We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Skipping (jump rope) for exercise

MrsM1ggins
MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I was an active child. I used to play outside all the time. I could run, skip and jump for hours. It turns out that is no longer the case. :laugh:

I travel a lot for work so being able to work out in my hotel room is a handy thing. I figured that, rather than just doing squats etc, I'd give skipping a go. It is kicking my *kitten*! I can jump up and down; I can rotate my wrists to swing the rope. Why can't I do them both at the same time? :mad:

I thought it'd be just like riding a bike. They say you never forget...right?

After 15 minutes I've just reacquired the basic skill and it's actually quite a lot of fun and a great burn too. Am I getting cocky if I try to hop from one foot to the other while I skip?

Anyone else skip for exercise? What cool things can I learn to do in my skipping sessions?

(and before anyone says anything, there isn't a bedroom below me, so no-one is trying to sleep while it sounds like a herd of elephants are having a party in the room above! :tongue: )

Replies

  • mytime60
    mytime60 Posts: 176 Member
    I haven't tried it since I was a child either, but just reading your post has me wondering....I may just put the HRM on today and give it a try. Just wondering what could go horribly wrong when I trip myself up on the rope...50+ doesn't fall gracefully anymore. LOL
  • Shutterpillar
    Shutterpillar Posts: 208
    I jump rope for exercise sometimes. I do 8 minutes usually, with other exercises inbetween (since, like you, I am no longer as young as I used to be and cannot go go go forever). it would look like this:

    2 min jump rope
    1 min squats
    2 min jump rope
    1 min lunges
    2 min jump rope
    1 min bicycle crunches
    2 min jump rope

    I switch up the inbetween exercises every now and then to keep it interesting.
  • MuchMovement
    MuchMovement Posts: 100
    I jump, I'm not great, I do a minute hard and a minute off....I alternate the types of jumps I do... but check out this naval academy jump rope dance. This will definitely give you an idea of what is possible!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqI7cGM9mWs

    These women are incredible!!!!!!!!!!
  • srp2011
    srp2011 Posts: 1,829 Member
    Love this idea - I travel a lot too and it would be easy to throw a jump rope into my suitcase - where did you get yours?
  • angelzoya519
    angelzoya519 Posts: 80
    I loved to skip when I was a kid.
    I used to do hopscotch too. HMMM it's nice outside maybe I will go in the backyard and draw a hopscotch board out and do a few games of hopscotch and then skip also.
    Wonderful Idea.
  • MuchMovement
    MuchMovement Posts: 100
    Jump rope with wooden handle- Walmart $8 ---- very nice
  • Shutterpillar
    Shutterpillar Posts: 208
    I got mine off of Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/JRS-Speed-Jump-Rope-length/dp/B004GWGBNS/ref=sr_1_52?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1310227506&sr=1-52
  • MrsM1ggins
    MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
    I use a Nike speed rope I got from Argos. It's made of coated polyurethane and it stings when I mess up. It's very motivating!
  • katschi
    katschi Posts: 689 Member
    I love skipping! I'm now doing intervals using skipping instead of running on the treadmill. I hate running.
    I've just started my program this past week and already I've vastly improved.

    Between a skipping rope, a resistance band and your body, you have your own gym wherever you go.

    I haven't gotten all fancy with my footwork yet but I can see that coming!
    There are great youtube videos for skipping rope.
  • MrsM1ggins
    MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqI7cGM9mWs

    These women are incredible!!!!!!!!!!
    I might have to practice for a while before I upload my own effort to You Tube. :bigsmile:
    Between a skipping rope, a resistance band and your body, you have your own gym wherever you go.
    Yes, I packed a resistance band, my rope and gym kit when I packed for my current trip. It certainly makes a change from sitting in the bar...
  • salmoninthebeak
    salmoninthebeak Posts: 114
    I use (skipping) jumping rope as my main form of cardio. I would love to find a group of people who love to jump and set up little challenges or something. I know that ultimately we "compete" against ourselves only, but it still might be fun :)

    I use to get caught up with counting my jumps (couldn't seem to stop myself), but I got a gymboss timer that has a vibrate option and I set it to tell me when to stop jumping for a break. I use to do 30 second breaks and 60 second jumping sessions, but now I just have the timer set to 5 minute intervals and try to keep going for as long as I can. The faster the music, the better it goes for me :)

    My 30 minute sessions today was burned 399 calories burned (I use a heart rate monitor watch).
  • MrsM1ggins
    MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
    That sounds like a great idea. There must be loads of MFPers who would relish a skipping challenge or two?
This discussion has been closed.

Categories