by Lisa Snow

Clients frequently ask me, “what is the most effective form of cardio for weight loss?”  The makers of bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals all have slick ads to convince you that their brand is the secret to fat loss, and that their products are worth several thousand of your hard earned dollars.  These products do have some real benefits.  Indoor bikes are a lifesaver for people with injuries who can’t yet do weight bearing activities, and running (on a treadmill or outside) is a great way to burn calories while preparing for sports and life.  However, I ask you to consider the merits of a humble piece of equipment: the jump rope.  At just $30-$50, a well made jump rope can give you at least as good a workout as your gym’s $3,000 treadmill.  

According to LiveStrong.com, a 150 lb person burns approximately 750 calories per hour jumping rope, while a 200 lb person burns approximately 910 calories in the same time period.  When was the last time you hit those numbers by running or biking?  While no one will start out jumping for an entire hour, minute for minute, the jump rope can help you burn fat faster than almost any other fitness tool.  In addition, because most people jump intermittently, the jump rope offers all the advantages of interval training over steady state cardio, including a greater afterburn once your workout is completed.  Ultimately, the “best” form of cardio for any given client is not the one that burns the most calories; it’s the one they enjoy and will do consistently!  So if you love swimming, or rollerblading, or biking, go for it and ignore the naysayers who throw calorie statistics at you.  But if you want to relive some childhood fun and go for that maximum calorie burn, get out an old jump rope and give it a try.