Weighted hula hoops

JagerLewis

Does anyone here use/have used weighted hula hoops? I'm thinking of buying one, but I want to make sure the extra money is worth it, or should I just stick with the plain cheap light hula hoops?

JagerLewis

Anyone?? :ohwell:

Mia_RagazzaTosta

I can't even master a regular hula hoop.

phillrn

hmmm...I've never actually encountered one of these...interesting concept though, I think:)

daisyellow

My little brother bought one for me a couple years ago, and I really enjoy it. I don't use it as much as I ought to, but it's a really fun way to work your core muscles.

The one thing to be aware of is that you'll probably get bruised a bit the first few weeks, since hula-hooping with a weight does apply quite a bit of pressure around your midsection.

techgal128

I used to use one and had a nice sexy waist when I did (I have no room anymore unfortunately). You have to use it consistently and be prepared for some bruises and soreness. I'd start with 2 days a week and work your way up. Eventually you will be able to use it every day with no problem. Just be careful where you're hooping since those things are heavy! lol
Also, don't expect immediately results. It will take time but it will be worth it. Make sure to measure your waist before you use it. I'd measure again after a month of consistent usage. I'd recommend a plan of 20 minutes a day 5 days a week.

deannasueknutson

I have too been interested in getting one too!! They look cool and it could be something to do at home easily. However, I wish I could try one first before buying one. They aren't that expensive, but expensive enough if I try it a few times and don't like it.

TMagical

I have one and use it on & off.

Like others have said, bruises & some tenderness may happen. Will you be taking a hooping class? I only ask b/c they are out there and hooping has a huge following right now, especially in my area. I don't go to any hoop classes, but I know there are out there and can provide strenght type training (similar to using low impact bands I would say).

I had a hard time when I started. This was not hooping like I did in grade school and I struggled to keep that sucker up for more then 10sec at a time. Now I can keep it up for the better part of 5 - 6min and have found that the more I stick with it, the easier it gets (who woulda thunk?)

I think they are totally worth it but don't buy one of the fold up weighted ones. Get an actual hoop. I aim for at least 30 min of hooping a day & sometimes will challenge my daughter to see who can keep it up the longest.

Cameron_1969

I'm starting with the shake-weight then moving up to the hula-hoops next month.

daffodilsoup

I had a friend who used a weighted hula hoop in combination with counting calories and she lost quite a bit of weight with it. Any activity is better than no activity!

Kymmu

I go to hula hoop classes once a week.
You do enough exercise without any added weight!
We each had a custom made hoop. They aren't like the toy ones.
Your hoop should stand from the floor to your belly button in height.
They are also thicker than the toys.
It's actually really easy to make your own hoop just like our teacher did. You can Youtube it.
She is a performer and has been doing this for years, I've never seen her use a weighted one.
I will ask her next week.

Sizethree4Ever

I bought one last year from www.hoopgirl.com I really like it. It is collapsible, and 2-lbs. This was the only model that they could ship to Canada.. I ended up paying almost $ 50.00 duty fee, but my stomack got really flat, so it worth every penny.

nicupson

Loved my weighted hula hoop! Lent it out and never saw it again. Still - a weighted hoop is completely different than a regular hoop (besides the weight). They heavier ones are a bit easier to get a hang of, but that being said, you probably don't want to start doing some of those over the head / arm / neck loops like you can with a regular hoop!

Like the others have said, bruising around the hip bones is to be expected at first. Still, it's great if you have the room. I used to hang out in front of the tv and hoop for 15 to 20 minutes.

TMagical

Loved my weighted hula hoop! Lent it out and never saw it again. Still - a weighted hoop is completely different than a regular hoop (besides the weight). They heavier ones are a bit easier to get a hang of, but that being said, you probably don't want to start doing some of those over the head / arm / neck loops like you can with a regular hoop!

Like the others have said, bruising around the hip bones is to be expected at first. Still, it's great if you have the room. I used to hang out in front of the tv and hoop for 15 to 20 minutes.

Same here, I would put on NetFlix, usually Firefly, and try to hoop the entire episode. Could never keep it up the whole time, sadly, but I would definitely get warm and have to open my sliding door.

JagerLewis

Thanks guys! I used to hula hoop all the time....Just put on good tunes, and twirl away! The hoops I've been looking at range from $40-$60. I will only be doing this at home, if I go to a class, I'm sure I'd be hitting other peoples hoops. Lol I did try a friends weighted hoop before, but hers had what look like finger grips on the inside of it.....which hurt like hell! The ones I've been looking at are smooth on the inside, do the smooth ones hurt as bad?

melaniecheeks

Weighted ones make hooping easier, it's not an attempt to burn more calories!

I got one for Christmas, and I'm trying to do a bit each day.

DamianaKitten

I, personally, can't buy a hoop without trying it out. I've found that a small amount of weight, along with a larger hoop, work well for me. I can't hoop with the smaller/lighter hoops, because I'm not that good at it. :laugh: If you have any way to test the weight on a hoop before you buy it, you should. Some are too heavy and just leave me with bruises.

yogicarl

I'm starting with the shake-weight then moving up to the hula-hoops next month.

"Underestimate the power of the weighted hula-hoop you do, my young Padawan - hmmm!"

battybecks

I go to hula hoop classes once a week.
You do enough exercise without any added weight!
We each had a custom made hoop. They aren't like the toy ones.
Your hoop should stand from the floor to your belly button in height.
They are also thicker than the toys.
It's actually really easy to make your own hoop just like our teacher did. You can Youtube it.
She is a performer and has been doing this for years, I've never seen her use a weighted one.
I will ask her next week.

^^ This! I hula hoop pretty much every day, with a normal, non-weighted trick hoop - and it burns plenty of calories without having any extra weight!

If you buy a weighted hoop you are never going to be able to use if for tricks - hooping around your arms, or over your head, or chest or leg hooping - which seems a shame.

I'd like to echo the belly button thing - don't buy a little child's hoop - it's geared for child height.

Good luck!

yogicarl

That's interesting - my (non-weighted) hoop comes to around my chest (I'm 5'3") and I am struggling to keep momentum without the hoop coming down my legs to the floor. Is my hoop too big for me I wonder?

Sizethree4Ever

I go to hula hoop classes once a week.
You do enough exercise without any added weight!
We each had a custom made hoop. They aren't like the toy ones.
Your hoop should stand from the floor to your belly button in height.
They are also thicker than the toys.
It's actually really easy to make your own hoop just like our teacher did. You can Youtube it.
She is a performer and has been doing this for years, I've never seen her use a weighted one.
I will ask her next week.

^^ This! I hula hoop pretty much every day, with a normal, non-weighted trick hoop - and it burns plenty of calories without having any extra weight!

If you buy a weighted hoop you are never going to be able to use if for tricks - hooping around your arms, or over your head, or chest or leg hooping - which seems a shame.

I'd like to echo the belly button thing - don't buy a little child's hoop - it's geared for child height.

Good luck!

They can do tricks with the weighted hoop too. YouTube has many videos.

melaniecheeks

Again - perhaps counter intuitively - the bigger the hoop the easier it is.

DamianaKitten

That's interesting - my (non-weighted) hoop comes to around my chest (I'm 5'3") and I am struggling to keep momentum without the hoop coming down my legs to the floor. Is my hoop too big for me I wonder?

The bigger/heavier the hoop is, the easier it is to work with because you can go slower. Smaller/lighter hoops travel much faster, which means you have a harder time keeping up with them.

yogicarl

OK - thank you. I think my hoop could be too light for me as a beginner as I seem to be working really hard to keep it above waist.

I did buy it off eBay, so it is possibly a toy. It's very lightweight.

DamianaKitten

OK - thank you. I think my hoop could be too light for me as a beginner as I seem to be working really hard to keep it above waist.

I did buy it off eBay, so it is possibly a toy. It's very lightweight.

Those are great for arm and off the body tricks. While I do know some beautiful hoop artists who can spin like crazy with small light hoops, I'm not one of them. I still have trouble just keeping it on my waist. :laugh:

Blackthorne82

Hey I've got a 40" 625g (about 1.4lbs) weighted hoop in black & sparkly purple - I am a magpie hehe. I'm 5'3" and my hoop comes to just above my belly button - I have a short body and lanky 31" legs. It takes more movement on my part to keep a weighted one up and not falling to the hips which will give you painful bruises... I speak from experience whereas the un-weighted ones seem to just go round on their own momentum helped by the swaying, but using an un-weighted is not as rewarding it doesn't get my heart pumping like a weighted one does.

JagerLewis

Hey I've got a 40" 625g (about 1.4lbs) weighted hoop in black & sparkly purple - I am a magpie hehe. I'm 5'3" and my hoop comes to just above my belly button - I have a short body and lanky 31" legs. It takes more movement on my part to keep a weighted one up and not falling to the hips which will give you painful bruises... I speak from experience whereas the un-weighted ones seem to just go round on their own momentum helped by the swaying, but using an un-weighted is not as rewarding it doesn't get my heart pumping like a weighted one does.

Awesome! Thank you! I'm a shorty as well...I'm ALMOST 5'3", but short legs.

davidepatterson

I've actually tried one of these bad boys recently and it is quite a workout. I am a CrossFit instructor so that says a lot. I met the lady who founded PowerHoopz.com, carries a wide variety of weighted hula hoops, and was able to use of her hoops and they were well made and easier to hoop with than an unweighted BUT took more energy. She's actually going to be featured on the Home Shopping Network on July 10th, so you can see her talk about it on there. Her name is Chris Lowe.

pookeyism

Check for local hula hoop groups, and failing that poi or slack liner groups, maybe belly dancers - somewhere you are going to find someone who custom makes them, and usually cheaper than online, etc AND they love, love, love to have you come try them first...

Speaking of poi - it is excellent for upper body, and you don't even know you are working out, lol.

pookeyism

I'll just leave this right here:flowerforyou:

http://www.hooplove.org/2011/05/plus-size-hooping.html