![]() ![]() The problems with my initial approach were the shape of my backpack, the type of weight I was using and its distribution. ![]() To start out, I decided I would test out rucking in its most simplified form: throwing on a backpack filled with weights and hitting the pavement. After the two weeks were up, I noticed that certain everyday activities that used to feel strenuous - carrying laundry to the laundromat, rearranging furniture, etc. The load-bearing element also means you’re pulling double duty, building strength and muscle mass as you go. ![]() I soon noticed that these lessons also translated to my normal, unencumbered walks around town.īut it’s the extra weight that really pays dividends: it gets your heart to start working harder, pushing your heart rate into a steady cardiovascular zone when you ruck. Once I was all set with the correct bag and weight, I became more aware of my posture and avoided slouching. If executed correctly, carrying the weight around doesn’t feel like much of a burden on your back, either. This affects the load you’re putting onto your joints while still keeping intensity high. Safety wise, I noticed immediately that it put far less stress on my knees than running or jogging since you’re aiming for a slower pace than those activities, you also take fewer and shorter strides. There are a few things that make rucking an ideal cardio workout. And beyond it being a part of basic training, it’s also endorsed by the military to be a pretty great form of exercise. Leading brand GoRuck features a velcro patch on each of their bags so you can throw on an American Flag or what have you on the back. This means that a lot of the current rucking culture is fairly military influenced. Modern militaries have adapted its core principles for a similar goal: teaching recruits to tolerate walking long distances while humping a full bag of supplies. In the Roman days, it helped soldiers hone the discipline they’d need to march in formation for excruciating intervals of time. What it boils down to is a relatively fast march or walk while carrying weight on your back, typically in a “rucksack,” hence the name. Rucking, or a loaded march, derives from military formation exercises dating as far back as the Roman Empire. Interest piqued, down the ruck hole I went, embarking on a two-week of daily rucks, a 30-lb. ![]() So recently, while mindlessly browsing Reddit one night, I happened upon a guy who had been relying on an exercise called rucking to help supplement his weight loss. After a while though, my knees started to feel totally wrecked and I decided to take a pause as not to become another member of my family with chronic knee problems. Several summers ago, I started incorporating jogging into my life, which was actually pretty great for a few months it got me out of the house, I was making substantial changes and felt more alive. The fantasy in my head is to step out of quarantine looking fantastic and shedding a lot of weight, so I realized it was time for some real exercise. While getting my diet in check has felt like a victory, I was starting to acquire some pretty pathetic aches and pains from such arduous tasks as … standing up from my office chair too quickly. Stuck at home, I’ve been ordering groceries online out of necessity, and shed about 20 pounds over the past few months in doing so. I live in New York City, where “What are we getting for lunch?” and spontaneous meals out are more the rule than the exception. One of the few positives of my time in lockdown has been a heightened awareness of my diet. ![]()
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