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Heavyhands - The Ultimate Exercise by Leonard Schwartz - Book Review
Many years ago I discovered Heavyhands, the invention of Doctor Leonard Schwartz. These small hand weights paired with vigorous leg exercises resulted in a cardio/aerobic workout comparable to a good hard run without the negative effects on my knees or feet. The good doctor prescribed three hours a week, more than enough to maintain a good level of fitness. A search of used books online shows that there is still a good supply of his books available at reasonable prices. If you're looking for a simple exercise that makes you feel good and is fun, I recommend checking out his books...
Heavyhands - The Ultimate Exercise by Leonard Schwartz - Book Review
Many years ago I discovered Heavyhands, the invention of Doctor Leonard Schwartz. These small hand weights paired with vigorous leg exercises resulted in a cardio/aerobic workout comparable to a good hard run without the negative effects on my knees or feet. The good doctor prescribed three hours a week, more than enough to maintain a good level of fitness. A search of used books online shows that there is still a good supply of his books available at reasonable prices. If you're looking for a simple exercise that makes you feel good and is fun, I recommend checking out his books.
“Heavyhands – the ultimate exercise” was Dr. Schwartz's first book, published in 1982. He writes in an easy-to-read style but gives a full explanation of his extensive self-testing that led to the development of Heavyhands. There are many types of exercise, including walking, in-place exercise, dancing, group exercise, etc. Some where you are sure to find an exercise that is particularly attractive to each individual.
One of my favorites is an exercise he calls double ski poling. This involves striding out while moving the arms in wide swings, similar to cross-country skiing. This exercise was inspired by studies that show the best cross-country skiers often have higher cardio fitness and aerobic capacity than runners because more muscles are involved at the same time.
The author conducted extensive laboratory testing to determine the energy requirements of the various exercises and the effect of adding additional pounds to the hand weights. Energy expenditure during exercise is often measured in Mets, which is the energy used by the body at rest. A ten minute run requires approximately ten meters. This can be achieved by double skipoling at a rate of forty cycles per minute and one pound of weight. This increases to 13 mets with five pound weights. The adjustable weights allow progression and make the exercise a challenge even for super athletes. If you could ever do this with a ten pound weight, the energy costs would rise to twenty feet.
The book contains both drawings and photos that illustrate the many possible exercises. Easy-to-read charts and tables show energy needs and calorie expenditure through the seemingly endless selection of different exercises. Increasing exercise duration beyond the minimum required for fitness results in a very effective, enjoyable weight loss program.
I recommend you purchase a copy of this book and discover a great training system that can be used regardless of your fitness level or age. Purchasing a set of heavy hands is a small investment that brings huge lifetime benefits.
Inspired by John Paige