Weighted calisthenics benefits in both building strength and raising your overall fitness level. Adding additional weight to your calisthenics routine might actually be necessary for you to progress beyond your current level.
The fact is, after experiencing mad progress early on – we all at some point will reach a plateau in our exercise routines. At least if we do not take the necessary measures to avoid it.
The secret is never to let your body get too comfortable with your routine, either by regularly switching it up – or constantly adding further resistance to challenge your muscles.
When doing calisthenics – or any other form of exercise where your bodyweight is used as resistance, it is especially important to keep adding resistance as your strength and general form progress.
There are several ways to add this extra resistance, such as wearing a backpack loaded with books – or investing in a weighted vest or other types of weighted clothing.
Today I’ll focus on weighted vests – and look at why using one can do wonders to your progress!
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Adding Extra Difficulty to Your Exercise Routine
The first thing that you’ll notice once you start working out with a weighted vest on is that everything will be more challenging to do.
Depending on how much weight you put in the vest pockets, you might even find yourself struggling to complete routines that you normally could do in your sleep!
Changing up the difficulty of your exercise routine is the first step towards moving away from the plateau we all reach at one point or another.
Excellent at Working Your Lower Body
Hey, but There’s Even More:
Working out with a weighted vest will surely increase the difficulty level of your workouts, but it’ll do something else without you even noticing.
The added weight you’ve tacked on to your body does wonders to your lower-body muscles.
ICYMI: Harry tries a firefighter workout! Can Harry do a duck walk/hose drag and dummy rescue in a weighted vest? #HarryTV pic.twitter.com/dNvvBMrL6K
— Harry Connick Jr (@HarryConnickJR) March 11, 2018
Using a weighted vest will strengthen your leg muscles as you perform regular body-weight exercises such as running, walking, or distance running.
And you know what?
You can even use it as a way to train for speed!
As you build your strength and speed while running with a weighted vest on, -imagine how much more efficient you’d be after you take the weighted vest off.
Yeah, watch out Usain Bolt!
Can a Weighted Vest Help Seasoned Trainers?
What if you’re already at the peak of your game?
Hah!
You might think that you’re already doing the most that you can, but be sure -even the most seasoned athletes could benefit from using a weighted vest.
If you think you can handle a 10-pound vest without spilling a single drop of sweat, try to put on a heavier 50-pound vest for a change…
Yeah, they come in a pretty impressive scale – ranging from 1,5lbs to 150lbs!
I’ll personally guarantee you’ll notice the increase in difficulty -and you will have to work like crazy to adjust to the added weight.
But wait up, I haven’t told you the coolest benefit yet.
As you know, when you’re working out, your body gets used to doing specific movements that are part of your routine and builds muscles that can handle those movements efficiently.
“Our bodies adapt to certain movements after a period of time. This adaptation is usually the result of halted progress in exercise. Weight vests provide a great tool for variation that our bodies aren’t prepared for.”
Reference: livestrong.com – Benefits of a Weight Vest
But what if you use the vest when not doing your workout?
So, here’s the coolest benefit:
If you want to make the most out of your weighted vest, start wearing it even when you’re not working out!
Try doing your daily activities with a couple of extra pounds strapped to your body:
- Doing the dishes,
- making dinner,
- doing your grocery shopping,
- cleaning your house,
- changing little Michelle’s diapers,
- or even going to work.
Just think about it.
Not only will you significantly increase the metabolic cost, but you’re also adding an ounce of difficulty to your daily tasks -converting them into “mini sub-workouts”…
Nice or what?
Weighted Vest Home Workout For Gaining Mass
Final Words: Weighted Calisthenics Benefits Your Workouts
To be honest. If there is one piece of exercise equipment I would recommend besides a suspension trainer, it has to be a weighted vest!
The possibilities are endless:
You can use one to pimp up your daily exercise routine – or even use one to add an extra challenge to your everyday activities.
The vests come in a variety of sizes and forms, all with different specialties:
- There’s vests so thin they can be used under your clothes,
- some come with a ton of pockets to easily adjust the weight.
- Others perfectly fit your body if you want to use it for running,
- and some are specifically designed for calisthenics and cross fit.
If you’ve hung on to the end, I hope you have decided to get yourself a weighted vest.
One of THESE BEST WEIGHTED VESTS will be your perfect fit – either your budget is 20 or 100 dollars.
If you are serious about home exercise using one during your routine is a definite must!
I promise it will be one of the best investments to your pool of home exercise equipment you’ll ever do!
Other Helpful Resources
- At Home Strength Training: The Ultimate Guide
- Weight Vest Training Pros and Cons: Is it Worth it or Not?
- Top 5 Reasons Why you Should Use a Weighted Vest When Doing Cardio
- 4 Killer Benefits of Weighted Vest Exercise and Workout
- Is a Weighted Vest Good For Running? 5 Killer Benefits to Consider
