Anyone hooping for weight loss?
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
Canada
March 29, 2012 2:11pm CST
Yes, I mean "hooping"... that wasn't a typo in the subject line although I suppose "hoping" would fit there too 
I've often admitted I dislike exercise. When I say that, I mean planned fitness, i.e., having to work out at a certain time each day, for a certain duration, doing specific exercises. I love to go walking, love being outdoors, I'll play softball or tennis or something with friends for fun... in other words, I'm don't feel lazy. I like to be active. However, I want to be healthier. I have lots of life left to live and I want to do it well 
I read an article the other day about a woman who lost a substantial amount of weight by eating sensibly and hula hooping for exercise. In this woman's case, her body could not sustain other forms of exercise and she had to lose quite a bit of weight before she could truly "work out". But, even though she's lost many pounds, she still loves hooping. She is at or near her goal weight and now she is an instructor, teaching other people how to hula hoop for weight loss.
I think sounds like a fun and pretty simple way to get active. You can hoop in your own backyard (or in the house if you have room), sport hula hoops aren't terribly expensive and you can find videos on youtube (or buy them retail) to learn tricks and routines to keep it interesting and beneficial. So, I'm very curious about this idea and wonder if anyone is already doing it, has thought about it or has tried it before? Care to share? 
I've often admitted I dislike exercise. When I say that, I mean planned fitness, i.e., having to work out at a certain time each day, for a certain duration, doing specific exercises. I love to go walking, love being outdoors, I'll play softball or tennis or something with friends for fun... in other words, I'm don't feel lazy. I like to be active. However, I want to be healthier. I have lots of life left to live and I want to do it well
I read an article the other day about a woman who lost a substantial amount of weight by eating sensibly and hula hooping for exercise. In this woman's case, her body could not sustain other forms of exercise and she had to lose quite a bit of weight before she could truly "work out". But, even though she's lost many pounds, she still loves hooping. She is at or near her goal weight and now she is an instructor, teaching other people how to hula hoop for weight loss.
I think sounds like a fun and pretty simple way to get active. You can hoop in your own backyard (or in the house if you have room), sport hula hoops aren't terribly expensive and you can find videos on youtube (or buy them retail) to learn tricks and routines to keep it interesting and beneficial. So, I'm very curious about this idea and wonder if anyone is already doing it, has thought about it or has tried it before? Care to share? 3 people like this
6 responses
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Apr 12
I could barely hula hoop when I was a kid, I don't think I could do a whole lot of it now. Though I suppose you could give it a whirl if you really enjoy it or have one laying around and show up the kids for a few moments even if not hoop'n around ones waist but limbs.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
1 Apr 12
When I started looking into it as a form of exercise, I was surprised to find that there are hoops of many weights and sizes and that they have different purposes. When I was a kid, there was basically one lightweight kind of plastic hoop that everyone had and they were all about the same size - they only differed in color or design. I learned that, as a beginner, I'd need a heavier hoop (4-5 lb. range) as they are easier to learn with - I guess a heavier hoop helps to keep some momentum going. There are smaller and lighter "trick" hoops that you can use on the arms or around the neck to add to the hooping routine, both for fun and to keep adding new things. I've ordered my first hoop... should arrive early next week... and I'm going to give it a whirl (no pun intended LOL).
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Apr 12
I didn't not realize they came in various weights. I would assume sizes as sometimes performers use them in circus ect performances.
You'll have to post about how it works out for you.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92441)
• United States
30 Mar 12
Girl, I tried this. About four years ago I thought it would be a great idea. So my mom and I (her dementia was just starting and she wasn't that bad) went to Walmart and got hula hoops. I used to hula hoop all the time as a child and then a teenager. So what happened? For the life of me I cannot hula hoop. I was completely shocked that I could not do it. I tried and tried, but I couldn't figure it out and neither could my mom. We laughed ourselves silly trying to learn again, but I had to give up eventually. Good idea though. If you can do it, then I think it will work.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Mar 12
Well even if you weren't able to do it, AmbiePam, it sounds like you had a lot of fun and laughs at least trying I'm wondering if I'll be the same way... I could hoop for AGES as a kid but who knows if I'll remember how! I did decide to order a sport hula hoop yesterday... I think it'll arrive Monday or Tuesday. I did a lot of reading and I learned that, for a beginner, a heavier hoop is actually better because it gives you more momentum than the lightweight ones. I was just going to go to Walmart and get one, too! That was my first thought. However, I might have to go there and get at least one anyway because I'm positive that when my daughters see my new hoop, they're going to want to use it lol They are older so it's not like they'd do anything to it... but since I've committed to buying one, I really want to give it a good try to see if I can do it. And, if worse comes to worse, maybe I'll at least have a few good laughs like you and your mom managed to do. That certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for me either! 
I'm wondering if I'll be the same way... I could hoop for AGES as a kid but who knows if I'll remember how! I did decide to order a sport hula hoop yesterday... I think it'll arrive Monday or Tuesday. I did a lot of reading and I learned that, for a beginner, a heavier hoop is actually better because it gives you more momentum than the lightweight ones. I was just going to go to Walmart and get one, too! That was my first thought. However, I might have to go there and get at least one anyway because I'm positive that when my daughters see my new hoop, they're going to want to use it lol They are older so it's not like they'd do anything to it... but since I've committed to buying one, I really want to give it a good try to see if I can do it. And, if worse comes to worse, maybe I'll at least have a few good laughs like you and your mom managed to do. That certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for me either! 1 person likes this
@autumndreamer (3185)
• Philippines
31 Mar 12
Sadly, I don't know how to use hula hoops. I've tried them when I was a kid and never touched a hoola hoop again since then. I prefer other means of exercising.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
31 Mar 12
I'm not sure if I'll like it - or even be able to do it anymore LOL - but I'm going to give it a try. I've been watching some videos on youtube so that hopefully I can get going as soon as my new hoop arrives next week!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
30 Mar 12
I'd try it, but I've never been good at hula hooping. I prefer to just try to get outside and play as much as I can.. which isn't often I'm afraid because I'm so tired after working and doing school all day.
2 people like this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Mar 12
I could do it pretty well as a kid but I haven't tried in years and years. I figured it's something I can do out in the backyard where I don't have to worry about who's going to see me or anything. I have a 6' fence all the way around. I can take the dog out with me, get fresh air and, hopefully, figure it out. The hoop I ordered today comes with a DVD and I know I can youtube it too if I'm really useless
1 person likes this
@khorrycarlos (72)
• Philippines
30 Mar 12
I know how to lose weight without exercise.
1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
30 Mar 12
I can always lose some weight without exercising but, to keep it off and have a positive effect on my blood pressure, I need to exercise in conjunction with healthy eating habits :)
@khorrycarlos (72)
• Philippines
31 Mar 12
For me, I will have to eat healthy and my usual walking will do the exercise.
1 person likes this
@Suebee (2013)
• Canada
27 Apr 12
I use the hula hoop quite often and I love it. It is very good exercise, helps you to lose weight and tones your waist and hip area, depending on how you hoop. I exercise about 3x a week at the gym that I go to. After I do the circuit twice I hula hoop for about 10-15 minutes afterwards and it feels great. It's my favourite part of my workout. I too did some research and got myself a weighted hoop from a fitness store, one that comes apart for travel. I love it! Happy Hooping!
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
27 Apr 12
Thanks so much for the awesome encouragement, Suebee! I did order my hoop, from amazon.ca, and when I got it, I was very surprised to find out that it was actually a Hoopnotica set. I had already been on their website and priced the hoops and found them pretty expensive. When I ordered from Amazon, I thought it was a similar package... didn't realize it was actually the same. So, for $39.99, I got the travel hoop starter kit (which retails for about $50 on their site). It dismantles like yours and there's the Beginning Level 1 DVD to go with it.
I'm going to watch the DVD in full but I admit I did try the hoop right away just to see if I could do it I haven't touched a hoop since I was a child and I'm in my 40's now. After a few attempts, I got it going and kept it going for a few short minutes. I know I have lots of practice ahead of me, just to get started, but I can really see how doing this would be fantastic for toning the exact areas I want. I don't know if there are hooping classes where I live -- no one seems to be aware of it as a fitness routine or at least no one I know talks about it. Maybe if I EVER get good enough, at some point in the distant future LOL, I'll have to rally some people to make a class for ourselves
I haven't touched a hoop since I was a child and I'm in my 40's now. After a few attempts, I got it going and kept it going for a few short minutes. I know I have lots of practice ahead of me, just to get started, but I can really see how doing this would be fantastic for toning the exact areas I want. I don't know if there are hooping classes where I live -- no one seems to be aware of it as a fitness routine or at least no one I know talks about it. Maybe if I EVER get good enough, at some point in the distant future LOL, I'll have to rally some people to make a class for ourselves 1 person likes this
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
28 Apr 12
Wow this is awesome... I am anxious to get to the point where I can keep the hoop going long enough to get bored!! The reason I decided on the hoop, in the first place, actually was boredom. I have a treadmill and I detest it... I find it monotonous to walk indoors, even with music on or trying to watch a movie or something as a distraction. I wanted something different to keep me more motivated so the hoop seemed appealing.
I've watched some youtube videos now with the hoop dancing -- OMG I would love to be able to do that someday! I think it's just amazing the way they make it look sooooo effortless and it's just lovely to watch. I know it's more women that have taken up hoop dancing but there were some pretty talented men too! My girls are quickly becoming fascinated by it and were anxious to try the hoop -- and of course both of them were able to keep it going almost right away *sigh* But they're 18 and 21 and still a lot closer to their childhoods than I am LOL Guess there may be future hoop purchases in my house... because otherwise I won't get to use it much!
The reason I decided on the hoop, in the first place, actually was boredom. I have a treadmill and I detest it... I find it monotonous to walk indoors, even with music on or trying to watch a movie or something as a distraction. I wanted something different to keep me more motivated so the hoop seemed appealing.
I've watched some youtube videos now with the hoop dancing -- OMG I would love to be able to do that someday! I think it's just amazing the way they make it look sooooo effortless and it's just lovely to watch. I know it's more women that have taken up hoop dancing but there were some pretty talented men too! My girls are quickly becoming fascinated by it and were anxious to try the hoop -- and of course both of them were able to keep it going almost right away *sigh* But they're 18 and 21 and still a lot closer to their childhoods than I am LOL Guess there may be future hoop purchases in my house... because otherwise I won't get to use it much!1 person likes this
@Suebee (2013)
• Canada
28 Apr 12
There are no classes that I know of in my area either, but I would love to be able to attend one. I just find it a great way to exercise. I'm glad you did some research and got a good hoop as you'll get more out of it that way. I hadn't used one since I was a kid either. I just picked it up about 2 months ago and I'm...ahem...over 50!! I find the biggest challenge for me when hooping is to keep from getting bored. Since I'm not good enough at it to do the fancy dance style hooping that you see in the videos, I'm finding that straight hooping can get a little monotonous. Sooo...I invent little challenges for myself while hooping. I walk while hooping, turn in circles one way, then the other while continuing to keep my hoop up, hoop with the hoop up higher than my waist, lower than my waist--on my hips (which I find quite challenging, lol). You'll be a pro in no time!
1 person likes this
