Kick Running To The Curb

Are you someone looking to lose weight and stay active but hate doing typical cardio workouts that bore you like running? It's time to ditch the trails and pick up a jump rope for a new exciting workout that will keep you healthy and help you loose weight. Adding in 10-15 minutes of skipping before your workout routine can help you burn an extra 100-150 calories in a short period of time. Skipping is an easy and convenient workout that’s great for everyone from beginners to professional athletes so no matter your skill level this is something you can do. There has never been a better time to refresh that routine or start your fitness journey by trying out what might be considered one of the best forms of cardio out there.

Here are some reasons to start jumping rope NOW!

1.       Convenience

One of the best parts of skipping is that its able to be done from almost anywhere. There’s no need waste time trying to find the perfect running route in you neighborhood, or endure awful weather conditions like rain, wind and potentially snow. Why spend time buying safety equipment like reflective jackets or headwear for road running during those late-night jogs or early hour runs when you can just stay in the comfort of your own home? The reality is that jumping rope takes cardio from being time consuming and tedious to efficient and fun. All you really need is enough free space to jump rope and you can get a killer cardio workout in anywhere, your bedroom, kitchen, dining room, balcony, there’s endless possibilities.

Jumping rope is also a more efficient calorie burning workout than running. In an article by menshealth.com jumping rope is described as “one of the most effective cardio exercises out there” (Link found below). Some research suggests that jumping rope at a moderate to fast pace for a ten-minute period burns the same number of calories and produces the same cardiovascular health benefits as running a 5-minute kilometer for 30 minutes. So, with this efficient exercise you’ll never have a excuse to not get a good workout in ever again.

2.       Cost

Cost is another great aspect of jumping rope. Instead of breaking the bank by buying expensive exercise equipment that ‘promises’ weight loss results or paying for a monthly gym membership to spend countless hours on an elliptical, jumping rope is one of the cheapest pieces of workout equipment you can find. In fact, it only costs around 15 dollars for a basic rope on amazon.com, which means practically anyone can afford to skip rope.

3.       Health Benefits

Consistent skipping as exercise can help improve one’s coordination. This is done through use of multiple body parts in the upper and lower body as they are required to continually communicate to complete one jumping movement. This also helps build muscle and tone legs as the repetitive jumping motion strengthens your muscles surrounding your foot and ankle. The strengthening of these muscles also leads to a lower risk of injuries.

 Some other health benefits of jumping rope are that the consistent cardio workout improves breathing efficiency. By regularly partaking in cardio the body is able to strengthen the lungs amongst other muscles and improve upon its cardio-respiratory function making oxygen inputs into the bloodstream more efficient essentially making the lungs more efficient. Having stronger lungs can make future workouts easier allowing you to last longer thus getting a better workout in. Not to mention jumping rope qualifies as a low-impact workout causing less damage to your knees, shins and joints when compared to running.

Lastly an important heath benefit that can be noted from jumping rope is that it can strengthen your bone density. Jumping rope helps build bone density through impact training, as the bone is stressed during workouts the body responds by remodeling the bone to make it stronger and thus becoming denser.

4.       Boosts Mental Health

Partaking in regular exercise can help in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Working-out raises the body’s endorphin levels which are commonly known as the “feel good” chemical that’s produced in the brain. This feel-good chemical is what causes people to feel emotions like happiness and reduces pain.

Jumping rope can increase your self-esteem and self-confidence. By regularly jumping rope you can improve your physique and begin to build muscle definition which for some people will help increase self-esteem, often leading to more confidence overall. Regularly doing cardio can also increase your physical endurance which can lead to more confidence in your ability to work out, motivating you to do so more often.

5.       It’s Fun

When it comes to cardio let’s be honest it can get pretty boring starring at the same spot for 20-30 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill. Even if you are watching the newest binge worthy docuseries or listening to a podcast and although outdoor running is slightly more bearable it has its limitations. Things like bad weather, time of day and location all effect your motivation to run outdoors, because no one wants to go for a run on a dark rainy cold evening on a busy road. When in comparison you can jump rope indoors or outdoors any day at anytime making it way more enjoyable. There are also hundreds of jump rope videos on YouTube where you can participate in a fun HIIT workout and other follow along sessions from your living room. Plus, there’s tons of different tricks to learn with jump rope that’ll make you feel like you’re on the playground again. Its almost fun enough to make you forget your working out at all.

Jumping Rope Is the Best Total-Body Workout You Haven't Tried Yet​ | Men’s Health