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Expert Q&A

	By Kelli Calabrese Exercise Physiologist

I recently invited a friend to walk with me, but it's not going so well. She walks much slower than I do, and I end up resentful, because I feel like I'm not getting enough of a workout. My husband suggested that I use ankle weight or carry hand weights to help. Could this work? I have no idea how to even go about it. I just want to increase the level of workout without alienating my friend. Help!

You had the right idea to find a buddy to walk with. In hind site, you should have chosen a friend who had a greater ability than yours so that you can aspire to become as fast as her – now you are the pace setter. You can do a few things. Invite a few friends so that you can break off into groups of slower and faster, walk around a track so that you can always see each other, but you may not be together the entire time. Walk with a weighted vest – or put heavy things in the pockets of your jacket or vest or push a stroller with a child in it while walking with your friend. Encourage your friend to walk faster. Let her know about your goals and how serious you are about increasing your fitness. If she is on board, be a little patient with her and encourage her to take a longer stride and increase her arm swing speed – that will help her to go faster. After your walk with her, do a few sprints. What ever you do, do not walk with weights on your ankles or in your hands. In theory this makes sense, however it puts an enormous amount of repetitive stress on your joints setting you up for injury.

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