FitSugar

Reasons to Own a Jump Rope

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:35:17 PDT

If running outside is not your cup of tea, and steep gym prices prevent you from hitting the pool or a spin class, you'll need an inexpensive and easy way to keep up with your cardio sessions. You may associate a jump rope with school-aged girls, boxers, or those in the military, but jump ropes are a great tool to keep in your home gym and here's why.

Cheap way to save time while burning major calories: For about $8 and 30 minutes, a 130-pound woman can burn 330 calories - running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile (six mph) only burns 270 calories.
You can do your workout anywhere: Whether you're in a hotel room on a business trip, outside on your deck, or inside your home because of bad weather, you can jump rope - just make sure the ceilings are high enough. Since a jump rope takes up so little room, it can easily be stashed in your suitcase, gym or yoga bag, or even your purse.
Jumping is good for bone health: If you're young, you're not exactly worrying about osteoporosis yet, but what you do now can help prevent this condition. It turns out that simply jumping up and down helps strengthen your bones.
It tones your legs and booty: Who doesn't want a tight and toned tush? Just like running and biking, jumping rope requires mostly leg strength. You can jump up and down, side-to-side, or forward and backward, jump while moving around the room, jump with one leg, or jump with both legs together. Varying your steps will target different muscles and also prevent boredom.

Jackie Warner's 5 Favorite Jump Rope Moves

Self — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:29:27 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Are you tired of jumping through hoops to keep your sweat sessions interesting? Instead of doing the same humdrum routine week after week, why not get a jump start on your next workout by jumping rope? Self reported in March that it's the #1 way to melt fat!

"Jumping rope using my cardioacceleration technique will get you maximum muscle toning with the maximum amount of fat-burning possible," says celebrity trainer Jackie Warner. "Cardioacceleration is doing quick, intense bursts of exercise in between your resistance training sets."

Pro athletes use this innovative technique worldwide but you don't need to be the next big name in sports to reap big rewards from the fat-torching program. "You go from anaerobic to aerobic throughout your workout, which raises your heart rate 60 percent higher," says the Bravo TV star.

To burn major calories at home, grab a jump rope and follow this five-move routine to get your heart racing while sculpting long, lean legs. "It's a 10-minute workout, but I always say it's not how long, it's how strong!" says Warner.

Read on to get the workout.

Skip to My Lou: Burn Serious Calories With Jump Rope

Heather Dale — Mon, 16 May 2011 03:06:39 PDT

In case you didn't get the memo, jump ropes are still in style. Just because it was an activity you did as a kid, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it now. Jump rope is not only an amazing cardio workout - a 145-lb person can burn 132 calories in just 10 minutes if jumping at a quick pace - but it's also a simple, convenient workout as well. Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, includes skipping in the workout routines she suggests to her clients.

Here's why else jump rope is so great.

What Kids Can Teach Us About Staying Fit

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:00:05 PDT

My godson taught me a pretty important lesson this weekend: hanging out with the adults at a playground is no fun. He had me running, jumping, and spinning - I was totally winded by the end of the day. This got me thinking that there's a lot we can apply to our own fitness regimen from the everyday activities of kids. For one - jump rope. Kids love jumping rope, and they do it without knowing what a great cardio workout it is. Here are some other kid-centric activities to get your heart rate up, and muscles long and lean.

Michelle Obama Hula-Hoops to Health

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:00:36 PDT

The secret to Michelle Obama's slim waist? Hula-hooping! The first lady hosted a Healthy Kids Fair on the White House South Lawn this week to promote her ongoing message that Americans need to get healthy.

Among the attendees were chefs and nutritionists who prepared lunch while also passing along the valuable lesson of healthy eating. Afterward, the kids and Michelle completed an obstacle course, hula-hooped, and tried double-dutch jump rope.

The first lady managed to swivel the hula-hoop around 142 times before it fell!

View 7 Photos ›

Get the Bod: Padma Lakshmi

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:30:40 PDT

Former model, cookbook author, and host of Top Chef Padma Lakshmi has got it going on.

After checking out the image of her in Allure's naked truth photo essay, it is hard to believe she gains 10 to 15 pounds when filming a season of Top Chef. When filming the competitive reality cooking show Padma eats a lot of food. Food flavored with fat, often extra fat, to make it taste good. She recently told the New York Times that keeps two dress sizes on set to accommodate her changing body.

Learn how she whips herself back into shape after five indulgent weeks of filming, when you

Padma is a fan of boxing. It's part of her regular workout when not on the set. When traveling or filming, she keeps a jump rope in her suit case so she can fit in cardio when she has time. A firm believer in taking the stairs, Padma also works her upper body in a daily 90-minute fitness routine.

Food, is a different story. When on the set, she cuts herself some slack since she knows the weight gain is inevitable. Post filming she goes on a serious detox. Padma cuts out alcohol, cheese, and red meat until she is back to her normal weight. That has got to take some serious discipline, but if I were going to be seen naked in the pages of Allure, I would probably remove cheese from my meals for a while.

Katy Perry Jumps Onstage and Off

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:00:29 PDT

Katy Perry looks amazing in her various bikinis. What's her secret? According to a recent interview with Cosmo, her favorite way to exercise is jumping rope. Not only does it burn calories - 295 per 30 minutes - but jumping rope also helps build bone-mineral density and makes your body stronger.

It's a simple and inexpensive way to get your heart rate up; use it as your main form of cardio or to warm up before strength training. Katy even jumps rope as a warmup before shows. Since this little gadget is so portable, you can pack it in your gym bag, suitcase, car, and even your purse and always have a way to get in a good workout.

Jumping Rope vs. Jogging

FitSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:30:00 PST

Jumping rope may seem like a boring way to work out, but it offers so many benefits. It's inexpensive, you can do it anywhere, it builds bone density, and it increases fat loss. I'm seeing more and more people jumping rope instead of jogging, so I was wondering how the two compare. If you're curious too, take this quiz to find out.

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Take the Quiz

Get in Gear: Jump Ropes

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:00:21 PST

Whether you're an exercise newbie or a fitness buff, jumping rope is a great option for fun, quick, and effective cardio. Though a jump rope is one of the simplest pieces of equipment available, shopping for one isn't easy because they come in various lengths and the quality can differ depending on materials used.

You'll find that ropes differ in handle size and cord weight; I recommend staying away from ropes made of cloth or leather. Generally, beaded ropes are supposed to give you the best aerobic workout. Speed ropes are the lightest type of rope, but I've found they can be difficult to control when you're a new jumper. I prefer slightly heavier ropes made of plastic.

See some jump rope options and learn how to determine the proper length of your jump rope when you

While standing on the center of the cord, the handle tips should reach your armpits. If the handles are up by your ears, the rope is too long for you! You can also jump with your rope to determine if it's the proper length: If the cord doesn't touch the floor, the rope is too short; if it lands in front of you, it's too long.

Travel Tip: Stash a Jump Rope in Your Trunk

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:30:00 PST

It is not uncommon to be driving to your destination this holiday season, which means more time sitting in the car and less time walking or exercising.

One thing that I always make sure to have in my trunk for long car rides is a jump rope. My family tends to stop frequently while on road trips, so at each rest stop I like to do a mini jump-rope session (five minutes or so). Now that I have kids, I bring jump ropes for the girls too, so that they can burn some energy while mommy is burning calories. Plus, then I won't feel so bad indulging in a piece of pie (or two) once I get to my destination.

Fit's Tip: Jessica Simpson got great results from jumping rope, so it's worth a shot!

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