outside the right knee. On your next exhale, return to center and lift your chest up, arms on the high diagonal, ribs closed, shoulders down and back. Next, rotate to the left, keeping your hips heavy and rotating from the bellybutton and up. Return to center. Do 10 reps to each side.
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Image Credit: Kayleigh Guinee/LIVESTRONG.com
Reps
16
Region
Full Body
Place the weights on your wrists. Start with your feet wide and toes turned slightly out, arms down by your sides. Squat down as you lift your arms out to the sides in a T. Straighten your legs and lower arms back down toward the center. Squat again, this time curling your arms in front, bringing your weights to your shoulders (palms facing in toward your chest). Continue alternating between a lateral raise and biceps curl as you squat. Complete 16 squats total.
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Image Credit: Kayleigh Guinee/LIVESTRONG.com
Reps
16
Region
Full Body
“Drop your tailbone toward the floor and keep your chest tall, lifting through the crown of the head,” Guinee says. “Find your turn-out from the hips and try to keep your knees from caving in toward the center.”
Reps
12
Region
Full Body
Place one weight around right ankle and one around right wrist. Start with your left knee and hand down. Extend your right leg out to the side, toes pointing forward and bring your right arm up and over your head. Lift your leg to hip height and your arm parallel to your leg. Lower back down to the modified side plank, then draw your elbow in toward your knee, slightly in front of your body. Continue alternating between a straight arm and leg lift and bringing your elbow to your knee. Complete 12 reps on each side.
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Reps
12
Region
Full Body
“Keep your hips stacked while you lift and lower your leg,” Guinee says. “Think about lifting up through your side body, using your breath to initiate the movements and your core to stay controlled.”
Reps
8
Region
Full Body
Place weights around your wrists. Lie on your back with your feet on the floor about hip-width apart. Extend your arms up to the ceiling, palms facing in and lift your hips and booty off the floor. Extend one leg up to the ceiling, keeping the hips even. As you lower your leg down to a hover, lower the arms, bringing them up and over the head without letting the weights crash to the floor. Repeat 8 times on one side, then switch legs and continue for 8 more reps.
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Reps
8
Region
Full Body
“Keep glutes, hamstrings and core engaged as you lift the hips,” Guinee says. “Think about keeping whole foot down, including big toe, little toe and heel.”
Image Credit: Kayleigh Guinee/Dasha Einhorn/LIVESTRONG.com
Place the weights around your wrists. Start on your knees with feet close together (almost touching) and knees hip-width (or a little wider) apart. Extend your arms straight back, engaging the triceps at the back of the arm. Tap your hips and booty down toward your heels as you bend your arms at the elbow. Come back to the starting position with arms extended back and a slight thrust of your hips to engage the glutes.
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Image Credit: Kayleigh Guinee/Dasha Einhorn/LIVESTRONG.com
Harvard Health Publishing: "Wearable Weights: How They Can Help or Hurt"
