There are times you want to challenge yourself or take on a different approach to training to not only be stronger externally but also internally. This will be my last year in my 30's and I want to get a head start on developing stronger bones and tendons & ligaments. I'll still do some of the same things I'm currently doing but add a thing or two to really bust out some awesome strength & conditioning.
As we get older, we want to maintain a solid level of testosterone and natural HGH to prevent strength loss, letting our bones get bridle and getting injured quicker. Some people take supplements while training, some train and just eat better and others do what's possible. Compared to those in their 50's, 60's and beyond, I'm still young but also need to wise up otherwise I could become another stereotypical older guy with injuries and talking about how great of shape I was in my 20's but can't do jack shit now that I'm older; I want to prevent that as much as possible. There are already many men my age who're already banged up, had more injuries that would make a pro wrestler smirk and have trouble going up a flight of stairs.
Lately, I've been in awe of some of the things Brooks Kubik is doing with his log walks, dragging them, carrying, holding in various positions and going for miles at a time. The man is in his mid-60's, that's insane. I've even seen a few people on my feeds using weight vests for training. Some are impractical and others are admirable but you can't deny the type of results you can get if done right. I've done Weighted Vest training before, mainly going on hikes and walks with my 40lber and even walked a couple miles with over twice that a time or two. It beats running and burns off way more than regular walking.
A couple workouts I've done recently with my weight vest was carrying an implement while wearing the vest & doing step ups and just step ups with the vest. They were tough and took my training to a different level especially mentally. The first workout was back on the 24th where I did my 2x carry with a 70 lb Kettlebell and 20 step ups (10 each leg) for 20 min. nonstop but I also wore the vest. I would walk with a total of 110 lbs for ten yards, put the bell down, pick up with the other hand and walk another ten yards, put it down and do 20 step ups. Repeat this for 20 minutes without stopping, it's not as easy as it looks. The other workout was today doing as many step ups as I can while wearing the vest. In 22 min and 12 sec I did 416 step ups, that's a new PR for me. That's basically working with nearly 300 lbs of bodyweight when you add the vest. Gives you a different perspective on Strength & Cardio at the same time.
These workouts already feel incredible and knowing that I'm building my bone strength is a bonus. I didn't rush these and just went at a pace that I was comfortable at doing, as I get stronger, the pace may be faster but naturally faster. You never want to force anything. Train at a pace that you can do and then expand on it as you get better. Do you want to get too comfortable, no but you also don't want to be going speedy Gonzales and get hurt in the process. The idea is to train to prevent injuries, not cause them, that no pain no gain thing is bullshit.
Grab one of the best Vests on the market today with the Kensui Weight Vest where you can progressively add weight plates. Do all your bodyweight movements with this on to add some more strength based training to your regimen. The smallest loaded vest maxes out at 80 lbs and the highest loads up to 300 lbs (which quite frankly the only two people to ever be crazy enough to walk with that much weight was Bud Jeffries & Steve Justa). Use my Discount Code POWERANDMIGHT at checkout to get 10% OFF of these vests, you can save up to about $25 when you grab the 300 lb loader vest. Want to know how to utilize a simple progression system, grab Progressive & Weighted Calisthenics: Simple Bodyweight Exercises For Building Real Muscle and Strength by Red Delta Project.
If you also want to add some awesome supplements to help aid in your strength training, snatch up some herbs from Lost Empire and at Funk Roberts' Supplement Shop. Be safe, get strong and keep being amazingly awesome.