The discussion between my doctor and I, was that I still have extra kilos to be shed no matter what it takes. I have been walking for some time now so that I can get back in shape, but somehow, my weight does not seem to obey walking orders. For the last time, my doctor gave me an option either to swim at least four times in week or skip a rope to stay fit.

For one as much as I love to swim, I don’t like what my skin will go through swimming four times a week in water full of chlorine and of course having to make visits to the salon all the time, so I opted for rope skipping.  I must confess the first day of skipping, my body felt foreign and very heavy and it felt so for the next 3 weeks.

I amused at how much the skipping is helping me reduce some of the weight. Since I am naturally bigger, nobody can really notice the difference, except myself and seeing how lighter I have become in performing my day to day duties. Skipping is an inexpensive and simple exercise that can be performed anywhere, either be at your home garden or a nearby sporting grounds , you might even observe children skipping ropes on sidewalks. One you develop coordination between skipping and rope movement, you can skip for longer time without any miss.

What makes skipping the rope inexpensive and beneficial is that;

1.Skipping rope helps lose weight effectively. It is so effective in burning calories that an hour of skipping rope will make you burn up to 1000 calories.

2.The exercise is easy to learn, doesn’t need you to look for a guide or coach. The best thing about this activity is that once you start skipping, you learn very quickly and in no time you start skipping like a kid.

3.It’s inexpensive as you only need a rope.

4.It turns out to be fun when you start doing it with a friend or a group of friends.

5.It enhances your coordination and rhythm between hands and feet movements.

6.Strengthens your bones and increases your stamina and endurance.

7.When you practice it with your friends, it develops a sense of teamwork and social skills in you.

8.It makes you more vigilant and alert. It increases your attention skills.

9.It can be a healthy sport  and hobby.

10.It can be exercised by people from any age groups and both genders.

11.Skipping enhances flexibility and athletic abilities. It improves your reflexes, balance and posture.

12.It tones your muscles in arms, legs and abs.

13. Without running it speeds your heart rate like that of a runner and so requires a lot of energy to maintain a good fitness point.

As much as skipping rope can be interesting, it can also be very frustrating or boring especially when you miss a few jumps. Even if you have a good stamina and maintain a good coordination, calves and Achilles tendons tend to get stressed when you keep skipping in the same pattern and so when they sting you start missing the footing. So to skip without missing you have to keep changing from a single bounce to a double bounce or to a skip or a jog or a knee up.

You should keep changing the skipping style after every 30 seconds to avoid fatigue. To avoid a miss you can even do side skipping or rotating rope without jumping. This can be to warm you up in the start or to avoid any halt during the sets. Start rope skipping today and see the benefits within weeks, I can’t wait to achieve that under 16 look and body!

Ends