Misti, I'm right handed and was used to counter-clockwise. Maybe there's something to that.

You're sixty years old? For real? Looking at your picture, I thought you were in your 30's! You look awesome- my hat's off to you! What is your secret?

Hey, that site gave me some exercise ideas. I look at it this way, if I can't get the swinging going around the waist, I can at least do the arms and neck, lmao. I just bought three weighted hoops for both my daughters and myself. Knowing my luck, my son will want one- I can picture him now trying to torture us by trying to imitate us.

43 years old, and I'll be acting like a little kid again. This reminds me, I need to buy a new jumprope for the summer. Yesterday, my son and I used a kid's ball to play volleyball in the lake. Of course, our Yorkie broke it by trying to bite it. He was playing volleyball with us, too.

Almostheaven, that amazes me that you can do it both ways. I am determined to try to learn that but first I need to be able to get it going ONE way tee hee.

Steelslady, I have heard all my life that I don't look my age but I don't know how to account for it... unless it is because I don't like the sun at ALL and much prefer cool, rainy days and am far more likely to be out walking/playing and even swimming when it is In fact I got the name "Misti" because my friend dubbed me with it because I like the rain so much. (My real name is "Sue.")

Hey I think I need to buy a jump rope too! And another good one for playing in the water is a frisbee... can do this one by yourself. I throw mine way up and jump as high as I can to catch it... doesn't matter if I fall since I am in the pool!

BTW I'm left-handed and do the hula-hoop clockwise.

Misti, I like the rain/overcast better than I do the sun most of the time, too.

Well, you guys got me. I just orderd a weighted hula hoop today. Whenever I pass by hula hoops in a store, I get this nearly irresistable urge to play. I've refrained from purchasing one before because I didn't think it really had much value as far as exercise. Of course, I'm not giving up my gym membership, but this is something I can easily do while watching tv. I got one that can be disassembled for storage since my apt. is only 483 sq. ft. and my stability ball takes up enough room as it is.

That sounds like fun!! You guys make me want one!!

Ok, that's one right hand, counter-clockwise, one left hand, clockwise. Veddy veddy interesting.

Misti, I'm 42 and have often been thought of as 25. I HOPE I look to be in MY 30s when I'm 60. LOL

I had to get the hoop going normally and do it several times a week for about a month before I tried reversing the spin. And it took me several times to get it to even stay up in reverse. It was like starting all over.

Here's the one I ordered just now.
http://www.sports-hoop.com/product_trim_5b.html

I decided to go with these peeps because after the reading the feedback on that guy on ebay, I wasn't feeling very confident, lol. Also the one I ordered doesn't have the ridges, and some peeps on ebay were complaining that the ridges bruised their ribs (if you are already thin). I'm not, but I plan on being, so I got without the ridges.

Anywho, here's the site if anyone is interested. The one I ordered was a whole buck cheaper than the one on ebay. Shipping was free.
http://www.sports-hoop.com/index.htm

Yah bad feedback on eBay is not a good sign! Yours looks just like mine except if mine comes apart I can't figure out how... but it might as there ARE little division in the rubber type stuff or whatever where I can see the metal beneath. Oh well I really don't need to take it apart.

WooHoo, I finally got the nerve to try the hula hoop at Curves again this morning. I kept it up for about 3-4 minutes. I couldn't belive it, it even started falling on my hips a couple of times and I brought it back to my waist.
I did not use the one with ridges, someone else said it hurts so I tried the smooth weighted one. I can't wait to do it again when I go back to Curves next week. But I have to say I was really winded and sweating after just a short time.

By the way I am right handed and without giving it a thought I had the hoop going counter clockwise.

Wow, Sharon, I am impressed! I am "up to" doing mine for 7 revolutions before it falls. But I'll get there ha!

Misti, yours doesn't come apart. From what I saw its the same as the Curves hoop. They don't come apart.

Diva, we had one gal at Curves complained of the bruising, and she wasn't thin. Two of us who were though had no bruising from it at all. I don't think its tied to size but to how easily you bruise. And I believe even if you do bruise, that you will toughen up with use of it...unless the bruising is just too severe.

How are my fellow hula hoopers doing out there? I can't wait to get ours!