Weight Vest Training

 I have been experimenting with Rucking lately and within a few workouts went from walking with a 20 lb vest to 50 lbs (40 lb weight vest and 2-5 lb ankle weights). It has been interesting and it's great for those days where I feel like going for a walk. I love the cardio benefits from it plus getting out in nature walking around the neighborhood where there's enough trees to make yourself believe you're in Lake Tahoe. 

Been trying other workouts besides walking where I would do push-ups, animal walks, carry my 50 lb Sandbell, holding a horse stance or doing isometric hangs. There's a lot you can do with added weight for resistance. I bought myself a 40 lb vest to see what I was capable of and I'm happy with what I have done that is now possible.

Yesterday I tried a step up workout with an extra 50 lbs and managed 182 reps in 10:20 which for my first time doing that workout with that much added weight was  more than enough. Hell of a cardio workout and building incredible leg strength and conditioning at the same time. One workout I did recently was wear 50 lbs of gear and pick up & shoulder carry my 50 lb Sandbell 50 times across my garage (40ft at a time), so with that math I was walking with 100 lb per set (2000ft (666 Yards), 5000 lbs carried). 

Rucking can be hard at times so whenever I need a break from it, I just recover and do other things, most of the walking is around 35-45 min depending on the route I take. I've done research about how much per week to Ruck and some places say once a week, others say a few times a week if you're experienced at it and quite frankly, I don't trust certain things so I go with my instincts. If I need to recover, I do it and it has panned out very well. I also need to be careful how often I do go because as great as it is, I still feel I need to give my ankles a rest because of scarring and the hard discomfort I get from my injuries. I ruck basically to toughen up my legs overall, also need to do consistent stretching and loosening of the joints so they don't become painful later. 

I do believe Rucking is phenomenal exercise and strengthens the body along with developing great cardio. It also builds great durability and forces you to have good posture because if you bend over too much walking with weight, it can strain and really hurt the lower back plus not to mention if there's no one around, you're pretty much screwed so be sure to have a few things handy if certain things should arise. Be careful but also have fun with it. 

Train that isn't conventional and be unique. Why be normal in your training? It's not going to do you a bit of good, do something crazy, something challenging and find creative ways to make your workouts interesting that doesn't involve getting yourself injured or doing something stupid that you could lose a body part (it has happened). 

What Is It That We Truly Need To Prove?

 Many people in this world have a need to prove something to either themselves, somebody else or both. We have this mentality that if we get in good graces with others or proven ourselves worthy, it aught to come with some kind of reward or sense of belonging. The truth is, what we try to prove, won't always work out in our favor and no matter how hard we try, it sometimes ends in tragedy not by death but by never getting the satisfaction that we have accomplished it.

I'm no exception to the rule of trying to prove myself to others or to myself entirely. There've been many times where no matter how hard I try, I don't feel something ever came out good but at other times, I have made a difference and it worked out amazingly. Many have this mentality whether from their background growing up or learning from mistakes along the way that proving you're beyond capable and forcibly working yourself to death in order to build a life for yourself or for someone else is both admirable but also has it's own set of tragedy. I do believe in hard work and doing the best to my abilities to create a life but also when kids come into the picture, I don't want to be so broken down that by the time they get married that I can't either walk a daughter down the aisle or stand up and be able to hug my son and congratulate him. 

In life, there are those moments that change your entire universe and you need to make a choice of developing a greater life for another and bust your ass so they can live better, I do understand that but trying to prove how much you bust your ass doesn't always mean you'll be a better person or even a good person. There are very hard working people out there who are complete assholes and never show an ounce of compassion or encouragement towards others, even their own and there are those who have compassion and understanding for others and work hard with a sense of balance and solidifying their level of being a good person beyond the work. 

In life, many don't give a damn about you whether you prove yourself worthy or not. Many try to prove to their boss, their spouse, their friends, their family that being somewhat of a superhuman will make you the king/queen of the circle, but it doesn't always end up that way. In reality, when we prove ourselves too much, it bites us in the ass. So how do we show people we are worthy of anything either as a hard worker or redeeming ourselves after fallen on hard times or just being in someone's good graces and hoping they would let us in somewhere? The truth is, not everyone will accept you no matter how much you want them to. It isn't a bad thing to prove something and at times not only do people accept us, they embrace it and we become to accept ourselves and made it work. 

I've had to prove myself over and over many times in my life from learning how to speak well at 5 years old, showing how strong I 'am in various formats and proving that I can come back from a stupid jump at 20 years old and rehab on my own. Some things didn't always pan out in my favor, some did but often I feel it's never enough and I have to keep proving myself either for me or to others when there are people out there I have no business whatsoever proving myself to and yet for some reason I do it.  I guess I'm one of those people like many who just wants to be accepted, understood and knowing I made a positive impact somehow but I know deep down, not many will accept me, understand me or see any positive influence. What good is it to prove yourself to others when in some cases there isn't a chance in hell you'll ever be worthy or accomplish anything? The only things in life that need to proven are the ones worth fighting for. 

Do you remember the line from the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio, "Prove yourself brave, truthful and unselfish and someday you'll be a real boy." Well, not all of us are brave, very few are truthful and there are a lot of selfish people out there but if we prove to ourselves that we can stick up for what's right, be honest about who we are and show a little more compassion, there's a chance we can show the true nature of our being by just being us. That's where the heart and soul of that line I feel has meaning.

What is there to truly prove? That we find a way to live and make the most of this life because once we are gone, proving something becomes non-existent and we can only carry on in the afterlife where you have absolutely nothing to prove and just be a part of the everlasting universe. 

Care To Go Rucking?

 Simply put, go walking with weight attached (Backpack, Weight Vest, ect.). Sounds easy right? It depends on the weight you use and the distance you walk but it's great for cardio and strength building. Every now and then (even recently) I would go for a walk wearing my 20 lb weight vest for a good 20 min to an hour around my neighborhood. Beautiful scenery with lake views, lots of trees and practically quiet. 

When I was living in Santa Cruz, CA, I would walk practically everywhere but it wasn't until a few years ago that I actually started really walking with weight on me consistently. When I was in High School, the only form of Rucking I ever did was carry a backpack full of stuff up to about 25-30 lbs at times and it helped build my shoulders and back at the time but now, it's more of an enjoyment than a requirement. 

I didn't really understand the benefits of carrying weight around until I was experiencing it on a more consistent basis and it's nowhere near as hard for me as some cardio workouts until one day recently I went for a walk up and down a hill near my house. I slapped on my 20 lb vest and put on some ankle weights (5 lbs each leg) for a total of 30 lbs and walked as a warm up to the hill, it's a bit steep but I figured I'd give it a shot. Walked up and down that hill (about 75-80% of it) 6 1/2 times and that was enough for me. From the time I left the house to coming back home took almost an hour and I was ready to drop dead lol. 

I literally hate jogging mainly because of the damn rod and pins in my legs but for other reasons, I never found jogging to be very beneficial. Sprints however, were a favorite and occasionally do them but Rucking seems to be a bit more interesting to do and I can get in some great cardio just by carrying weight around for a little while. Quite frankly, I find it relaxing and it's a great teacher on how you control your breathing as you walk. 

Investing in a weight vest can do wonders and build incredible cardio and strength training at the same time. They even have plate loading vests these days which one of these days I may invest in. The next vest I'm looking into goes to 50-100+ lbs which would be a hell of a workout just by walking. Some like to do other exercises with vests which is awesome, gives you more of a challenge, I'll do step ups on occasion wearing a vest and that's incredible strength and cardio training for hiking. 

We often carry the weight on our shoulders, let's make it worth while and build our bodies with it and make it interesting. 

2021 Results Updates

 For some time now, I've kept sticking with Isometrics especially with the Power Belt and I'm happy with the results. Hasn't been easy and my eating habits have their good days and bad days (mostly good). Along with Isometrics, I've been using my 50 lb Sandbell for loaded carries, Step Ups for Leg Conditioning, Lifeline TNT Cables for upper body strength/conditioning (up to 200 lbs resistance on various exercises) and off and on animal movements.

The Isometrics have been used more often than anything (75-80% of my training) and a couple times a week or so I would use a Dowel with the belt to simulate weight training exercises in Isometric format such overhead presses, deadlifts, curls, upright rows and because of the snow here the last couple months mimic shoveling which really hits the hips, lower back and grip. Every once in a blue moon I'll do some interval training but I would have to be in a particular mood. When it comes down to it, nothing has helped put on definition and cut down fat like Isometrics has for me. 

When you know what works, you stick to it right? Well, that hasn't always been the case in my book because no matter what works, I always have to switch things up quicker than when I started but those damn Isometrics really do wonders. With the Power Belt, I'll do anywhere from 10-30 different isometric exercises within a 20 min period or less and feel like I've had enough. I started taking photos around November and the only thing that I do with the photo is fix the lighting that's it, other than that, it's all me baby. 

The last photo was on Friday March 12th so almost weekly, I've been having a photo session to check my progress. No lighting and it was outside but I think you can see a difference in previous photos. I've kept around 255 or so and was down to 252 at one point but my body has made a change or while keeping around that area of weight. Not going to show all of them. Hope you enjoy them. 

Nov 30th, 2020

Dec. 15th, 2020

Jan 26th, 2021

Feb 23rd, 2021

Mar 9th, 2021

Mar 12th, 2021

I'm going to continue my quest using Isometrics as one of the main points of my training and who knows how far I can go. All I know is, I'm slimmer than I use to be, my cardio/conditioning gets better all the time, my flexibility is still very good and my agility has never gone down plus I still have plenty of strength to use. Training is an adventure, not a chore. 

Circling The Body For Mobility And Joint Loosening

 As hardcore training can be at times, it is important to keep the joints healthy and supple because we would hate to be a stiff all day. Starting the day with mobility drills and loosening up the joints and muscles can go a long way in how your energy progresses and keeps everything circulating. You know me and routines but if I had to be fixated on one and one that actually matters, it's being mobile and supple. 

I had just acquired the 40th Anniversary Edition of Bob Anderson's Stretching Book. Most of the stretches in there I've done for years and some reminded me of P.E class back in grade school and while some are good, quite a few wouldn't suite well for me and that's ok. We do what works for us. Stretching is a key component to health and well being and being flexible is more than just being able to touch your face to your knees, it's about keeping the muscles relaxed and release unwanted tension from the body. Some people are extremely flexible while others are so damn stiff, might as well put clothes on top of them to iron. 

Being mobile is about the relaxed flow your body experiences and preventing injuries as much as possible. As always, keep things basic and you'll get around pretty good but it is good to understand that as we get older, being mobile and supple has a bigger importance than how our muscles look. Not even the greatest bodybuilders in the world can look like competitors forever but being flexible and agile can have a lasting impact especially in those later years. 

When it comes down to a routine, my idea is to keep everything relaxed as much as possible and feel like the wind so to speak, weightless in a way but still powerful if need be. Here's my personal routine for Mobility & Joint Loosening.....All standing up by the way.

Multi Directional Movements For The Neck (3-10 reps per exercise)

Shoulder Circles (10 Reps each way)

Circling The Wrists & Elbows (10 Reps each way)

Pulling Back The Arms With Fingers Spread (Breathing In) & Tiger Claw The Fingers Going Forward (10-20 Reps)

Circling The Waist (10 Reps)

Side Bends (10 Reps each way)

Circling The Pelvis (10 Reps each way)

Tai Chi Waist Turner (50 Reps each way)

Isometric Hamstring Stretch

Dynamic Hamstring Stretch (10-20 Reps)

Ankle Rotations (10 Reps each way per leg)

Ankle Rotations While Balancing On One Leg (10 Reps each way per leg)

Knee Rotations (10 Reps each way)

Knee Rotations While Balancing On One Leg (10 Reps each way per leg)

This routine takes 20-30 minutes and if I'm short on time, I would just do 1/3rd to half the amount of reps in the routine. I always feel energized after doing this workout and it's great to help get the blood flowing and releasing tension out of the body. I will make a video of the routine sometime soon to show you how it is done. Very simple and not very difficult to do but it creates a powerful impact in how you go about the rest of the day. You can do this in the morning to wake up, if you're feeling groggy during the day or you can do it an hour before bed to help you sleep. Keep those juices flowing and get rid of that tension, god knows life is hard as it is.