Some of you may already know this about me but I'm sure most of you do not. I've lost 60 pounds and quit smoking since I gave birth to my son five years ago. Now, five years sounds like a ridiculously long time to be dieting, it is. The truth is, I have not spent the past five years on a diet. Only recently I have begun counting calories which at this time I am on a 1200 calorie a day "diet". So, how did I casually drop 60 pounds? As with most people that have a lot of weight to lose, the first 20 pounds went without much effort at all. After the initial shock your body will start to lose the weight slower. I am still 20 pounds away from my goal weight and I presume these 20 pounds are going to be the most challenging of all. I am not one for crash dieting as I know if you lose weight too fast it's just not healthy and you aren't training your body how to live right. You have to realize that your body is a temple and truly have love for yourself to make these changes last. I've met a lot of people that are afraid to quit smoking because they are afraid to gain weight. This has obviously not been my experience at all. Once you make one positive change in your routine, you will see how easy it is to make more positive changes. For me, quitting smoking and losing weight went hand in hand. If I got stressed out and wanted to smoke I'de pop in a dance fitness or bootcamp fitness dvd and work it out. The more uplifting the workout, the happier I felt, the more difficult and strenuous the workout, the stronger I felt when completed. What cigarrette and no I think I'll pass on the cookies for tonight, just need some water and rest. I owe a lot of my motivation to keep going to a fantastic company called Acacia. Acacia's fitness dvds have been so unbelieveably valuable on my path to being healthy. Through these dvds I've been introduced to some of my favorite instructors and Yogis like Hemalayaa Behl from whom I have learned dozens of new ways and techniques to cope with stress and create positive energy flow as well as shape up Bollywood style. Kimberly Miguel Mullen who's upbeat style of Brazilian Dance that leaves you drenched in sweat but feeling like you are ready to party! Then, I came across Hoopnotica Hoopdance Instructional series. So, if you're anything like me, you need to be having fun in order to look foreward to your workout. It was nearly impossible for me to get bored with my extensive collection of fitness dvds. It is true, you can get in shape without a gym, as long as you aren't afraid of looking ridiculous if and when company shows up. That was my routine for a long time but eventually I needed to add more to it so I joined a gym. Now I go to the gym five days a week, sometimes go swimming there and take Zumba classes. While I go to the gym for my regular workout I still love to do something fun that keeps me smiling the whole time! It's even better when it is something that can be done without having to be in my livingroom. I get my hoop on. I'm not saying I hoop every day, but if I did, that would be awesome. Did you realize that you can burn up to 600 calories an hour, hooping? Yes, this is true, but for most of us I would say the average hooper burns about 350 to 400 calories an hour as to work at a 600 calories per hour would be a pace extremely difficult for most of us to achieve. Possibly one of the best things about it is that it is actually fun! There's so much to learn so your mind has no time to get bored. Your whole body is engaged tightening your core and keeping your balance. I still have much to learn, and that's what makes it interesting. I also have positional vertigo which makes it even more interesting, lol. Actually, I'm pretty sure that the spinning around while hooping has helped me strengthen my balance in the long run. I don't suffer from severe episodes of positional vertigo anymore. Sometimes I do try too hard to get one move right repeatedly and feel the vertigo coming on and it may last a couple days and I'll have to take a break from it but that's it. I am happy to say that I've taught a handful of beginners how to get started, many actually laughed at me saying there was absolutely no way they would ever be able to keep a hoop spinning. Who's laughing now? I think the most fun I had was teaching some ladies at a local fitness club. They rocked and they told me how it made them feel like they brought out their inner child. How rewarding it is to hear that!
Maybe you've been struggling on the same boring fitness plateau and need to change it up. If you've never tried to hoop, you really should give it a try. I am not kidding when I say that anyone, any age, any size can hoop with the right hoop. It's all about the size of the hoop you use and a simple instruction and you may well be on your way to a new love for fitness. I make hoops that are durable, collapseable to fit in the trunk of your car and as large as you need. If you aren't sure what size would be best, just message me I am more than happy to help. Even if you can hoop 10 minutes a day, maybe a few minutes after dinner to burn some extra calories that can make a difference with helping you achieve your goals as well as elevate your mood!
Check out my hoop shop section of my Etsy shop to place your order today. I ship hoops anywhere in the U.S. The price is $25 which includes shipping and my sincere offer to help answer your questions and give you helpful hints to get started. It's time you get in the hoop!
Check out these girls having a blast
spinning In Fine Feather Dance Hoops at the local Apple Festival!
