I've read that jumping rope is a really great workout, not only for legs but the core as well. Does anyone here do this? I really wanna start jumping rope because I can't afford a machine and it'd be nice to have something at home to do on days I can't go to the gym. How did you start off doing it? I've found I'm really tired when I go for a minute straight haha, proves how outta shape I am. I'm thinking of trying intervals to improve my endurance... would this help?

Anyway, post your results and thoughts on jumping rope as an exercise please!

Hi! Jumping rope IS great exercise! Minute for minute, I believe it burns more calories than running. It is hard to do for long periods of time, I agree! I bought one recently to use in the garage but I haven't really used it more than twice. I'm planning on hooking up a radio/CD player out there so that I can focus more on the music than the jumping! I have found it's fun/easier to get through if you mix it up. Last time I did it, I did 50 straight single jumps, 50 double, and then I would like skip through the rope to mix it up... as long as you keep moving it's beneficial! I haven't used this as an extensive "fat burning" exercise, as I can't keep up with it for very long but it's been successful in waking me up in the morning before work and getting my heart rate up! Have fun with it!

Jumping rope is definitely harder than you probably remember it being as a child. It seemed like we could do it for hours back then. I took a kickboxing class a few years back which incorporated jumping rope. Wow!!! Not as I remembered it, but got a great workout.

It is a lot more difficult than it use to be! I would encourage intervals...maybe jump rope, then do sit-ups, then jump rope, then push-ups, etc.

It's certainly quite the calorie burner!

Thanks for the input! : ) I can only do five minutes of jumping in 30 second intervals before I'm wiped out. At least that's what happened tonight haha. I'm hoping I can build on it quickly cause it sure does work everything out!

It is definitely harder than when I was a kid hahaa! We used to jump in gym class and I could do all the fancy tricks at one point. Like criss cross and stuff. Maybe I can get that coordination back some day heh.

I love that idea for interval work, iowasteph2! I think I'll try that. Then at least I can stretch out the workout to a significant time.

there is a DVD i have called "jump rope dancing" that is an approximately 25 minute jump rope workout. i freely admit it's kind of cheesy, but it's effective. i have to have a leader/video to follow or else i'll give up too easily.