fit lifestyle

Benefits of Hula Hooping: Hula Hoop Calorie Burn Workout

Standard

Hi Everyone!

I bet you can tell by the picture what I did for my workout today! I have mentioned in recent posts how much I have been enjoying hula hooping. I decided to do a fun video for you guys, showing some of the moves that I do while I hula hoop. Generally when I am hooping I put on some music and go crazy with the hip shaking. I kept it a bit tamer for the video. I mix in all of these moves and a few more, while I am going. You can even do arm exercises, and jump with your hoop like you would with a jump rope. 

I decided to do some research, and it turns out that hooping has quite a few health benefits. It helps strengthen your abs, back. legs, and glutes (butt!) In addition, it has some great calorie burning benefits. Hula Hooping can burn as many calories as Boot Camp workouts, or Step Aerobics! One study (click here to read it!) found that hooping burns about 7 calories per minute, or 210 calories for half an hour. 

I know I worked up a sweat! Hula Hooping also has the added benefit of being fun! Weighted hula hoops move more slowly and stay up easier. Lighter hoops require faster movement. Hooping even works your brain and has been shown to have some meditative benefits due to the repetitive movements. 

So what do you think? Are you going to try it? 

Melissa 

I did each movement for 1 minute, and then reversed the direction of the hula hoop (counter-clockwise to clockwise) and repeated. 

1. Hula Hoop
2. Goddess Pose/Squat
3. Right Lunge
4. Left Lunge
5. Right Leg Lift
6. Left Leg Lift
7. March

Reverse and Repeat as desired.

Pictures For Thought

Standard
Push Your Limits. 

Find Strength in Grace.

Be Strong.

Try New Things.

Find Your Inner Warrior.

Exist in the Moment.

Push…

Further than you think you can go.

Take Time to Be Grateful.


Don’t have a Fitness Stall!

Standard
Hi Everyone,
I have been thinking a lot about things that derail people from their fitness goals. Maybe it’s the holiday season and all of the rich foods, and obligations that take up free time. Maybe it’s the winter weather. It just seems easier to workout when it’s nice outside. It could be school (finals, papers and presentations are looming for me too!) Kids, work, and life in general takes a lot of time. Sometimes it feels like there’s no time left over for you to do anything, much less make time for a workout.
First of all, fitness is more than just exercise. It’s a way of life. You need to find a balance for all of your occupations (by that I mean anything you occupy your time with). Even if you only have 15 minutes a day to dedicate to exercise it will be to your benefit. It may sound crazy, but you deserve a little bit of that time that you are dedicating to everyone and everything else. The time is yours, so decide to spare a little bit of it for taking care of yourself.
The workouts I share right now are intense, shorter workouts so you don’t have to spend hours in the gym or on a treadmill. They are designed to fit into my own incredibly busy schedule. Investing a little bit of time into your health now can help you have a longer, higher quality of life in the future.
Something that motivates me is going to a 5K race (or even just looking up the results online) and seeing people double to triple my age running the race, sometimes with great times! As I get older I want to have the energy, strength and endurance to keep doing that. So find your motivation and devote some time to your health.
There will be a new workout up tonight.
Melissa
PS I am going to be sharing a sample of a healthy daily diet. The sample I created is being reviewed by a nutritionist right now. I want to make sure I am sharing high quailty (correct!) information with everyone. Be sure to check back!