The Fitness Pivot
If you’ve been a cardio queen your whole life, hearing your doctor say “you have to listen to your body” is lowkey the ultimate L. That was me after a knee injury (specifically bursitis from too many burpees) forced me to rethink my entire routine. I needed to keep my lower body strong, especially for perimenopause health, but basic squats and lunges were officially off the table.
Enter the ankle weight. I did the deep dive and landed on Sportneer Adjustable Ankle Weights. I’d previously tried the trendy Bala Bangles—they’re super cute and give major main character energy, but they honestly just banged against my ankles during walks. The Sportneer ones are half the price, adjustable, and actually comfortable against the skin.
The Test Run
I spent a full week putting these things through their paces with three main activities: neighborhood walks, home barre classes (shoutout to Ally Love on Peloton), and uphill treadmill sessions.
Each weight has individual pockets with removable sandbags, so I could scale the intensity. For a 3-mile walk, I kept it at 2.9 lbs per ankle; for a 45-minute barre class, I leveled up for those fire hydrants and side-lying leg lifts. The real challenge? Hitting a 7% incline on the treadmill. It was highkey tough, but it really pushed my glutes and quads.
The Results
By the end of the week, my legs felt like they’d just run a marathon. My hamstrings were giving ‘post-deadlift’ and my quads were sore in the best way. Dr. Bob Baravarian, a podiatric specialist, confirms that as we get older, keeping those tendons and muscles strong is key for balance and injury prevention.
Are they a replacement for a full-blown gym routine? Not quite. But if you’re looking to add some spice to your daily movement without wrecking your joints, these weights might just be the move.
Why it matters
It’s not just about aesthetics; maintaining muscle mass and joint health is a long-term W for your body. Using tools like adjustable weights lets you dial the intensity up or down, making strength training accessible even when you're working through an injury.
