Ankle weights, excercise and calorie calorie burn

[Gawl]

I wear 2.5 ankle weights on each ankle all day while walking around, how do I log this accurately?

[WendyB]

I really hope you do not injure your knees.

This is not a good practice at all.

Good luck!

[Heybales]

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@Gawl wrote:

I wear 2.5 ankle weights on each ankle all day while walking around, how do I log this accurately?

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Can't increase your weight by 5 lbs, because it's only using some weaker muscles to carry that extra weight, your big main muscles are lifting the weight above them, your ankle weights are below them.

There is no good way to get a decent estimate, because all walking/running formulas are based on carrying teh weight as an average human, not with extra weight at feet.

But - the device should see the extra impact resulting from wearing them, and assign higher calorie count.

Take them off for 1 hr and do standard moving around, then compare in the graph of daily burn if that time stands out.

[_daniel_]

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@Gawl wrote:

I wear 2.5 ankle weights on each ankle all day while walking around, how do I log this accurately?

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I agree with Wendy that this is not a good practice. Ankle weights are really bad for your gait and lead to walking gait abnormalities.

[gerrymcd]

I've read a number of articles warning against walking whilst wearing ankle weights, and none suggesting its a good idea. Even though the weights are fairly small (2.5 or 5lbs) they are at the end of long levers. Consequently, ankle weights can put a lot of force on your hip/knee joints. As a result, wearing ankle weights all day can change your stride and balance, and/or cause serious joint problems in the long term. That said, everything we read about fitness applies to 'most' people, and may not apply to you, but it might be worth doing some reading and working out if its worth the risks.

[slysam]

I sometimes use ankle weights for strength training but not for walking around like described. There are some controlled exercises where they are fine. I too have seen warning against walking around with them on the ankles because of risk of joint damage and injury. While less comfortable, I think a weighted vest would be better (or put your ankle weights in a backpack). I will say that once I did a walking workout DVD twice--once with a weighted vest (10 pounds total) and once without and my Fitbit credited the weighted as having a higher calorie burn. I assume because of the impact of the steps. I didn't log anything either test, it was just what the Fitbit picked up. So I would not be surprised if it is crediting your steps higher anyway due to the impact. I am not sure that five pounds makes a huge difference though and I personally don't think it is worth risking the health of knees, hips and ankles.