Weighted Hula Hoops

mizjohnston

I have a 3lb hula hoop that I use on and off. The lady at the gym told me that if you use a weighted hula hoop for 20 minutes a day you will lose an inch or two in your stomach. Has anybody actually done this. Just sounds good to be true to me.

versuga

I have one too (which I haven't used in a while). I'd like to know also.

Sidesteal

While it sounds like a good exercise for your core, you aren't going to spot reduce fat because of it. In short, the person at your gym is full of BS, but that doesn't mean you won't burn calories and work your core and pelvic muscles, so in that regard, go for it.

tcpowell25

I would like to know where to purchase a weighted hula hoop. I've actually never heard of it, but it may be true to lose inches if you use it. It sounds like a cardio workout with weights. I guess it would depend on the effort.

Sidesteal

Let me further clarify:

You can't do any particular exercise to burn fat off of a specific location on your body. This is called spot reduction and it doesn't exist outside of surgical procedures.

When you burn more calories than you eat, your body will burn fat (and sometimes muscle) and it will essentially choose the location. The type of exercise you do has no bearing on this.

You CAN however, strengthen muscles in a target location, which will certainly change your appearance once that fat is reduced to the point that the muscles show.

The most effective method is to keep eating at a deficit, and exercise, and lift weights with your whole body. Do this consistently and good things happen.

chyloet

I don't have an scientific proof however, this sounds like it would be accurate to me. You won't be spot reducing fat but you will be working your core hence building muscle, hence making it more lean, hence losing inches. That's a lot of hence's ... lol!

I've been wanting to try out the weighted hula hoop ever since I read that Marisa Tomei does this work out ... I think she looks fabulous!

Good luck, do let us know how it goes

chyloet

Let me further clarify:

You can't do any particular exercise to burn fat off of a specific location on your body. This is called spot reduction and it doesn't exist outside of surgical procedures.

When you burn more calories than you eat, your body will burn fat (and sometimes muscle) and it will essentially choose the location. The type of exercise you do has no bearing on this.

You CAN however, strengthen muscles in a target location, which will certainly change your appearance once that fat is reduced to the point that the muscles show.

The most effective method is to keep eating at a deficit, and exercise, and lift weights with your whole body. Do this consistently and good things happen.

My understanding is that you do not "burn" fat cells, you shrink them. Is this true?

Sidesteal

My understanding is that you do not "burn" fat cells, you shrink them. Is this true?

Basically you aren't destroying the fat cell itself, it empties and the cell shrinks. At least, this is my understanding of it, I could be wrong.

Sidesteal

\ hence building muscle, hence making it more lean, hence losing inches. That's a lot of hence's ... lol!
\

I would suspect that building the muscle in that area wouldn't cause a loss in circumference. Realistically, you're not going to build up large core muscles, especially in a deficit. You could strengthen them up a bit of course, and the calorie burn you're getting from weighted hula-hooping would help create a deficit.

Any change in inches in the abdomen would be a function of diet and exercise as a whole and not that of the specific training in this case.

I'm only clarifying this particular point because this sort of goes along the lines of people thinking that crunches and sit ups will give them a flat stomach, and the result of this thinking is several people going hog wild on crunches when they could be better applying their gym time.

I'm not saying that core work is bad, it's great to do-- just don't expect it to be the foundation of belly-fat-loss.

mizjohnston

\ hence building muscle, hence making it more lean, hence losing inches. That's a lot of hence's ... lol!
\

I would suspect that building the muscle in that area wouldn't cause a loss in circumference. Realistically, you're not going to build up large core muscles, especially in a deficit. You could strengthen them up a bit of course, and the calorie burn you're getting from weighted hula-hooping would help create a deficit.

Any change in inches in the abdomen would be a function of diet and exercise as a whole and not that of the specific training in this case.

I'm only clarifying this particular point because this sort of goes along the lines of people thinking that crunches and sit ups will give them a flat stomach, and the result of this thinking is several people going hog wild on crunches when they could be better applying their gym time.

I'm not saying that core work is bad, it's great to do-- just don't expect it to be the foundation of belly-fat-loss.

That is what I figured. I don't believe in spot reducing so that is why I was curious. I do cardio daily and strength 3 times a week. I just don't want to waist my time if I can put the effort in other activities.

fit4everyoung

Greetings!

Sidesteal thank you again for your expertise and knowledge. You are absolutely right, best apporach is to lose the weight and watch your diet. Diet is 100% bullet proof of eliminating fat. Of course, is important to work abs, core and other mucle groups as part of a regular routine.


P.S. your knowledge on my water weight was superb several weeks ago.

Good day to all,

Rosie

chyloet

\ hence building muscle, hence making it more lean, hence losing inches. That's a lot of hence's ... lol!
\

I would suspect that building the muscle in that area wouldn't cause a loss in circumference. Realistically, you're not going to build up large core muscles, especially in a deficit. You could strengthen them up a bit of course, and the calorie burn you're getting from weighted hula-hooping would help create a deficit.

Any change in inches in the abdomen would be a function of diet and exercise as a whole and not that of the specific training in this case.

I'm only clarifying this particular point because this sort of goes along the lines of people thinking that crunches and sit ups will give them a flat stomach, and the result of this thinking is several people going hog wild on crunches when they could be better applying their gym time.

I'm not saying that core work is bad, it's great to do-- just don't expect it to be the foundation of belly-fat-loss.

Just to clarify ... I understand that there is no such thing as spot reduction. I guess that what I meant was since the hula hoop would qualify as both cardio and an abdominal exercise, I would think that you would lose inches from shrinking the fat cells in general (not just specific to that area) from the cardio and a reduction of inches in your waiste due to the awesome ab work out and the fact that muscle is more dense/leaner than fat.

mizjohnston

\ hence building muscle, hence making it more lean, hence losing inches. That's a lot of hence's ... lol!
\

I would suspect that building the muscle in that area wouldn't cause a loss in circumference. Realistically, you're not going to build up large core muscles, especially in a deficit. You could strengthen them up a bit of course, and the calorie burn you're getting from weighted hula-hooping would help create a deficit.

Any change in inches in the abdomen would be a function of diet and exercise as a whole and not that of the specific training in this case.

I'm only clarifying this particular point because this sort of goes along the lines of people thinking that crunches and sit ups will give them a flat stomach, and the result of this thinking is several people going hog wild on crunches when they could be better applying their gym time.

I'm not saying that core work is bad, it's great to do-- just don't expect it to be the foundation of belly-fat-loss.

Just to clarify ... I understand that there is no such thing as spot reduction. I guess that what I meant was since the hula hoop would qualify as both cardio and an abdominal exercise, I would think that you would lose inches from shrinking the fat cells in general (not just specific to that area) from the cardio and a reduction of inches in your waiste due to the awesome ab work out and the fact that muscle is more dense/leaner than fat.

I feel that is possible. I mean if squats get you toned than is that spot reducing. I don't know lol. So confused. I'm gonna do it and see what happens. I've been contemplating it for months, I could have already done it and figured it out by now lol.

mvilla2426

I would like to know where to purchase a weighted hula hoop. I've actually never heard of it, but it may be true to lose inches if you use it. It sounds like a cardio workout with weights. I guess it would depend on the effort.

I've seen them at Wal-Mart in the fitness section earlier this week!! I think I may buy myself one as a Yule present this year.

ysamatar

bump!

sdgordon1021

You can purchase a weighted hoola hoop from Walmart online which is what I did for $19.99 & I ABSOULUTELY LOVE IT!!!!