Q:  Coach, I loved your daughter’s hula hooping post, especially the fact that 8 minutes of “exerhooping” yields the same calorie burn as running a mile.  It inspired me to dig my kids’ hula hoop out of the garage and have at it, but I couldn’t seem to make it work.  I notice that the hoop Presley is using in the article’s picture is bigger than my kids’.  Is there a special kind of hula hoop out there just for exercising?   – Beth, Castle Rock, CO

 A:  The little hula hoops that you’d find in toy stores for kids are not meant for adults because they’re simply too lightweight and small.  There are a number of online sites from which you can order exercise hoops (try www.hoopnotica.com).  Or, better yet, you can make your own for a fraction of the price that you’d pay online. 

One of my clients, Phil, makes hoops for me and here’s how he does it.  First go out and get:

•  PVC or Poly Tubing which can be found at Home Depot or general hardware or irrigation supply stores (for exercise hoops, you’ll want ¾” 160-200 psi)
• Insert Connectors (generally, if you buy ¾” tubing, you’ll use ¾” connectors)
• PVC cutters
• Brightly colored duct tape, at least two colors

Cut the tubing to the desired diameter.  Hoops with ample diameter are best for beginners.  Then heat up the ends of the tube, either in hot water or using a blow dryer.  Insert a connector about half way in one end of the tube then attach the other end of the tube onto the connector.  You’ll want to make the tube and connector fit as snugly as possible.  Finally, wrap the duct tape, first by sealing the seam then alternating the colors around the entire hoop.

Have fun “exerhooping,” Beth!