jump roping and hula hopping

[ctrtle74]

Do any of you use a jump rope or hula hoop to get extra steps or active mintues?  I am thinking of getting each for when I am at home and not able to go to gym, plus I have kids who would get a kick out of competions.  I live in a rainy area so getting outside isn't always an option

[Rizzy]

hi, ive got a jumprope as i thought it would be a fun way to get fit. hula hoop would also be be fun but i am rubbish at it 

---

@ctrtle74 wrote:

Do any of you use a jump rope or hula hoop to get extra steps or active mintues?  I am thinking of getting each for when I am at home and not able to go to gym, plus I have kids who would get a kick out of competions.  I live in a rainy area so getting outside isn't always an option

---

[Mary]

Another fun way to rack up indoor steps is a rebounder, and kids love them, too.  

[ctrtle74]

What is a rebounder?

Sent from my iPhone

[Mary]

A mini-trampoline.  I have this one and love it.  I had a cheaper one before and it got lots of use, too.  You can get them as cheap as $40 or so.

http://www.costco.com/JumpSport%C2%AE--350i-Fitness-Trampoline.product.11533454.html

[slysam]

---

@ctrtle74 wrote:

Do any of you use a jump rope or hula hoop to get extra steps or active mintues?  I am thinking of getting each for when I am at home and not able to go to gym, plus I have kids who would get a kick out of competions.  I live in a rainy area so getting outside isn't always an option

---

I haven't been doing either recently, but when I first got my fitbit I did often. In fact alternating intervals of jumping rope and hula hooping was my standard at home cardio workout. I found the combination fun and I could not sustain jumping rope long enough to get a good cardio workout and hooping didn't get my heart rate up high enough. doing a minute or few of each and than switching was very fun and effective. I called it my "playground workout". I have always had the torso worn fitbit's (classic, ultra and now the one). I find fitbit credits me very highly for jumping rope as long as I sustain it for at least a minute. For hooping it credits me with a step everytime I bump the hoop. I think it seems fine for standing and hooping but when I hoop dance it estimates a little low. Hooping was also one of my favorite ways to sneak in extra steps--I would hoop during commercials when first learning. I would get steps and active minutes form either of these--most especially jumping rope though. I bet it is a great activity to do with kids too!

[Mary]

I really considered a hoop a couple years ago.  Do you use a weighted one, slysam?  Did it bruise your waist at first?  I've seen some at Marshalls since then.  

[slysam]

Mary, my hoop isn't specifically weighted. It is heavier than a child's hoop because of the material it is made of (it weighs about 3 pounds) but doesn't contain any sort of weights. Mine is one made for hoop dancing--Hoopnotica is the brand but there are lots of others and some people even make their own. I've occasionally had small bruises from mine mainly if I overdo it or when I started I would hoop barefoot and it would fall on my foot fairly often. But nothing like what I've heard from the weighted exercise hoops that have the little bumps on them. Bigger hoops are easier to hoop with though because they turn slower than the lighter child sized hoops. Oh if you have a used sporting goods store like "Play It again Sport" you might see a dance hoop fairly inexpensively. There were a lot at mine (same for weights and other home fitness equipment).

[doutri2]

I love hula hooping as a low impact exercise activity. But, as a hula hoop fitness instructor, I am a little biased.  However, I don't think about my steps while hooping.  In fact, it might be rather low.  So, I still get in walks whenever I can.  

[Jabrat]

Going to start the jump rope and hula hoop thing !  Anything to get that "burn"