This is why you need to wear a weighted vest while doing cardio

If you’re tired of your regular routine and are planning on taking things up a notch, adding weighted vests into the mix can considerably improve the efficiency of your cardio workouts.

What are weighted vests?
“Weighted vests are fitness equipment used by athletes and advanced fitness junkies. The general population doesn’t commonly use this, and it isn’t recommended to beginners. They help balance anterior and posterior parts of the body, and it comes with compartments where we can add weights as we wish,” said Kevin Lobo, certified fitness instructor.

This additional resistance helps in burning more calories and adds more endurance, strength and aids in muscle building, he added.

“Doing jumping jacks while wearing these vests help in increasing the heart rate, and while doing box jumps it will improve your lower body’s power. Stair climbing or Stairmasters while wearing them will add to lower body muscle strength,” he said.

Lobo suggested wearing weighted vests to perform mountain climbers, burpees, jumping jacks sprints, dips, push ups along with cross-fit activities.

“Our body is so used to our own bodyweight to perform the day to day tasks. Using a weighted vest adds extra resistance, and the body adapts to the heavy weight by building the required strength or endurance to perform the movement,” said Darshan Wairker, content creator and fitness expert.

Who shouldn’t use them?
According to Lobo, people who have breathing difficulties such as asthma, or heart conditions, spinal and shoulder issues (frozen shoulder) are recommended against using it.

“Make sure you have guided supervision before starting, and start with minimal weight to let your body get used to it. Weighted vests can be worn 20 to 30 minutes per session, twice a week, especially when doing cross fit or functional training or some specialised workouts such as plyometrics,” he added.