Today I bought a pair of ankle weights (2.5lbs each) which I've wanted for a while now. I intend to wear as much possible to build strength in my legs. I've also started hiking again and I want keep up with doing at least one moderately strenuous hike a month and try and fit in lighter ones in between. At first, I'll probably only use the weights on flattish shorter hikes, but eventually I'd like to be comfortable with wearing up and down mountains. I do about 12 to 20 flights of stairs (up and down) a day at work so that should help me used to it a bit quicker. We have a long-pants dress code policy, so hopefully it shouldn't stand out too much, though I don't really mind as I've gotten quite used to my "weird guy" role in life over the years.
I really enjoy hiking as I used to do quite a bit when I was in Scouts. I've never really been that fit, and what's interesting to me now thinking back to those times, especially some of the first hikes that were really tough, was how had to push myself and was pushed by the guys I was with to keep going. It's really an excellent way to observe the moving center resist and then adjust to change in conditions, as what I learned (implicitly over time back then) was that if I kept at a constant exertion level, just below my limit and pushing myself a little, after a while I would just "get into it" and it would become easier.
On the last hike I went on, I was sort of figuring out and testing this theory as I went along, and despite not being that fit, I was able to keep up with the hike leader easily, and could've even gone a bit a quicker if we didn't have to stop and wait for everyone else every so much. It's really the same principle of acclimatization they use to climb Everest and Kilimanjaro, where they go up to colder and thinner air and back again repeatedly and incrementally. Instead, it's keeping at a pace to push my heart rate up by using deep "step breathing" (which I learned can be adjusted like gears on a bicycle during my scout hikes) to keep oxygenated and then letting lower during the rests. However, now armed with a lot more knowledge and nicotine, I figured I could push my heart rate and stress levels down much faster with Pipe Breath and an occasional cig, which would help to "reset" the diminishing returns that comes with a constant exertion. And it really seemed to work, I wasn't that tired afterwards, in fact, I felt quite rejuvenated in a sense. It didn't, however, prevent the usual thigh and calf aching for next few days though.
That was a bit a side-track, but I wanted just wanted to share :) If you've experimented with using body weights semi-permanently, as I intend to, I would love to hear your observations.
I really enjoy hiking as I used to do quite a bit when I was in Scouts. I've never really been that fit, and what's interesting to me now thinking back to those times, especially some of the first hikes that were really tough, was how had to push myself and was pushed by the guys I was with to keep going. It's really an excellent way to observe the moving center resist and then adjust to change in conditions, as what I learned (implicitly over time back then) was that if I kept at a constant exertion level, just below my limit and pushing myself a little, after a while I would just "get into it" and it would become easier.
On the last hike I went on, I was sort of figuring out and testing this theory as I went along, and despite not being that fit, I was able to keep up with the hike leader easily, and could've even gone a bit a quicker if we didn't have to stop and wait for everyone else every so much. It's really the same principle of acclimatization they use to climb Everest and Kilimanjaro, where they go up to colder and thinner air and back again repeatedly and incrementally. Instead, it's keeping at a pace to push my heart rate up by using deep "step breathing" (which I learned can be adjusted like gears on a bicycle during my scout hikes) to keep oxygenated and then letting lower during the rests. However, now armed with a lot more knowledge and nicotine, I figured I could push my heart rate and stress levels down much faster with Pipe Breath and an occasional cig, which would help to "reset" the diminishing returns that comes with a constant exertion. And it really seemed to work, I wasn't that tired afterwards, in fact, I felt quite rejuvenated in a sense. It didn't, however, prevent the usual thigh and calf aching for next few days though.
That was a bit a side-track, but I wanted just wanted to share :) If you've experimented with using body weights semi-permanently, as I intend to, I would love to hear your observations.
