My flex registered steps while I was hula hooping...

[becurtis]

I was surprised- I just hadn't expected it to do so.  What are your thoughts?  Is hula hooping active enough to count as 'steps' or was I inadvertently cheating??

[WendyB]

You were probably moving your arms

[becurtis]

Wendy-
I wear my Flex clipped through a belt loop so it was definitely measuring movement of my lower body. I was just surprised that it was enough movement to register steps. It got me wondering about hula hooping.....anyone know if it is decent exercise?

[slysam]

My one counts steps when I hoop. I think it is fine, I haven't had any issues with inflated calorie burn or anything from it.

[Heybales · Accepted solution]

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@becurtis wrote:
Wendy-
I wear my Flex clipped through a belt loop so it was definitely measuring movement of my lower body. I was just surprised that it was enough movement to register steps. It got me wondering about hula hooping.....anyone know if it is decent exercise?

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Decent is in the mind of the performer.

While it isn't a big calorie burn for the time involved - the mental release and fun and bringing joy to others sometimes helps more than calorie burn.

If you want more joy to you and others tomorrow (today), skip around the neighborhood like when you were a kid. That'll bring smiles to you and everyone that sees you.

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxjb21wZW5kaXVtb2ZwaHlzaWNhbGFjd...

Has a MET value in the list under Hula as 4.5.

So take your BMR x 4.5 for rough value.

That's not too bad actually, tad better than walking 3.5 mph, if you can keep it up for as long.

[jfc0704]

I have a weighted fitness hula hoop.  I can definitely tell the difference when I use it.  And I can tell the difference when I don't.  My abs and entire core is just a lot tighter and toned when I add the hula hoop to my fitness routine.  I have a Flex which I wear on my wrist so it doesn't register - but I would be afraid of crushing it with the weight of the hula hoop if I put it any place else.  The important thing to me is that I know that I am out there doing it and that I feel better after having gotta that extra activity.

[ErinWeed]

I think just standing there hula hooping isn't that big of a workout, but if you've got music going and you're learning new moves, then it's a great workout. I went to a hoop fest once, and I was sore for days afterwards!

[terezy]

Hooping is wonderful excersize! 30 minutes of intense hooping burns about 210 calories. 

[nora1948]

I only manage 5 minutes each way at the moment and don't feel as though it is a such a hard workout but my legs and hips know about it the next day so it must be doing more that I can tell at the time.