GMB: Alex Beresford shows off his hula hooping skills
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Weighted hula-hooping has once again risen up the ranks and become one of the biggest fitness trends of 2022. It’s an activity that has grown in popularity after featuring in numerous viral videos on social media platform TikTok, but this time it’s not just a fun game for children as it has a proven track record for weight loss in adults.
Experts have championed weighted hula-hooping as an “easy way’ to upgrade cardio sessions, burn fat and tone abs all at the same time.
This in turn, can help people reduce inches from their waists quickly and they can have fun while doing so.
Even if a person engages in the activity for a few minutes at a time a couple times a day, they can burn some serious calories.
Rebecca Myer, a personal trainer and founder of app Live Happy, revealed it could burn more calories in just a few minutes than other forms of exercise.
“If you are hula hooping for more than a few minutes it will boost cardiovascular fitness,” she said.
“It’s harder than it looks!”
The well-rounded routine is a great workout in itself as she went on to add that it’s “great for your balance and challenging your core muscles”.
“It also relies on your leg muscles working to help stabilise you,” she explained.
But she warned peple must “be mindful” when choosing the weight as the heavier it is isn’t always better.
Dr Edward Laskowski, from the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, explained that the smaller and lighter the hoop, the more energy it takes to keep the hoop going, but if it’s larger and heavier, it’ll be easier to keep going.
This means a person may be able to do it for a longer period of time, therefore burning more calories in the long-run.
Studies into hula-hooping found that on average, women can burn about 165 calories in 30 minutes, whereas men burn about 200 calories.
The results from a six-week 2015 study of 13 women revealed that if people are looking to lose inches around their waists and hips, this exercise would be beneficial.
It showed that regular weighted hula-hooping was associated positively with a reduction in waist and hip girth, with all participants losing on average around 3.4cm around their waist and 1.4cm around their hips.
And another study conducted in 2019 demonstrated that weighted hula-hooping decreased abdominal fat percent in overweight subjects compared to walking.
Personal trainer and group fitness instructor at the Chicago Athletic Clubs, Donna Walker, explained: “It can also help burn body fat and reduce inches off the midsection.
“It’s great for your core muscles and your lower body too.
“If you choose to do arm work with the hula hoop, it’s total-body.”
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends people perform at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous activity.
Source: Read Full Article