Why you’ve ‘weighted’ too long to get yourself a hula hoop!- by Danielle Glover

Hula hooping is known for playing at a family reunion in the summer with your cousins on a too-green-to-be-true grass lawn somewhere. Little do most people know, that hula hooping is safe and entertaining for losing calories and fat, improving balance, relaxing your muscles, and enhancing your aerobic health.

And the best component? It’s inexpensive and quick to get started, and it can be done anywhere. In a small 2015 study, results prove that hooping could be the right form of exercise for you if you’re trying to lose inches around your waist and hips – especially if you are using a weighted hula hoop.

The research analyzed 13 women’s weighted hula hooping program over 6 weeks. It showed that on average women have lost 3.4 centimeters (cm) around their waist and 1.4 cm from their hips.

TikTok teens have also started experimenting with the newfound exercise, as they document their progress, some even proclaiming losing 1.5 inches in one week.

The advantages vary from enhancing your physical health to challenging your core muscles. Not to mention the strengthening in the equilibrium and the functioning of your lower body muscles.

The cost of the regular hula hoop varies from $8 to $15 and the weighted hula hoop will vary from $20 to $50 depending on the brand.

Shop for traditional hula hoops or weighted hula hoops online, or at your local sporting goods store.

Tips on getting started:

All you need to get started is a hoop and a space to move. Here are a few tips to get you on the right path.

Find the correct hoop. The height of the hoop you pick up is a big part of your fitness performance. One tip for beginners is to use a bigger hoop to start spinning more slowly. Try the hoop before you buy it if you can.

Choose the right amount of weight for you. If you’re going for a weighted hula hoop, a fair rule of thumb for beginners is, to begin with, a hoop of around one to two pounds. If you’re going to get stronger, consider switching to a heavier hoop, but only if you can hang on to a good form.

Watch videos. Several online videos will lead you on how to hula hoop the correct way.

Start with shorter exercises. In hula hooping, you’re showing your body how to navigate the right way with the hoop while working your cardiovascular system at the same time. You might need to begin with shorter workouts because of this. Plan two or three 10-minute sessions a day. You should stretch them out or work them out for a whole-body exercise. You will add time to each exercise as you get stronger.

The hula hoop is relatively safe, however, these tips can save you from a possible injury; maintain proper form, wear tight-fitting clothing, and proceed with caution, especially if you have a back injury. As with any form of exercise, if you have any concerns about your health, talk with your doctor before starting a new routine.

This family-friendly, portable activity is a no brainer.

References:

McGill SM, Cambridge ED, Andersen JT. A six-week trial of hula hooping using a weighted hoop: effects on skinfold, girths, weight, and torso muscle endurance. J Strength Cond Res. 2015 May;29(5):1279-84.