Fact for the Day:

1/3 pound broccoli contains more vitamin C than 204 apples

Hula hooping may seem rather childish, but there are actually a surprising number of benefits to an exercise involving hula hooping. If you’re interested about the fitness benefits of hula hooping, read on.

Benefit #1: Helps to Burn Fat

Hula hooping requires effort from some of the biggest muscles in the body. These muscles require a significant amount of energy, so it forces the body to burn fat stores.

Benefit #2: Tones Your Body

Hula hooping works out several of your body’s core muscles. It strengthens and tones these muscles. Muscles that can be toned by hula hooping include: glutes, thighs, hips, legs, knees and abdomen. In addition, you can twirl a hula hoop with your arms to tone your shoulders and forearms. Hula hooping with heavier hoops can provide additional resistance to tone these muscles faster.

Benefit #3: Increases Your Fitness Level

Hula hooping is such a low impact exercise that just about anyone can use it to increase their endurance and general fitness level. Even just 10 minutes of hula hooping can provide enough benefit to your body to increase aerobic activity. Hula hooping is so effective as an aerobic workout that an hour of hula hooping can help you burn just as many calories as the same length of time of an intense workout, such as the treadmill. For those unable to perform serious aerobic exercises due to health reasons, hula hooping can be their gateway to better health.

Benefit #4: Improves Your Mood

Hula hooping is fun, and it makes exercising less of a chore. To be able to do something fun and see the improvements to your body can liven your spirit and raise your confidence.

Benefit #5: Improves Your Coordination

Hula hooping requires a certain timing and rhythm. By practicing, your coordination will improve as your body starts to learn this timing. As your skills get better, hula hooping with more than one hoop at once can be challenging and help to improve your coordination even further.

Benefit #6: Improves Flexibility of Your Spine

The motions of hula hooping require a significant range of motion for your spine. Increased practice in hula hooping can train your spine to a greater range of motions than you’re used to, thereby increasing your flexibility. This can help you in the prevention of back injuries.

These are just a few of the benefits that hula hooping can provide. While hula hoops may seem like child’s toys, they can be an effective weight loss tool for adults as well. While the plastic models available for children will not offer much for an adult, you can purchase weighted hula hoops to effectively workout. Hula hooping may be one of the easiest and most fun methods of weight loss that you can find.

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Three Ponds Overlook

We're at it again, because we just LOVE it. Yesterday we headed out to Three Ponds Overlook for the best hike of the year yet.:) It was a high calorie burner, because it is one of the highest mountains in Snow Canyon.
This is the fun crack that we all love because it makes us feel a little adventurous. It is a little tricky, but with a lot of support and a little bit of "I can do it" attitude, it is exhilerating to say the least.:) Now I say that because I am a very careful hiker, but most hiking guides and guests jump over it without even thinking about it.
What a gorgeous day!! Yesterday was really beautiful, we feel so fortunate to have this in our backyard, and we want to share it with you. There is a lot of new ways to move, but honestly the best way to get your body back into shape is climbing some of these many mountains we have here! Of course we do work you out in the gym also, so be prepared to get the jumpstart that you need for the year 2010.