Weighted Hula Hoops for Weight Loss

Just when I thought I was on a roll with my exercise routine, I found out that three hours on the treadmill and about an hour of weight training (per week) just isn't enough to shed the pounds! According to Lindsey Tanner's article "Daily Hour of Exercise Needed to Stay Thin", new research indicates, "At least an hour of moderate activity a day is needed for older women at a healthy weight who aren't dieting. For those who are already overweight -- and that's most American women -- even more exercise is called for to avoid gaining weight without eating less, the study results suggest."

When I saw the weighted Hula Hoops, for weight loss, I thought this might be a fun way to add additional exercise to my workouts. Check out this one weighted set available on Amazon. One reviewer indicates losing 5 lbs. in a week by just adding 10 minutes of hooping a night.





There is just one problem. I don't know how to Hula Hoop! I was under the impression that it is an ability that super thin and perky people are just born with. Maybe if I study videos like this one, I could learn to "feel the hoop".



The good news is that weighted hula hoops (about 3 -5 lbs.)may be easier to twirl than a regular hula hoop because of greater resistance. Peter McCall, a spokesperson with the American Council on Exercise says, "The bigger and heavier the hoop, the easier it is to keep the hoop going - and the more likely you'll be able to hoop for longer periods of time."

Apparently, the size of the hoop matters! McCall says that the hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and your chest when it is resting vertically on the ground. Any type of Hula Hooping can be an aerobic activity - especially if you're able to hoop for 10 minutes. (Let's try 10 seconds first!)

If she can do it......




Check out my other post on fun forms of exercise.

Can you hula hoop? What you think of hula hooping for exercise?