Hula-hooping was once nothing more than a child's game, but it has become an effective form of alternative exercise that can help you lose weight. Fitness hula-hoops are a specific type of hoop that might help you achieve better weight loss results.
Weighted Hula-Hoop
Hula-hoops that are marketed as fitness hula-hoops are typically larger and heavier than traditional hoops. They are usually weighted with water or sand, but the amount of weight used varies greatly from one manufacturer to the other. Heavier hoops are easier to hoop with because you do not need to rotate your hips as fast to keep the hoop going. With slower speeds, weighted hoops might allow you to hoop longer and ultimately burn more calories for more effective weight loss.
Weight Loss
When you hula-hoop, you expend extra energy that requires calories, and burning calories helps you lose weight. The number of calories you burn depends on two factors: exercise intensity and duration. Your hula-hoop intensity, or speed of revolutions, determines the rate at which you burn calories. While hula-hooping faster might provide a higher-intensity workout and faster rate of caloric burn, you might not be able to sustain that intensity for very long. You should engage in 20 minutes of aerobic activity, like hula-hooping, at least three times per week, according to MedlinePlus.com.
Considerations
It is true that fitness or weighted hula-hoops are easier to use, burn calories and help you lose weight. However, a fitness hoop is not necessarily the best type of hoop for weight loss for every individual. As you advance, you might find that a fitness hoop is too easy. Moving to a hoop without added weight will require faster hip rotation and more energy, ultimately allowing you to burn more calories and lose weight more effectively.
Heart Rate
Your heart rate is a direct measurement of your body's exercise intensity. Because of this relationship, your heart rate is a useful tool for determining your optimum hula-hoop exercise. Learn to evaluate your heart rate by placing your index and middle finger on the side of your neck, where your carotid artery is located, and counting the number of beats in one minute. Higher heart rates mean faster caloric burn rates and more effective weight loss.
References
- Hooping.org; Weighted Hoops: The Great Debate; Ron Klint; January 30th 2007
- “The Gym Survival Guide: Your Road Map to Fearless Fitness”; Greg Cook, et al.; 2008
- REI: Expert Advice; How to Choose a Heart Rate Monitor; Derek Klobucher; July 2010
- MedlinePlus.com; Tips for Losing Weight; David Zieve, MD, MHA, et al.; October 18, 2009
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