Jump Rope to Leaner and Toner You

Written by Tasha Evans

As a kid I remember jumping roping for hours at recess.

My friends and I would do the little chants as we bounced along and we were always so thrilled when we completed a whole little poem with out messing up once.

Little did we know that jumping rope, or skipping rope as some call it, is one of the best over all exercises.There are many benefits to jumping rope:

1. Low Cost. Cost can be a huge barrier to starting an exercise program
. Treadmills, stairsteppers, bicycles, weights, or even a gym membership are all spendy and with our dollar not going as far as it used to, a good jump rope will only cost you a dollar or two.

2. Small Space. Jump ropes take very little space to store and only 4' x 3' space around you to do this.

3. Easy Learning curve. It does take a little bit of coordination to swing the rope and jump when the rope is at the bottom. However, if you look at aerobic or dance routines, the footwork and movements can take quite a few classes to master.

4. Easier on Joints. Running is very hard on the knees and ankles as all your weight comes pounding down on them one at a time. With jump roping you are distributing your weight on both legs as you exercise.

5. Blast those Calories. Jump roping is an excellent way to blast those calories to bits. At 1,000 calories an hour, you only need to do a few minutes at a time throughout the day to add them up quickly. Even if you don't have the stamina to jump for an hour solid, just 15 minutes will burn 250 calories which is more than sitting on the couch.

6. Portability. Typically when you go on vacation or out of town, the exercise routine sadly gets left at home. Even if jump roping isn't included in your normal fitness routine, you can still pack it and melt those pounds.

7. Variety. It's not likely that you can spin the jump the exact same way, at the exact same speed for an hour. However, that's actually not the best way for your body. Your muscles will get fatigued and lock up or forget what they are supposed to be doing. Fortunately if you decide to step it up and double bounce, cross the rope, or do speed-singles, it's actually better all around.



About Author
Tasha Evans is a regular mom who is sharing tips, tricks, advice, and recipes to make losing weight and getting fit fun and engaging. www.fitnessdietandweightloss.com