Lose weight with hula hoop: Hula hoops have been around for decades, and you’ve likely already been hit with a dose of nostalgia just reading this, but that doesn’t mean they need to be relegated to playground fun.
Stay with this section of fitness in the health and beauty section of Eternal Pen magazine.
Studies have also proven there to be benefits. One showed that using a weighted hula hoop every day for six weeks helped reduce waist size, while another compared a group of people who used a weighted hula hoop daily and walked 9.9k steps a day, to a group of people who only walked the 9.9k steps. Both groups lost weight, but the group who used the weighted hula hoop also reduced in waist size.
In fact, with the addition of a little bit of weight, the tried-and-true hoop can help you burn calories and build abs, too.
Lose weight with hula hoop
What Is a Weighted Hula Hoop?
Lose weight with hula hoop: A weighted hula hoop is what the name suggests—it’s a hula hoop that’s heavier than the typical plastic hoops you’re used to, and they typically weigh between one-and-a-half and eight pounds. Compared to a regular hula hoop, which usually weighs less than a pound, a weighted hula hoop provides more resistance, says Gourlay.
Weighted hula hoops can also be made with different materials to give them that extra heft. And shapes may differ as well. “Some have a smaller diameter and a weighted ball attached to a tether or string, while different varieties have the weight distributed in the hula hoop of standard diameter,” says Walker.
Who Shouldn’t Use a Weighted Hula Hoop?
Lose weight with hula hoop: As with any new form of exercise, Walker recommends taking precautions as needed and consulting your physician if you have any questions or concerns. If you experience pain while exercising, stop immediately and seek medical attention. “Using a weighted hula hoop is relatively safe as long as you’re using a weight that’s appropriate for your strength and experience/fitness level,” says Gourlay.
How Do You Use a Weighted Hula Hoop?
Lose weight with hula hoop: The good news is if you’ve ever hula hooped before, as a child or adult, using a weighted hula hoop isn’t that much different. “The trick is to move your hips forward and back, shifting your weight. And keep your feet staggered to start,” says Gourlay.
“Proper form with any movement is key,” adds Walker. “Basics for form center around good posture, including core and glute engagement, and full proper activation of the muscles you seek to use.” It may seem a little counterintuitive, but Gourlay and Walker say a weighted hula hoop may be easier to use than a regular one. Getting the hoop going is easier because you have more control of the weight, Walker says. If you’re rhythmically challenged, opting for a bigger hoop may help because you have more reaction time to respond as it moves around your body. She also suggests against wearing baggy clothing because it can make it harder to catch the hoop around your waist.
And once you get the hang of a weighted hula hoop, feel free to incorporate all those tricks you did as a kid. “Waist hooping, arms, agility on the floor, jumping in and out, dance hooping—imagination is your only limitation!” says Walker.
How Often Should You Use a Weighted Hula Hoop?
Lose weight with hula hoop: If you’re interested in giving a weighted hula hoop a spin or two, Walker suggests starting small and trying to hula hoop for 10-30 minutes, two to three times a week. Ultimately, how often you use a weighted hula hoop will come down to individual preferences, fitness levels, and goals. If you like to hoop, incorporate it as part of your workout routine. Like with all exercise, Walker says, “Enjoy the way you move and move the way you enjoy.”
