Going up in weight a little at a time. The Materials!

Ankle Weights

Especially for guys just starting hanging or getting back into hanging, there are some small but valuable weights in small increments that you can custom tailor for the skin stretch and just getting used to your hanger. Sometimes a fraction of a pound might be what you’re looking for when a full additional pound is beyond your needs at the moment.

What I have found is using ankle weights to add to a few plates from a weight set I got 15 years back but never ever used. I of course kept the weights. The solution for you may be ankle weights. I have seen these in 5 or 10 lbs per legs that use a holding wrap that you place around your ankles for physical fitness needs like basketball training.

The cool thing is that they are very low weight being around 5 to 10lbs and excellent for stealth routines. All the ones I have seen come in maybe a half-pound or one full pound slugs that fit into this canvas like wrap like bullets on a belt from some bad Rambo movie on cable late at night. They either slide in or are secured by a Velcro lined flap. You can remove the weight and put whatever amount you desire into them, for instance using only 6 lbs out of the 10 lbs capacity.

Since they are so small they should be able to easily bee hidden and not look too suspicious for friends, family, and loved ones to find out what you are doing particularly in the beginning. A little bit of innovation may allow you to hook the whole contraption right to the “S” hook at the end of the hanger. I am sure with a few minutes you could find a way to attach them if they are slightly different to completely alien then the design I am talking about.

I have included some illustrations of what these things look like for those who live abroad and may care to try this out.

Ankle weights are a good solution for the beginner who may be too overwhelmed by hanging large amounts in his first few weeks till he gets the hang of it literally. Sports departments at major retailers as well as Internet websites will have these for easily and unsuspicious delivery to your house. I would recommend using only the kind that are able to slide out and are adjustable in total weight. Sealed units may be of no use to you or cutting them open may compromise the design of the holder and lend itself to accidents.

Various retailers sell weights in very small amounts. Look for them at Walmart and other chain stores with a fitness department. Another option is looking through the local newspaper for yard sales and seeing what may turn up rather cheap. Look also in the local “penny Saver” magazine that people sell stuff just like a newspaper sales section or classifieds.

Some start at around 1 lb to 1.25lbs at the lowest. Next is usually 2 to 2.5 lbs. These along with 3 pound plates give you flexibility to go up a little bit of a time with no real risk of extra pain or injury. Jumping 5 lb increments may not be for you, instead custom tailor what you need for your hanging routine in the beginning. I would also include two 5lb weights along with a single ten should keep you covered for a while.

I actually use the ankle weights you described for hanging.

Really at the beginning stages. The ones I have go from 0-5lbs in increments of 1/2 lb weights. My ligs are not very strong so sometimes I have used a 1/4 lb fishing weight if I feel like going that extra mile :)

Anyway, I like em.