Hula Hooping for Health?

It's Workout Wednesday.

I always enjoyed hula hooping as a young girl. I was pretty good at it. As a mom to BOYS, we still invested in some hula hoops over the years. They would try the traditional way, and then also throw them and roll them ... and try to jump through them. I'd heard of hula hooping as a workout, with a weighted hoop, and I figured for a $20 investment, I'd give it a try.

My hooping "helper" ... silly kitty!

While you wouldn't think it, the weighted hoop is actually easier to keep going than the smaller, plastic versions for the kids (I'm sure there is a bunch of science about the weight/momentum and the larger area adding to the ease). The constant rubbing/banging against the hip bones and such can cause a bit of discomfort though ... and as I like to be barefoot, it HURTS if it falls on the feet!

I probably CAN hoop for 15-20 minutes at a time if I try. It gets a little boring to simply go in circles. I know if you look up hooping workouts, the women in the videos can get a little crazy with some different moves. I know I've seen people at parks doing amazing tricks ... I've never really tried anything but the simple circles, although I do change directions. It does require a bit of room (and while I'm super spoiled with my home gym, there isn't a ton of open space). 

My Wii Fit has a hula hooping option too. 

Last Friday, in Debbie's Zumba class, one of the songs lyrics spoke of "hula hula hoop" and I jokingly asked the instructor if we should bring our hula hoops on Monday. She said yes! I brought three (my big weighted one, and two kids ones), and several other people brought some, so there was enough for everyone. It was a lot of fun actually ...

The song says "hula hoop" so we brought some to try at Debbie's Zumba class today. Got plenty of dancing in too!

A post shared by JenB (@jenbsjourney) on Jul 17, 2017 at 9:54am PDT

Have YOU hula hooped recently?

The Wii and Me

I can't remember when the Wii first hit the marketplace. We did end up getting one for the kidlets, but I never got around to trying the various WiiSports (bowling, tennis, etc.)  Then came the release of WiiFit and the balance board. Surprisingly, it was my MOM who was the first to invest in this. While visiting grandma, the kids tried out the various activities and clamored for it's addition to our video game stash. As I was a bit intrigued by the possible workouts ... we got one.

That was several years ago. As with many workouts, it was used a LOT when it was still new, a novelty. I used it, but had to compete with the kids for time (it wasn't always available at my disposal).  It was also out in the main room, so there was often an audience ... or even "helpers" who would come press the balance board to throw things off.

As interest waned, I ended up moving the WiiFit into my gym. It's now always available, I don't have to switch out the disk with the kid's games, I don't have an audience  ... yet I still don't get to it that much. I guess I generally feel I get more "bang for my buck" with my other exercises (elliptical, treadmill, bike, weights, DVD workout).  But I do want to try and keep it in the repertoire.

I like the original, balance exercises the best. Those are the things I feel I don't necessarily get with my other workouts. I think the balance board is a unique idea. While the kids do still come in occasionally to do a little WiiFit, the can't beat Mom at soccer heading, Ski Slalom, Table Tilt, and Penguin Slide. Those are my main "exercises" ... I'll throw in a little hula at times (I bought an actual exercise hula hoop, and it's harder to spin the imaginary Wii one!), bike around the island or pop balloons while riding a segway. Sometimes I'll even fly ... you really don't want an audience for that one!

I have set up a Yoga series ... but I don't do it as often as I should (on or off the Wii). The strength training or simple steps ... I guess I'd rather just do my own thing for those.

I know many people use the Wii for their weigh-ins ... I do always find it interesting to see how it compares to my scale (it's usually pretty close, but I am including some estimation for clothing).

I know there is a ton of other stuff out there - Jillian Michaels, Zumba ... not officially a "workout" but the "Dance" games can get you moving (my mom has a couple of those).  I'm pretty much JUST a WiiFit girl, when I even get that in.

Have you ever tried WiiFit?

Linking up with

Workout Wednesday & Weigh In Wednesday 

Treadmill Time

I know a LOT of people call it the "DREADmill" and prefer running/walking in the great outdoors. I however, am an inside exerciser ... so the treadmill is a great piece of equipment for me.  I don't have to worry about dogs, or weather, and I can go five miles and still only be one minute away from home (good for "mom" emergencies, but that does also make it easy to quit).

A treadmill was the first machine we had in J&G's gym (that and the weights). Back in the day, the gym was really just G's gym, as I (the "J" of that equation) never stepped foot in there. That all changed back in 2006 ... I started walking on the treadmill, and I walked a LOT. I'd up the incline (it went up to 14!) and I'd walk backwards (it had long arms for stabilizing). I had 30+ playlists on my ipod, to match my mood. I walked and I walked ... until one day my treadmill stopped. I had walked it into the ground.

We called a repairman, but it was not able to be fixed.  We got the HR 550i (pictured above) as a replacement.  It's been fine. It doesn't feel quite as sturdy as my original. It only has an incline up to 10 and no long arms. It does fold up to save space, which is a nice option ... but we are lucky enough to have enough room that we rarely need to do that.

I have to admit, since we added the elliptical to J&G's gym, my treadmill has been a bit neglected. As I've gotten revamped for weight-loss, I've also been jumping on the stationary bike more too... but now it's treadmill time again.  The other day, I turned on the treadmill and committed to running (jogging) a WHOLE mile without stopping. That's right, an entire mile! I did it, and I've been doing it almost daily. I'm not following any specific C25K plan or anything, but I do think that (a 5k) is the goal. I did one once, and I'd like to do one again.

Check out this link for some funny treadmill gifs ...

It's good for a little laugh *Ü*

How do you feel about the treadmill?

Check out Skinny Meg's Workout Wednesday for other bloggers ideas.

Post on your blog and share what YOU have been up to lately.

Also ... on the Runs For Cookies blog, there is a nice post with 50 Running Tips, with everything from shoes to some specific tips for treadmill time. I definitely agree with the one about having a fan blowing on you. Of course that pretty much goes for ALL my exercises down in my gym.  I thought there was some good information there.

Riding and Reading

This is my bike.

A lot of my friends like to ride a bike for exercise. Hubby too. He has both a mountain bike and a road bike and he's put a lot of miles on both. But me ...I've said it before. I'm an indoor exerciser. Especially when it comes to bikes. I don't want to strap on a helmet, watch out for cars or risk getting a flat far from home. It's always a lovely 66° in my basement. I have a fan sitting right next to my bike to blow my sweat away. I do sweat, even though I keep my biking at a pretty leisurely pace (around 16mph). 

The other GREAT thing about my recumbent bike is ... I can read while I ride.

See how perfectly my IpadMini fits right there in front of me?  And unlike a "real" book or magazine, there are no paper pages to turn, just a quite swipe of my finger and on I go.  I love to read. I always have, but through the years I just never seemed to find the time. Or when I had a few free moments, I didn't have a book on hand. Enter digital reading. Between the free offerings, sales and our local library (which allows digital checkouts), I have over 500 books waiting at my fingertips. I've read a lot of books this last year. With my Kindle app on my phone, I'll read wherever I am if I'm stuck waiting. It's easier to read at night, as I don't need a lamp to see the pages. I'd love to read all the time, but I feel guilty just sitting and reading.

I really never cared for the bike much. I just wasn't able to stay on it for more than 10 minutes at a time.  My butt got sore, my legs were jello afterward. Switching out our old stationary bike for a new Nautilus recumbent helped. I like having a little back support. I also put a pillow down on the seat ... you would THINK I would already have enough padding there, but apparently I do not. Then I worked my way up. Now, I put in 10 miles (about 37minutes) without a problem. And I get some reading in without feeling guilty. It IS exercise, but it's more an excuse to get to my book *Ü*  I'm a "fluffy" reader. I like to be entertained. If you want to see what I'm reading (and what I've read) ... my GoodReads profile is here. 

I don't know that I'll ever ride a bike for exercise outside ...

But I know I'll continue to read and ride!

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I had this post in mind for a while, but figured I'd wait and post it for the

Workout Wednesday Linkup

Check it out for motivation and other bloggers on this same journey.

Yesterday, I upped my miles to 12, which put me at 45 minutes, that's a nice round number so I might actually switch to that for future rides. I finished my book yesterday ... so I'm starting a new one today! Yea *Ü*

Ode to the Elliptical

I love my elliptical. We picked up the Nautilus 3000 sometime in 2007 and put it in our home gym. It has gotten a LOT of use from me over the years. Earlier this year... a bolt broke. It was hard to be without my elliptical while we ordered the part and had it repaired. 

Everyone has "their" exercise, one that works for them for whatever reason. Running, biking, Zumba ...elliptical is my exercise of choice. And here is why ...

• It's easy: I guess I need to push it more if it is "easy",  but it's harder to get a comparable burn on other machines without a lot more effort. It's also easier on the joints than most other cardio exercise.
• It's quiet: I can actually hear the TV (it's hard while on the treadmill).
• It doesn't require any prep: I can hop onto my elliptical at almost any time. I don't have to change into my workout wear. I don't jiggle enough to need a sports bra (although I am usually dressed to workout while on it). Best of all ... I do not need SHOES. I hate shoes! I wear slippers on my elliptical ... just another benefit of a home gym. I'm not sure if that would acceptable elsewhere. *Ü*

Now my elliptical has quite a few bells and whistles. It shows me calories burned, average speed and distance. It  shows speed, revolutions, mets, watts. It can track heart rate. It has several levels of resistance. There are a number of different programs.

I'm pretty boring actually. Admittedly, I do get in a routine rut. I pick the steady, unchanging course. I up the resistance to level 8 and try to keep it at an average of 16mph or over. I'll use the arms for a couple minutes, then grab the middle bars and try for a speed interval for a minute ... and repeat. 

The default time on the elliptical is 20 minutes ... and that is about perfect for me. Beyond that, my feet start falling asleep. The default weight on the machine is 150 pounds. Since I've had the elliptical, I've been under that and above that. Instead of changing the weight with my changing weight, I just keep it on the default.  By keeping the weight constant, I can compare my workouts to each other ... my 20 minutes (around 2 miles) will generate a calorie count somewhere between 160-220 depending on my exertion. I just keep the machine calorie count as a reference, and go with what my Fitbit calculates for calorie burn.

I try to get in five 20min sessions on my elliptical every day ...

What is YOUR elliptical experience?

J&G's Gym

** New Year's Resolution time, the majority of goals set probably are about fitness or losing weight. I'm spoiled ... in our basement we have a large unfinished room that has become J&G's Gym. For cardio, there is a treadmill, an elliptical and a stationary bike. The wall I face as I workout has a plethora of pictures ... I love to look at all the memories (it's my happy place). To help keep me entertained and motivated, there is a nice speaker system and Ipod to blare music ... there is a TV, with both a DVD player and a Wii attached (the Wii streams Netflix ... and is there for WiiFit if I'm so inclined). I always need a little bit of a breeze, so there are fans on the bike and elliptical (which can be tilted toward the treadmill, although the treadmill has its own fan ... it's just a very NOISY fan). Those are my fuzzy slippers next to the elliptical, because yes ... I like to wear slippers instead of shoes when on the elliptical *Ü* (I'm not sure if they'd go for that at Gold's Gym).

And fitness isn't just about cardio, so we have a full set of weights, a leg press, a calf machine as well as a full bench system. Add a ball, kettlebells and resistance bands ... as I mentioned, I'm pretty dang spoiled with this set up! Personally, I really like the treadmill (I know many really prefer running outdoors), but I have NO excuses not to work out with all this just a few steps away.

It's always nice and cool in the gym (sometimes a little TOO cool in the Winter months, but that is just a motivator to get moving). I like to lock the door when on the treadmill, but there is a little window into the room that the kids can safely poke their head in if they need me. Whereas sometimes it can be hard to get away for a solid hour, I can almost always slip away for 20 minutes here and there. In fact, the little ones sometimes get a bit spooked by "the basement" and don't want to be down there alone ... it doesn't matter if I'm in the same room, as long as I'm on the same level ... so the two little boys will say "Mom, I want to go downstairs, will you go exercise?"

... both Gray and I DO have a membership at Gold's too ... because alas, as wonderful as this gym is, we can't play racquetball in it.

** This was originally posted in the FamilyBlog January 2011 (alas, we haven't played racquetball in forever)