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StudentPermalink Reply by Laura McG on August 25, 2012 at 1:24pm

I can't give proper dietary advice, but lots of cardio exercise and water works for me. You should start running or doing stairs. You should even try hooping on the parts of your body that you want to tone up....focus on those areas and instead of doing tricks just shoot for the repetitive motions that will tone up your muscles faster. Weighted hula hoops are much better for weight loss as well. Target and walmart sell $3 hoops that are filled with water. They are heavier than a typical hoop you would use for hoop dance and they're good for stomach toning. Motivation comes from knowing how happy you will be with the results to come from all of the hard work you put into your efforts.

Hope I helped!

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Permalink Reply by Kassi Hartman on August 25, 2012 at 5:37pm

A lot of usual weight-loss things never worked for me -- exercise regimens, diets, I tried them all. When I finally started getting fit, it wasn't something I set out to do. I made lifestyle changes for my overall fitness, not just to lose weight.

I substituted foods instead of 'going on a diet,' choosing fruits and vegetables whenever possible. If I'm not hungry enough to eat an apple, I wait until I am, and then I know it's really hunger and not just craving sweets. Whenever I wanted a glass of wine I tried a cup of hot tea instead.

Hooping is the activity that actually got me fit, but it took a while, and there are certain tricks that work some muscles more than others. I paid attention to where I was sore the next day to know what parts of me I was working out. For working my abs, nothing seems to beat lying on my back, both feet in the air above me, hooping around the feet and trying to keep my forehead as close to my knees as possible. My thighs get a workout when I'm balancing on one leg and hooping either around my standing knee or my outthrust leg.

I have a variety of heavy hoops I enjoy using. I take a 1-2hr hoopwalk a day plus a 30-45min hoopdance/practice session. I keep a hoop in the car to use whenever I stop (I know it's bad for the hoop, but I do it anyway, because it's beneficial for me and I can make more or buy those water-filled ones at Wal-Mart that Laura mentioned above). I hoop when I'm filling my car. I plan to arrive a few minutes early and hoop for a bit.

I have fibromyalgia and low-impact exercise like hooping really helps with my symptoms. Hooping also helps my anxiety and gives me a sense of accomplishment when I learn new tricks, as well as helping my general health, so there are a lot of intrinsic rewards that keep me hooping for hours a day.

Good luck!

~Kassi

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Permalink Reply by Masane on February 12, 2013 at 9:43pm

ty for this advice!! Been so bummed over myself and trying to get motivated. Was losing then lifestyle changes got me. Been changing my eating habits as best as I can slow process

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StudentPermalink Reply by Rachel on August 25, 2012 at 9:23pm

Eating furits and veggies and healthy portens and finding a workout such as hooping, yoga, dance, gymnastics, biking,  something fun for exercise and that you enjoy. If it's not fun and enjoyable then it wont work is my thoughts and sometimes being fit shouldn't be all about losing weight b/c then it's just becomes a endless cycle of winning and lossing. point have fun to be fit.

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Permalink Reply by Bearclaw Manufacturing - Tedward on August 26, 2012 at 2:07am

I've been watching hoopers for 12 years now, and I've tracked the physiques of many friends.  Hoop hard, hoop long, you'll get there.

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ModPermalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on August 26, 2012 at 9:53am

If you want to add more to your workout routine than hooping there is one website I'd suggest. Youtube.com :D Since online instructional videos have started they have flourished on youtube. You can find videos from hula hooping to yoga, Pilates, aerobics, weight lifting etc. Some of the teachers are people that have their own studios and are looking to promote themselves by adding videos or wanting to help people like you that want to workout at home but not spend lots of money of DVDs. However, some of the videos are 20 min. and some are a full length class 45 min. You have to do some searching to find the longer classes. I personally love the following videos below, I pick and choose from this instructors videos and make a routine for myself everyday depending on what I part of my body I want to workout. Try to start with doing them three days out the of week and then adding more to your week. Doing just once a week same with hooping you will not see the resolute as fast. 

And of course talk to your doctor before doing anything that could hurt your body at it's current level. As well as knowing your family health history about potential problems that might interfere with your weight loss. Also eating right will help as well decreasing fast food, greasy food that will slow you down in a workout.

*these works my be too intense at first but don't let it get you down. Go at your own pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx1oUDZBsHA&list=FLFrkJGwO4NWf4B...

*thighs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVWZAjHM328&list=FLFrkJGwO4NWf4B...

*love handles- my favorite video

 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Danielle Starshine on August 26, 2012 at 10:24am

thank you for the links! i will definitely give them a try.  right now i'm just feeling pretty useless because i am recovering from a broken upper arm. i even had temporary nerve damage which took away the use of my left hand for a while. having to be sedentary for two months has definitely impacted my hooping and overall fitness. my arm and hand have healed, but i have lost a lot of strength.

i'm not overweight by any means, i'm 5'7'' and 135 lbs currently. this is the weight that my body seems to like. before my injury i had worked hard and had gotten down to 127 lbs. this is where i want to be again. it's a relatively healthy weight for my height.

right now i am jogging a mile every day, lifting light weights to regain muscle mass, and focusing on core hooping to battle the weight gain caused by my injury.

i'm trying to make healthy food choices, but it's just so damn hard when i live in a house with a bunch of junk food junkies. it's a definite test of willpower sometimes.

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Permalink Reply by Mew on February 4, 2013 at 10:46am

Girl. Seriously?

 

5'7" and 135? You are at a great weight.

 

Based on what you've said, you don't need to change a thing. You're doing all the right things already! You try to resist bad choices, run, lift weights, hoop, eat mostly healthy. You don't have to forgo all bad food, just as long as you try to make good choices!

 

It sounds to me like your only problem is you don't like where your body stores fat. Maybe you have a little tummy. Learn to love it! That's genetics, and there's nothing you can do to change that other than become underweight.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Danielle Starshine on September 4, 2012 at 6:03pm

well I have since lost 5 pounds just jogging a mile every day, hooping for at least 30 min, and drinking green smoothies for breakfast + eating healthy meals and snacks :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Barbara Ann on September 4, 2012 at 7:36pm

 I hear ya girl! I've always been in pretty good shape but a lot hoopers look so fit and toned! I've had periods in my life where I worked out a lot and periods where I haven't. In the last 6 months though I have made exercising a regular habit and I recently got certified as a personal trainer.

You are right, hooping is not enough of a work out alone, you definitely need to do other types of exercise. To lose weight you should be doing at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week. Also, losing weight is mathematics really. You must burn more calories that you consume. Eat clean, avoid processed foods, sugars, hydrogenated oils. Eat lots of organic veggies and fruits and lean protein: fish, chicken, beans. Try to limit your red meat consumption to at least once a week. Of course, drink lots of water.

I recommend running on the treadmill or outside, using the elliptical, stair master, or bike. I like to run on the treadmill because I can see how many miles I run, approximately how many calories I burn and I can check my heart rate. Also, I like to do interval training, which is the best method for losing weight. I walk for 2 minutes at 4.5 speed, then 1 minute at 5.0 and I increase the speed by .5 after each minute until I complete 1 minute at 8.5 and then I return to 4.5 and repeat the intervals until I can't do anymore. That is what I like. It took me a while to get to that point though. Although it works for me, you need to find a work out that is best for you. The most important thing is that you are enjoying your workout because if you enjoy working out then you will be more likely to make exercise a long-term habit.

Also, I don't know if you cross train with anything but I love yoga and pilates! I really love this girl's pilates videos because she's super perky and she keeps me motivated. But just a warning her workouts are really intense, so don't be discouraged if you can't do them right away. I still have trouble with some of her videos. Here's a link to one of her vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1DS7G9OjfQ&list=PL58744765BCC56...

Hope that was helpful!

Good luck! :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Barbara Ann on September 4, 2012 at 7:39pm

Lol, I posted my last comment before I read any of the others and other people posted Cassey Ho's pilates videos!

Glad you working out and eating healthy!

Keep it up! :)

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StudentPermalink Reply by Danielle Starshine on September 5, 2012 at 10:14am

thanks for the link :)

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