Any type of physical exercise that raises your heart rate burns calories and contributes to weight loss. While many people think of a trampoline as equipment for kids, jumping and flipping improves your cardiovascular fitness level and burns fat in the process. Flipping alone might not burn a significant amount of calories, but what does is consecutive jumping leading up to the flip. In addition to burning fat and calories, trampolining builds lean muscle mass and improves stamina.
Weight Loss Goals
Work with your physician or personal trainer to determine the daily caloric burn needed for weight loss. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical exercise every day, but depending on your current weight and weight loss goals, you might need to exercise longer than that. Aim to lose weight gradually at a rate of 1 to 2 lbs. a week. Since 1 lb. equals 3,500 calories, you'll need to burn approximately 500 calories a day to lose 1 lb. a week.
Caloric Burn
A 150-lb. person jumping and flipping on a large trampoline at a moderate pace burns approximately 240 calories an hour. Jogging on a large trampoline burns twice as many calories than simply jumping, according to Discovery Health. While you don't have to jog the entire time, alternating between jogging, jumping and flipping will increase your caloric burn and help you achieve your weight loss goals. Performing tuck jumps, straddle jumps or other gymnastics skills burns calories while increasing flexibility and muscle mass.
Low Impact
Not only does exercising on a trampoline improve your health and burn calories, it also puts less impact on your joints than other cardiovascular exercise. Jumping on a trampoline evenly distributes impact on each joint and cell of your body. For people who suffer from joint pain, the trampoline is a safer option than running or jogging on a hard surface. Overweight people also might benefit from the low-impact workout trampolining provides.
Considerations
While jumping on a trampoline puts lets impact on your joints, there still is a risk of injury when jumping. Injuries from trampolines include broken bones, sprains, cuts and bruises. It might look easy, but after a few minutes of exercise you might find your knees buckling or your legs growing tired. Any exercise that involves coordination takes practice. If you're on a large trampoline, there is a risk of falling off if you lose your balance. To avoid falls, jump on a trampoline with a safety net or start out on a mini trampoline.
Member Comments