Per the UPS tracking site, my Xvest underwent adverse weather conditions in Anchorage at 8:09 PM last night. But today, it’s officially been arrival-scanned into Anchorage. Hope they deliver it tomorrow early enough for the kid to sign for it before he heads to work.
The XVest is an interesting concept. Is it more effective than ankle weights? One of the reasons I thought that I’ve been able to walk/jog so much now is that I’ve carried around a lot of extra weight for years. Unfortunately, I’m still carrying around excess weight.
According to their FAQ at http://www.thexvest.com/faq.htm, the problem with ankle & wrist weights is that they stress a single joint & strain connective tissue; whereas the Xvest is centered around the core. I’ve read about the Xvest in other places, gets good reviews from some of my trusted fitness resources.
Re: weight (fat) loss: that’s my main reason for getting one, just to add to the work I’m doing when I’m walking. (Or bodyweight exercises.) Having lost 30 lbs. since Feb., that’s 30 lbs. less resistance to any weight-bearing exercise I do — this adds it back. They’re supposed to be fairly effective for that.
One source expresses concern about running with one, due to the force the knees already get with running which is added to by the weight vest. Xvest itself (in the FAQ) recommends no more than 10% of bodyweight for running — or actually for training related to “speed, agility and plyometric training as well as any activity where there is a heel strike.” That’d be about 20 lbs. for me right now. But I’d see no problems with taking on 40 lbs. for walking, given that when backpacking I’m typically carrying that much or more (not that I’ve backpacked for a couple of years!) & the Xvest more ergonomically placed on the body than a backpack. Good also for bodyweight exercises like pushups, squats, planks, etc. One of my fitness resources has some planned Xvest workouts, & I’ve already got a manual of bodyweight exercises I can apply it too. But I’m first looking forward to trying it out walking up & down the hills around Chester Creek/Valley of the Moon that divides midtown Anchorage (where I live) from downtown.
Costs a bit, esp. when you add in shipping (all the way from Texas), but all things considered, I think it’ll be worth it. I’ll be blogging about my experience with it.
Thank you for the information. I’m looking forward to the review.