Jump Rope as Cardio

Running gets the reputation for being "the" cardio exercise pretty much because it is easy to figure out how much you are losing and how fit you are getting. But then a lot of people end up not working out because they hate to run and they think that's the only way to do it. Why not diversify? Try the jump rope!

I have had people ask me the question again and again: "Is using the jump rope better than running?" With every type of cardio, the amount of calories you burn is totally dependent on how much you put in. 

Boxers tend to do a lot of speed roping, which involves using the jump rope at a high speed, and that is comparable to running at a high speed (let's say 7 - 8 miles an hour). But if you are using the jump rope slow and taking lots of breaks, you are probably more comparable to someone jogging.

A 200-lb person running at 6 miles per hour burns somewhere between 400 and 500 calories in a half hour run. It depends on your heart rate and your individual body.

Jumping rope at a moderate speed burns pretty much the same number of calories in a similar person. Now, if you upped your running speed, you'd probably be burning more calories than a person using the jump rope, see? However, the average person that does not run competitively would burn a similar number of calories doing both workouts. The jump rope also really works on your legs.

So if you are considering what cardio workout to try, try the jump rope. There are actually jump ropes now that have weights built in so you could work out arms as well while doing cardio. Great, right? 

Cheers Eights & Weights!