So you’re obsessed with weight loss and you’ve decided to take matters into your own hands. You’ve recently started a diet regime and you’re determined to lose weight. You’ve heard the rippling effect that jumping rope can have on your fitness. Does it deliver as promised? Does it help you lose weight? Let’s dive in and find out.
Jump Rope For Beginners
If you’re unfamiliar, the basic idea behind jumping rope is to bounce up and down on a large set of rings while chanting “one-two-three-four” in a brisk manner. It’s fairly easy to understand how this workout routine can be pretty challenging. Bouncing on the spot while counting out loud is difficult enough without adding resistance into the mix. When you throw in the fact that you’re moving your hands in the air while doing this, it’s no surprise that some people experience hand discomfort after just a few minutes of jumping rope. For this reason, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine recommend avoiding this exercise if you have tendonitis or tendonopathy in your hands. This should give you some indication of the difficulty of this workout routine.
Does It Help You Lose Weight?
There are a handful of research studies that have attempted to answer the question of whether or not jumping rope helps you lose weight. The results have been consistently promising and the research data has shown that doing this workout routine on a regular basis can help to shed off some extra pounds. It’s important to keep in mind that these studies were conducted on adult populations and the results may not translate over to teens. However, it’s still a safe bet to assume that practicing this exercise regularly will do you some good.
In one study, Dr. Christopher Brown of the University of Hawaii at Manoa and his colleagues from the Asia Pacific Institute of Sport Science evaluated the effects of structured weight training and jumping rope on the health and physical fitness of school-aged boys. After eight weeks of training, the boys who practiced the rope routine showed significant improvements in their body composition. They had gained significantly more muscle mass and their fat-to-muscle ratio had decreased. The researchers concluded that the strength and conditioning benefits of the rope exercise were due to the intensive work-volume which created an environment that encouraged both anaerobic and aerobic development. The findings of this particular study provide evidence that the jumping rope workout is effective for weight loss in adolescents.
How Do You Find The Time?
There are some individuals who think that making the time to fit in a workout is one of the least attractive aspects of a busy schedule. If you’re one of these people, maybe consider making some changes to your routine. Instead of jumping rope, try taking up a sport that you can participate in without any equipment. For example, if you can swim, try swimming. It’s a workout routine that you can do outdoors and it leaves you feeling refreshed after completing it. Even better, you get the benefits of a workout without the time commitment. You can’t argue with the results of that! If you’re interested in finding the time to fit in a workout, try scheduling it in earlier in the day when you can so that it doesn’t interfere with your regular routine. Just remember to drop your ego and do what works best for you.
Additionally, for those of you who think that practicing this workout will never be efficient, you can also take advantage of the internet and find countless resources that can provide you with the information and equipment that you need to get started. From there, your body will start to adjust and you’ll find the routine easy enough to fit into your schedule without too much trouble.
No Equipment Necessary
It’s one thing to lose weight, it’s another thing to lose weight and stay fit. While it’s wonderful to gain strength and fitness, it can be challenging to do so while not gaining any weight whatsoever. One of the benefits of practicing jumping rope is that it’s a workout routine that can be done anywhere. You don’t need any special equipment and you don’t have to go to the gym to do it. Simply pick a spot on the ground and, as stated earlier, start bouncing. You’ll find that it’s easy to keep up with and it allows for variety in terms of the exercises that you can do. It’s a great option for those who want to try something new while also wanting to shed off some extra pounds.
For those of you who are still skeptical, consider this. If you practice jumping rope on a regular basis and lose some weight, it’s quite possible that you’ll eventually be able to do something that you never thought you could do. You’ll be amazed at the difference that it makes and how much joy it can bring to your life.