Forever Fit on Five Bucks

Here are the four most probable reasons you are reading this article:

1. You want to get in shape and need motivation (or don’t know how.)

2. You can’t afford or are too lazy to get into a gym.

3. You have five bucks.

4. You want to know how you can get in amazing shape with these five bucks.

Well it is 100 percent true. I did not say it was easy, but it is true. The simple answer is … a jump rope.

Jump Roping is a phenomenal endurance-enhancing exercise. You must be patient though, and start off a little bit at a time. Do not start out with 30 minutes jump rope exercises or interval routines. Trust me, you will never touch a jump rope again post-workout or after feeling the effects of waking up the next morning. This routine should also not be done until one to two hours after a meal (and not a big meal either). Between lunch and dinner is an ideal time to workout with a jump rope, and even better before a healthy breakfast. Though it is a very intense exercise and should always be performed after ingesting some form of quickly digesting carbs or 30 minutes after drinking a small whey protein supplement for some energy (though they whey supplement should still include some frozen fruit in the mix for quick carbs.)

Once you have become fit enough to moderately jump for a full 5 to 10 minutes, you can attempt a 20 to 30 minutes interval routine. This involves 60 sec of about 100 to 120 skips per min, following by 60 seconds of rest. Then do another min of skipping, following by another min of rest and continue until 20 minutes have passed. Do not do 30 minutes of this until 20 minutes feels more comfortable and attainable. This is to quickly increase your heart rate while also quickly slowing it back down. It is good for your heart, metabolism, endurance ability, and it is a wonderful way to get rid of that lower belly pooch.

Though jump roping is an all around great exercise, it always must be followed by simple leg stretches and light yoga. This will reduce strain on your body and especially your knees. Also, this is not to replace two to three time a week light weight training. All that muscle you are building up will burn away if it is not enhanced by weight lifting. You want to burn fat, not muscle! Happy jumping … but be careful, and always jump on a softer surface (not concrete.) A running track, or a large yoga mat type surface is better. Get fit on five bucks!