Weighty matters

 Today this is the weather

Way too icy in the gusty winds for walking, even in bright sunshine.

This is why I thought it was time to resurrect these. 

The ancient battered shoes protect my instep from the pressure of the weights, 20lb per leg. Top left is winnowing.

As you see. I fasten them on, they slide down a bit, I undo and redo, then they stay put.

It's a while since I worked with the leg weights, having done the stair work exercises instead, and I was happy to be able to complete the routine, four exercises, ten reps per. Not too demanding. I'd expected to need to cut back at first even so.

The fun part is that when you remove the weights, your legs want to fly about like a dancer's, from the contrast. It's very cheering.

I've been using these weights and the dumbbells, the green ones 3 pounds in case I need to drop back further still,

Used them, fairly faithfully, twice a week,  for almost 25 years, since I gave a set of weights to myself as a sixtieth birthday present. I'd say they've repaid the investment. 

Nowadays I've dropped back from 10 then 8 pound dumbbells to 5, because I was concerned about possible pressure on my spine. If the fives start to feel too light I'll move back up. If I get frailer I'll drop down to threes, and reduce the leg weights, which are one pound cylindrical weights slipped into pockets inside the jacket.  Hasn't happened yet. 

When I bought them I was living at the condo, up one flight of exterior stairs. They arrived UPS, all in one box -- two twenty pound legs, one pair each 10,8,5,3 and 1 pound dumbbells. Do the math. Way beyond the 50lb job requirement, which doesn't even include stairs.

The young woman -- UPS had started to employ women drivers -- trotted up the flight with the box. When I opened the door, she took one look at this old party, and said, stand back, I'll put this in the living room!  

I decided she'd definitely presented me with a fitness goal. Or at least an excellent reason to get cracking on the weights.

This was my guide 

1998 edition, cutting edge at the time. 

And today's winnowing, on Freecycle, is this

 I think I used them a time or two when I was learning the weight routine. Someone can probably profit similarly. 

Happy day everyone, whatever's right for you, do that! You're the expert on you.