Walking with a backpack :)

[Faruz]

Alright so here's the deal. A few month ago, I was 180 pounds, and 6'2". Now I'm the same height, but am 155 pounds. I wish I didn't weigh myself though. Now that I know I've lost weight, I'm starting to eat more. Way more. I've been seeing changes, already after only eating a few extra brownies and bagels per day for three days! So yeah, today is gonna be my last day eating sweet stuff until I'm satisfied with the way I look. So I'ma cut out all the extra sweets and flours I've been eating (around 600 calories cut right there) and add walking so I can start losing more weight.


So I will walk for around 300 minutes everyday, with a backpack stuffed with 500 ml water bottles. This'll prove to be useful due to it adding extra weight for me to carry, and it'll also make sure that I'm never low on water. I'll be walking at a slightly casual pace, as if I'm walking to an interview and I have just enough time to get there with a minute remaining. (I'm hoping that gives you guys a good idea of how fast I'll walk). My estimate would be 3.5 mph? Maybe a bit more or less. Now then, could someone give me a chart of around how many calories I will burn without extra weight, then how much with a backpack with 500 ml water bottles in them. Something like how much with 3, then 6, then 9, so on until around 25. I'm turning fourteen in roughly a month if that helps any.

My goal right now is to possibly lose more weight (150 pounds sounds ideal), or maybe lose some and regain it in muscle. More important however, is to have me lose my growing stomach.


Now then, thanks for the help in advance and all that good stuff. And if you excuse me, I'ma go have my very last brownie for at least three months.

 

[Kramer1]

Good luck. I like the backpack idea. In fact I like the idea of having to carry the amount you lose. It certainly would show how far we've all come.

 

[Melancholy]

I would be VERY careful with this idea. If you would like to add some weight to your workout, then you need to make sure it's as balanced as possible, and not stressing any one particular area out more than others. Many people have heard of "stabalizer muscles" that are around the main muscles in the body. These are enhanced by building muscle over time, and are integral to preventing injury during exercise. If you just throw 20 lbs in a backpack, it's going to change your center of gravity and tax the muscles that are working harder to compensate for this sudden, and prolonged weight change. A better idea is to get a weight vest. They typically come in 0-10, 11-20, and 21-40 pound varieties. You can take out the weights and make any of them any weight really. It distributes the weight around your entire upper body, and maintains your center of gravity (to an extent). It still will add some burden to your lower back, knees, joints, etc. but not as poorly as a standard backpack. If you are going to use a backpack, make sure it has the horizontal straps as well (across the chest and the waist) like a climbing pack, or snowboarding pack to help transfer the weight evenly. Best of luck!

-Mellon