When Ryan and I were out in California, I couldn’t believe how many women we saw out running or walking with Barbie weights in their hands.

WHAT THE HECK!?!

While I love this color, they will not be my new walking accessory.

And then one of my clients said to me, “I think that running with light weights is the best way to tone my arms!” Mind you…this is also the same client that told me that push ups were making her bulky.

I’m sorry but walking with weights IS NOT the best way to tone your arms.

Women who run with weights are IDIOTS who are AFRAID of getting bulky!

I know why people supposedly do it….Extra calorie burn and toning, but I’ll let you in on a little secret….It really doesn’t do either!

For one, you can’t spot reduce an area and part of being “toned” is low body fat. Even if walking with weights did make your arms stronger, it wouldn’t specifically cut the fat off your arms!

Secondly, yes the dumbbells could result in a few extra calories being burned but not if you have to slow down to walk with them. Plus if you simple walked/run and then did a weight workout you would burn even more calories than if you walked/ran with weights.

OR you could do a quick circuit that included weights and cardio and, in half the time you spent on your cardio with your stupid dumbbells, get twice the results!

Thirdly, swinging dumbbells when you run or walk really doesn’t build muscle. For one, if the weight isn’t challenging it isn’t going to do anything. You need to use CHALLENGING weights to get results! Also, the movement of swinging your arms isn’t really specific enough to be used to build or tone muscles.

And lastly, carrying the dumbbells may alter your movement patterns and could create imbalances and lead to injuries.

And why risk injury or imbalances if there is no chance of you seeing any results!?!

Seriously, go for a walk then head to the gym and do some true strength training!