If when doing leg exercises special weights are used, they will be the most effective. By choosing the right sports weights, exercising regularly, the athlete will be able to achieve visible results after 2-3 months. Compliance with the exercise technique minimizes the risk of injury while playing sports.
Types of weighting agents
Exercises with weights for the legs will only be effective if the type of additional load is correctly selected. The equipment used for weights during sports differs in the type of filling, as well as in its shape (depending on which part of the body it is supposed to put on the weighting agent).
According to the variety of its fullness, sports equipment can be divided into:
- Bulk. Sand is tightly packed inside such weighting agents. Their main advantage in comparison with similar sports equipment is their low cost. When buying such a product for use in regular sports, it is important to take into account that it will lose its original appearance after 3-4 months of operation - the fabric will be frayed, and some of the sand will pour out of the inside of the weighting agent.
- Metallic. Metal plates are used as filler, which makes the sports product durable and suitable even for daily use. Metal weights are suitable for athletes with any physical fitness, as its weight can be manually adjusted, depending on the type of exercise being performed. To reduce or increase the load, it is enough to insert or remove a metal layer from the inner cavity of the weighting agent.
Depending on appearance and body parton which it is supposed to be attached weighting agents, their can be classified into:
- Cuff. Outwardly, they look like bracelets fixed with Velcro or straps. They are convenient because they are suitable for people with different sizes of limb girth. The maximum weight of such weights varies from 3 kg (for arms) to 5 kg (for legs).
- Gloves. They are worn on the hands when there is a need to increase the load during martial arts training, to enhance the blow, as well as to increase the athlete's endurance indicators.
- Waist. They are fixed on the belt to ensure an even load during complex training.
- Vest. It is located on the shoulders of the athlete and is fixed on the sides from both sides with straps, without restricting the movement of a person. The maximum weight of such a weighting agent is 50 kg.
Weight selection
Exercises with weights for the legs, provided that the weight of the sports equipment is incorrectly selected, can provoke injuries, sprains and even cracks in bones and joints.
In order for additional burdening not to have a negative effect on the human body, it should be chosen based on the main criteria, among which the weight of the weighting agent plays the main role:
Selection criterion | a brief description of |
Additional weight | Weights with a large mass (from 15 kg) are suitable for basic exercises or long walking in order to strengthen the cardiovascular system. The average weight (10 - 15 kg) should be chosen if it is necessary to increase the load when running a long distance. Weights with a minimum weight (up to 10 kg) are suitable for athletes with low physical fitness or for those who want to increase the intensity of training, which implies periodic practicing of different types of kicks. |
Upholstery fabric | It is recommended to opt for medium-hard fabric. It will not only be more wear-resistant, but also allow you to fix the weighting agent on your legs as tightly as possible. |
Cuff diameter | Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of weighting materials of various diameters and sizes. It is necessary for an athlete to make a choice based on his own feelings while trying on a sports equipment on the lower extremities. |
Mount type | Fitness trainers for using weights in home sports recommend choosing sports equipment with locks in the form of belts or latches for their "wards". Despite the convenience of using Velcro weights, this type of fastening is the least reliable and most susceptible to rapid wear. |
The shape of the main body of the weight | Depending on the type of exercise being performed, the same weight can cause discomfort and even pain, or be invisible to the athlete. In order not to be distracted by external factors, sports weights should be chosen taking into account the shape of its main part. Classic bracelets are comfortable to wear, but limited by small weights, while elongated weights evenly distribute the load on the legs, but after 20-30 minutes. begin to squeeze the athlete's calf muscles. |
A set of exercises with weights for the legs for weight loss
Exercises with leg weights can be used by an athlete in home workouts both to reduce the amount of subcutaneous fat and to strengthen the muscles of the lower limbs, giving them relief and increasing overall endurance.
To effectively transform the appearance, professional fitness trainers recommend "amateurs" to evenly distribute the load, working out all the main muscle groups in one lesson.
Cardio exercise with leg weights
Start your home workout with cardio exercises. They will warm up the muscles, speed up blood circulation and set the heart rate for further stress. The most effective weight-bearing exercises of this type are:
Exercise | The technique of its implementation |
Running with a high hip lift |
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Burpee |
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Rock climber |
The exercise is performed at the fastest possible pace. Small jumps during the change of bent legs are acceptable and do not affect the quality of the load created. |
Jumping from a deep squat |
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Exercise for the press
Exercises with leg weights can be used as an auxiliary load to work out the abdominal muscles. The simultaneous strengthening of several parts of the musculature contributes to an even distribution of the transformation of the athlete's appearance, as well as maintaining the cardiovascular system in good shape.
Exercise | The technique of its implementation |
A bike |
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Vertical scissors |
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Lying leg rotations |
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Raises the buttocks while raising the legs |
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For the buttocks
To work out the buttocks with weights on the legs, exercises are used that imply the location of the athlete, both on the floor and standing on it.
By correctly combining the multidirectional load, you can achieve body transformation after a month of regular sports.
Exercise | The technique of its implementation |
Bent leg abduction |
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Straightening the legs |
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Standing on all fours with your legs |
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Donkey kicks left / right |
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For thighs
Weights are also recommended to be used when performing exercises for working out the lateral and inner thighs. For this, sports equipment, as in other cases, is enough to fix on the lower part of the legs.
Exercise | The technique of its implementation |
Moving a straight leg from behind |
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Legs to the side |
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Walking and running with weight loss weights
Walking and running with weights on your legs not only contributes to weight loss, but also strengthens the heart muscle and respiratory system, and also stimulates metabolic processes in the body.
During this type of cardio training, the athlete works out the soleus muscle, the muscles of the calves, the front and back of the thigh, the press, the ankle, as well as the muscle corset that supports the spinal column.
The advantages of the considered weighted loads include:
- the minimum time spent on cardio training for maximum results;
- comprehensive study of the main muscle groups;
- significant acceleration of the fat burning process (calorie consumption increases up to 5 times).
Despite the proven effectiveness of walking and jogging for weight loss, this type of exercise has a number of disadvantages, which must be taken into account in advance of the start of training:
- the need to prepare muscles (for this, fitness trainers recommend that beginners start running regularly about 6 months before the intended introduction of weights into the training program);
- the presence of contraindications (the main ones include hypertension of 2 and 3 degrees, diseases of the heart and skeletal system of the body);
- negative effects on the joints;
- high injury risk (possible in case of incorrect selection of a sports equipment).
Different types of weighting materials are the most versatile sports equipment. Depending on the result that the athlete wants to achieve with his training, he should fix the additional burden on the arms or legs, and then perform standard exercises aimed at working out specific muscle groups.
With regular exercise, the result of this type of training will be noticeable after 1-2 months of training at home.
Home workout video with leg weights
Exercises for slim legs: