HOLLY **** Just did stairs today!

[PRiSM92289]

Usually I use the treadmill for cardio, today I went to my basement, grabbed a 25 lb and a 5 lb weight and put it in my backpack and ran up and down the stairs (for the duration of my playlist was my initial plan) Skipping 2 steps at a time up and going down regular.

WOW

built a sweat that I usually get 20-25 minutes into a good job within 5 minutes

I lasted about 5 minutes before needing water repeat 4x

My question is, is this good for my back? I sometimes get a little hunched over because of the risistance weight in my backpack on my way up.

[RavensFan2k3]

Since the weight in your back pack is bouncing around, I dont think that is good. If they weight was secured to you like a weight vest, that would be good.

[Frank_The_Tank]

Have you considered using one of those draw string bags?? They hug the plates pretty well. The only problem you might run into is the straps breaking.

[llueve]

^^^ Barring that, try running the stairs while holding the weight out in front of you with your arms. I know it sounds funny, and it'll work muscle groups a little differently, but it might save your back some trouble.

[john7the]

i hope you are not runnig DOWN the stairs

if you are i belive you will get in serious trouble ( and i dont mean just in case you fall down... which is likely to hapend at some point...)

maybe you should try some leg weights instead of a backpack

[Choktu]

you could also hold dumbbells.

But John's right, running down stairs weighted will likely hurt your knees. you could try something interesting like setting yourself a goal of a total ammount of weight to bring upstairs in a certain ammount of time. Carry all the plates or dumbbells etc. running up the stairs untill they're all up there. Run down unweighted between loads.
At the end, carry them down carefully.

[PRiSM92289]

What I did was I took my Jansport school backpack (Life time warentee) and I put the weights in. tightened it as much as possible, and powerwalked up holding the railing (I have a VERy keen fear of following down cause when I was 8 yrs old I fell down my old home staircase and that was 30 steps!) So I powerwalk up going 2 steps at a time it kinda looks like im running because im still going fast, and on the way down I walk. The thing is while going up the weights dont rest on my back, as in my backpack doesnt hold them close enough to me and im strapped for cash right now for anyother things (just dropped $70 on the SATs)

[john7the]

I wouldn recomend runing down the stairs in any way ( with weights or without) In fact i stronly adise you not to do that. The impact that it will have on your joints and lower back will cauuse you problems if not right away then later in life im sure. What about weghts around the waist? The whole idea is to cary as much weght as posible up the stairs. I belive that is cardio you are doing but it will be mixed rate when you get tired or have too much weight. Its greaqt exercise i agree. Do you have an elevator to bring you down, ist it in a bulding or in the house(if its in the house then i see why you run down)

[PRiSM92289]

^no dude, I walk down but since ive been living in 2 story houses all my life, I just go down really fast since im used to go down the stairs

so I guess I walk fast, espcially considering the force of gravity is helping me which is ever so much increased (F=mg & m goes up as I add weights)

[john7the]

ok

just be careful



let us know how it goes

[RavensFan2k3]

Originally Posted by PRiSM92289

^no dude, I walk down but since ive been living in 2 story houses all my life, I just go down really fast since im used to go down the stairs

so I guess I walk fast, espcially considering the force of gravity is helping me which is ever so much increased (F=mg & m goes up as I add weights)

actually F=MA and W=MG...but who cares? But in with what you are talking about A=G so you could say F=MG, so what you said made sense. Hah just had to school you guys for a minute

[Lencho]

Who's Holly?

[PRiSM92289]

I mean to say F of grav. = mg

AP Physics REPRESENT

anyway Im doing this workout again tomorrow, Ill post back and say how it goes