Skipping?

[MackerelOfFact]

I did a HIIT/Bootcamp-type workout class yesterday, and the last 10 mins involved doing 1 minute skipping followed by 1 minute of floor exercise. I haven't skipped since I was at school and forgot how much fun it is, and today I ache in a way I haven't for months (and I do regular Body Pump, HIIT, Spin and Pilates classes). I was enjoying myself and concentrating so much I forgot I was doing exercise and didn't want it to end!

I've just bought myself a fetching pink skipping rope for 99p (including delivery! ) off eBay and downloaded an interval timer app so I can recreate a similar workout at home.

I was just wondering if anyone skips for fitness and what kind of thing they do?!

ooh yes I did s few years ago, it was great! I am building up to it again slowly, it was fab for the winter.

I taught myself to do proper skipping (no extra hop between rope swings) and would count sets of 20, 5 sets to 100.

I basically built it up by counting the sets rather than times.

I also had to spread it over the week at first as it hammered my shins a bit, but slowly I built up.

I found it a good barometer of fitness, at first I could only do about 40 skips before collapsing. After a couple of months it was over 1000 iirc.

I think it helps upper arms and shoulders too in my experience. My googling led me to understand it burns more calories than running but can be softer on joints as both feet landing rather than one. I think you hold yourself differently too.

Basically, if boxers do it it must be good!

Ah, yes, counting skips makes much more sense than timing yourself because that way you're not counting the time you're tangled up and tripping over your own feet!

Upper arms and shoulders are something I definitely need to work on so that's good. I'm not a fan of running at all so if it confers some of the benefits that's even better.

I was surprised in the class by how little clearance you actually needed, space-wise, to skip. Would I be mad to try and do it indoors?!

I have before actually but the floor can be an issue! preferred it in back yard.

Ive just bought myself a skipping rope off eBay too! Going to incorporate skipping into my routine

My googling led me to understand it burns more calories than running but can be softer on joints as both feet landing rather than one. I think you hold yourself differently too.

yes and no- it would burn more calories per minute, but I'd challenge you to skip for longer than you can run, especially with the no "extra bounce"

That's the HIIT myth- yes it burns a tonne of calories while you're doing it, but if you also include the breaks, it's comparable with more sustained exercise.

For an extra challange you can focus on double unders (i.e. rope under twie each skip). You tube for instructions.

Skipping is great exercise. Once you're feeling good about it, you can also get ropes with weighted handles.

Personally I find it a bit boring but it gets used a lot in warmups etc.

Well my 99p rope has arrived and I'm looking forward to taking it for a spin this weekend!

Double unders sound like, erm, a challenge....!

Yeah- they take some practice and in the meantime you whip yourself in the shins a lot