Dumbbells and kettlebells may still be hard to come by, but containers of water are widely available and nearly free. The trick is finding something that’s the right weight, without being too awkward. In this week’s installment of our improvised equipment challenge, we’ll be working out with water jugs.
If you’ve heard the suggestion to use water bottles as weights, it probably only took you a few minutes to realize water bottles are ludicrously light. If you’re a small person, and doing hundreds of reps, then maybe. But most of us, for most purposes, will have to go heavier.
From these numbers, you can get a pretty good idea of what a given container will weigh when full:
To make the perfect weights, though, you don’t just need the right amount of water. You also need a container that isn’t awkward as hell to lift. It’s worth reconsidering specific exercises to find ones that work with whatever containers you have on hand. A five-gallon jug isn’t going to be easy to lift by its handle (if it even has one) but you could hug it to your chest and do squats or lunges.
Another handy way to use water as a weight is to fill a backpack or duffel bag with bottles of water. The bag provides the handles, and the water provides the weight.
Ready for an upgrade? Fill your bottles with playground sand instead. That half-liter water bottle will weigh 3.6 pounds when full of sand, perfect for a Jane Fonda video. A one-gallon jug will be 14 pounds, and a 5-gallon bucket a hefty 68. Latest
Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology, has written two books, and is a certified personal trainer. She’s been writing about health, fitness, and science for over a decade, and can front squat 225 pounds.
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A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.75 pounds, which is enough to make any basic body-weight exercise more challenging. Double it up, and you’ve got 17.50 pounds to work your muscles. And if you want to really up the ante, freezing the jugs of water will make the resistance feel even greater.
One gallon of water weighs approximately 8.33 lbs. Therefore, lifting 5 gallons of water is equivalent to lifting more than 40 lbs. According to Cornell University’s ergonomics department, lifting a 30-lb. container can exert a total compressive force of 2,214-lbs.-per-inch on the muscles of the upper body. The clockwise and counterclockwise motions involved in lifting and lowering heavy objects can result in disabling, lower-back injuries due to resultant changes in spine geometry. To prevent spine damage, Cornell recommends body positions that lessen force on the back by transferring weight bearing to the legs.
Dumbbells and kettlebells may still be hard to come by, but containers of water are widely available and nearly free. The trick is finding something that’s the right weight, without being too awkward. In this week’s installment of our improvised equipment challenge, we’ll be working out with water jugs.
Another handy way to use water as a weight is to fill a backpack or duffel bag with bottles of water. The bag provides the handles, and the water provides the weight.
Lifehacker is a federally registered trademark of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of Lifehacker. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.
Lifehacker has been a go-to source of tech help and life advice since 2005. Our mission is to offer reliable tech help and credible, practical, science-based life advice to help you live better.
To make the perfect weights, though, you don’t just need the right amount of water. You also need a container that isn’t awkward as hell to lift. It’s worth reconsidering specific exercises to find ones that work with whatever containers you have on hand. A five-gallon jug isn’t going to be easy to lift by its handle (if it even has one) but you could hug it to your chest and do squats or lunges.
How to Carry 20 Liter Water Bottle | How to Carry Heavy Gallon Water Bottle
FAQ
Why do weightlifters carry gallons of water?
Can you use a gallon of water as weights?
Can you use water as a weight?
How heavy is a water jug?
Does drinking a gallon of water make a difference?
Dehydrated skin quickly starts looking parched, cracked, and flaky. While moisturizing lotion has its place, doctors say that the best skincare comes from within. Those who drink a gallon of water each day report a whole host of improvements to their skin: fewer wrinkles, less dryness, less itchiness. 3. Drinking Water Curbs Cravings
Is it true that one should drink at least 5 gallons of water per day?
Drinking 5 gallons of water per day is not recommended. Drinking plenty of water daily (approximately 4 liters for men and 3 liters for women) is within the recommendations. This amount could be increased on hot days or days of increased physical activity. However, 5 gallons is not beneficial and may even be dangerous to your health.
Do you need a gallon of water a day?
Water may also help you feel a bit fuller when you eat, she says — but you certainly don’t need to drink a gallon a day. Research has shown that taking in enough — or not enough — water has an impact on how sharp you function and feel.
How much water is a gallon of water?
A gallon of water is around 3.7 liters.” “Get this: If the human body consumes 16 ounces of water in a given hour, the metabolic rate will spike by as much as 30 percent for the next 30 to 40 minutes,” says Heidi Powell. “By committing to drinking half your body weight in ounces of water each day, research says you can expect to lose more weight.”