Looking for a fun workout? Try a hula hoop. Hula-hooping can significantly enhance your overall fitness!
A common misconception about exercise is that it must be demanding and strenuous. However, consider hula-hooping as a fun exercise option. The hula hoop gained international popularity in the late 1950s with a plastic version. How? A successful marketing campaign by Wham-O Toy company. According to the Mayo Clinic, hula-hooping for 30 minutes can burn between 165 and 200 calories.
The kid’s version of a hula hoop is challenging to keep moving, so I use a weighted hula hoop, which increases the intensity and calorie burn compared to a regular hula hoop. The benefits of using a weighted hula hoop extend beyond just burning calories.
♠ Boosting Cardiovascular fitness
♥ Challenging Your Core Muscles
♦ Improving Your Balance
♥ Engaging Your Lower Body Muscles
♣ Being An Inexpensive Fun Workout Option
I started using a weighted hula hoop in 2009 after Michelle Obama, as First Lady, encouraged children to stay active with hooping. If it’s suitable for kids, why not for adults? When I trained for the Women’s Nike Half-Marathon in 2013, I incorporated daily walks and used a weighted hula hoop to strengthen my core.
I typically hula hoop during television commercials, maximizing short bursts of activity. Even those few minutes per day make a significant impact. The only disadvantage of using a weighted hula hoop is some initial muscle soreness, which eventually goes away with consistent use.
Another thing to consider is the size and weight of the weighted hoop. In 2009, I purchased the ACU Hoop, which weighs between 3 lbs to 3.33 lbs.
Finally, as a pear-shaped, bottom-heavy individual, this fun workout is an excellent option for keeping my weight in check and channeling my inner child.
As always, thank you for stopping by The Age of Grace. I appreciate your support.
