I have started new lifestyle and weight loss plan 2 months ago and have so far lost 21 pounds (from 260 lb to 239 lb). I still have a long way to go but I need some help in the cardio department. I have been swimming a lot, lifting hand weights and doing a lot more walking but heart rate isn't getting up and staying up. I am a full time student and cant afford gym passes (and i really dont like running) so I thought of buying a jump rope to do cardio since it is a one time purchase, i can do it anyway, and it is relatively inexpensive. How does jumping rope compare to other cardio workouts? Is it good for fat/weight loss? How long should I do it for/how many times a week? Any tips or suggestions?? Thanks everyone
Shapefit has a great series of Jump Rope videos that are great for cardio! personal favorite: http://www.shapefit.com/jump-rope-videos-5.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
But they are all good, and guarantee you an intense workout. I'm not nearly as coordinated as the instructor in the video, and it takes a while to work up to the intensity of some of the workouts, but I just do them as best as I can - and still get a great workout.
Jumping Rope is a very good form of cardio exercise. It really warms up the body and can increase stamina as well. However, you have to try other cardio exercises such as running, cycling...and yes, swimming because your body might get used in jumping rope and will become boring in the long run.
jumping rope is great. I do it for kickboxing and fight training. we do it in 2 minute 'rounds' during that two minutes, I try to mix up how I jump, knees down, high knees, whatever. BUt when that 30 second left bell rings, I try to go all out!!! Thank goodness the speedbag is always the next interval because I am usually wiped out.
I've added the jump rope into dynamic warmup and can't really say why it took me so long to try it out. It's clearly favorite part. I also use it for HIIT, so easy to feel it working when I'm burned out on sprinting and what not.
Jump rope is just great. There are an array of benefits (cardio and non cardio) to working out with a jump rope. For one it beats heading to a gym for pumping muscles- this means there's a far greater chance for you to become athletic and energetic as against slowing down with heavy weights etc. Considering it's a lot of jumping from a cardio POV there is a leap in your heart rate which is a good thing as long as your body can take it.
I remember reading somewhere that it's important to slow down and speed up repeatedly and that this is sure to help in terms of cardio. I'll try and see if I can post the link here if I remember where I read it!
