Already a member? Sign in
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
I read studies that said women used a weight vest to build up bone density by the way no drugs or chemical products were used just a vest and the women according to Harvard study increased bone density . I use a weight vest , I like the NYKNYC one it looks and feels great , very comfy and I can wear it anywhere .
Before I found this forum, I found a website selling weighted vests. I think it was http://weightvest4osteoporosis.com . It sounded really interesting. Then I found this forum and read some of the posts by Mother Goose and Sarah Meeks and changed my mind about ordering it. I'll try to find those posts and refer you to them later. Or maybe someone will talk Sarah or Lucy into coming to this thread and giving their opinion once again. (Bless their hearts.) At any rate, hold off until you've read some more.
Hi beachkat, Can you tell me how much weight is in the NYKNYC vest. I looked on the websight and I dont see that info. Thanks. Beth
Hi again, I was wondering where you got your NYCNYK vest. I can't seem to find them on line to order. Thanks again. Beth
It took me awhile to find it. It's an NYKNYC (whoops).
http://nyknyc.com/
That is much more fashionable looking than my weight vest. Mine makes me look like the unibomber. Which in NYC, is not a good thing. :)
I couldn't find anything about the amount of weight the vest holds on the website, but on another thread on another website, I found this quote from someone who wears one:
"...the vest is really great because it is adjustable , its comfortable and can hold as much as 10 pounds. "
So I guess it's ten pounds. Although another blurb says there are 12 weights... hm. Still a mystery?
Hi Lilrayosun, Thanks for the info and the unibomber smile. Have a great day. Beth
from, where does the weight concentrate?''MY SHOULDERS DONT LIKE WEIGHT!!
BUT I CAN SEE, IF IT IS FITTED, AND THE WEIGHT IS ON THE MIDDLE BACK--- -NOT MY ALL READY B URDENED SHOULDERS] that it would pull the spine TOWARD NATURAL 'STRAIGHT'?
millie123, thanks for your help. I bumped up another discussion post on weighted vests. Please scroll to Sara Meeks post. Thanks. Sandi
Hi Beth! My vest comes with 4 pounds but I got double weights so its a nice amount .
its also adjustable so I can take out or put in according
to what I feel I need each day.
some times I do a little sometimes I fill it up and go!
Tell you one thing - after I take off the vest I feel like superwoman, I do regular chores and they feel so easy it is GREAT. Got the vest at www.nyknyc.com
they were mentioned in Prevention mag on an article on getting strong bones by using that vest
Hi , this vest is by WWW. NYKNYC .COM
They are a womans only company and fit their vests just for women , designed really for female body so they look really great. amount of weight is 4 pounds and can be doubled to over 8 pounds for a strong weight walking workout.
I had hip pain before using the vest it is now going away - I think because I am strengthening my muscles in my back etc. it really helps!
Hi again beachkat, I have been looking up weighted vests all day and I definately like te nyknyc the best. Very sheek. :) When I call the # on the website I only get an answering machine. I will keep trying. Did you do your order over the phone? I don't see a way to order on line. Can't wait to feel the superwoman vibe. Have a great night. Beth
Is this weighted vest work for men. Thanks
Hi beachkat,
I was interested to hear you had read studies showing an increase in BMD from wearing weighted vests. Could you possibly provide a web address or author details for any of these studies as I would like to read them?
As far as I can see the NYKNYC website makes general assertions that walking with added weights is good for bones - but that is not the same as citing research showing a proven increase in BMD under controlled experimental conditions.
Intuitively, wearing a weighted vest to make your bones stronger is very appealing. However, in line with Millie123's post above, I've read comments on previous threads on this website which would indicate that research shows little improvement in bone density except for a very small improvement in hip BMD in one study only. (I think it was Sarah Meeks who provided this information a month or two back if I'm not mistaken.)
This is disappointing because I think a lot of us would find it easier to walk with weights than to spend time and energy doing strength training.
This makes me wonder whether it is better to conserve energy to really put maximum effort into conventional resistance training 2 or 3 times a week (which evidence based research definitely does show improves BMD) and continue daily walks without the added weight.
I personally find I need to rest and recover between training sessions (and indeed rest is a crucial component to building new muscle and (presumably) bone). If I walked around with weights each day I figure I would not be allowing my body to recover sufficiently.
I stand to be corrected if I am wrong about this, I am no expert. It certainly sounds like you have had good results from your vest so far Beachkat and feel energized and have had pain reduction, which is great. On the other hand I think most people (myself included) have similar experiences after 6-8 weeks of working out with weights/resistance and also KNOW that this definitely increases BMD.
Just some thoughts.
Kind regards,
Youngbones
I'm certainly no expert on this but it seems that I remember reading somewhere that slimmer women are prone to osteoporosis. Now I am wondering if one of the reasons is that there is not enough weight hanging off their bones? if that is PART OF IT, THEN, wearing a weighted vest makes some sense since it will increase the number of pounds hanging on your bones. I did opt to order the vest (and shorts) from NYKNYC, yesterday. I had the nicest conversation with KIKI who answered the phone. she is very health minded and even said that they had whipped up some vests for Autistic Children who needed the vests. They are very responsive to customer's needs. I think you will see more styles in the future. I ordered the closer fitting "bustier" style but when they get one with a collar, will order that too. I wear a suede vest ALL WINTER just for warmth. if it can keep my bones stronger, all the better. If nothing else, I can take out the weights and have a cute top. Did anyone find the posts by Sara Meeks? I suppose I could try a search. have a great day, all!
Well, here's one study that's really a study, and not an advertisement just selling vests. I'll see if I can find more.
http://biomed.gerontologyjournals.org/cgi/reprint/55/9/M489.pdf
Another one on weight vests and decreased risk of falling:
http://www.menopausemgmt.com/issues/10-05/Snow.pdf
And this one on the Bone Estrogen Strength Training (a/k/a BEST) Program where a weight vest was used in conjunction with resistance training, usually while walking on a treadmill:
http://www.aquacert.org/CEC2-2008.pdf
This last article is quite lengthy, but interesting. I looked up "BEST" to see what else I could find on it, and found another article (unfortunately on a website advertising calcium supplements) that has photographs and little videos of the exercises.
I am hesitant to put it up here because there's always the danger of people jumping into an aggressive strength training program without supervision, however it's helpful to know what's been tested and works. But seriously, if you're going to do this stuff, run it by your doctor/PT and make sure you have a trainer who knows what they're doing.
So with that caveat, here's the link:
http://www.citracal.com/BEST/BEST-Exercises.aspx
Boomerbabycoach, Sara's post can be found in the Weighted Vests Discussion posted February 8, 2009 4:59pm.
Hi Youngbones!
I am the person who bought and liked the cute vest by nyknyc.
I wanted to supply you with this really important information! They dont think the vests are good for bones they KNOW that using the weighted vest
is very good for building up bones as well as muscles so I am sending this for you to read.
using a vest is easy and you really dont feel like you are sweating or straining , its a comfy fun way to get strong and healthy plus you will feel the difference in a month or so. I found this online
Its a study conducted by Doctors tht did just one medical study - but I have more like one also done at Harvard. Please read
Weight-bearing Exercise with a Weight Vest Builds Bone
It has been well proven over the last twenty years that weight-training adds strength to the muscles and density to the bones.
In 2000, Janet Shaw did a long-term study at Oregon State University. She found that postmenopausal women who participate in a long-term fitness regimen that includes jumping and "resistance" exercises using weighted vests can prevent significant bone loss in the hip.
Dr Christine Snow, who was the Director of the Bone Research Laboratory at Oregon State Univ., and Shaw got together with other women to start a grassroots exercise program for Osteoporosis Risk Reduction. They spread the program all over Oregon as an adult education course.
"These kinds of results from an exercise routine haven't been achieved before and they contradict what the medical community has been saying for years". Dr. Snow said. When we checked these women after five years, the improvement was significant," Another study was written up in the Biological Research for Nursing newsletter in 2003. Eighteen women over 60 were randomly assigned to an exercise group wearing a weight vest and doing strength training for one hour three times a week, or to a control group that did nothing. The weight vest group had significant changes in bone density and in weight loss in 32 weeks. http://brn.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/4/3/171
How to Use a Weight Vest
By wearing a weight vest during your walking time or your most active time of the day you are getting the benefits of weight training without most of the effort. The weights should be as high on the body as possible to give the most benefit to the bones. Weights on the ankles and wrists do nothing to help your core bones and can harm the fragile bones in those areas.
When using a weighted vest you start out with only 4 lbs of weight and work up gradually . This vest is good for the thin women who are typically most at risk of osteoporosis but it is also good for overweight women to accelerate weight loss and change fat into muscle.
There is one group of women who get especially annoyed at the diagnosis of osteopenia and that is the thin, athletic group who exercise a little obsessively. It actually robs your bones of protein when you exercise to excess. Cutting back on the time of exercise and using a vest will add bone to this group of women also.
There is really no negative to this kind of weight-bearing exercise. You wear the vest around the house for an hour every day until you get stronger. By then you will feel more frisky and want to take a walk or do some rebounding on a mini-trampoline. Add weights according to your own tolerance and take a few days off every month to give your body a rest.
After testing many vests we found that the NYKNYC vest is good as it is geared for a womans body and has just the right amount of weight
to get positive results.
Hi Susanray,
On the price of the nyknyc vest.
I got mine about a almost a year ago , around the jHollidays and it sold for 75.00 with additional weights its a bit more but im not sure if it is still at that price shipping is very reasonable too they do flat rate shipping so you are not soaked by the postal like some other companies charge you 40.00 to ship their vests the nyknyc is reasonable and cheap.
this co is very good most of the others I looked at were manish and ugly looking vests but this one is feminine looking. I heard they are have now started making them for men too and in fact my husband ordered the NYKNYC mans vest from them so we can walk together!
Add to the discussion